Pre-Synod Butterflies

I leave for Synod in six days. This is my third synod--once in seminary as a corresponding delegate and once about 7 years ago or so (when it was at Union College in upstate New York) as a delegate. Is that called a regular delegate or what? Anyway, as a second career pastor, I'll never go several times like some seem to do, yet I am anticipating this synod with joy. There are several people I want to reconnect with. Being from California, too often I feel so far away from the rest of the denomination, that I wish there were additional ways to remain close. I am anxious about discussions that will happen on the floor, knowing that wide and varied perspectives will be shared and middle ground might be illusive.

Update on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 1:58PM by Leon Fikse

Well, last minute Leon is about to tackle the Synod workbook; between today, tomorrow and Wednesday on the plane, I'll be ready to go when the gavel drops starting Synod 2009. I am concerned about the Belhar. I'm wondering about the necessity of having a document like it. I plan on listening and assimilating what I hear. I've read the blog stuff out there and discussed the Belhar at length with several others.

I do have one concern that until now has not been addressed. There seems to be an unspoken, yet close to the surface opinion of Belhar supporters that I am living in, continuing in, and committed to a life of racism that will not change until the Belhar is adopted. Please inform me of how that works or explain how and when we can all move on from those blatant, yet hopefully unfounded attacks.