(Nashville, Tenn. – 7/12/2011) - Disciples meeting Tuesday morning at the 2011 General Assembly in Nashville voted to adopt resolutions urging the church to nurture those suffering abuse and to oppose human trafficking.

In addition, assembly delegates received reports related to general ministries of the church and to the Council of Colleges and Universities, made up of leaders of schools related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The morning business session also included a discussion of immigration intended to serve as a model for congregations wanting to dialogue about the issue.

Though not originally scheduled for Tuesday morning's business session, delegates took up a revised version of Business Item 1122 calling for the prevention of sexual abuse and urging care for those who have experienced it. Referred to the Committee on Reference and Counsel, the resolution emerged with a slight revision adding references to the survivors of abuse, not only its victims.

The revised title of the resolution read, "Preventing sexual abuse and ministering to its victims and survivors," the final two words added at five points within the one-page document. Delegates voted in favor of the revisions.

Several delegates spoke in favor of adopting the resolution, sometimes referring to deeply personal experiences. "I am a victim and a survivor ... of sexual abuse," said a pastor from Illinois. "We are the light and the beacon for this world," Jones said. "We need to be a safe haven where people like me can come in and find healing."

After delegates voted overwhelmingly to adopt the resolution, Disciples general minister and president Sharon Watkins prayed for the healing of those who have suffered abuse.

Later in the session delegates took up Business Item 1120, Human Trafficking, submitted by the Office of Disciples Women. Defining human trafficking as "the use of force, coercion, fraud, or abduction to exploit the person for profit or service," the resolution calls for the church to oppose human trafficking, educate itself, and advocate for an end to the practice.

"Bodies are not commodities to be bought and sold," said Sheila Spitzer, of the Office of Disciples Women, speaking in support of the resolution. While slaveholding was a costly practice financially before the Emancipation Proclamation, even the economics of slavery's modern forms devalue victims, Spitzer explained. "Today, on an average, a person can be bought for as little as 90 dollars," she said.

The resolution was adopted without opposition.

In addition to Business Item 1129, the report from the Council of Colleges and Universities, delegates received item 1114, the report on the Office of Disciples Women; item 1106, on the Council on Christian Unity; item 1102, on the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries; item 1113, on North American/Pacific Asian Disciples Ministries; and item 1112, on the National Convocation.

Each report highlighted the accomplishments and reflected the unique character of the organization or ministry represented.

For example, Robert Welsh, president of the the Council on Christian Unity, described "Babel Table," a new program CCU developed with other general ministries to engage young Disciples around issues of mission and diversity. As part of the program, young adult leaders participated in events in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, the Romero Center on the U.S.-Mexico border, and Louisville's inner city, Welsh said.

Welsh drew from his own life to underscore what he described as the centrality of the CCU's work. Recalling the impact that showing photos of his grandsons made at the 2007 General Assembly, Welsh updated the family album for delegates, including with pictures of a new baby granddaughter. Among the family photos was a christening.

Explaining that his own daughter, raised a Disciple, had become Roman Catholic, Welsh lamented that tradition still would not allow him to officially take communion in the services that accompanied the baptisms of his grandchildren.

"Our division within the church is personal," Welsh said. "It breaks my heart, and I believe it breaks God's heart."

Sandwiched between business items was a discussion of immigration, prefaced with comments about the challenge for all the members of a large group -- such as business sessions at General Assembly -- to contribute meaningfully to conversations. According to the assembly docket, planners wanted to experiment with a more inclusive "conversation practice," one that would "help equip Disciples to engage a world polarized on ... difficult topics."

After watching a video that included sometimes emotional exchanges about immigration, delegates broke into small groups for role play. Delegates had earlier received handouts relating the brief story of an immigrant or someone directly impacted by immigration. In the small groups, participants played the part of the character on their handout, then discussed immigration from the character's perspective.

When delegates were subsequently given the chance to approach a microphone for comments, Tip Carroll of Augusta, Ga., observed that the characters in the role play at least had English in common.

After Carroll added that "we all need to have a basic language," first vice-moderator Juan Rodríguez responded, "Muchísimas gracias."

General minister and president Watkins acknowledged the range of Disciple views on immigration. "I know that Disciples are not all of one opinion," Watkins said. "It's important that we encourage each another and encourage congregations to engage in meaningful and respectful conversations on the issue, from perspectives of our faith, not just from our politics."

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By:  Ted Parks