Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders
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Another
24
Hours
The Authentic Transparent Leader
April and May 2008
Here's another installment of the popular "24 Hour" leadership
development series for pastors and CLPs serving congregations in the
Synod of Lincoln Trails.
In 24 hours, you will receive
- Three times of worship
- Short presentations on themes with small group discussions
- Bible study in small groups around each theme
- Three meals
- Conversation with colleagues in ministry
- 24 hours for your leadership growth
Four times and locations to choose from. Click here for more information.
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Synod Meets in January
Welcomes New Commissioners, Installs New Officers
The Synod of Lincoln Trails held the first of its four regularly scheduled meetings on January 26 in Urbana. Nathan Rush (elder, Great Rivers Presbytery), former vice moderator, was installed as synod moderator for 2008. Laura Reason (minister, Presbytery of Wabash Valley) was installed as vice moderator. Among the items of business, commissioners changed the name of the Prophetic Action Grant to the Peacemaking Grant with new guidelines requiring grant recipients to use funds for conflict management training. New commissioners to the synod are Brenda Harcourt (minister, Blackhawk Presbytery), Delmer Keilman (elder, Blackhawk Presbytery), Richard Tindall (minister, Great Rivers Presbytery), Joon Hee Park (minister, Midwest Hamni Presbytery), James Richards (minister, Ohio Valley Presbytery), Marylynn Boatright (elder, Wabash Valley Presbytery), John Paulson (CLP/elder, Whitewater Valley Presbytery) and Katherine Rieder (minister, Whitewater Valley Presbytery).  Jan Wilkerson (elder, Ohio Valley) and Robert Sherman (minister, Southeastern Illinois Presbytery) were re-elected as commissioners. For more news about the synod meeting, check the January Synod Synopsis. For more photos, click here. |
Addressing Economic Challenges
Facing Indiana Pastors
Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment, Inc., has awarded grants to the synod and Ohio Valley Presbytery for their "Addressing Economic Challenges Facing Indiana Pastors" initiative. The synod's grant will cover Wabash Valley and Whitewater Valley Presbyteries. All three presbyteries will use the grant to study the economic challenges facing pastors serving small congregations and use their findings to write a proposal for larger grants to address the challenges they have identified and documented.
The Lilly Endowment's goal is to: "alleviate the financial burdens carried by pastors and thereby strengthen the quality of pastoral leadership and enhance the vitality of Indiana congregations."
Sheryl Fancher will be working with this project for the synod in 2008. Sheryl wrote the following as part of the Synod's grant proposal: "...more pastors of small congregations assume responsibility for professional expenses or refuse raises that would bring their salaries in line with their presbytery minimum out of concern for the finances of the congregation but with startling lack of regard for their own needs. These practices must be addressed through training, communication, and understanding of financial management and financial discipleship for all parties involved."
This Lilly grant and the possibility of a further grant help Presbyterians in Indiana move toward effective pastoral leadership supported by healthy churches.
Click here to download a printable brochure about this project.
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Interim Pastor Training
April 28 to May 2, Mercy Center, St. Louis, Missouri
The Synods of Mid-America and Lincoln Trails (MALT) provide interim training every spring and fall to pastors nationwide. Interim training is intended for those presently engaged in interim ministry and those inquiring about this ministry. Committee on Ministry members and presbytery staff members with responsibility for congregations in transition will also find the training helpful.
Check the Interim Pastor Training web page for more information or to register.
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 A Word from the Co-Exec
2008 marks 100 years of Presbyterian Camping Ministries. A hundred years of children learning about God, Christ, and Spirit in settings of beauty and creativity. A hundred years of youth developing relationships that last a lifetime-in settings of vigor and vulnerability. A hundred years of adults teaching and growing in their faith-in settings that urge questions and encourage exploration. When serving as Director of Geneva Center, one of the five camp and conference centers within the bounds of the Synod of Lincoln Trails, I once calculated that one week of summer camp was comparable in time and energy to an entire year of Sunday church school. While the two learning settings are very different, both are highly formative in the faith journeys of persons of all ages.
Why is this anniversary special for those of us in this synod? Friends, it all began right here! In 1908, Camp Kosciusko, Winona Lake, Indiana, opened its woods and trails and lake to Presbyterian children and youth from all over northern Indiana. Camp "Kosci" was the very first Presbyterian camping facility!
Today, the geography of the Synod of Lincoln Trails is home to five wonderful facilities: Stronghold (Blackhawk Presbytery), Presbyterian Camps at Saugatuck, Michigan (Chicago Presbytery), Camp Carew (Southeastern Illinois Presbytery), Geneva Center (Wabash Valley Presbytery), Camp Pyoca (Whitewater Valley and Ohio Valley Presbyteries). Each of these facilities has nurtured the Christian journey of hundreds of children and youth. Each has encouraged young women and men to enter the ministry. Each has helped adults re-claim faith and focus energy on the mission of Christ's church.
I urge you to send a child to camp this summer. Encourage a young adult to spend a summer counseling or lifeguarding or working in the camp kitchen. Challenge an adult to volunteer time and energy to strengthen faith journeys of young and old alike. Remember...it all started here...let's keep it going...and make the ministry of camping even stronger. Lives will be changed! That's a promise!
Carol McDonald
Synod Co-Executive
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