| Ongoing Activities
Pre-Assembly Conference
Seeking Peace, Unity
and Purity: The Theological Task Force at Midpoint
Saturday, June 26, 2004 8:00am – Noon
How is the Theological Task Force on Peace,
Unity and Purity of the Church fulfilling its mandate to “discern
the “PC(USA)’s Christian identity in and for the
21st century?”
What is the task force learning and producing
that can be used in your church or presbytery?
The issues in the mandate from the 213th General
Assembly (2001) are four big ones. The task force has spent
two-and-one half years studying and discussing them:
1) Christology
2) Biblical authority and interpretation
3) Ordination standards
4) Power
While doing so, the task force has explored
processes for those who disagree on issues to work constructively
together—and develop real community and enjoy each other
while doing so.
The task force will make a final report in
2006. At its present midpoint, it needs your input. Come join
the task force for a pre-assembly conference on Saturday morning.
Start with a continental breakfast and table conversation. Continue
with presentations on the four issues in the mandate by task
force members who are allowing lots of time for questions, discussion
and feedback from you. Hear about resources that are available
for your congregation or presbytery.
Registration is limited to the first 250 participants.
Register in advance using the ticket order process.
Worship
Moderator Susan Andrews and the Committee
on Local Arrangements have planned an opening worship celebration
on Sunday, June 26, that will include Communion and the commissioning
of mission personnel.
Daily worship services will be held throughout
the assembly. The following preachers will participate in the
worship services:
June 27, 10:00am The Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews
Moderator, 215th General Assembly (2003)
June 28, 6:45pm The Rev. Terri Thomas
Northminster Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis
June 29, 8:30am The Rev. Jin S. Kim
Church of All Nations, Minneapolis
June 30, 8:30am Ecumenical Worship Service
Bishop Thomas Hoyt Jr.
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
July 1, 8:30am The Rev. J. Barrie Shepherd,
HR
Presbytery of Philadelphia
July 2, 8:30am Nathan Ballentime, Tallahassee,
Florida
& Patricia Massey, Davidson, North Carolina
Co-moderators, Presbyterian Youth Connection
July 3, 8:30am Elder Chris Glaser, M.Div.
Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
A Chapel will be available in the convention
center for those seeking a quiet place for prayer and reflection.
Assembly Exhibit Hall
An exhibit hall will be located in the convention
center. The exhibit hall will contain displays of each of the
General Assembly agencies and a host of related projects and
groups. This is an excellent way to find out about the latest
resources and happenings across the denomination.
The exhibit hall will be open from Saturday,
June 26 through Wednesday, June 30. Sales areas will have additional
hours on Thursday, July 1.
Face-To-Face Event
Call Referral Services of the National Ministries
Division will sponsor an informal face-to-face event at the
assembly. Church professionals, church educators, and interim
ministers seeking a new call may review church information forms
and schedule interviews, and search committees and middle governing
body executives may review personal information forms and make
arrangements for interview times. For more information, call
(888) 728-7228, x 5730.
Twelve-Step Meetings
The Presbyterian Network on Alcohol and Other
Drug Abuse will sponsor 12-step meetings (AA, NA, OA, ALANON)
each evening during the dinner break.
Presbyterianism: Principles & Practice
The Committee on Theological Education and
San Francisco Theological Seminary sponsor this for-credit seminary
course. It is designed to inform seminarians about the structure
and mission of the PCUSA, provide firsthand experience related
to how a General Assembly works, and encourage focus on issues
currently being debated with the denomination. Classes begin
Friday, June 25. Advance registration is required; contact Sherry
Sullivan.
Polity, Program And Mission of the PCUSA
– Christian Educator Certification Course
The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators sponsors this
course, which fulfills two course requirements for Christian
Education Certification. Participants study the PCUSA Constitution,
complete projects, and attend assembly committee meetings and
plenary sessions. Through exposure to the assembly they receive
a broad understanding of the structure, government, and mission
of the PCUSA. Classes begin on Saturday, June 26 and end on
July 1. Advance registration is required. Contact Linda
LeBron at (256) 377-1516.
Committee on Local Arrangements
The Office of the General Assembly would like
to thank the Presbytery of the James and Union Seminary/PSCE,
and particularly the members of the Committee
on Local Arrangements (COLA), for the months of work they
have spent preparing to host the assembly. COLA is sponsoring
the following events, and attendees are encouraged to attend,
as you are able.
You are particularly encouraged to bring a
gift of thanks to the presbytery by participating in the “Books
for Ghana” project.
The Moderators Reception
The Presbytery of the James invites all assembly
participants to a Reception for the Moderator of the 216th General
Assembly, that will be held at the Convention Center on Sunday,
June 27, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. The Moderator will greet delegates,
friends, and guests in the foyer of the convention center ballroom.
Mission Tours
The Committee on Local Arrangements has planned
several mission/cultural tours on Monday through Thursday of
the assembly. Some tours are oriented to particular Presbytery
of the James missions, while others focus on local and regional
cultural sites. The tours are likely to be very popular, and
seating is limited. Register early, using the ticket order process.
Union-PSCE Educational Opportunities
Union Theological Seminary/Presbyterian School
of Christian Education is offering Educational Opportunities
for any who are attending the 216th General Assembly.
These will be held in the convention center
on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, June 30 and July 1. All
are invited to engage in a time of conversation and learning
with Union-PSCE faculty and share wisdom and gain strength for
discipleship.
Union-PSCE faculty conducting these courses
include:
Dr. Ronald Byars
Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon
Dr. Fernando A. Cascante
Dr. Beverly Zink-Sawyer
Dr. Henry C. Simmons
Dr. Thomas W. Currie
Dr. Kathy L. Dawson
Dr. Kenneth J. McFayden.
Please see the assembly schedule
for the description of each offering, and register in advance
using the ticket order process.
Because the faculty members are graciously
donating their time, the revenue from ticket sales will be donated
to the Committee on Theological Education.
Special Gift Project – Books for
Ghana
The Committee on Local
Arrangements (COLA) has chosen a unique Special Gift Project
for this assembly. The Committee will send books, either donated
or purchased with monetary contributions, to the resource library
of the Presbytery of Ga, located in Accra, Ghana, West Africa.
Pastors, teachers, Bible schools, and laypersons of all ages
will use these books as they teach and nurture the growing membership
of the Presbytery of Ga. This is a continuation of a very rewarding
relationship – and partnership – that already exists
between the Presbytery of the James, Union Seminary-Presbyterian
School of Christian Education (Union-PSCE), and the Presbytery
of Ga.
Assembly attendees may participate in different
ways:
1. Make a monetary donation at the assembly, to be used to purchase
books from a recommended list prepared by representatives from
the COLA, the Presbytery of the James, Union-PSCE and the Presbytery
of Ga.
2. Check out the list of recommended books on the COLA
Web site. If you have any of these in your library and wish
to donate them, bring them to Richmond. There will be a collection
point in the convention center lobby.
More information about how to participate
in the project will be included in subsequent mailings.
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