General Assembly 223 – June 16-23, 2018
We have a few people heading to the 223rd meeting of the General Assembly in St. Louis, Missouri. Here is a little about each of them and how you can follow and engage with them while they participate in #GA223.
Maxine Quaye – Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD)
What is a Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD)?
Young Adult Advisory delegates “are selected to attend the meeting of the General Assembly in an advisory role so that the assembly may be assured of hearing and taking cognizance of their special viewpoints.” (Standing Rule A.2.a.). Though advisory delegates do not have the privilege of voting on business in the assembly business meetings, they have other opportunities to make their views known. They participate in the debates in business sessions, and are polled prior to the votes on many issues to determine their advice. In the assembly committees, advisory delegates have both voice and vote – just as commissioners do. Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAADs) are seated with the commissioners from their presbytery in the plenary hall.
Follow Maxine on:
Twitter: @AnniQuaye
Instagram: @amaxxq
Facebook: Maxine Quaye
1) What church community do you affiliate with in our Presbytery?
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Albany, NY
2) What are you looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to interacting with other YAADs. I know there are some of us that have gone to Triennium together either 2013, 2016 or both so I am hoping that that might add some sense of familiarity with common ground with some of the YAADs I interact with. Having been to General Assembly in 2012 at a really young age I was very unaware of what was going on around me. I am hoping that I can learn from other YAADs and also understand the different moving parts that our Church is composed of.
3) What committee are you serving on?
I’m serving on Committee 02 – Bills and Overtures
4) Would you like to share why you feel called to serve in this way?
I feel called to serve in this way because all my interactions regarding the church have always been in different capacities, such as volunteering, or going to Triennium. Going to the GA will allow me to actually become aware of the mechanisms that have made all my previous endeavors possible.
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Larry Greenwold – Commissioner
1) What church(es) community do you affiliate with in our Presbytery?
United Presbyterian Church of Amsterdam and Tribes Hill Presbyterian Church
2) What are you looking forward to?
I am looking forward to being part of the process that is what makes us Presbyterian. There are many issues that face our denomination and the wider church. Being a Commissioner to General Assembly will provide an opportunity to voice my thoughts and understandings as they affect our denomination and the greater mission of Jesus Christ. I hope that the deliberations in St. Louis can lead the Presbyterian Church in the direction of more faithful discipleship. It is my prayer that our efforts can work to serve the Kingdom of God here on earth.
3) What committee are you serving on?
I’m serving on Committee 12 – Middle East Issues
4) Would you like to share why you feel called to serve in this way?
When one serves at the Synod and General Assembly level one is able to add our voice to that of the greater Church. As a Minister of Word and Sacrament and a faithful disciple of Jesus it is my calling to do what I can, in word and deed, to further his ministry. Being a lifelong Presbyterian I feel being a part of the workings of my denomination is in my very being.
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Charlotte Hasselbarth – Commissioner
1) What church community do you affiliate with in our Presbytery?
Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church
2) What are you looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to seeing how Churchwide decisions are made and seeing people I have met through my involvement in the Presbyterian Women at the Synod and Churchwide level.
3) What committee are you serving on?
I’m serving on Committee 08 – Environmental Issues
4) Would you like to share why you feel called to serve in this way?
I have been in a Presbyterian church all my life and feel this opportunity will round out my experience with the denomination.
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Others Attending General Assembly 223 from Albany Presbytery
Dan Rogers – Acting Floor Parliamentarian
Follow Dan on:
Facebook: Dan Rogers Jr
Twitter: @HDanielRogers
1) What church community do you affiliate with in our Presbytery?
First United Presbyterian Church, Troy
2) What are you looking forward to?
I enjoy supporting our commissioners and YAAD as they serve the church and look forward to connecting with some good friends and fellow stated clerks from other presbyteries. I am also looking forward to visiting St. Louis.
3) How are you serving at General Assembly 223?
I will serve as a Floor Parliamentarian for some of the plenary sessions. Floor parliamentarians staff microphones on the plenary floor and are available to commissioners and advisory delegates who have questions about parliamentary process.
4) Would you like to share why you feel called to serve in this way?
Supporting our commissioners is one of my roles as Stated Clerk.
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Laura Rogers – Overture Advocate (Overture 11-18)
Follow Laura on:
Facebook: Laura Rogers
1) What church community do you affiliate with in our Presbytery?
First United Presbyterian Church, Troy
2) What are you looking forward to?
Reconnecting with Presbyterians I have met over the years through the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators; being part of the PC(USA) at work in ministry; the worship services; being a part of the wider church.
3) How are you serving at General Assembly 223?
As an Overture Advocate for Overture # 11-18, “Responding to Racist Nationalism.” As one of the presbyteries which concurred with the overture we are asked to send an advocate to address the Committee on Social Justice Issues as it discerns it’s recommendations to the GA.
4) Would you like to share why you feel called to serve in this way?
I support the Presbyterian decision making process and I believe in this overture and I am honored to be asked to serve in this way.
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Bill Hasselbarth
1) What church community do you affiliate with in our Presbytery?
Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church
2) What is bringing you to GA 223?
This is my first time attending GA. I am attending as an Observer. I am traveling with my wife, Charlotte (listed previously), who is an elected Ruling Elder Commissioner at GA from the Albany Presbytery.
3) What are you looking forward to?
I am looking forward to the GA and the opportunity to experience first hand how the PC(USA), through its elected leaders with guidance from the Holy Spirit, does its work as faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of the Albany Presbytery Blog is to share information, tell stories, and promote the mission and ministry of the presbytery, synod and beyond. While the breadth of this medium is intentionally broad, it is not a platform for opinion pieces related to business coming before the presbytery unless designed as part of an initiative to provide a diversity of viewpoints at the direction of the presbytery. Exceptions to this policy may be brought to the presbytery officers who will determine appropriateness of submissions.
