09114
February 17, 2009
Presbytery and synod news
IRVING, TX ― Commissioners from the 11 presbyteries across the Synod of the Sun have granted its administrative commission for the Presbytery of South Louisiana (PSL) authority to dissolve congregations within the presbytery. The synod, at the request of some members and the council PSL, established this 13-member administrative commission last year.
“The (administrative commission) will continue to work diligently and prayerfully with the Presbytery of South Louisiana and has no desire to use this authority, except in extraordinary circumstances, and unless the presbytery itself is unable to function wisely in related matters before them,” commission member Rupert Turner, an elder from New Covenant Presbytery, told the synod at its Feb. 11-12 meeting in Fort Worth.
The commission was originally charged “by the review of records and by whatever face-to-face conversations the commission deems helpful, shall determine the validity of the presbytery’s procedures and decisions (past, pending, and future) regarding various congregations and their properties. All pending and future decisions regarding property in the Presbytery of South Louisiana shall require the approval of the commission. This commission also shall listen to other expressions of concern and/or dissatisfaction with presbytery leadership and make suggestions as to ways the presbytery can move toward a fuller expression of the ministry of Christ’s church.”
An array of leadership, property and dissolution of congregations issues have arisen in the aftermath of the devastation of the Gulf storms within the Presbytery, beginning with Hurricane Katrina nearly three years ago.
“The commission has sought to be a faithful companion with the congregations and the leadership as the PSL is also confronted with restructuring its life, together with dwindling financial resources,” stated its report to the synod. ― information furnished by the Synod of the Sun Administrative Commission for the Presbytery of South Louisiana
IOWA CITY, IA ― The Presbytery of East Iowa has scheduled a series of elder training sessions on the four Saturdays in March.
According to Maurie Campbell the presbytery’s educational consultant, the goal of the workshops is “to encourage a change in the way elders understand their role in the Presbyterian tradition. Right now, many view serving on session in much the same way as serving on a community board of some kind. The training is intended to challenge elders to think about the ‘call’ of God in their lives and to consider themselves as spiritual leaders in their faith communities.”
The training sessions will be held March 7 at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids; March 14 at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant; March 21 at First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City; and March 28 at Bettendorf Presbyterian Church.
A second training series is being tentatively scheduled for September.
CHARLOTTE, NC ― The Education and Nurture Ministry team of the Presbytery of Charlotte is accepting nominations for the presbytery’s 2009 Outstanding Older Adult Awards.
One person from each congregation will be honored May 12 at a luncheon at Covenant Presbyterian Church here.
The committee is looking for older adults who actively live out their faith in service to the church and community.
EAGAN, MN ― At its recent meeting the Synod of Lakes and Prairies elected Elder Cheryl Biller of Northern Plains Presbytery as its moderator for 2009.
The synod also elected the Rev. Robert Bouton of East Iowa Presbytery as its vice-moderator, and Elder Jay Wilkinson of Minnesota Valleys Presbytery to another term as stated clerk.
And the synod voted to create a task force to study the future and changing role of the synod.
LAKEWOOD, WA ― The First Cambodian Presbyterian Fellowship of Olympia Presbytery was officially recognized as a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) New Church Development at the presbytery’s January meeting.
The NCD, pastored by the Rev. Sahara V. Chea, nests in Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tacoma and includes a number of worship, education and outreach programs to Tacoma’s burgeoning Cambodian community.
LEXINGTON, SC ― Churches in Trinity Presbytery will embark March 13-14 on a “Strategic Spiritual Journey” to seek their full potential as congregations.
Following the two-day face-to-face session, participants will engage in twice-a-month teleconferences, led by George Bullard of the Columbia Partnership ― a Lilly Endowment-funded pastoral excellence program ― and Bill Howard of BeCoached!, a leadership development firm.
Through the strategic spiritual journey, pastors and congregational leaders “experience a heightened intensity in their congregation's passion to engage in a transformation process; build up the spiritual readiness of their congregation to take on a transformational process; strengthen the capacity of their leadership core to lead a transformational process; learn effective strategies for transition and change that lead to transformation; complete an assessment of their resources that empower a transformation process; enjoy a coaching relationship that seeks to build the capacity of the congregation to minister; and gain in-depth knowledge about the Spiritual Strategic Journey process so they can make an informed decision about moving forward with this process.”
LOUISVILLE ― Young adults in Mid-Kentucky Presbytery have been invited to take a partnership journey to Taiwan, led by the presbytery’s Louisville Taiwanese Fellowship. The trip is scheduled for June 29-July 8.
The group will learn about Taiwanese culture and the ministry and mission of Chang Hua Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. Current plans are for participants to teach English to children involved in the summer mission programs of two congregations, take part in worship services and fellowship opportunities, and visit mission and tourist sites selected by the Chang Hua hosts.
CLEVELAND ― The Presbytery of the Western Reserve is holding a special meeting March 2 to continue efforts begun in January “to understand and talk with one another about different perspectives on Biblical authority, interpretation and homosexuality.”
The special meeting ― at Church of the Covenant here ― will feature a presentation by the Rev. Jack Rogers, former General Assembly moderator, professor emeritus of theology at San Francisco Theological Seminary and author of the recent best-selling The Bible and Homosexuality.
The meeting will include time for questions and answers with Rogers and voting on some of the proposed amendments to the PC(USA) Constitution.
SEATTLE ― The Dick Lutz Peace Fellowship of Seattle Presbytery meets Feb. 21 at Overlake Park Presbyterian Church in Bellevue for its quarterly meeting.
Featured speaker is Elder Neil Bolkcom of First Presbyterian Church in Kent, who will speak on his recent peacemaking trip to Ethiopia.
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