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GA06017
New moderator reflects on faith-walk adventure Current struggles are where "God meets and blesses us"
By Corey Schlosser-Hall
BIRMINGHAM, June 15 * Fresh off her election and installation as the new moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Rev. Joan Gray suggested to a group of reporters, "Maybe we could reframe our current situation as the struggle in which God meets and blesses us."
Gray and the other three candidates stressed the need for unity. Gray encouraged commissioners to find value in living with ambiguity rather than prematurely press for clarity on the issues that divide us before God leads to that clarity.
Echoing her key theme from the election * "God makes a way where there is no way" * Gray reflected, "As a pastor I can tell you story after story of people who got to dead ends and God met them there. Sometimes there is a calling to be in struggle."
A bit astonished by the election results, Gray began the press briefing by saying these next two years will be a "faith walk adventure. This is not something I was planning. It will be a faith walk that I hope the whole church will join me in."
When asked whether she would attend post-Assembly gatherings of groups such as San Diego Presbytery and the New Wineskins who have stated they will reassess their denominational participation if the Theological Task Force report is approved, she said, "I will go where I am invited, but I won’t intrude. I understand that people need to be together to do their grief work."
She continued to emphasize the theme of listening that she stressed during her candidacy saying, "I’m a spiritual director. Listening is a powerful thing. And I will go as moderator to those places throughout the church where people are in pain."
When asked her opinion about the emphasis the election process placed on issues internal to the PC(USA), Gray quoted Emil Brunner who wrote, "I believe the church exists for mission as fire exists for burning." She added, "We cannot forsake our energy for mission. But sometimes we need to care for our own house. I really feel my call is to tend to our common life together."
Up until now, Gray has been an intentional interim pastor. She is currently between interim pastorates. She intends her duties as the General Assembly moderator to be her day job for the next two years.
Gray introduced Robert Wilson, elder commissioner from North Alabama Presbytery, as the person she will nominate for vice moderator. The Assembly will vote on the nomination later in the week. Wilson, a retired mechanical engineer, noted that his three priorities in retirement are to "work for the Lord, other volunteer work, and spoil my grandchildren."
The first two priorities will get lots of attention in the coming two years.
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