Was the 1999 Churchwide Assembly “forced” to accept “Called to Common Mission?”
No. The voting members at the 1999 Churchwide Assembly received the text for study in the months prior to the assembly. During the assembly, informational hearings were held with resource people who favored and opposed the proposal. In the plenary session, two persons–one in favor, one opposed–made presentations to all the voting members. More than 90 people participated in the floor debate. Upon votes of the assembly to ask them to speak, two people–the Rev. Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, and the Rev. John Thomas from the Reformed tradition as president of the United Church of Christ–offered their observations on “Called to Common Mission.” The voting members cast their ballots confidentially following a prayer asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Each person used the voting machine at her or his place on the assembly floor. The proposal was adopted after an extensive process of study and deliberation.
