wfn.org | Logo and Theme Approved for 1997 General Assembly

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Date: 13-Jun-96 
 
96220       Logo and Theme Approved for 1997 General Assembly 
 
                          by Alexa Smith 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--A logo and theme that lifts up partnership and peace -- 
"Have Salt within You and Be at Peace with One Another" (Mark 9:50b) -- has 
been approved for the 1997 General Assembly, set for Syracuse, N.Y.  
 
     The thematic designs, created by the Syracuse Committee on Local 
Arrangements, were approved May 24 by the Committee on the Office of the 
General Assembly (COGA). 
 
     "The General Assembly is a new bowl every year.  And the participatory 
style of planning in '97 is a uniquely new bowl," Local Arrangements chair 
Kris Sammons of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse told COGA. 
 
     Sammons explained that salt has both local and biblical significance. 
Syracuse is known as "The Salt City," and salt deposits exist within the 
six hosting presbyteries.  Salt, she said, appears in ancient covenants and 
is frequently mentioned in the Bible.  It is essential to life and, Sammons 
said, Jesus calls the church to be the salt of the earth. 
 
     The Old Testament scripture is 2 Kings 2:20:  "...  Bring me a new 
bowl and put salt in it.'" 
 
     The six presbyteries sharing in the planning of  "Gala 1997," which is 
the name adopted by the Local Arrangements committee for their Assembly 
preparation efforts, are Albany, Cayuga-Syracuse, Geneva, Northern New 
York, Susquehanna Valley and Utica.  The presbyteries are represented in 
the logo by the six hands on the salt bowl, its visual centerpiece, with 
the hand of God above the bowl.  The art is representative of Haudensaunee 
(League of Six Nations/Iroquis) art. 
 
     Cayuga-Syracuse is officially designated as the host presbytery. 
 
     "Partnership came [as a theme] again and again to us," Sammons told 
the Presbyterian News Service.  "Cayuga-Syracuse is not a very big 
presbytery.  And we knew we'd need the assistance of our neighboring 
presbyteries.  When we asked if they would like to join us, they readily 
agreed." 
 
     She said the emphasis on peace is a way to acknowledge the conflicts 
that are so alive in the wider Presbyterian Church.  "There are differences 
 ... and maybe there always will be.  But that doesn't mean we can't work 
together and create something good out of it," Sammons said. 
 
     Manager of Assembly Services Deborah Davies says it is unusual to have 
six presbyteries working so closely to pull off an Assembly -- but that 
such partnerships will probably become more common, depending on available 
resources and the size of future host presbyteries. 
 
     Last October, COGA voted to return responsibility for Assembly theme 
and logo development to local committees, with input from other General 
Assembly-level entities and subject to final approval by COGA. 
 
     Sammons said the Syracuse committee will have an exhibit booth at this 
year's Assembly in Albuquerque and hopes to have available some preliminary 
tourist and mission information on northern New York. 

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