Welcome to Presbyblog
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks for coming by.
My name is Bob Davis. I am the pastor of Chula Vista Presbyterian Church in San Diego Presbytery. I have been involved in ministry and denominational events since 1996. I am using this site as a repository of material from a variety of endeavors with which I have been involved over the last fourteen years.
- Current: This will be a section devoted to preparing for -- and reporting from -- the 219th General Assembly (2010) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The General Assembly convenes on July 3 and is scheduled to adjourn on July 11, 2010.
June 30, 2010: Assembly Committee #19: Health Issues
June 30, 2010: Assembly Committee #18: Board of Pensions, Foundation, PPC
June 29, 2010: Assembly Committee #17: Review of GA Permanent Committees
June 28, 2010: Assembly Committee #16: Theological Issues and Institutions
June 28, 2010: Assembly Committee #15: Church Growth, Christian Education, and PILP
June 24, 2010: Assembly Committee #14: Middle East Peacemaking Issues
June 23, 2010: Assembly Committee #13 -- Peacemaking and International Issues
June 22, 2010: Assembly Committee #12 -- Civil Unions and Christian Marriage
June 17, 2010: Assembly Committee #11 -- Social Justice Issues B - the Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World
June 16, 2010: Assembly Committee #10 -- Social Justice Issues A – Promotion of Social Righteousness
June 15, 2010: Assembly Commitee #9 -- Mission Coordination
June 14, 2010: Assembly Committee #8 -- Ecumenical and Interfaith Relationships
June 12, 2010: A Non-Business Interlude
June 11, 2010: Assembly Committee #7 -- Form of Government Revision
June 10, 2010: Assembly Committee #6 -- Church Orders and Ministry
June 9, 2010: Assembly Committee #5 -- Church Polity
June 8, 2010: Assembly Committtee #4 -- Middle Governing Bodies
June 7, 2010: Assembly Committee #3 -- General Assembly Procedures
June 4, 2010: Agendas for Assembly Committees are posted.
June 3, 2010: Assembly Committee #2 -- Bills & Overtures
Bills & Overtures is like the wedding coordinator at your church: they make sure the groomsmen are with the groom in a room and the bridesmaids are with the bride in another room, the decorations are ready, and then they tell everyone when it is time to march down the aisle. Sometimes they plead, sometimes they nudge, sometimes they push.
Bills & Overtures has that responsibility for the Assembly; to nudge it along to make sure that everything that needs completing gets done before everyone blows town to go home.
June 2, 2010: Assembly Committee #1 -- Business Referrals
The Stated Clerk presents the Business Referral committee with a recommendation about the distribution of business. (Standing Rule C.1.e.) Remembering that the Assembly Committees are defined by subject matter, the majority of the business has obvious placement. There are occasions of ambiguity and conflict about the placement of business; but, frankly, I can’t get worked up about it. That said, here’s an example of the kinds of things that could be a topic of conversation for this committee:
June 1, 2010: Special Interest Groups
The natural response of first-time commissioners is to try to avoid anything that appears to be “lobbying” or “political.” It is understandable; they want to be prayerfully discerning people who vote on the basis of what they believe will be best for the church. They view with suspicion people who will try to influence them or get them to do something they do not want to do.
The suspicion and fear are unfortunate.
May 31, 2010: Six - 6! - Candidates for Moderator
One of the first things that will happen is the election of the Moderator. Along with the excitement of being commissioned and the novelty of the exhibit hall, the Moderator’s election is the big ticket item of the first day. There are six announced candidates standing for election. That will make for a long night.
Or will it?
May 4, 2010: Stated Clerk Elections in an off year
Here’s my point: the process is designed to limit discernment, not enhance it. I don’t think that is good policy.
My non-election is not relevant to my opinion that the process is flawed. And if there is to be a change in the election procedures for the next Stated Clerk election at the 220th General Assembly (2012), the changes need to be made at the 219th General Assembly (2010).
- Sermons: The texts of sermons delivered as far back as I began scripting them.
Yes, you will find some illustrations occasionally repeated. Can't help it; some things are A-material and deserve to be used more than once.
I have tried to be good about giving credit for ideas I have picked up elsewhere; however, it did not occur to me while writing that these manuscripts would end up being posted online. Where you discover I have failed to provide appropriate citation -- and there are plenty of places throughout where that is the case -- please let me know so that I can revise the file.
- Articles: These are pieces written for publications as varied as church newsletters to national magazines.
- Archives: Over the years I have amassed volumes of material that need to be stored somewhere -- this seemed as good a place as any.
- Biography: Provides a brief background and -- if the mood strikes -- a few pictures.
Every now and then, someone will ask if they may use something they found here. The answer is: yes, if I said it or wrote it, you can quote me. If you use something, just please give attribution and let me know if it was helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at: presbybob@me.com.