PC(USA) - 217th General Assembly (2006)

So Great a Cloud of Witnesses - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 217th General Assembly; Birmingham, Alabama; June 15-22, 2006


	Photos of Moderator's Election Our photographers were there at the election of Joan S. Gray as Moderator of the 217th General Assembly. Click this photo to view all of the photos in the series.


	New moderator reflects on faith-walk adventure Current struggles are where "God meets and blesses us" 217th General Assembly Moderator Joan Gray BIRMINGHAM, June 15 — Fresh off her election and installation as the new moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Rev. Joan Gray suggested to a group of reporters, "Maybe we could reframe our current situation as the struggle in which God meets and blesses us." Gray and the other three candidates stressed the need for unity. Gray encouraged commissioners to find value in living with ambiguity rather than prematurely press for clarity on the issues that divide us before God leads to that clarity. [Read more]


	Atlanta minister is elected moderator Photo by Danny Bolin The Rev. Joan S. Gray, a pastor in Greater Atlanta Presbytery who said she doesn't have many answers for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s problems but is willing to let God lead the way, was elected moderator of the 2.3 million-member denomination's 217th General Assembly on June 15. After two close ballots, Gray swept to a third-ballot victory, capturing 307 votes (62 percent). The Rev. Deborah Block finished second with 152 votes (31 percent). Two male pastors — the Rev. Tim Halverson of Peace River Presbytery and the Rev. Kerry Carson of North Central Iowa Presbytery — trailed with 20 and 19 votes, respectively. [Read more]