To say it has been a busy summer for the Christian Church in Ohio is to understate a huge reality. In addition to a full summer camp season, with a dedicated but innovatively pieced-together cadre of newer and well-seasoned individuals serving as Summer Camp Staff, we also had several projects going on including the General Assembly of the Christian Church in the United States and Canada. This biennial event did not happen on site two years ago because of the pandemic, and so many were especially looking forward to us being physically together again. I have been attending General Assemblies since I was in high school going to my first one in St. Louis in 1979. I have continued to attend because I think it is the very best place to witness the mission and ministry of the entire church and to engage with those involved in ministry on our behalf, whether across the United States and Canada or around the world. Plus it is just plain old fun!
The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) convened in Louisville, Kentucky, from July 29 to August 1, 2023 and over 3,000 people were in attendance, more than at the last in-person Assembly in Des Moines in 2019. The Christian Church in Ohio was well represented. The “Regional Roll Call” in the Opening Session found our Regional Minister, Allen Harris, leading a small representative group across the plenary hall stage as the Region was introduced. Included in those on stage were: Rev. Shelby Baxter-Andrews, Tomas Hernandez, Kevin Poe, C. Stonebraker-Martinez, Rev. Luther Young, Rev. Sarah West, and Candis Wilson. Participants in the Assembly hall from Ohio had signs with our logo on them and cheered when our “delegation” was on stage. Rev. Harris also led Ohioans in our famous “O-H-I-O” cheer.
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Other Christian Church in Ohio leaders before the General Assembly included: Rev. E. Regis “Regee” Bunch, Pastor of Fifth Christian Church of Cleveland, helped to lead the communion service in the opening worship service Saturday night. Throughout the Assembly the artistry of LaVerne Thorpe (from Gender Road Christian Church) and Erin King (from First Christian Church of Bellefontaine) was inspiring people in the “In Our Midst” art area in the Exhibit Hall. Jackie Compton Bunch (from Woodland Christian Church, Columbus) was honored on Sunday afternoon of the Assembly by the National Benevolent Association with a new fund in her name. Candis Wilson chaired the Committee looking at the re-election of the Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens for 2nd term, who following Candis’ presentation was reelected resoundingly.
Rev. Luther Young, (from Woodland Christian Church) Moderator of the Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, emceed the Alliance Q Dinner on Saturday night. At that same dinner the Rev. Nathan A. Russell, Pastor of Washington Avenue Christian Church in Elyria, received the Peevey/Harris Award Winner at Alliance Q Dinner in honor of his work expanding the inclusive ministry of the congregation where he serves. Rev. Russell also led the singing of the Alma Mater at the TCU/Brite Luncheon Tuesday. C. Stonebraker-Martinez, co-Director of the Inter-Religious Task Force in Cleveland led a workshop on art & activism for the Assembly. They also helped emcee the Disciples Peace Fellowship Breakfast and was significantly involved in shaping and presenting several business items. Rev. Steven Gower, Pastor of Olmsted Community Church UCC, helped lead the Offering Invitation during closing worship Tuesday night. Several Christian Church in Ohio people sang in the All Assembly Choir including Marilyn Bolen (Ghent Christian Church), Margaret Green-Masters (Hiram Christian Church), Katie Baird (Mantua Center Christian Church). Booths which offered information on mission and ministry programs in the Ohio were provided by Harmony Grows and the Cleveland Christian Home. Rev. Melanie Harrell Delaney, Ohio Disciples clergy, helped staff the Bethany Fellows booth. Finally, Rev. Olivia Bryan Updegrove, who is the Minister for Ministries Across Generations: Children, Youth, Young Adults and More with the Disciples Home Missions. She and several others planned a comprehensive and meaningful program for the children and youth who were at the Assembly. Speaking of which, there were also a LOT of Ohioans who volunteered for the amazing children and youth programming at the Assembly, so many I risk missing most if I try to name them. We also know individuals from Ohio served as Ushers for the worship and business sessions. If you know someone who did volunteer or serve as an usher, please thank them.
