08221
March 20, 2008
Presbytery and synod news
IRVING, TX — Led by Synod of the Sun communications, a multi-synod partnership is building a new front porch via the Internet where all Presbyterians can stay informed and connected.
Presbyterian Neighbor News at www.PNNews.org will organize news by regions with sub-sites for each presbytery and synod and denominational entities such as the Presbyterian News Service.
“PNNews.org is an electronic mission tool with the capacity to strengthen communication networks and inspire new ones,” says Shane Whisler, communications director for the Synod of the Sun and PNNews.org editor.
ALLENTOWN, PA — Lehigh Presbytery has new leaders.
The presbytery’s new moderator is Elder Sally Heimbach of Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus, PA. Ordained a deacon in 1988 and an elder in 1994, she has served on the presbytery’s Christian Education Committee and Committee on Ministry. She also served as chair of the search committee that brought in the Rev. Steve Shussett as teaching (executive) presbyter.
The presbytery’s new vice-moderator is the Rev. Steve W. Brundage, interim pastor for care ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, PA. A former mechanical engineer, he is also an ordained Presbyterian deacon and elder.
HOPKINSVILLE, KY — Western Kentucky Presbytery is embracing the “Acts 16:5 Initiative,” a program of congregational transformation led by the Rev. Stan Ott, a member of Pittsburgh Presbytery and director of The Vital Church Institute.
Acts 16:5 reads: “So churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.”
Western Kentucky’s effort is led by its Mission Development Committee under the leadership of the Rev. Anthony R. Barta, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hopkinsville. Information on the program will be sent to churches soon after a March 28-29 conference on the program at nearby Pennyrile State Park.
“The Acts 16:5 initiative may be the most important thing this presbytery has undertaken…” said Executive Presbyter Rich Cooper in the February issue of the presbytery’s newsletter. “This initiative has great potential to make our churches very responsive to the changing needs of our folks.”
PORTLAND, OR — “How do you spell Advocate? A look at advocacy in Christian Education” is the theme of Cascades Presbytery’s annual Educators’ Event, April 22-23 at Mt Angel Abby near here.
“We seek new ways to strengthen advocacy for church educators in our area,” says Scott Crane, event coordinator and program director at the presbytery-related Menucha Conference and Retreat Center.
Keynote speaker is Kathy Price of Twin Falls, ID, regional consultant for the LOGOS Ministry and newly-elected regional representative for the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE).
KINGSPORT, TN — “Faith Beyond Borders” is the theme of Holston Presbytery’s senior high retreat, March 28-30 at the presbytery’s camp and retreat center in Banner Elk, NC.
“As Christians we are members of a global community of faith — that means we are a diverse people,” the retreat brochure states. “Therefore our vision must go beyond family and high school. It must be a faith beyond borders. Those borders are more than geographical, they are also spiritual. This weekend we will consider faith beyond our own borders.”
Keynote speaker is the Rev. Corey Nelson, associate pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Clarenden Hills, IL, and a former young adult volunteer in Northern Ireland and Ghana.
SPOKANE, WA — Established congregations in the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest continue to rally support for the presbytery’s new church development, Latah Valley Presbyterian Church here.
On April 20, for instance, First Presbyterian Church of Spokane will host a banquet to support the capital campaign — Crossing the Threshold — designed to pay off the mortgage on the property that has been purchased for the new church and to begin fundraising for the church building the presbytery plans to construct on the land.
Latah Valley members are planning other events in the coming months that will encourage other congregations to donate time and money to the new church. The congregation held its first worship service on Dec. 9, 2007.
LOUISVILLE — Twenty-three college students from Korea recently visited Mid-Kentucky Presbytery as part of a U.S. tour sponsored by the Association of Laymen’s Groups of the Presbyterian Church in Korea.
The group stayed in homes of members of Beulah Presbyterian Church here and visited the presbytery, the Presbyterian Center of the PC(USA) and a number of tourist sites in the city.
The Korean church’s student tour program is now in its seventh year.
WESTERVILLE, OH — Scioto Valley Presbytery recently named a minister and an elder as its two Peacemaker Recognition Award recipients for 2007.
Frank Banks, an elder at Brookwood Presbyterian Church in Columbus, OH, has over the years organized numerous public meetings for the presbytery on such issues as international human rights, environmental concerns, immigration and immigrants’ rights and war and peace. He’s served on the presbytery’s Peacemaking and Justice Committee.
The Rev. Bruce Henderson has provided leadership to the presbytery’s Global Mission Subcommittee, where he has tirelessly promoted international mission through the PC(USA)’s mission partnerships. Henderson has served congregations in Scotland, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Florida and Ohio and worked for a number of years at the Nile Theological College in Khartoum, Sudan. He is active in the Association of Presbyterian Mission Pastors and the denomination’s Sudan Mission Network.
HOUSTON — New Covenant Presbytery has installed new officers for 2008.
The new moderator is Elder Jody Harrington of Houston’s Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. The new vice-moderator is the Rev. Wayne Eberly, pastor of Pines Presbyterian Church in Houston.
EAGAN, MN — Course catalogs and registration information is going out this month for the 2008 Synod School of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The event will run July 27-Aug. 1 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA.
The theme of the school for all ages is “Coloring Outside the Lines.” More than 600 participants from throughout the synod attended the 2007 school.
Convocation speaker will be the Rev. Scott Nesbitt, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Clinton, IA. Worship leaders are the Rev. Howard Chapman of First Presbyterian Church, Marion, IA; the Rev. Betty Weidert of Lake City (IA) Union Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Nancy Ross-Hullinger of Avoca (IA) Presbyterian Church.
|
