Comments for GA BLOG: Reading the Tea Leaves of the Moderator Election at http://www.pres-outlook.com , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://www.pres-outlook.com Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:47:47 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.pres-outlook.com/insights-opinions/blog/GA-BLOG-Reading-the-Tea-Leaves-of-the-Moderator-Election.html#comment-5528 Is Bolbach a conservative, a liberal, or a moderate. What is the basis for your answer? -L. Gerald Carter, CLP Pastor for Congregational Care Second Presbyterian Church Roanoke, VA 24016 - L. Gerald Carter Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:21:28 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.com/insights-opinions/blog/GA-BLOG-Reading-the-Tea-Leaves-of-the-Moderator-Election.html#comment-5505 Thanks for your thoughtful and humorous review of the election ... hard to say what it all means, but Assemblies are hopeful, and so am I. - Tom Eggebeen Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:31:29 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.com/insights-opinions/blog/GA-BLOG-Reading-the-Tea-Leaves-of-the-Moderator-Election.html#comment-5503 I haven't had a lot of hope regarding this particular GA. It's fairly disheartening to look around and see the way our denomination seems to be so blind to the way it's slowly (or not so slowly as the case may be) dying. We tend to focus on politically charged issues and things that cause dissension and division when we could and should be focusing on ministry and mission. The way out of the bureaucratic and unwieldy morass that we've created is quite simply to rediscover the importance of the things that will give us life and growth: Evangelism, Prayer, Preaching, Mission, Ministry, Outreach... I just don't have a lot of hope that we're going to wake up in time. - Leon Bloder Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:34:08 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.com/insights-opinions/blog/GA-BLOG-Reading-the-Tea-Leaves-of-the-Moderator-Election.html#comment-5502 I read the moderator election as a referendum on nFOG. Cynthia Bolbach has been the co-moderator of the FOG task force, and would seem ideally suited to lead the denomination in its implementation. So many issues at this GA are animated by fundamental polity issues: the changing role of the national church signaled by GAMC cuts, the balance between the role of the presbytery and the role of GA, the place for national social witness, and the needs of our diverse churches, especially in the question of commissioned lay pastors. I think "polity" is an effective plank of moderator platform in a unique way this year, and I see that in the election of Moderator Bolbach. Let's get ready for a good, deep, denomination-wide conversation about how we organize ourselves. - Jeff Foels Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:01:30 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.com/insights-opinions/blog/GA-BLOG-Reading-the-Tea-Leaves-of-the-Moderator-Election.html#comment-5501 As a Theological Student Advisory Delegate, I was very surprised that our contingent was so heavily in favor of Bolbach from the first vote on (We were also in agreement on whether or not we ate supper...). I approached many of my fellow TSADs after the meeting to ask if they had discussed their preferences for moderator with one another before the meeting. The response was a big no and all were as surprised as I at the consensus. I can only share my perspective, but I imagine many of my seminary colleagues would agree. I enjoyed Bolbach's use of scripture in her speech, but primarily I was drawn to the way in which scripture should move the church toward humility. We will not save the world or our people; only Jesus can do that. Our job as the church is to bust through rooftops if that's what it takes to bring people into the presence of Christ, the only one who can bring real healing and salvation. We need a moderator who reminds this huge bureaucratic assembly that we aren't really all that important for the coming kingdom of God. We are merely to respond faithfully to what God is already doing. - Andrew Whaley Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:45:31 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.com/insights-opinions/blog/GA-BLOG-Reading-the-Tea-Leaves-of-the-Moderator-Election.html#comment-5499 I think you are probably right on in your assessment that the commissioners seem to be holding their cards close to their chests. On the same-sex marriage and civil union question, the mood of the church seems to be moving towards a relaxation. If Grace Presbytery in conservative, conservative North Texas can vote to approve relaxation in the last round of initiatives - and with very little rhetoric or squabbling - there's a definite ground swell in the presbyteries for change. She seems to be willing to look at many different ideas and to be willing to address openness and change - particularly in her choice of vice-Moderator. I'm holding out hope for the church but I remember Romans - suffering leads to endurance and endurance leads to patience and patience leads to hope. We obviously have farther to go, but we may be on our way. - Abbie Watters Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:04:07 +0100