June 17, 2009

Big Tent blessings

Greetings to members of the General Assembly Mission Council, Middle Governing Body executives, and friends,

The many blessings and the sheer joy that I experienced under the Big Tent last week in Atlanta have filled my heart and soul with gratitude for each and every one of you who made this such a wonderful and successful event. To those who planned, programmed, led and supported it, I give thanks to God. To those who came from near and far to attend the Big Tent, I give thanks to God. For those of you who may have missed this first-in-a-lifetime celebration of many things Presbyterian, the Presbyterian News Service has posted a number of stories, and our colleagues have many more to share. The Presbyterian Outlook has several stories, too. So let's keep telling the stories and singing the songs!

More than 1,400 Presbyterians came together in 10 simultaneous conferences to learn, teach, worship, exchange ideas and be inspired, to be challenged and supported, to make new friends and connections, to build up the body of the church. I confess that we had some nail-biting times in the weeks leading up to the event, wondering if Presbyterians would turn out in the numbers we planned, but indeed they did. All in all, the results surpassed our expectations. There was a wonderful spirit in the joint worship services, in workshops, in the hallways and in Centennial Olympic Park, where we held a closing celebration. The closing event included birthday cake to celebrate the 26th birthday of the PC(USA), formed at reunion in Atlanta in 1983. Back here in Louisville, many members of our staff are exhausted but elated, and I imagine that may be true for others around the church who were involved in making this such a great event.

In both its planning and its implementation, the Big Tent witnessed to collaboration among all of the General Assembly agencies. The General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) (our name officially changes later this month) and the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) worked closely hand in hand in the planning. The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) co-sponsored the National Elders Conference and people flocked to the books in the exhibit hall. The Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP) and the Board of Pensions (BOP) also had booths and many visitors in Exhibit Hall. The Presbyterian Foundation co-sponsored the Stewardship and Investment Conference and presented at the Presbyterian Communicators’ Network conference. Many MGB executives, clerks and staff attended, including the Rev. Jan DeVries, synod executive, Synod of the Southwest. In an email message, Jan wrote:

The [Big Tent] event has been terrific. I have lots of thoughts about it, but what I can say is for me personally it was satisfying, energizing, and prophetic … my experience [was] meeting people I did not expect to meet and having amazing conversations. And being grateful for all the people I did expect to see …

I would be eager for GAMC to do this again … Besides all this, it was a lot more fun than a GA with about as many people … I will be glad to say to folks that they missed something important … All of the staff and volunteers who cooperated to make it work deserve a huge thank you.

Among those young adults who gathered under the Big Tent, Marquita McAlpine, a 25-year-old member of the coordinating committee for the National Network of Presbyterian College Women, said, “I always have a great experience when I come to an event like this where there is Presbyterian community. Being here has allowed me to branch out and do what I love, great networking and meeting different people.”

With so many moments and so many experiences to treasure, I think of the privilege of having heard outgoing Columbia Theological Seminary (CTS) president Laura Mendenhall in her last public address as president of CTS, which took place at the Big Tent as part of the Healthy Ministry Conference. Laura has provided great leadership to CTS and will continue to be a leader in the denomination. Just three days later, CTS made a wonderful announcement that Dr. Stephen A. Hayner will succeed Mendenhall as the new president of CTS. Those of us who have worked with Steve experience him as a humble leader, a faithful visionary and a true servant of Christ. Among his many gifts and experiences, Steve brings the insights from campus ministry, global ministry and ministry on the faculty of CTS. He is trusted by so many and open to all.

May the seeds that were planted at the Big Tent — and that are even now being nurtured as we join in Growing Christ’s Church Deep and Wide — bring forth a bountiful yield and flourish to the Glory of God!

Faithfully yours,
Linda