The Office of Governing Body Relations makes no endorsement of these models and practices, but provides them in support of the mission and ministries of middle governing bodies. Please contact the author/governing body listed for further information.

If you have a model or practice used in your synod or presbytery that you would be willing to share with the rest of the church, please send it to Angela Lucear.

Register for the 2009 Moderators’ Conference

November 20-22, 2009 - Louisville, Kentucky

“Blessings and Burdens: Where Technology and Church Life Converge”

Featuring plenary sessions led by: Bruce Reyes-Chow and Carol Howard Merritt. Learn more →

World Mission Fund Raising Plan

Communications and Funds Development: Karen L. Schmidt, Deputy Executive Director

In 2008, the church’s General Assembly Mission Council voted to increase the number of full-time compensated mission workers sent by Presbyterian World Mission. The commitment to mission sending from the PC(USA) was confirmed by the “Dallas Consultation,” a group of Presbyterian mission leaders who gathered in January 2008. Last summer’s GA resoundingly affirmed this commitment. Through the denomination, the move has been applauded, and the commitment to the fund raising plan was included in the 2009 and 2010 budget and the revised 2009 budget. Download PDF and read more.

Understanding Donor Behavior – Meyer Partners Research

In May 2008 Meyer Partners conducted research on the giving patterns of Presbyterians across the United States. Presbyterians with history of giving to the PC(USA) national church were asked a variety of questions. One hundred fifty were donors to the 2007 World Mission Challenge appeals, while another 150 were nondonors to the 2007 World Mission Challenge appeals. The research showed that an overwhelming majority (nearly 80 percent) of Presbyterians support six or more charities and that their local church is their favorite/first charity followed by five other PC(USA) mission programs. Download PDF and read more.

2009 Fall Polity Presentation

This presentation entitled “Shifting Ground . . . Changes in Staff and Structure” was presented by Jill Hudson, MGB Coordinator; Eileen Linder, Connectional Presbyter, Palisades Presbytery; Keith Gecker, Stated Clerk and Steve Yamaguchi, Executive Presbyter, Los Ranchos Presbytery, Pieter Visscher, Stated Clerk, Northern New York Presbytery and Hall Neller, Presbytery Administrator, South Dakota Presbytery.

Responsibilities and Planning for Congregations:
H1N1-Swine Flu

Disaster Response and Readiness Committee: Baltimore Presbytery: Kristine Holmes, RN

The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Federal agencies have initiated emergency operations and are providing regular updates and recommendations. Should this outbreak escalate to a pandemic level, directives may be issued to avoid or stop mass gathering to lessen the spread of the virus. Schools, business, recreational facilities, and places of worship are some of the places that would feel the impact. Learn more.

An Important Letter to the Churches and Pastors in the Presbytery of Baltimore Concerning the Upcoming Pandemic Flu

Experts feel an influenza pandemic is likely and we need to prepare ourselves and our congregations. It might be as serious as the 1918 “Spanish flu.” As with any natural or human disaster, our churches and Presbytery will need to respond to our own needs, the needs of our most vulnerable members, and the many needs of those around us. The Health Ministries website of PC(USA) states: “Often, it is what we do not understand that frightens us most. Keeping Presbyterians up-to-date with reliable information and passing along the preparedness recommendations can help keep members from feeling as though they have no control.” Learn more.

Update on swine flu from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)

PDA is closely monitoring the Swine Influenza A (H1N1) situation and has posted information to help Presbyterian congregations to be aware of steps they can take to help prevent the spread of this virus along with a downloadable resource “Guidance for Congregations in response to H1N1 virus (swine flu) outbreak.”

Middle Governing Body/General Assembly Mission Council gathering

Thank you for your recent prayers on behalf of the General Assembly Mission Council. As you have probably read by now, we have taken action to revise our budgets to be in line with updated revenue projections for 2009. In September, we will revise the 2010 budget approved by the General Assembly.

We have been fortunate to have already been engaging in strategic discussions, both among the GAMC, and with many of you, so that our decisions have not been dictated solely by financial necessity, but rather by careful assessments of where God is leading us to focus our ministry in the days ahead. We know that many of you face similar decisions. You are in our prayers. [Read more]

The Travail of the Presbytery

Joseph D. Small

Contemporary presbyteries in North America’s Presbyterian churches are the product of influences coming from Calvin’s Geneva, by way of Knox’s Scotland, through the colonial American experience and the westward migration, to the twentieth century institutionalization of the church. Time and interaction with American individualism, free enterprise, and the managerial spirit have weakened the originating influences, although their language and forms remain. So it is worth reminding ourselves of earlier terminology and structures, not as an exercise in nostalgia, but as possible resources for the re-formation of the church.

Read Joseph Small's article "The Travail Of The Presbytery."

Discernment in decision making

The Peacemaking program and the Office of the General Assembly are partnering in the production of resources for governing bodies who wish to use discernment as part of their decision making. Those resources are not available in their final form yet. However you may find other resources about discernment on the Peace, Unity, and Purity Web site.

Presbytery and Synod offices: Share Middle Governing Body changes and updates

Do you have a new Executive or Stated Clerk? Has your office moved or changed phone numbers? If you have had any of these changes or have a new e-mail, fax or phone please share that with the Communications Development and Technology Department (OGA Records) office.

This office keeps the official Stated Clerk and Executive listing and needs updates from Presbytery and Synod offices as soon as they are available. Many people use this listing and your help in keeping it up to date is appreciated.

Please forward any changes for your office to Janie Burton.