Ambassadors For Christ

by Clifton Kirkpatrick

The highlight of my ministry each summer is our General Assembly. (My personal highlight of this summer has been to take a family vacation with my precious grandchild in Acadia National Park!)

This year's assembly gathered around the theme, "Ambassadors for Christ." This theme is based on 2 Cor. 5, that God was in Christ reconciling the world, giving to us the ministry of reconciliation and calling us to be ambassadors for Christ. It was clear that the commissioners and advisory delegates had a passion to be reconciled to God and to one another and to challenge our whole church to be actively engaged in this ministry of reconciliation. I join them in that passion and hope you will, too.

The commitment to move the PC(USA) forward as ambassadors for Christ was palpable throughout the assembly. Early on, the assembly elected the Reverend Dr. Fahed Abu Akel as our Moderator, a longtime friend of mine and a pastor with a deep love for Christ. In our final session, the assembly voted to launch the Mission Initiative, which challenges major donors to contribute $40 million for new church development, especially among racial ethnic and immigrant groups, and to increase the number of mission personnel worldwide.

When commissioners' evaluations (which were extremely positive this year) were tallied, worshipping together and the opportunity to build Christian community within the body of Christ that is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) were lifted up as most important. Also deemed important was the adoption of the statement, Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, a strong and winsome affirmation that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior-for the church and the world.

While lasting only a week, I hope that the impact of the General Assembly will be felt across the depth and breadth of our church for some time to come.

As you begin your program year, I hope that the spirit and the actions of this assembly will be helpful as you seek to be ambassadors for Christ. The assembly's commitment to reconciliation, to mission and evangelism, and to a joyful affirmation that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior should be the commitment of every congregation and all the organizations that make up this great church. I pray it will be so.