The moving images by PC(USA) photographer David P. Young were poignantly introduced by Pat Chapman, the denomination's associate for child advocacy. Referring to the familiar song by Bette Midler, From a Distance , she said: "The reality of life for too many children is that there are guns, and there are bombs, and there are diseases, and there are many hungry mouths to feed."

"So take a good hard look at this presentation," she urged. "Study each face, and be reminded of the challenge inherent in the rest of the song's lyrics, 'God is watching us from a distance.'"

The photographs, commissioned by The Decade of the Child Planning Team, were compiled from images Young has made while traveling around the world on PC(USA) assignments. "They're the children I've met along the way," he said. "I just wish I could tell the story of every one of those kids."

Captions shown with the photographs urged Presbyterians to take seriously their Baptismal vow to nurture children, and asked: "During the Decade of the Child, will you be an adult on whom children can depend?"

After a responsive prayer written by the planning team, Chapman informed the commissioners that each would receive as a gift a CD bearing all the images. "We hope that you will share the news about children with others," she said.

The Decade of the Child (2001-2011) came into being as the result of an overture approved by the 213 th Assembly. It calls on the church to be