wfn.org | GALA '97 Prepares For 209th General Assembly (1997)

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

04-June-1997 
97227 
 
       GALA '97 Prepares For 209th General Assembly (1997) 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
SYRACUSE, N.Y.--GALA (General Assembly Local Arrangements) '97, a 
six-presbytery partnership with hundreds of volunteers, is busy adding its 
11th-hour touches to the 209th General Assembly (1997) here in "the Salt 
City" of New York State.  
 
     Under the theme "Have salt within you and you will be at peace with 
one another," (Mark 9:50b) the GALA '97's responsibilities include 
greeting, informing and entertaining visitors at the ONCenter (Onondaga 
County Convention Center/War Memorial Complex) in downtown Syracuse June 
14-21. 
 
     Representatives from the presbyteries of Albany, Cayuga-Syracuse, 
Geneva, Northern New York, Susquehanna Valley and Utica form the committee, 
according to Kris Sammons, GALA '97 chair.   
 
     Business at the Assembly will be handled by 570 elected commissioners 
-- half clergy, half elders. But they are only part of the roughly 2,700 
people who will attend the largest annual event in the life of the 
denomination. 
 
     In addition to commissioners, there will be 172 youth advisory 
delegates -- one from each presbytery, 30 theological student advisory 
delegates from Presbyterian-related and other theological institutions, 15 
ecumenical advisory delegates from other denominations and eight overseas 
advisory delegates from outside the United States. 
  
     The rest of the crowd is made up of staff from General Assembly 
agencies and middle governing bodies, reporters from both church and 
secular media, representatives of various Presbyterian special interests, 
Presbyterians from the immediate area who are involved with local 
arrangements and other visitors for whom the Assembly may be an annual or 
once-in-a-lifetime experience. 
 
     Sammons said mid-June is late spring in Syracuse, and the roses (the 
New York State flower) will be in bloom. Daytime temperatures should be 
ideal -- in the 70s to low 80s -- but Sammons recommends people bring a 
jacket or sweater and, to be on the safe side, an umbrella. 
 
     "The weather will be comfortable," Sammons said. "But you need to come 
prepared. It's still spring." 
 
     Sammons suggested that, if at all possible, visitors either come early 
or stay late to experience one or more of the "Partnership Packages." 
Among these are an overnight tour of the Finger Lakes area or a trip to the 
Adirondacks. For those with extra time during Assembly week, a "Mission 
Tour," with options ranging from glimpses of Syracuse history to 
exploration of its geography and culture, is a must.  Sammons said a few 
tickets are still available, although many of the tours are already sold 
out. 
 
     Worship, among the most memorable Assembly experiences for many, 
begins Sunday, June 15, and continues every day thereafter. Drawing from 
the rich cultural diversity of the partner presbyteries, Sammons said, 
worship experiences will include a 700-person mass choir, bagpipes, a brass 
ensemble, the rendition of a special Assembly anthem, the commissioning of 
mission personnel, custom-made banners from each presbytery and Holy 
Communion. She said worship will also incorporate the theme of Moderator 
John M. Buchanan's "Common Ground Conference" on June 13, as well as visual 
and liturgical art reflected in the Presbyterian faith. 
 
     "We anticipate 6,000 easily for opening worship," Sammons said. "We 
are expecting more than 50 buses of Presbyterians coming from the six 
presbyteries, plus many other folks who will find the drive a rather easy 
commute. We're anticipating this to be a very lively, vigorous place." 
 
     Also on June 15, GALA Fest will enable local Presbyterians and 
Assembly participants to enjoy entertainment, food and good old-fashioned 
fun out-of-doors (weather permitting). A program of  all the festivities 
planned for that afternoon will be distributed in Syracuse. Commissioners 
and advisory delegates will automatically receive a ticket to the GALA Fest 
lunch, which will come in a reusable souvenir lunch bag. Others may 
purchase food from a street vendor or restaurant. 
 
     Nonetheless, Sammons said, participants won't want to miss any part of 
GALA Fest, which includes the Moderator's Reception, the youth advisory 
delegates' traditional tree planting ceremony, a special art exhibit and 
more. The event will be held outside the ONCenter. 
 
     The city of Syracuse is also eagerly anticipating the event, according 
to Tracey Kegebein, sales director for the Syracuse Convention and 
Visitor's Bureau. She said the Assembly is expected to pump roughly $2.9 
million into the local economy. 
 
     Kegebein said Syracuse is a "second-tier city" and one that has broken 
into the large convention market only within the last few years after the 
ONCenter opened in 1992.  "This is still one of the largest conventions 
that we've been able to book here," she said. "So that certainly adds to 
the excitement." 

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