by Emily Enders Odom

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COLUMBUS - It has taken the Rev. Warner Durnell twenty years to travel from Columbus to Columbus. Georgia to Ohio, that is.

The ordained PC(USA) minister, who grew up just outside of Philadelphia in the town of West Chester, Pa., began his general assembly career as racial ethnic advisory delegate in the 1982 gathering of the former Presbyterian Church in the U.S. in Columbus, Ga. Durnell remembered that the hallways were abuzz that year. "It was the assembly," he said, "that we voted to recommend to the presbyteries a reunion."

"And I can remember," continued Durnell, "being in conversation with some of the movers and shakers of the then PCUS as they were trying to consider which presbyteries and which states would pose the most problems in terms of voting for it."

Those hallway conversations were long ago, and Durnell sees the denomination today as broader, richer and more inclusive, thanks to the vision affirmed back in Columbus, Ga. "It's just been all the more exciting and affirming," he said, "that I see more racial ethnic people in greater numbers and variety and diversity. That's been a joy to behold."

Durnell, who has served as pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tn., for the past eight years, anticipates returning to his church and presbytery responsibilities with renewed commitment. As the current vice moderator of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, he sees his share of committee and council work. Durnell will return from his general assembly experience, particularly the prayerful committee process, with a word for his colleagues in ministry.

"As we sit in meetings on committees, let us not be shy about saying 'let's pray about this before we can make a decision,'" he stated, "or to be more intentional about our time of prayer rather than making it a perfunctory responsibility that the book calls for."

His observations speak volumes about the unity that Presbyterians can find in their diversity. Sincerely appreciative of the committee leadership on the Assembly Committee on Peacemaking and Global Issues, on which he served, Durnell sees an immediate application in his home setting.

"We must be willing," he said, "to work on issues until we can begin to form consensus around them rather than simply going with sharply divided votes."