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SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION NEWS:
Shalom Newsletter - September 2010
"click here"
Lay Coordinator report - included in the Shalom - see the above.
REPORT ON GENERAL SYNOD 27
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
As many of you know, it is an honor to represent one's peers at a venue larger than life. I was honored to be a delegate of the Southwest Association and of Plymouth Church. When I was approached about the possibility of being a delegate I was told it is a two-term position. I would not only attend the 2009 Synod, but also the 2011 Synod, which was to be held in Hawaii! Well…yes…I agreed. However, Hawaii was cancelled - too expensive. So there I was, left with Grand Rapids, of all places, and, come to find out, I would be going to sunny Florida…Tampa…in 2011…in JULY! Me…a fan of Wisconsin winters!
Well, Grand Rapids, as it turned out was outstanding. As I left the plane and headed to baggage, I was greeted with a huge banner overhead welcoming the United Church of Christ. There were UCC greeters at baggage claim full of information on how to get to your hotel - and lots of cookies (which, as it turned out is a hallmark of General Synods - thousands and thousands of cookies are baked, dropped off, and served every day, day and night. They just kept coming!). After settling into my hotel I headed to the DeVos Place Convention Center to register. I believe there were four main hotels in beautiful downtown Grand Rapids housing UCC delegations, all within a couple blocks from DeVos. There were three ways to walk to the center from my hotel. You could turn right and walk along the downtown streets, past Rosa Parks Circle, a green space with a stage area, past construction - its everywhere - to the main entrance of the center. The second route was through a maze of skywalks connecting hotels and small shopping areas, and entering the second floor to the center. Or you could turn right, go a block and then walk along the beautiful Grand River to the river entrance to the center - a much preferred stroll for most everyone.
The first day of General Synod began with hearing sessions - conversations, if you will, with various key folk or about specific issues. I chose "General Synod 101" as did many first timers. It was here that I first started understanding what General Synod is all about.
General Synod, to put it simply, is The Church. The United Church of Christ. A place to gather nationally for worship and inspiration, to conduct business, elect officers and to set policy. It is a place for leadership - General Synod doesn't "tell" the church what policy she should set; but rather acts in a leadership role, making suggestions, bringing issues to the church's awareness, and initiating conversation at the local church level.
General Synod can also be a transforming experience - through speeches, sermons, responses to urgent matters of the world, the wholeness of the UCC, making new and renewing relationships, it is about individuals, ministries, and groups. And, General Synod is on-going. Friendships are made and renewed, and last a lifetime; spirits are rejuvenated and fed with the Word, and carried home in many ways; and issues, discussed, reworked - civil and heated, are voted upon, tabled, and commissioned for further study and prayer.
One such issue was "Single Governance" - having one board of directors rather than five that now comprise the governance structure various areas in the national setting. This was the hot issue of the Synod - with passionate and convincing arguments made on both sides of the issue. One board could discuss and implement a solution to a concern or problem rather than having it go through the five boards, taking much time and possibly creating additional issues. A single board with representatives from all the ministries can acknowledge an issue and the appropriate board or boards can then work together on the matter. Eliminating the boards, however, could mean loss of representation - reducing the diversity of voices, which could reduce checks and balance. The Synod was charged with further exploration of on this issue, to be brought before General Synod 2011.
Of course, there were many experiences during the week that would take more than just this space in the newsletter to recount. There was the man and woman who embraced in plenary hall before the first gathering - crying rears of joy to see one another again. There were the 70 representatives from new church starts lined up across the platform - new churches since the last Synod. There were the Sacred Conversations on Race, continued discussion on race, gender, education, daily life, criminal justice system, and poverty. There was the inner reflection and growth that is inevitable when you are "outside the box." And…there is the comma. Worship, pray, do good, and remember, preach the gospel at all times, and, if necessary, use words.
Sally Iverson
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