How To Spot A Presbyterian

Travelling these days isn't as much fun as it used to be --unless you're going to General Assembly.

My trip to San Jose was relatively painless by today's standards, just a 20 minute departure delay. In an attempt to survive the tedium, I began searching for signs of other Presbyterians making their way (here comes the pun) to San Jose.

Turns out they're not too hard to spot.

The first Presby I spotted was a real gift: she was carrying a tote bag from a previous conference. Others were also easy to find. Some wore t-shirts from camps and conferences, some were reading reports, and others, well, they just looked Presbyterian! (Straight down to the backpacks.)

Yes, I think Jesus did say, "By their luggage ye shall know them."

Ok, so much for the humor. One of the functions of attending GA, it seems to me, is finding each other. So far tonight I've run into no less than half a dozen old friends. In some cases, these relationships go back decades. Interesting, none of us really wanted to talk church politics. We were, instead, much more concerned about relationship.

Which reminds me that perhaps our gatherings serve a more humble function. Yes, the work important, almost daunting. Yes, it is critical and a time to shine as a church. But as I think of this year's assembly theme is "Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God," I'm wondering how we might think creatively about being engaged in more humble acts of ministry. (The theme, by the way, might stand to be improved. After walking today, I'd be willing to suggest an alternative, also from the Old Testament: "They shall run and not be weary!") In spite of all our pronouncements, legislation, actions and posturing, we remain humble servants who come to share in the ministry of Christ.

What might that look like?

Prior to coming to GA, I received handfuls of letters, mailings, DVDs, reports, all pleading me to vote in certain ways. A particularly interesting one came from six United States Senators. But
the most impressing letter was a handwritten note from a woman in Daly City, CA pledging to pray for me and the GA these next eight days. Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly before your God.

Let's see how that is played out this week.