Cynthia Bolbach, Elder at First Presbyterian, Arlington, Va.; Presbytery: National Capitol

The Layman is asking each candidate to identify the top five issues at the upcoming General Assembly, and share your position on each. (Answers are printed exactly as received – each candidate had a 500-word limit)

There are two issues that are central to not just this General Assembly but to the future of our denomination. First, how can the P.C. (U.S.A.) as an institution most effectively proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ into the second decade of the 21st century and beyond? Second, how do we, as this community of faith called the P.C. (U.S.A.), come together to accomplish the necessary transformation to enable us to be prophetic witnesses of Jesus Christ?
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To answer the specific question, my top five issues are: nFOG (in favor), ordination (in favor of allowing gay and lesbians into full leadership in the church), the Middle East study report (believe that more study by the church is needed), adoption of the Belhar confession (in favor), and the report on marriage (still considering). But paramount in my mind is the hope that, in considering these issues, we commissioners can come together and enter into relationship with one another. Our denomination will survive only through relationships. We have much to teach each other; we have much to learn from each other. We can only do that if we respect one another and listen to one another.