Thank goodness—today marked the final chapter of this intense and inspiring routine.

The alarm rang at 6:30 a.m., ushering in the familiar rhythm: morning routine, a fantastic breakfast, and cherished time with both new and old friends.

This morning, we heard messages from our global, ecumenical, and interfaith guests. I counted 18 in the lineup, though not all spoke. Their presence was a powerful reminder of the diversity and unity we strive for.

We were also presented with four new proposals submitted just before the deadline. As per our process, each proposal was given time for clarifying questions. Then we broke into discussion groups, each with a note taker, to explore the motions in depth. These notes were passed to the Way Forward committee, who later returned with suggested rewordings for further discussion and voting.

The remainder of the day was devoted to decision-making. Interspersed were reports, lunch, and supper—though everything felt like it was happening at double speed.

To give you a sense of scale: the Way Forward committee brought forward over 50 motions. Even after combining 11 into two omnibus motions, we only managed to address 18 by the time the meeting was forced to end. Each motion involved parliamentary procedures, speakers from the floor, rulings, and a whirlwind of emotions. I won’t comment on the experience itself—but it was intense.

As I understand it, commissioners now form part of the executive for the next three years, and we’ll continue working through the remaining motions in various forms.

After a rushed supper, we made our way to Knox United for the service to officially introduce the new Moderator—a symbolic transfer of leadership.

It was a remarkable two-hour service filled with pomp and ceremony, ritual and celebration. The new Moderator delivered a heartfelt message, and the evening featured singing, dancing, a Mission & Service offering, and communion. Please don’t mistake my tone—this was a beautiful, meaningful, and dignified event that truly honored the significance of the moment.

I returned to my hotel utterly drained and deeply moved. Once this blog is published, I intend to fall into dreamland—grateful, exhausted, and full of reflection.