Worship having gone long we rushed to find our seats for the closing session of the 209th. Greeted by the now familiar "Good morning 2-0-9" from the moderator, we gave her our best yet "Good morning madam moderator." The morning was mostly devoted to formalities and routine items. As the Stated Clerk warned us, our lease on the arena was up at noon.
The only report with any real drama was the report of the Nominating Committee bringing forward names for the special committee created the day before to work on the recommendations of the Anderson report. Three of the nominees were challenged from the floor, one of them by two names from the floor. After setting tight rules to proceed under, and the moderator informing commissioners that any negative comments about another nominee would be ruled out of order and the speaker's comments would be terminated, the process proceeded. The drama was heightened a bit more by the confession of the chair of the nominating committee that she had misplaced her information on all of the committee's nominees. There was no debate this time and in the end all of the nominating committees' nominees were elected. The moderator appeared to have learned from Thursday morning's experience. The only controversy was the fact that on Thursday the nominating committee's candidate was listed last, while today it was listed first.
The office of General Assembly committee and the Mission Budget committees reported showing the financial implications of our work this past week. To cover the added expenditures we authorized the 1998 GA per capita was raised 11 cents to $4.77. That amounts to 8 cents to cover next years expenses and 3 cents to replenish reserves for the added expenditures we added to the 1997 budget already in effect.
Finally, the 1997 organizing committee was recognized and the 1998 committee from Charlotte, NC, brought us greetings and the invitation to come there next year for the 210th. The YAD's presented Cliff Kirkpatrick with an engraved baseball bat from Cooperstown to "pound parliamentary procedure into us" to which he quipped "I could have used this last night." Madam moderator was presented with a small bench, an obvious reference to her smaller stature. (She has been using a stool all week to be seen over the podium.)
With that prayer was offered by a minister commissioner for U.S. service men and women, particularly those who gave their lives defending our country. This was left over business from last night. Then a motion was made to commend the moderator and the stated clerk for the running of the whole assembly. Finally Moderator Brown closed us with prayer, gave the formal words dissolving the Assembly, and sent us off with a friendly "Goodbye 2-0-9" at 11:30 AM.
With hugs and handshakes we left the arena and boarded our busses to hotels and airports. It was a wonderful experience and I feel privileged to have been a part of this General Assembly. Allow me to reflect on this for a few days and I will have available a final piece that is more commentary and my reflections on the GA.