Highlights from Monday, July 31

The third day of the assembly brought a second day of workshops to enrich attendees at the 2023 General Assembly. Offered were workshops creating sustainable community impact, exploring faithful ways to use and re-purpose building space and creating financial wellness.

In her workshop on Partnering with Your Neighbors, National Benevolent Association partner and co-executive director Allison Lanza shared "We have to realize we are not the smartest person in the room. We don’t know the answers or solutions as well as the person going through it. That is what Be The Neighbor is all about."

One of the highlights of the Exhibit hall experience was the Arts Engagement experience Within Us, Among Us. The five resident artists created interactive art exhibits for attendees to experience. Attendees can participate in an Artist’s Speak Out on Tuesday, August 1 at 11am in the Exhibit Hall.

Another feature of the Exhibit Hall experience can be found at the National Benevolent Association’s booth. NBA's commitment to mental health, as the church's health and social services ministry, includes welcoming attendees to their booth to engage in the Bold Visions Coloring Wall as well as presenting workshops on BIPOC mental health and Lament of Life Unlived.

The third night of worship welcomed the Rev. Dr. David Anderson Hooker to the stage to preach. Rev. Dr. Hooker was joined on stage by Rev. Joan Bell Haynes, Diane Watkins, Rev. Dr. Jay Hartley, Paul Tche, Rev. Sarah Zuniga, as story tellers during the sermon. “There is a dominate narrative of despair but if we tell what we see there are clear signs of an emerging and not yet realm of God,” Rev. Dr. Hooker shared with the worshiping body in reflecting on the power of narrative to shape our shared future.

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Business at the General Assembly

The business on the third day of General Assembly continued with studious commitment to the life of the church. The Committee on Reference and Counsel received an emergency resolution which was brought to the General Assembly at Monday’s business session. GA-2352 Invitation to Oppose Anti-Trans Legislation and Affirm the Dignity of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People was referred back to the Committee on Reference and Counsel by the assembly to include the states of the US and provinces of Canada. GA-2337 Recognition of a Truth and Healing Council to Honor Our Covenantal Relationship with Indigenous Peoples and to Discern Ways of Reparations for a Path to Reconciliation was referred to the OGMP for further study.

GA-2340 Building on our Church’s Commitment to Faith-Based Investing was adopted by the assembly. GA-2340 reaffirmed support for the financial ministries to engage in responsible investing practices and collaborate with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) to effect positive change. The Assembly further encouraged dialogue and exploration of investment strategies with other General Ministries, aiming to respond to global and domestic partners' concerns and foster alignment with the church's total mission.

In addition to the emergency resolution, the assembly received business reports from several General Ministry partners, including:

GA-2304 Report of Christian Church Foundation, Inc

GA-2306 Report of Disciples Church Extension Fund

GA-2308 Report of Disciples Women’s Ministries

GA-2311 Report of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries

GA-2312 Report of National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

GA-2313 Report of National Convocation of the Christian Church

GA-2350 Council of Colleges and Universities Report

GA-2351 The Report of the Council on Theological Education

Updated business items can be found by visiting the General Assembly business page.

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