Monthly columns featuring GA Vice Moderator Byron Wade and Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons

Life and thankfulness

by Byron Wade

November 2009

Over the past 16 months, I have had the pleasure of serving as Vice Moderator of the 218th (2008) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It is a great honor and privilege to listen, learn, and witness the great things our church is doing to uphold the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

In my role, I have traveled extensively. One aspect that has not been so great is airport travel. With security measures, overbooked flights, crowded planes, and potential delays, I can never tell if I will make it to my destination. Just a few weeks ago, I left a meeting in Louisville, Ky., to return home to Raleigh, N.C. The trip included a long security line, a delayed flight due to weather that caused me to miss a connecting flight, and a re-booking on another airline through a different city. In all, I arrived home four hours later than expected.

On another level, people are facing many delays on the journey of life — financial hardships due to the present economy, the H1N1 virus or other similar illnesses, the deaths of loved ones, broken relationships, onset of depression, and more. It can make us wonder if the journey is worth the hassle.

In these times, I invite you to take assurance in the God who loves and never leaves us. God walks beside us in these situations and brings us through, so that we can give hope to others on the journey.

One of my favorite gospel songs is "I’ve Got a Testimony," by Clay Evans:

As I look back over my life
And I think things over
I can truly say that I’ve been blessed
I’ve got a testimony

As we enter into the season of Thanksgiving, I pray that you will be able to reflect upon the ways that God has brought you through the hardships, difficulties, and hassles on the journey of life and faith. Then may you give witness to others of a wonderful and gracious God!

The Reverend Dr. Byron A. Wade is Vice Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Read the Vice Moderator's column in Korean.  

Read the Vice Moderator's column in Spanish.

The discernment journey

by Gradye Parsons

November 2009

Folks often wonder how an overture makes its way to a General Assembly. It is not a speedy process, but it’s an effective one that involves discernment through prayer, the study of Scripture, and careful listening to others.

An overture generally starts with an individual idea or inspiration. From there, one of the foundational understandings of our polity is lived out: Decisions are made not by one person, but by people discerning together the mind of Christ.

Often, an overture’s first step involves members of the session of a congregation discerning together whether the issue on their hearts should be addressed by the whole PC(USA). In my experience, this is rarely done at one meeting, but over time.

The session sends the overture to the presbytery, where it is considered by a committee. The committee members prayerfully discern together the mind of Christ about the issue, listening to the voice of the session and to one another, as well as their own understanding of Scripture. The committee then sends the overture to the full presbytery, where elders and ministers discuss its merits and answer the critical question: Is this an issue for the whole church?

If approved by the presbytery, the overture goes to the General Assembly, where it will carry the presbytery’s name and require the presbytery’s support.

General Assembly commissioners and advisory delegates consider the overture in committee, discerning together by listening to voices with wider experiences, to different understandings of Scripture, and to the Spirit speaking through prayer. The item then goes to the whole assembly where, again, listening and seeking are the primary discernment actions.

If the overture passes, its journey continues as congregations, presbyteries, synods, and General Assembly agencies discern what it means for their ministry and witness.

The journey of an overture involves the entire Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It travels the long distance through our discernment as the whole church, listening for what God is calling the church to be and to do.

Let us all be ready to listen.

The Reverend Gradye Parsons is Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Read the Stated Clerk's column in Korean.

Read the Stated Clerk's column in Spanish.