The enthusiastic congregation gathered at Knox, Ottawa, for the opening of the General Assembly experienced a worship service that was memorable. The presence of several hundred ready-to-sing Presbyterians put the average karaoke bar to shame. The Knox organ and choir were properly "classical" in that wonderful building and brought sweet memories to those who are weary of the 7/11 songs of seven words sung 11 times.
Holy Communion included the Biblical drink of wine and also water (but, not grape juice). Somehow I could not get the wedding feast at Cana out of my head and wondered if on this particular occasion what had been water had turned into wine or perhaps wine had turned into water? This question kept me occupied during the Assembly. I suspect that both actions occurred as sometimes the Assembly was cautious and anxious sailing the waters of our time and at other times opened the wine of new challenges and opportunities.
The election of Rev. Cheol Soon Park as Moderator was, of course, unanimous. A busload of people from Toronto Korean Church had driven from Toronto to be present as a sign of their support. Later in the evening the Korean contingent made the long return trip home in order to arise early for worship and work. It was unfortunate that these folks, many wearing their traditional Korean dress, could not have been more visible, perhaps seated at the front of the church.
That we prayed and sang in French, our second national language, and sang a little in Spanish was appreciated but it also tended to highlight that there were no prayers or hymns in the first language of our Moderator and in what is now the second language of our denomination, Korean.
I could not help but wonder why the Assembly theme "To Seek Justice" was not evidenced at that teaching moment called "the offering." With suffering brothers and sisters in China and Burma and elsewhere around the world it would have been an appropriate sign of our commitment to justice if the offering was designated to help elsewhere rather than for Assembly expenses.
Rev. Dr. Hans Kouwenberg, retiring moderator, displayed both at the opening service and throughout the Assembly his ability and commitment as he spoke about the older "Presbyterian" brother (presbuteros translated as "elder") in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son. Later in the week, on an unforgettable Tuesday evening, the focus was on First Nations' poignant stories and colourful dance. Kouwenberg spoke with eloquent passion of our call to justice and need for reconciliation with our First Nations sisters and brothers. Oh what a night!
Meanwhile back at the opening service and throughout the Assembly, guests were introduced, guests who pointed us beyond ourselves to the larger world of denomination and religion (this time Buddhist) that cannot be ignored and who challenge us to be open to the ways in which God continues to love his world.
Park was a gentle Moderator of the General Assembly, speaking wisely, praying thoughtfully and being firm when occasions called for it. During his year as Moderator he will no doubt be a good ambassador for Christ and for the Presbyterian Church.
The justice theme was a constant at Assembly but other than Tuesday night's focus on First Nations it tended to be a catch-word that lacked definition and content – more water than wine.
Of course there was humour both intended and unintended. One of the students from our colleges brought down the house when he solemnly declared that "we are a united church."
The Friday sederunt also reflected the wine and water that is the Presbyterian Church in Canada. There was genuine enthusiasm on the part of the ruling elder who sought a method to place a motion that committed the denomination to yearly Assemblies though he would have been ruled out of order had his motion been proposed. The debate about yearly or biennial Assemblies will continue into the foreseeable future or so it seems.
Strange to many ears, the closing of the Assembly involved several commissioners giving advice to the Young Adult Observers, the Assembly and the Moderator – all of which is a procedural no-no. The Loyal Address was quite unusual in that though it consisted of a song prepared for the occasion – a song that focussed on the Assembly itself rather than on our loyalty and commitment to the world in which we live.
Now that the 134th Assembly is over, the work begins on carrying out what we have agreed to do and preparing for next year's Assembly in Hamilton, Ont. Was it an Assembly of Wine or Water? There wasn't much to be ashamed of, nor were there words that could be called prophetic. Probably and as usual, we achieved a compromise of watered-down wine; or, was it wine-flavoured water?
On the Saturday prior to the opening of the General Assembly close to 100 elders gathered at St. Paul's Church for a series of workshops sponsored by the Elders' Institute of St. Andrew's Hall. This was the sixth year of this program, a program that has helped raise St. Andrew's profile and provided support for ruling elders. (Full Disclosure: I was involved in this event so you may count this as propaganda; though my words are true). An overture has asked that the Wednesday of Assembly be a day of teaching and this will be considered with a report to next year's General Assembly.
