Are you thinking about stepping up to the microphone at General Assembly? ByFaith asked former GA moderators and a random sampling of elders who attended last year’s Assembly to provide some advice to commissioners considering speaking to an issue on the Assembly floor.
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From Kevin DeYoung, pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina, and moderator of the 52nd General Assembly: 

Some men need the reminder not to be afraid to speak, while others need the reminder that it’s okay to have inside thoughts. 

There are several questions we ought to ask before stepping to the microphone: 

• Do I have something to say that hasn’t been said? 
• Are people apt to sigh in their hearts (Father, forgive us!) if I step to the microphone one more time? 
• Are my comments apt to persuade or only to prolong? 

When we do speak — and we need thoughtful brothers to speak — here are a few pointers: 

• Get right to the point (no throat clearing and idle banter). 
• Enumerate your points (everyone can follow a list). 
• Stay on point (don’t wander). 

And when you have made your point, finish right then and there. No GA speech should have as many concluding scenes as “The Lord of the Rings.”

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From Mike Singenstreu, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Victoria, Texas:

First, bathe your preparation in prayer and repentance so that you come with the mindset to edify, clarify, and inform, not to stand on a soapbox.

Second, wait before you jump up to speak because someone might be making your point while you are getting up. And if you have prepared well enough in prayer, you will have no need to be rash. 

Lastly, keep in mind that we are all united in Christ, even if we sometimes come at things from different directions. Never forget these are brothers in Christ! We can disagree, but at the end of that day, we are children of the King.

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From Clay Smith, pastor of Living Water Presbyterian Church in Watertown, Wisconsin:

Believe the best of your brothers and their intentions. Love hopes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). 

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From Jon Stoddard, pastor of Jordan Valley Church in West Jordan, Utah:

As one who is often persuaded by the Assembly debate, I believe it is important for a speaker to know his audience. Sometimes it feels like a speaker relies on overused talking points, or simply tries to shut down critics. The speeches most influential to me seek to address those who are on the fence. Showing humility, grace, and clear argumentation go a long way to persuade those who will be influenced by the floor debate.

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From Jim Wert, ruling elder and moderator of the 43rd General Assembly:

A speech on the floor of the Assembly is designed to be persuasive. So the first thing to consider when gathering your thoughts is who in particular you’re trying to persuade. That’s unlikely to happen with commissioners who are strongly entrenched on either side of a debate. You’re really seeking to present thoughts and arguments that assist those who are still undecided. 

There are some “ticket to entry” principles that therefore apply. 

Keep your thoughts succinct (under two or three minutes), well-organized (it helps to write down at least an outline, if not the substance of your remarks, versus extemporizing), respectful (assuming the best versus diminishing the arguments and especially any commissioners who have already spoken), focused on the issues (versus people or motives), and grounded (e.g., through the application of Scripture, our Westminster Standards, or the Book of Church Order). 

Speeches that simply reinforce or agree with points already made are not that helpful. As Roy Taylor often reminded us, “Sometimes everything that needs to be said about a particular topic has been said. But not everybody has had a chance to say it.”  

At the core, though, I’d counsel grounding your remarks in two things: First, what has been most persuasive to you in coming to your point of view? Second, if you placed yourself in the most fervently opposed perspective versus your own, what are the best points that such opposition would make? And what substantive, even complimentary, counters would you offer that speak directly and respectfully to the heart of that opposing view? 

I’ve found it helpful to think about teaching classes on infant baptism or eschatological views to a roomful of Baptists or dispensationalists, and beginning with what I see as the strongest views and their rationale that are counter to my own. That’s a healthy starting point. 

And don’t forget to begin by telling the Assembly who you are and where you’re from!