here are some pictures of various times in the assembly:
My friend, Bishop James Endecott, and I went to the GA this year, just as we did two years ago and just as we do for other events. He drove, and I helped navigate and tried to keep us both alert while driving those 10-14 hours or so, depending on where we were going.
Driving from the Central Iowa area to the south east is an interestinug thing to do several times a year. after a while our words become fewer and furhter between. But what rich fellowship it was. Something that any pastor needs is someone they can talk with. Their wife (or husband if they are a woman pastor) is, and should be their best friend, but as a man, there are just times when we need to talk and express with another man.
With that said, I can't say what all we talked about, but I can tell you that sometimes it's just good to be able to verbally say sopme things that you know you can't otherwise. I fully agree with the Word of God that what's in our hearts we will express in words and deeds. in this case, teh challenge is that as we grow and mature in God, there are things that you ponder, and just would like to be able to express in a "critical" (as in academic critical thinking, not as in negativity) through and paradigm.
When trying to do this, it becomes necessary that your communications are with someone that is a peer, in your paradigm in at least the area of discussion. Otherwise we are speaking below a persons intillect and possibly insulting them by speaking "below them". Or you spend extra time trying to define terminology and other colloqualisms in context of the matter.
Any way, on to the GA. I will not try to give a reply or response to every detail of every day of every event. instead, I will just express my thoughts (and randomly, I might add) and perceptions.
Throughout the entire week, I met other fellow posters at the Jude2.com forums. J2 has been around for longer than I have, as far as the COGOP is concerned. In fact the last GA two yeasrs ago is when I first jouned. My pastor at the time (mentioned above) introduced me to the forum and I signed in sometime just before the GA, but didnt' really do anythign or read much. However when I over heard a bishop talkign to another about J2 and that it was for heathens and that that Pastor Gary (the administrator) needed to clean that thing up, I had to rush back to teh hotel room and log in and read adn participate. I have been a regular since.
It has been a very long time since I was touched by the Holy Spirit in a service. this happened to be nearly every service time at the GA. I was moved to the altar on a handful of times and that , again, hasn't really happened in a long time. I am so busy serving and trying to bless others in services, that I hadn't been blessed myself. Now, don't get me wrong, we have great services, but when I go to the altar as an example instead of being truly blessed and moved to do so, there is a huge difference. I was moved by the holy Ghost to hit the altar several times.
During one especially moving service by Brother Varlack, I had already been in a mode of self evaluation concerning a particular way I had been addressing some people and their attitudes. I had to repent. I may compltely disagree with them in the issue of divorce and remarriage, but that should hav eno bearing on them still being my family in Christ. While they may think that the issue bears directly on soteriological ramifications; my understanding of scripture isn't the same. They are my family in Christ even if they don't think I am to them.
I wanted the holy Ghost to help lead and guide me in all truth, even if it hurts.
I had made up my mind after Sister Cathy Payne spoke that I was going to stay in this church no matter if the particular document and recommendations had passed in the business meeting or not. I had decided that my calling to be where I am is from God, and that was confirmed in my heard many times last week, even though it looked like that particular document and stand was not going to pass and be accepted.
I may find it difficult to believe that someone can actually believe that a man is living in a polygamoius relationship if they had divorced their wife (even if she had an affair or had committed adultery herself), and later married another woman. But that doesn't mean that I don't agree with them in many other issues and doctrines. I do believe that God had created and intended marriage to be between one woman and one man in a lifelong, monogamous rlationship. However, I do also know that we are living in a fallen world. God's forgiveness is complete, though. His grace and mercy is unmerrited as far as we are concerned and when old things are past away and all things become new, this is a complete fogiveness. the price is paid for us.
When Bishop Fisher announced that section 3 of the marriage document and it's recommendations were to be held over, I was okay with that. I was dissapointed, but I wasn't negative towards it. Then when it was asked of the assembly if we wanted to bring it back up in this assembly on Sunday morning, I thought that was pretty good, but I was expecting that it probably still wouldn't pass.
