GA Online

Cyberspace has helped this meeting of the General Assembly come to life. As I write this addition to the blog I am listening (and watching) the meeting. John Detterick was honored as he retires from his position. John gave a very heartfelt, yet short speech. There was a committee report. Next a video and then the Nominating Committee report. Imagine, little-old-me, sitting in my favorite coffee shop watching the GA meeting! Presbyterians from around the country can now “connect” directly Assembly. We can become “first-hand” witnesses to the “goings on” of the church—we can watch the church in action.

Bloggers are helping highlight the workings of the Assembly. I follow numerous bloggers who are “reporting” on the Assembly. Their insight is helpful.

I have been less than thrilled with “Les,” the computerized information system of the Assembly. I applaud the effort to use technology to assist the Assembly. I know that there are always “glitches” with a new system. However, what I have witnessed of Les would not be acceptable in the business world. Did we go on the cheap for Les? Were the delegates trained on how to use Les? Let’s do better next time!

We are only just beginning to tap the cyberspace potential for the Presbyterian
Church. Here are some suggestions:

• Bloggers (including myself) should cover the meetings of our own Presbyteries. This would include the committees we are on.
• E-mail all reports coming to a Presbytery meeting to the delegates several days prior to the meeting. Delegates could come to the meeting informed and ready to ask questions or vote. There would be no need to have all of the reports read to us at the meeting.
• Broadcast Presbytery meetings via the net.
• Have a group of pastors work together on a sermon series and then preach the series at our respective churches at the same time. We could use wikis to facilitate this effort. Each pastor could have the primary responsibility for a given message. This pooling of experience and talent would help us preach “better” sermons.
• Mission teams can transmit updates to their local churches with up-to-the-minute updates on how the mission project is going.

What are your ideas on the subject? Would any of you like to work on a “shared” sermon series with me?