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In addition to the stirring services of worship, the thought-provoking workshops, the engaging conversations over meals and in the hallways, the informative exhibit hall displays, and the fun excursions around beautiful downtown Louisville, there was the business of the church. Two much anticipated items of business passed, including the re-election of the Rev. Teresa Hord Owens as General Minister and President to another term and the changes to the Design and Covenant of the Christian Church, including a major imagination of the way the whole church works together. If you would like to read the business items and learn this General Assembly’s decisions on them, you can go online here: https://ga.disciples.org/business/
We invited those from Ohio who had leadership in the General Assembly to share the daily recaps from each day of the assembly written by the Communications office of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). You may find Saturday Sunday Monday and Tuesday's recaps by clicking on the day. And while he did not attend this year’s General Assembly you can still find some deep wisdom from our resident unofficial historian in the CCinOH Rev. Jeff Gill online at:
https://open.substack.com/pub/knapsack/p/reflections-on-an-event-i-didnt-attend?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Reflections from the General Assembly
We thank Rev. Nathan Russell and Rev. Steven Gower for providing these reflections on the General Assembly. Both not only attended but were leaders during the event.
The first law of physics is: "Things in motion tend to stay in motion; things at rest tend to stay at rest."
In the hot and humid summer of 2013 in Orlando, Florida, the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) passed a Sense of the Assembly Resolution GA-1327 "BECOMING A PEOPLE OF GRACE AND WELCOME TO ALL." The resolution was far from perfect; quite frankly, it was milquetoast. It passed by a standing vote, but the dissent was noticeable. Following that assembly, many congregations left the denomination. On a personal note, I went back to my home region, the Christian Church in the Southwest, and still had to be closeted before the ecclesial body that would (eventually) approve me for ordination. Had that resolution not passed, I fear the Church would have stayed at rest. And yet, the Church took a step, albeit a small one, and things in motion tend to stay in motion.
For some time, I've struggled with the idea of pragmatism, for pragmatism can provide us with the illusion of having accomplished something at the expense of greater and much-needed justice. The perfect can also be the enemy of the good. There is a cultivated tension between these two truths. One critique of pragmatism is "justice delayed is justice denied," and that is true, and the first law of physics is also true: "Things in motion tend to stay in motion; things at rest tend to stay at rest.”
On Tuesday, August 1, during the final business session of General Assembly 2023, we UNANIMOUSLY adopted an Emergency Sense of the Assembly Resolution: GA-2352 "INVITATION TO OPPOSE ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION AND AFFIRM THE DIGNITY OF TRANSGENDER AND GENDER-DIVERSE PEOPLE." The resolution is AWESOME, and it calls the church to bold, prophetic action in response to harmful and unjust legislation. Had GA-1327 not passed in 2013, or if we delayed the resolution for something better, I'm not sure the Church would have passed GA-2352 at our most recent assembly. Yes, the Church in motion tends to stay in motion.
I look forward to our Church's continuing motion and accelerating movement.
Peace abundant,
Rev. Nathan A. Russell, Senior Pastor
Washington Avenue Christian Church, Elyria
It was wonderful to gather in Louisville as our church. For me, it was quite a busy time, and I enjoyed every moment.
General Assembly is always like a family reunion (taking my family) and getting to see so many wonderful people and catching up on how God is moving in our lives is always refreshing. I am so proud of our church and delighted to see so much work come to fruition as resolutions were debated and voted on.
Having the opportunity to serve on the General Board and Administrative Committee these last few years, I've had the privilege to see the amount of work that goes into so many of these resolutions and the passion that much of our church has for loving justice. The biggest moment of worship and joy for me was the resounding affirmation for GA 2352, total silence in opposition, and cheers of praise as the announcement came that our church adopted an "Invitation to oppose Anti-Trans Legislation and Affirm the Dignity of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People.”
Re-electing our General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens and hearing her inspirational sermon in closing worship were great Holy moments.
The work that might have the biggest impact for the future of our denomination and our impact in sharing the gospel with the world was GA2343 – Amendments to the Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I was also honored with the privilege of helping in closing worship to speak about how Disciples Mission Fund is all of our mission fund. DMF is a great example of how our church is like family.
I am grateful for our church as an example of the Kindom of God within us and among us!
Blessings,
Rev. Steven Gower
Olmsted Community Church, Olmstead Falls
To see more photos from the General Assembly, please check out our Facebook Album at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.670843521747907&type=3
AND if you attended General Assembly and you'd be willing to share some of your photos with the Region, please email them to ccio@ccinoh.org and/or if you posted them on Social Media, DM us to let us know that we have permission to use them.