Not having been exposed to their revised/customised version of roberts ules of order, and having an understanding that the assembly must be in "one accord", I didnt' get my hopes up. However, then it came time to discuss the matter, I realized (and later someone confirmed based on opur past procedings) that one accord does NOT necesarily equate unanamous decisian. that particular view was something that I had also been concerned about because if there were many thousands of people there, the chances of there being unanimity was slim to none. none being the closer end becuase with that many people, there was bound to be one or more that would oppose, just for the sake of their having their few minutes of fame behind the microphone with dissention of opinion.
In any case, when it did come back up, the board didn't even come out. the General overseer proceded with the issue according to our own rules and agreed upon procudeures and the recommendations were passed. there were just over 90 people that would not submit or abstain to the GO, their prespeters, or the General assembly.
the following is a cut paste from the main website in this regard:
General Assembly NEWS - SUNDAY Review 08/27/2006 The Sunday morning session started with a great time of worship led by Rolf Woodard, North Carolina, and praise team. At the conclusion of the singing, Brother Fisher asked the praise team to lead us into singing the song, "When He Was on The Cross, I Was On his Mind." A sweet presence of the Lord entered the arena as the delegates sang the lyrics, "HE KNEW ME, YET HE LOVED ME. HE WHOSE GLORY MAKES THE HEAVENS SHINE. SO UNWORTHY OF SUCH MERCY, YET WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS, I WAS ON HIS MIND."Following the worship time, the Assembly entered into a business session to once again discuss the BDP Committee's "Biblical Institution of Marriage" document. Bishop Fisher had received a unanimous acclamation to reopen this session after the counsel of the International Presbytery suggested he request the opinion of the delegates. Bishop Fisher asked for an expression by the State/National Bishops, asking them to stand if they were in support of the document, particularly items two through five of Section Three, which had not yet passed. After the Bishops expressed their support of the items, Bishop Fisher called for the delegates who were in support of the items to stand. A large majority of delegates stood in support of passage of the items.Bishop Fisher gave opportunity to those who disagreed to stand, followed by an opportunity for those standing to abstain or submit to the General Assembly. Only ninety-seven remained standing. Bishop Fisher turned these over to the supervision and counsel of their State/National Overseer. According to the minutes of the church, when one accord cannot be reached, due to a few who will not submit or abstain, the moderator may remove the dissenting voices from the expression. Therefore, Bishop Fisher expressed his authority, as given by the General Assembly, to declare the passage of items two through five of Section Three.Bishop Fisher gave an admonition to the General Presbyters and Bishops to be patient with those churches that will have difficulty accepting this new document. To the ministry he encouraged patience with the membership, and to the membership he encouraged the same. Finally, he reminded us "We are not a one track-minded Church." He encouraged pastors to preach salvation.Following the business session, Bishop Fisher gave a challenge to the Church to put ministry to children, youth, men, and women at the forefront of their ministry. His challenge led into the appointments of ministry leadership, and gave presbyters the opportunity to make their National/State appointments. One change to be noted is the appointment of Bishop David Bryan to serve as the new Global Outreach Ministries Director, replacing the office vacated by new General Overseer, Bishop Randall E. Howard.Following the appointments, the appointees gathered at the front of the arena and anointed the new General Overseer and his wife. Bishop Howard and the General Presbyters then bestowed on Bishop Fisher the title General Overseer Emeritus and prayed for he and his wife, Betty.Following comments and the introduction of his family, Bishop Howard gave a challenge to the Church to join him starting October 1, 2006, for 100 days of prayer for he and the Church. He then shared four directives from his heart for the days to come.One, he called us to reflect love one to another and to the world, avoiding any marks of arrogance.Secondly, he called for each local church to focus on powerful, anointed ministry.Thirdly, he said that our efforts must center on Jesus. It is Jesus that will draw all men to Him.Finally, he called for our church to affirm callings within the Church, as well as our calling as the Church of God of Prophecy. He stated that the Church has a calling--a calling that God wants to use now.Following a closing prayer by General Overseer Howard, the Assembly Mass Choir sang as delegates lit their candles across the arena, symbolizing their acceptance to allow their light to shine bright that the lost may find Christ.I am glad I chose to continue to be obedient in His calling me in this direction.
