Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders
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Mark Your Calendar!
CLP Continuing Education
Lent & Easter
Synod of Lincoln Trails
Feb. 12, 2011
Philo, Ill.
Engaging Evangelism
Feb. 12, 2011
Quincy, Ill.
Third Annual Institute for Multicultural Ministry
Feb. 17-19, 2011
Princeton Theological Seminary, N.J.
2011 Zenos Lectures
Gench: Engaging Tyrannical Texts
McCormick Theological Seminary
Feb. 21, 2011
Chicago
Institute for Pastoral Leadership
Feb. 28 - March 4, 2011
Princeton Theological Seminary, N.J.
Second Annual Institute for Faith and Public Life
March 10-12, 2011
Princeton Theological Seminary, N.J.
Synod of Lincoln Trails Quarterly Meeting
April 30, 2011
Philo, Ill.
MALT Training for Interim Pastors
May 16-20, 2011
St. Louis, Mo.
CLP Continuing Education
Pentecost I
Synod of Lincoln Trails
June 4, 2011
Philo, Ill.
PC(USA) Big Tent
June 30 - July 2, 2011
Indianapolis
Covenant Gathering
July 3-9, 2011
Hillsdale, Mich.
Synod of Lincoln Trails Quarterly Meeting
July 29, 2011
Urbana, Ill.
CLP Continuing Education
Pentecost II
Synod of Lincoln Trails
Aug. 20, 2011
Philo, Ill.
Synod of Lincoln Trails Quarterly Meeting
October 29, 2011
Philo, Ill.
CLP Continuing Education
Advent/Christmas/
Epiphany
Synod of Lincoln Trails
Nov. 5, 2011
Philo, Ill.
Check our website or contact the synod office for details!
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 Christina Berry Installed as Synod Moderator 2011
The first regular meeting of the synod for 2011 was held Jan. 28 in Urbana, Ill. During the meeting, moderator Eddie Knox installed Christina Berry, minister commissioner from Blackhawk Presbytery as moderator for 2011 and Doug Tracy as stated clerk.
You will find the unofficial summary of the synod meeting and other meeting papers at www.lincolntrails.org/meetingpapers.
The official minutes will also appear there when they are available.
 | | Eddie Knox, Christina Berry and Doug Tracy smile for the camera at the synod meeting in January. |
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 From the Synod Executive - Carol McDonald
The Deep Work of Transition
As you read this, I am spending a week in Atlanta with the Interim Ministry Consortium of the PC(USA) - a gathering of all the sites and teachers who provide educational opportunities for those seeking to provide leadership for congregations and governing bodies in transition. When the Consortium began in 1999, the journey of transition was fairly clear and easy: a congregation or governing body moved from stability - to transition - to stability. The leader simply helped a system move from stability to stability. Or so we thought! Time and experience and our current reality are clear: there is no such thing as complete stability...for any system, no matter how calm it is. And the leader who believes that stability will automatically follow his or her time within a system needs to do some very serious reflection on what is needed for a congregation or governing body in transition.
Our exploration has been guided this week by Ken McFayden, Professor of Ministry and Leadership Development at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va. Ken's recent book is Strategic Leadership for a Change: Facing Our Losses, Finding our Future (Alban Institute. 2009). In his writing, McFayden reminds us that any time a system is called to change, that same system must be willing to acknowledge the importance of attachment, loss, and grief (p. 4). Only then can the system "attach anew" and understand the change as part of God's call (p. 5).
All week I have been thinking about, and applying, McFayden's concepts to the Synod of Lincoln Trails. We are a system in the midst of change. We have an excellent team working to discern the next steps for this governing body. But what are we attached to that we must let go of in order to move into the future: particular staff people who are no longer among us...particular programs that no longer serve the needs of our presbyteries and congregations...the "pride" and identity of being one of (if not the) best functioning synods in the PC(USA)?
To let go of that to which we are attached creates for us a huge sense of loss. I speak from my heart when I say it is a huge loss for me to realize we were both the first and the last governing body in our denomination to be served by "co-executives." Each time we have said good-bye to a staff person in the last ten years has engendered a sense of loss. When any of our long-successful programs requires cancellation because of limited participation, I feel a sense of loss - and I wonder, "are we losing some of our identity?"
And then there's the grief - our response to loss - something we rarely acknowledge even to ourselves. McFayden reminds us that grief occurs in stages: shock, numbness, mixture of belief and disbelief, deep mourning, selective memory reminding us of what we've lost, and commitment to start living again (p. 48). Grief is not linear; we don't complete one stage before entering another. Grief is circular and just when we think we're ready to move on, we are stopped in our tracks by a memory. And it starts all over again.
So...what is the point of all this? What is the message for the Synod of Lincoln Trails? It is said that preachers preach what they need to hear; perhaps I'm writing what I need to read. Yes...the Synod of Lincoln Trails is living in a time of continual transition...we are working, and want, to move towards our new future. But we need to be ready for the really hard tasks - of letting go of some things, of acknowledging the losses we've already faced and losses yet to come. And we need to lean into our grief - for only then will we be able to catch a new vision for this synod and commit ourselves to the new future into which God is even now calling us. And to God - Creator, Christ, and Spirit - be the glory!
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Synod Discernment Team Seeks Your Input
The Synod Discernment Team, led by Tim Jones, has formed to look into the future of the Synod of Lincoln Trails. The team is eager to receive your input. If you have comments or insights to share, please contact the team member from your presbytery. Team members are: Blackhawk PresbyteryNancy Gillem Kuhn, nancyjkuhn@yahoo.comChicago PresbyteryJulio Pena, tainojp@comcast.netNicholas Shargo, shargo@sbcglobal.netGreat Rivers PresbyteryGene Miller, fgene@macomb.comMiriam "Mim" Pride, mprid@blackburn.eduMidwest Hanmi PresbyteryvacantOhio Valley PresbyterySusan McGhee, scmcghee@povpc.orgSoutheastern Illinois PresbyteryBill Capel, bill@capel.comWabash Valley PresbyteryBill McLean, pastor@delphipres.orgWhitewater Valley PresbyteryPeggy McDonald, pegmcal@aol.comContract StaffTim Jones, filiodog@yahoo.com
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Nine national conferences will meet at the same time this summer under the PC(USA) Big Tent in Indianapolis. Workshops, shared worship and abundant fellowship will fill the schedule at the event, to be held at the new JW Marriott Hotel. Click here to learn more. |
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Middle Governing Body Commission Creates Blog
The PC(USA) Middle Governing Body Commission, established by the 2010 General Assembly, has its own blog. Join in the conversation about the future of synods and presbyteries here. |
What's Up With
Your Ministry?
We'd love to
share the news! Contact Marta at the synod
with updates from your presbytery, congregation,
camp, or other organization. We'll spread the
word! |
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