wfn.org | Going to school, General Assembly style

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6636 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

12-June-2001
GA01079

Going to school, General Assembly style

by Nancy Rodman

LOUISVILLE, June 12 - "I'm just dying to be a commissioner."  Those words
were spoken by Mark Brainerd, one of the 50 seminary students enrolled in
the "Presbyterianism:  Principles and Practice" class at the 213th General
Assembly, or annual meeting, of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

	Over the course of the week the Assembly is in session and the month after
adjournment, Brainerd will sit in on meetings of his assigned committee,
keep a journal of significant actions, complete and write comments on
required readings, track an issue of his choosing, and write a 10-15 page
position paper on that issue.  The week began with a nine-hour preparation
class and includes daily debriefing sessions.

	Brainerd is following the work of the Assembly Committee on Ordination
Standards, his first choice among the committees.  He has yet to choose the
issue he will track for his paper, but he is deeply interested in the issues
surrounding the section of the PC (USA) constitution known as G-6.0106b
which deals with ordination standards and requires fidelity in marriage and
chastity in singleness.  "Do we alter it, remove it, or let it stand?" he
asks.

	The information coming to commissioners is massive and can be confusing,
but Brainerd is impressed with how well the Ordination Standards Committee
has stayed on task.  Debate has been balanced between pros and cons, civil,
and peaceful.

	Students enrolled in the class come from all the Presbyterian seminaries as
well as from seminaries not related to the PC (USA) and may take the class
for credit or audit it.  The class is sponsored by San Francisco Theological
Seminary, the Committee on Theological Education, and the Office of the
General Assembly and students may cross-register to earn credits from their
seminaries.

Dr. Jack Rogers and Dr. David Tomlinson lead the teaching team.  The purpose
of this annual course is to inform seminarians about the structure and
mission of the Presbyterian Church, give them first hand experience with the
General Assembly, and encourage them to focus on an issue being debated in
the denomination.  Brainerd learned of the class through the Committee on
Preparation for Ministry of his home presbytery, New Covenant.

	Of his experience at the General Assembly, Brainerd says, "It's so
rewarding because I'm not a lifelong Presbyterian.  I grew up as a United
Methodist and have been a Presbyterian about eight years.  I felt this would
be an invaluable way for me learn how the Presbyterian Church operates.  It
has far exceeded my expectations.  The professors have incorporated worship
and prayer.  They have achieved intimacy in the midst of all this
information."

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