Monthly columns featuring GA Moderator Joan S. Gray and Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick

May 2008

Praying our way to San Jose

by Joan S. Gray

Something new is being planned to prepare for the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which convenes in San Jose, Calif., on June 21.

A group of folks are caravanning from Kentucky to San Jose, stopping to hold prayer services along the way. Below is the schedule.

The first service will be held in St. Louis, Mo., at the United African Presbyterian Church (9407 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO, 63119) on June 15.

The First Presbyterian Church of Lee’s Summit (16 25 NW O’Brien Road, Lees Summit, MO 64081) will host the second prayer service on Monday, June 16.

The next service will be held June 17 at the People’s Presbyterian Church (2780 York Street, Denver, CO, 80205-4661). I will be preaching at that service.

On Thursday, June 19, the next prayer service will be held in Reno, NV, at the St. John Presbyterian Church (W 1070 Plumb Lane, Reno, N.V., 89509).

And then on to California.

I believe that, more than anything else, the faithful prayers of God’s people will shape the way the General Assembly evolves. If you are anywhere near these locations, please join us for the prayer caravan. If you are not nearby, I invite you to join us in prayer as you are able.

Find out more information about praying our way to San Jose.

God promises to answer the prayers of God’s people. Pray that we will be open to the fullness of God’s will in our General Assembly.

The Reverend Joan S. Gray is Moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Praying with one another

by Clifton Kirkpatrick

We have just celebrated the Day of Pentecost, which to me is one of the most exciting times in the church calendar. It is the time we celebrate the birth of the Church, which also makes it an excellent time to focus on the important — but elusive — visible unity of the Church.

As we celebrate the birth of the Christian church at Pentecost, we are mindful of the strong faith we share with Christians throughout the ages. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has long understood that it is only one part of the body of Christ, and that we seek to make visible the unity we share with other Christians.

Our Book of Order puts it this way: “The unity of the Church is a gift of its Lord and finds expression in its faithfulness to the mission to which Christ calls it. The Church is a fellowship of believers which seeks the enlargement of the circle of faith to include all people and is never content to enjoy the benefits of Christian community by itself” (G-4.0201).

The Reverend Dr. Michael Kinnamon, newly elected General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC), has sent a letter to its member churches, of which the PC(USA) is one, inviting us to encourage congregations to make a particular effort during this season to reach out to other Christian congregations in their local communities for a time of fellowship and prayer. He writes, “There are still real theological differences among us, differences significant enough that some of our member churches cannot yet break bread together at the table of our Lord.  But we do affirm that all of us, in some mysterious way, belong to Christ; and this allows us to pray with and for one another.”

I invite you to find out more about this effort to create closer connections between NCC member churches. You will also find resources for shared prayer through the NCC.

I am grateful for this opportunity to encourage PC(USA) congregations to engage in fellowship, prayer and study with other Christians. I believe God will both strengthen our witness and the witness of our neighbors.

The Reverend Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick is Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).