A very good Friday

The four candidates for Moderator were together for the first time on Friday (April 25) for Forums in New Jersey at Bloomfield College and “Meet-and-Greet” event at Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church. It was a spectacular day for us!

We each shared vision of what the Church could and should be, answered questions, and had discussion. It was satisfying and uplifting to feel the sense of commitment to each other and to the health of the faith community that we hold together. The Spirit guided our conversations and our fellowship. I felt it strongly.

The Presbyterians gathered at both events were thoughtful, hopeful, expectant, and challenging! There were GA commissioners, seminary advisory delegates, youth advisory delegates, and other folks who were just plain interested! Questions ranged from our opinion of including the Belhar Confession into the Book of Order, to our definition of the most important issue on which the Assembly will deliberate – covering issues of inclusion, the future of the Church, and potential solutions to the problems that beset us as a denomination.

At Lawrenceville we candidates had the opportunity to sit together over supper, and get to know each other informally and more personally. Bill Teng and I went to the same college years ago, so it was good to renew the friendship. Bill, Roger, and I had the opportunity to drive to the events together earlier that day. Bruce flew in directly, and Roger and I met him for the first time. We came together as names, photographs, and emails to each other: we left supper as brothers in Christ.

I love this stand for Moderator. It’s an energizing, uplifting, and a soulful experience. Only one among us will be elected, or perhaps a candidate yet unknown who may be nominated from the floor of the Assembly, but whatever the outcome, we can say most happily that Christ is beside us, among us, and with us: The head of our Church, the body we share as One.