Prayer from the Assembly: Speaking a Word

Monday, June 16, 2014

This week, I’m gathering with Presbyterians from across the country for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Whatever your faith-community or denomination, I invite you to join with me and with others in morning prayer each day this week, engaging the Pentecost text from Acts 2:1-21.  Over the course of this week, I invite you to read and engage the full text of that Scripture in your life and in your prayer.

This morning, let us pray with verse 4 of Acts 2:  “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”

The experience of the Spirit in community can issue forth in speech. On the day of Pentecost, those gathered were called and equipped to speak in languages not their own. In our gatherings, some are called to preach, some are called to sing, some are called to pray – each of us sharing a word as the Spirit gives us ability.

Here are some questions for your prayer this morning:

• Where and how have you experienced a word from God in community?
• When have you felt led to share a word?
• How did that feel?

Holy Spirit, be present in our words and in our silence. Before a word is on our tongue, you know it completely. May all our words be worthy of you.  Amen.

Scott Clark is the Chaplain and Associate Dean of Student Life at San Francisco Theological Seminary, a seminary of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and of the ecumenical Graduate Theological Union.  Additionally, Scott’s ministry includes advocacy for the full inclusion of all people within the life of the church.  A former attorney, he has represented Presbyterian ministers who have been brought up on disciplinary charges by the church for celebrating the marriages of same-gender couples, and he currently serves on the board of More Light Presbyterians.

This week, Scott is participating in the national General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which will be considering a number of faith issues, including the marriage of same-gender couples.  Scott is participating in the Assembly as an “Overture Advocate” (one of the advocates sent from regional presbyteries on a particular issue).  With others, he is advocating for an amendment to the Presbyterian constitution that would affirm marriage equality for all people, including same-gender couples and their families.  Scott also is participating in the General Assembly as part of the team representing San Francisco Theological Seminary, hoping to open and energize discussion about innovation in ministry and in theological education.