Thoughts on the 36th GA - Part 1

1. Our Churches in America have a strong tendency toward isolationism. One Church rarely has anything to do with another. There is little cooperation between Churches. More often, other Churches are seen as competition. One small way in which, I believe, that tendency is counteracted is by our regional and general assemblies. It forces us out of our isolation and gives us the opportunity to interact with many different types of people. It would be very easy to just talk to other pastors with whom you have much in common or who are simply nearby. By being a part of the Presbytery and the General Assembly, we have an opportunity to manifest our unity in Jesus Christ.

I know that some will say that this expression is itself flawed by the similarity of those who join this denomination. Others will decry that there is little unity even within the denomination. I can identify with those concerns, but I'm not sure what the alternative is. This seems, for now, to be the best that we have. There is a real accountability and real fellowship amongst varied Churches united on a confessional basis. For that, I am thankful.

2. This year, TE Brian Carpenter and myself descended to Dallas, TX for this year's GA. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency. Brian and I came into the hotel with loads of groceries, a large coooler, and a coffee maker. We were greeted by valets who would not let us take our own stuff up to our room! Brian said we were kind of like the Clampetts. It was quite humorous, and we felt somewhat awkward as we began our stay.

3. On Sunday, we walked from our hotel to the Dallas Reformed Baptist Church. We began with Sunday School, and it was so good that we were rather surprised to find out that the teacher was not the pastor! We enjoyed a rather traditional, Reformed service and fellowship with the small group. I always enjoy visiting smaller Churches whenever possible because it is much easier to get to know some of the people in the congregation. Plus, being the pastor of a small Church, I know how much I enjoy having visitors. We tried to visit Bethel PCA in the evening, but we couldn't find it.

4. On Monday, we began our committee meetings. This year I served on the MTW (Mission to the World) committee. I was very encouraged by being on this committee. It is always great to hear about all that God is doing throughout the world. There is so much work, and the workers are indeed so few! A Church planting movement has begun in India where they have already planted 35 Churches in the past couple of years. It was also exciting to hear that the Presbyterian Churches that have been planted since the fall of the Iron Curtain, are now self-sustaining and capable of operating their own national denomination. MTW has moved to more of a support role for this fledgling denomination. My committee meeting, however, lasted only two and a half hours. Brian, by contrast, was on the Overtures committee. They debated for five and a half hours on just one overture (more on that later).