I didn't know General Assembly could be so much fun,” said Moderator Wilma Welsh as the 132nd General Assembly adjourned until next year. That was not the first time that the word fun was voiced though occasionally it was with a murmured: “Are we here for fun?” Still there was wide spread agreement that this was indeed a fun assembly.
The name Presbyterian is often used to mean the exact opposite of fun. Frank McCourt's best selling memoir, Angela's Ashes, is but one example of where the denomination is commonly thought to be on the scale that measures humour:
“Another thing we noticed,” said Philomena. “You have a very odd manor. And it gives us a very uneasy feeling. 'Tis that sneaky little Presbyterian smile.” “Och,” said Malachy, “it's just the trouble I have with my teeth.”
Why fun at this assembly? It may be that we now realize that we are not responsible for the entire world and that God will continue even if we don't. It relieves a lot of tension when you realize that you are the servant and not the master. People of faith have always had a perspective that has allowed quiet humour or boisterous laughter in both good and bad times. (Remember the dying theologian whose friend checked his feet and said: “No one has ever died with warm feet.” To which the theologian replied: “Joan of Arc did.”) Humour accompanies faith; it does not oppose it.
We laughed a lot at General Assembly 2006. We laughed at words befuddled and motions confused and at least some of the 60 speeches. (Statistics thanks to Richard Sand, the winner of the 2006 Reticence Award.)
Business was easy to follow thanks to the Book of Reports, the briefing sessions, the excellent sound system, visual aids and helpful leadership. The setting at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., worked well. The local arrangements committee was well-organized with travel arrangements, special events, etc. The Monday night banquet demonstrated that many (most?) of the commissioners preferred to talk to one another over dinner rather than to listen quietly to the music.
Most of the business was either the usual attention-getting motions or matters that were important and helpful but not controversial. This was not so with the recommendations concerning sanctuary for refugees. The debate was polite but intense and for the most part, I delightfully report, theological. Even the loyal addresses were properly theological as the General Assembly indicated loyalty to “queen and country,” subtly reminding our rulers that they are not God, and carefully addressed the Prime Minister about important issues that need attention.
Next year? One commissioner wished that there was an opportunity to discuss Canada's opposition to Taiwan's desire to be part of the World Health Organization. I wonder if there could be a current issues corner where such matters could be registered. I wonder if we couldn't distribute something like Metro or 24 Hours newspapers so that commissioners would more easily keep up with current news including events in Caledonia and Iraq.
Next year? One of the commissioners indicated that five days of General Assembly taught him more about the denomination than did three years at seminary. Could we have all second-year theological students attend in a non-voting capacity? An increase to the budget provided to the Committee on Church Doctrine would also be helpful as that committee with very limited resources tackles important and fundamental theological issues.
Next year? It may be time to consider how we might continue to meet yearly for the fellowship and education which is important to our small denomination while at the same time considering only half the reports. Requiring all boards and committees to report every year is counterproductive to the completion of the work that has been assigned by the assembly. Perhaps one-half of boards and committees would report one year and the other half would report the following year. It is also seems evident that concluding the assembly earlier and by a fixed time — say noon on Thursday — would save both time and money.
This year we kept the minutes and lost the hours (Milton Berle) but we did so with considerable laughter. This was indeed a happy assembly.
