General Assembly Matters, Now More Than Ever
- Christina Berry
- May 27
- 3 min read
I’ve been asked a couple of times lately to write some reflections for weddings. I gladly do this for my friends, who tell me I have a way with words. I really enjoy writing and I’m happy to do it. But this year for the first time, I’ve wondered if I should add something to my writing to assure folks that I actually did write it myself! So as I begin this reflection on June, I want to assure you that I’m writing every word, not using Artificial Intelligence (AI)!
I’m not sure what is going to happen in the future with AI, but what I see happening now is that at a time when we most need to understand and trust one another, AI makes us less and less likely to do so. That’s why I am happy that in addition to being “wedding month,” June this year is also the month for the General Assembly! I’m excited about that because at General Assembly, we discern together, as people, in the same space. Nothing artificial about that!
I won’t even try to detail all the issues that GA will consider in Milwaukee; there are links at the end of this letter that will give you that information. What I want to lift up to you is that every other year, the General Assembly gathers as the connectional church. Commissioners and stated clerks from every Presbytery come, connected not only by membership but by our commitment to Jesus Christ. We don’t make decisions by trading emails back and forth; our conclusions emerge from interaction in committees, in plenary sessions, and over meals. Our conversations are real and heartfelt; our worship is inspiring; our prayers are multi-layered and multi-lingual; our decisions are led by the Holy Spirit. Think of it as the biggest, longest, most productive Session meeting you can possibly imagine!
You may wonder what this has to do with you or your church. I find that question painful, because the answer is “everything.” Our congregations are not stand-alone entities but interlocking circles whose decisions and participation affect all of us. Decisions will be made: votes will be taken and overtures will become amendments to the Book of Order, sent back to the Presbyteries for their votes to ratify. Folks will get elected to serve in various positions, and their leadership will have an impact on you and your congregation. Resources will be developed that churches can use; new ideas will emerge; new friendships will develop; hymns will be sung and prayers said that will echo back into congregational worship. The interlocking circles of councils: sessions, presbyteries, synods, and general assembly, work together with one another to hear and follow God’s leading. Whether you are personally there or not, GA matters to all of us.
I hope that you will follow along online and in the updates as we gather to seek to represent the mind of Christ, discern our path, and be a witness to the world of the good news of God’s love. Please pray for your commissioners and young adult advisory delegate: Teaching Elder Melissa Krabbe, Ruling Elder Mary Buchele, and YAAD Sophia Randle. Pray for Joseph and for me. Pray for all who are traveling and serving and meeting and voting and working. Let us know what you think in your emails, on Facebook, and when you see us in person. Your Presbytery leaders are working diligently together to find more and more paths to true connections with one another so that we can better serve with energy, intelligence (NOT artificial intelligence!), imagination, and love.
Grace and Peace
Christina
Here are links for you to keep up with GA;
General information
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