Each person at the General Assembly will take with them their own memories and impressions.
For me, several things stood out.
Laughter was one. It was good to be at an Assembly sprinkled with so many moments of good-natured humour.
It seemed that with laughter came trust. For the most part, this was a permission-giving Assembly. The proposals for Press Go, presbytery restructuring and ministry appraisals all received emphatic endorsement. And although the proposal to replace our subordinate standards with a contemporary confession of faith was referred back to the task group for further work, at least the discussion was constructive. I was encouraged by the standard of theological debate.
The keynote addresses by Professor Randall Prior, on the theme of Reformed and Reforming, were very well received, as were the Malcolm Gordon, Mephymology and We Are All One concerts. These concerts showcased some of the tremendous musical talent that exists in our church, and I was pleased to be able to announce the launch of six annual musical scholarships under the auspices of the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership.
A highlight for me was the reception of our overseas guests, especially those from the Church of North India (CNI), who were here to help us celebrate 100 years of shared mission in the Punjab area. This mission consists of three areas of activity: medical, educational and evangelistic. I was heartened by the continued high level of support for this mission. Accordingly, in consultation with the Global Mission Office, I have decided to make the CNI the focus of the Moderator’s Special Appeal. Over the next two years we will seek to raise $100,000 to help the CNI combat child trafficking and support the work of the Christian Hospital in Jagadhri. The Appeal got off to a promising start at the Assembly, with $2,750 collected in the Sunday morning worship service.
An aspect of local mission that became a subject of considerable discussion at the Assembly was that of hospital chaplaincy. In considering a request for funding from the national budget, the Assembly heard several personal accounts that illustrated the value of hospital chaplaincy. This made the decision not to grant the request for national funding all the more difficult, but the Assembly was of the view that chaplaincy should be funded regionally. I have written to presbyteries, UDCs and parishes accordingly, urging them to support hospital chaplaincy in their areas.
As mentioned above, the theme of the Assembly was Reformed and Reforming. At its core, it is about issues of identity and direction. I am looking forward over the next two years to exploring with parishes, presbyteries and UDCs what this might mean in a context that is variously described as post-Christendom and pluralistic.
Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to uphold in prayer the Council of Assembly, the Assembly Executive Secretary, the Service Team, the Assembly Office and our national committees as we endeavour to implement the decisions of the Assembly and serve the Church.