July 8 SeaPres Update from Co-EP Eliana Maxim

Dear Friends,

In the midst of a global pandemic and a national uprising about racial injustice, our denomination the PCUSA held its biannual General Assembly (GA) a couple of weeks ago. What normally takes place over 10 days at a convention center with a couple thousand folks attending plenary sessions, special events, bookstores, and city tours, had to be quickly adapted in less than 3 months online.

Realizing that an online assembly could only cover so much ground, it was determined by the Office of the General Assembly (and its board COGA) that only critical business would be addressed. This meant matters that if left unattended, would breach polity, financial, or leadership denominational requirements.

The technology was there and GA was technically successful. Commissioners were attentive, were able to vote smoothly, and business was tended to. You can read more about key decisions made here.

What was also on full display though, was our denomination’s proclivity toward institutional racism and white supremacy. Not once or twice, but throughout the three day assembly, a variety of micro and macro aggressions were perpetrated against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), most especially against Black women. I recommend my colleague Ryan Landino’s blog for a more detailed account. 

I was dumbfounded. I serve on the committee (COGA) that helped move the traditional GA to its digital expression. We had taken so much into consideration when planning, anticipating a myriad of variables. We had not, however, planned for how to deal with commissioners wielding their white privilege in order to silence voices nor how our existing structure and polity would support and even encourage this damaging behavior.

The church is obviously not exempt from the sin of racism, and there is much work to be done in dismantling the structures, processes, and attitudes that enable this brokenness. This is true for the national expression of the church in the General Assembly as well as our local congregations where each of us is complicit in centering whiteness in our faith communities. 

Although my experience with GA was painful and disheartening, as a person of color in the PCUSA I find hope in the insistent and intentional commitment to this work of Gospel truth and justice. God expects this from us. God expects better from us.

And I find strength in the words of the prophet: “Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry.” (Amos 5:24) and invite you to join me in this hard, but faithful labor of love.

Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter