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Highlights of the 178th General Assembly: William Phelps Thompson says hello.
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- speaker[Rev. Ganse Little speaking] It is with the greatest pleasure. And it is the greatest
- speakerhonor that has come to me as moderator of this one hundred and seventy eight General Assembly
- speakerto present to the Assembly its new Stated Clerk, William Phelps Thompson.
- speaker[Applause]
- speaker[Thompson, William Phelps, speaking] Mr Moderator. My fellow commissioners.
- speakerI am deeply moved at this moment, as you can understand
- speakerthat I would be. I am about to change my
- speakerprofession. I
- speakerdo believe that legal training and experience will be useful
- speakerin this new office to which you have elected me.
- speakerAnd I pledge to you whatever skills and experience I have in that field.
- speakerI also express appreciation to you and other General Assemblies
- speakerfor permitting me to have unusual opportunities for experience
- speakerin the life of our church, which will be invaluable to me as I
- speakerundertake this new task. I pledge to you
- speakerand to the church whatever skill and experience I have.
- speakerI do this mindful of the fact that the duties of the stated clerk of
- speakerthe General Assembly of our church are awesome
- speakerduties. I follow one of the most distinguished
- speakerleaders [Blake, Rev. Dr. Eugene Carson Blake] of the Protestant Church worldwide in my judgment.
- speaker[Applause]
- speakerYou anticipated me. I was about to say, in my judgment, the most distinguished.
- speaker[Applause]
- speakerI know that I cannot in any sense fill his shoes.
- speakerBut I covet your help. I covet your
- speakersuggestions. I covet your prayers as I
- speakerattempt to familiarize myself with the duties of the office. And
- speakerwithin my skills and experience to do the tasks which
- speakerfall to this office in this time. As
- speakerour devotional leader so aptly suggested, it is now time
- speakerfor us to give attention to the unfinished business ahead of the church.
- speakerAs the servant of this Assembly, I shall attempt to
- speakerfulfill my part in doing that. Under the guidance of
- speakerthe Holy Spirit, let us look forward. Thank you very much
- speaker[Applause]
