One year ago today . . .

It was exactly a year ago today that I was confirmed as Vice-Moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). As I reflect on that experience, it was was a wild one for me. According to the rules of the Manual of the General Assembly, the Vice-Moderator candidate is confirmed the first business meeting after the election of the Moderator but last year the Stated Clerk's election took precedence so I had to wait until the day after assembly committees were done. On top of that, I had to attend my assigned assembly committee - which was Church Orders and Ministry, where we dealt with Amemdment B, Authoritative Interpretation, the Peace, Unity and Purity (PUP) report, and the Bush decision from Pittsburgh Presbytery among other things. But even through all that it was a great week for Bruce and I as we had the opportunity to meet and greet others as well as moderating the floor of the Assembly. Just sending you some pics of that event:

My fellow commissioners at our table on Assembly Committee 05 - Church Orders and Ministry. From Left to Right - Mary Jorgenson, me, Lloyd Green, YAD Jenna Gunnoe and YAD Anne Grewe. We had a BLAST sitting together and we still keep in touch!

That's me giving my opening speech to the Assembly before confirmation.

Fuzzy image of me answering the constitutional questions after confirmation vote with Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick and Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow. Thank God I wasn't asked any questions from the floor! ;-)

Declared official by Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick. See the relief Bruce and I have on our faces!

Bruce officially "crowning" me with the Vice-Moderator stole.

Bruce and I taking a picture at the Moderator's reception on Sunday after worship.

That's me moderating over the Assembly during a plenary session. A blogger remarked that I look like a Wal-Mart greeter with the blue stole over the green shirt ;-)

That's me receiving a gift from the Youth Advisory Delegates (YAD's) at the close of the Assembly. I received a watch with the Presbyterian logo and a box of index cards with notes from YAD's wishing me well the next two years.

Picture of Bruce and I with the YAD advisors after GA was over. From left to right: Mary Kohlsdorf, Joe Genau, Bruce, Jorge Sayago-Gonzalez, Joanna Jew Dunn and me.

Next week I will post some reflections of the past year and what is happening for this next year. Thanks all for listening and viewing and see you soon!