General Assembly Overview

The 195th General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is set to take place in Rogers, AR, June 15-19. This year I will be going but I’ll just be Gabe’s chauffer and not a commissioner. Gabe is the youth advisory delegate (YAD) for Robert Donnell Presbytery, that makes me a YAD dad this year. I have been to GA pretty regularly over the past few years, and several of those were filled with contention, hurt feelings, and infighting. While nothing was resolved perfectly for anyone in those cases, the church has moved on a little bit from the continued disagreements of the recent past to some other pressing issues. The main issue being the closing of Memphis Theological Seminary (MTS) this year on July 31. There will be a great deal of discussion around what our next steps are for educating future ministers if the CP church. There may also be a few discussions around some ongoing Judicial issues between Presbyteries and Synods. Overall though, this meeting seems set-up to be one of the more peaceful GAs in recent memory. I can’t say how greatful I will be for that.

One of the main reasons I am glad for this possibility, and the reason I enjoy going so often, is that I know so many CP ministers and members that it feels like a reunion of sorts to attend. I am hoping that during a year that appears to offer less work and more free time that those of us there will be able to renew any bonds of family and friendship that have been strained in recent years. If the CP church has any unique quality that has kept us grounded all these years it is our collective, close knit connections. We are small, but unified, at least that was true. I hope and pray we can get back to those foundational understandings of ourselves.

It won’t just be Gabe and me that will be there. I know Renee Brown will be there with the Worship Adventure crew. Many other friends of this church will be in attendance too. It will be nice to reconnect in person even if we do have to go all the way to the Ozarks to do so. Pray for us in our travels and for peace among the commissioners and those in attendance. May God bless the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and this, the 195th General Assembly.

Keep coming back to this page throughout the summer. I will be updating this like a travel blog with all the things I have on my calendar. I be in Arkansas this week. A couple of trips to Memphis are upcoming, and it will culminate with my big trip to Bulgaria/Greece at the beginning of September.

I hope to see you all soon.