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NEWS ARCHIVES |
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Retired PCUSA GA administrator attends 50th Assembly SAN JOSE, June 21, 2008 — Those who are experiencing their first General Assembly — a week spent away from the comforts of home, working endless hours addressing issues that seem to defy agreement — may wonder why someone would attend 50 Assemblies. For John Coffin the answer is simple: “Love of church and love of God keep me going.” Saturday night General Assembly Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick recognized Coffin, who is attending his 50th Assembly. The former director of stewardship and communication development for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has attended as a commissioner, a pastor (on vacation time), a mission worker, a GA administrator and in retirement as an observer. After his appearance on the stage at the 218th General Assembly, Coffin said in an interview that he started attending the Assemblies as a part of his love for the church. “The General Assembly has a special meaning for me. I did not start attending to set a record.” He’s witnessed numerous changes in Assemblies since attending the first one in the mid-1950s for the former Presbyterian Church (U.S.). “In the early days a handful of men, primarily the pastors of large churches, were the dominant speakers and forces at the General Assembly,” he said. “The same people came year after year.” “The old boards and agencies were not controlled by the GA; they raised their own funds.” Rather than coming to the Assembly to seek approval for their work, they used it as “a promotional platform” to raise money. He also noted that the moderator’s election was once dominated by “the big names” in the church and included months of pre-Assembly lobbying. Asked what was most meaningful about the Assembly experience, Coffin cited first the worship services. Then he added, “But I’m really impressed by the hard-working commissioners who sit for hours in meetings dealing with tough issues. For most of these men, women and youth, this will be the most strenuous week of their year.” |
