Dear Beloved:
I had the pleasure of attending the General Assembly meeting this last two weeks. I wasn’t physically in Milwaukee, but observed, via livestream, a number of committee meetings, plenary sessions and worship alongside preparing for Sundays, discussing our fall events, and other normal experiences of pastoral ministry of a church.
Martha asked, “Are you having fun?” To which I replied, “I don’t think ‘fun’ is the right word, but I am enjoying being present.” I deeply value the ministry of this church. I believe the work of the wider church is the work of the particular church and the labor of love of each and every disciple.
I developed another level of appreciation for every worshipper online with us on a Sunday shouting, “Get her a mic that works!” and “why can’t the video keep up?” I reconnected with friends across the country in other presbyteries, also not at the meetings, but who were connected, commenting and prayerfully engaging. I laughed with the commissioners at references to their BINGO cards and wept with them in a variety of poignant, painful lamentations. I got bored, well-informed, and occasionally had to check my superiority complex…. But most of all–
most of all, I moved from my own angst about the future of this beloved community to a full on joy about our past, present and future ministry for the glory of God.
-90+ young adults attended as Young Adult Advisory Delegates. They made it plain that they are not the future–they are the church now. And they are engaged!
-From around the world, religious leaders of Reformed and other Christian traditions brought greetings, celebrations and challenges to us. We are not alone!
-From across the country, commissioners engaged in parliamentary procedures with a passion for proclamation of the word across aspects of institutional life and witness that demonstrated a deep faith in ministry of the PC (USA) even when we disagreed just as passionately about how to live that good news forward. We are the church alive!
-Which reminds me–the 2 divisions of the denomination have completed unification. There is no longer both a “Presbyterian Mission Agency” and an “Office of the General Assembly.” In its place is one “Presbyterian Life and Witness” with 36 ministries plus GA Standing Committees. This has reduced duplication of services and costs. Restructuring also emphasizes that the “corporate” work is about living in and for Christ and witnessing to Christ’s work in the world. It has been a painful process of change and joyful hope-filled transformative action. It is the restructuring work that ultimately led one of the most discussed motion of the Assembly and highlighted the grief and loss that attends reorganization. We are being reformed!
Beloved, if you think I have wasted my time, and thus yours, I urge you to consider these words (paraphrased) from a speaker during that aforementioned contentious debate. “Friends we are speaking as if those involved are a few people on the staff that don’t matter. But we are them. This is our work. The actions taken are what we did.”
This is the meaning of being a connectional church. I’ve spent a good portion of the past two weeks learning about your work, made possible through your physical labors here in Millburn and throughout the world through your gifts of time, talents and treasures (per capita and benevolent offerings.)
Wyoming — well done, good and faithful servants of the Lord. We are the Presbyterian Church (USA)!
If you want details about the work you’ve contributed to please go to the Presbyterian Outlook pages by clicking on the ink below or to the General Assembly homepage https://pcusa.org/227th-general-assembly-2026/general-assembly-news-media
Peace,
RevBev
WYOMING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 