Title: General Synod begins with sound of water, renewal of Baptism
Date: August 7, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
97b-42
COLUMBUS, Ohio (DNS) -- It started with the sound of water, the shimmering liquid poured from a pail. Several pitchers later, the sound had amplified tenfold to fill the cavernous Greater Columbus Convention Center where delegates from 39 regional bodies of the United Church of Christ met July 3-8 for the 21st General Synod.
The theme of this General Synod was "For the Healing of the Nations," and water played a key role as a symbol for that healing. The healing motif began from the pouring of the life-giving fluid by liturgical dancers at the opening to a symbolic re-baptism of the congregation as ushers moved down the rows dipping pine branches into water and cleaving the air with the wet boughs.
The Synod's opening preacher, the Rev. Cynthia L. Hale of Decatur, Ga., also evoked images of water in a spellbinding sermon. "My soul is thirsty for God," she thundered, her voice raising and falling like waves in a sea. "God will not leave God's people thirsty."
But in a more playful spirit, Hale, senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church, reminded the 1,700 delegates and visitors not "to work so hard at the business of the church that you forget the business of the saints."
Life sometimes presents insurmountable challenges, Hale said. "Ministry challenges suck us dry. We pour ourselves into the lives of others and find ourselves empty." At that point "it's easy to lose our perspective."
It is then the refreshing presence of Christ -- like living water -- is available to us. That water is "the gift of life bubbling inside us." And the way to access this living water is to "ask God to fill you with God's presence."
She also challenged the congregation to remember "times of fullness," during life's difficult moments. "Remember how God blessed you. Take some praise breaks.'"
In addition, she encouraged church members to remember that dry times last "only for a season. We're on our way to a place where . . . we'll never thirst again."
The healing theme surfaced again July 6 during the 40th anniversary celebration of the United Church of Christ. One of the dreams was reconciliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
In a symbolic gesture to heal disunity of the body of Christ, ministers of the two churches embraced, acknowledging a common communion cup and shared ministry while exchanging the symbols of the ordained ministry: the stole, chalice and the Bible. Disciples participants included General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm and the Rev. Paul A. Crow Jr., president of the Council on Christian Unity.
In an emotional ritual symbolic of their ordinations, they laid hands on each other's heads to affirm the "reconciliation" of the ordained ministry of the two partner churches. "For the Healing of the Nations," the assembly responded in song.
The ceremony brings to a new level the unique "ecumenical partnership" shared between the two churches since 1985. The Disciples of Christ will complete the reconciliation process when its General Assembly meets July 25-29 in Denver.
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