Every two years the C&MA of Canada meets to discuss spiritual and business aspects of our denomination. This year we gather in our country’s capital, Ottawa, and even before it has begun it has been a wonderful experience. Our national staff are an incredible group of people as they scurry around plugging in this, setting up that, planning for this, going over copious notes and details. We are blessed to have them and I pray they are affirmed over and over again during the Assembly.

There is a current in the air surrounding this General Assembly. There are a number of sensitive issues being resolved and discussed, relational bridges to be mended and prayers for God’s Spirit to be present. One thing is for certain, after this week the C&MA in Canada will be changed. It is my prayer that relationally we will enter into a new depth that can only be achieved by listening well to the Holy Spirit and unification in love. We have a lot of business to cover so we have a lot “to do.” But the last time we got caught up in pushing through business sessions the Spirit seemed to be left outside the door and unity in love was far from achieved. This happens when task-orientation takes over people-orientation. Is what we do as a collective body more important than how we are as a collective body? I think not and I really don’t believe God thinks so either.

Colossians 3:12-17
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Isn’t it interesting that Christ tells his disciples that they will be identified as his disciples by their love and not by their business accomplishments at big meetings? I pray that our president, David Hearn, would listen closely to God and have the courage to guide proceedings according to the Spirit instead of the business meeting protocol and agendas. If we are not attuned to the Spirit how can we ever accomplish the work of God together? If we are not unified in the Spirit how can we ever be unified in love? Agreement, disagreement, these can take place as long as the Spirit’s love binds us together. This is my prayer. This is the cry of my spirit. May this General Assembly mark a decidedly different path for our future meetings and may we see the blessed fruit that only God brings as His people move together in Kingdom work.