Monday, August 17, 2009

So far, so good

The first day of assembly is over. It is wonderful being able to catch up with seminary classmates, old friends and bishops. I had dinner with the bishop from the Sierra Pacific synod and met an Associate in Ministry. The opening worship was a good with a wonderful sermon by the presiding bishop focusing on fear; how debilitating it is, how it gets in the way of the movement of the Holy Spirit and how it is good to let go of it
Now the good news for the day. All attempts to require a 2/3 vote on changes to ministry policies were defeated. More than one speaker against the 2/3 vote discussed the fact that the current policies did require a 2/3 vote, so a 2/3 vote should not be required to change it, good point.
Another move the conservatives tried to make was to require that the ministry policies be voted on in a progressive fashion like the Task Force recommended. So, for example, they would have to approve same-gender blessing before they could consider allowing gay or lesbian pastors. A member of the Task force, who was also a seminary classmate of mine, spoke in favor of it but she and those I am calling conservatives were not successful at getting the motion passed.
I pray that the spirit of change will blow through the assembly this whole week.

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