Advocacy
The Role of the Co-Moderators between Assemblies
The Standing Rules state that “During the period between assemblies, the Moderator [or Moderators] serves as an ambassador of the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, telling the story of the church’s life and upholding the people of God through prayer” (Manual of the General Assembly, Standing Rule H.1.a.(5). Reflect on the importance of that role to the church and how you would live that out as a Moderator or Co-moderator.
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What a time to serve as Moderator! Our churches mirror a society stressed and politically divided. Scripture tells us “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” By inference, scripture reminds us God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, neither an Apple nor Android user, and our job as co-moderators is to tell that truth in ways our people and the world can understand.
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We view these two years of service as a call to help the Church recognize our unity in the Spirit as one strengthened by our diversity, capable of overcoming the divisions of the world. We look forward to sharing stories of courage in our congregations, praying publicly and privately for the challenges we face, offering encouragement to be God’s people in difficult times, and reminding each other that the only way out of our troubles is through them. We will use our platform to assess challenges to our ministry, advocating with the Office of the General Assembly and the Board of Pensions for change, and seek out younger and broader-based talent. Our goals are to lift up the next generation into leadership during their time of optimism and passion. We want to encourage those with energy to move out front and follow their joy. We give thanks for all who have gone before us, and look with open eyes for the new people God is bringing forth.
“When I was in my 30’s, I was teaching business at a historically black university, and carrying a 12 Step meeting into the county jail. Many of my students were the first in their families to attend college, but the young men in the jail were school dropouts. The contrast lay heavy on my heart. After exploring this sense of call, I moved to NYC to join the Covenant House Faith Community where I worked full time with homeless youth aged 18 to 21. In Faith Community we lived together, took vows of simple living, chaste living, got room and board and $15 a week. I traded a big home for an 8x10 room with a toilet down the hall. After a little over a year, I moved into fundraising and for seven years raised millions of dollars to help get homeless kids off the street. I did this work as an openly gay progressive Presbyterian working primarily with straight conservative Catholic donors. My secret? I focused on what we had in common: wanting to help save homeless kids.” – Arthur Fullerton
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“I wasn’t raised in church— always an outsider in youth groups and worship, my desire for deeper discussions about scripture often led to the dreaded phrase, “I’ll pray for you.” I longed for a place where my questions were welcomed as a sign of curiosity, and not proof of my inadequacy. In college I found belonging among the agnostics and heretics. Imagine my surprise to learn one day that I really believed in the Resurrection of Christ! My sense persists that people on the edge of church want in. These outsiders are desperate to have their uniqueness acknowledged as a blessing, not a fault; their questions and doubts honored as seeds of faith.”
– Rev. Marie Mainard O’Connell