Yesterday there were two items upon which I will offer some reflection. The first is another comment about the Quasi Committee of the Whole (on the Ministry recommendations) that I mentioned yesterday. After being in small groups for 90 minutes, the voting members came into the hall for the continuation of this part of the Assembly. In the usual fashion, people lined up at the microphones. A different part of this adventure was that the chair would sprinkle throughout the discussion time for people from a 'resource panel' to address themselves to questions that were gathered up during the 90 minute small group meetings. I could have used more of those folks speaking - but like all things here, there is a schedule and actions must keep moving.
Today, Friday, we will come back to the plenary discussion/debate/vote on the four Ministry proposals. It must be remember that even though the original intent was to move through these proposals in a sequential order, since they may be amended before any voting takes place, the order may thus change. We shall see. One comment from the floor yesterday was to encourage the Assembly to pass #3 - which talks more about the tenor and vision of what we need to live together - to which he added some folks would more likely vote for the others.
I must add part of one of the comments offered yesterday. A pastor who said he works primarily with youth said that he may take the discussion to another level. He spoke about the "children's' movie Lilo and Stitch. I haven't seen the movie and luckily he spelled out a bit of the action. The two characters pick up what they think is to be a new dog...it is not. It is an alien. This alien in the midst of their lives and their household - changes everything. The changes are wonderful and there is much growth... I have not captured his storytelling. But the point of...the alien...the foreigner...the stranger...bringing new and unanticipated life - quite by surprise....seemed to fit the day discussion quite well.
Another big action from yesterday was that the Assembly voted to enter into full communion fellowship with the United Methodist Church. It will not receive the play of the human sexuality business but it is something important for all of our congregation on the ground through the U.S. We have a new partner and more and more of us are finding it right and good to become more closely aligned. By the way, the UMC Bishop who preached at the daily Eucharistic worship - simply rocked the house!
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