Committee work begins

We got our introduction to the committee on Middle Governing Body Issues on Sunday, July 4, but the first day wasn't about the work of the committee but about getting to know one another so we can work together as the body of Christ. We opened with worship in prayer and in song. Then we spent at least an hour first breaking into groups by what we would do for dinner that night if we had these choices: fast food, specialty restaurants, seafood or cooking at home, then on a personal scavenger hunt with clues about who our fellow committee members are and placing a name next to that interesting fact about that person.

So I got to meet the two people who were born in China (Sam Stone and Miriam Pride), the two people who were candidates for moderator (Julia Leeth and James Belle), and got to know a little more about the two people who sit on either side of me (Ron Bowie who was a city planner and city manager, and Frank Moody who is a retired Army colonel), plus many others (there are 49 members on this committee).

Then we spent time in orientation about our work. As our moderator, Chicago Presbytery executive Cliff Lyda told us, none of us may feel properly trained or prepared for the work we are about to do, but we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us.

The real work begins Monday, when will consider overtures to eliminate synods, allow different synod and presbytery combinations, and whether to study our whole middle governing body structure. So it will be an interesting committee to sit on because so much of what we will consider affects the form and function of these bodies.