Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders
|
Mark Your Calendar!
Synod of Lincoln Trails Quarterly Meeting
April 30, 2011
Philo, Ill.
Presbyterian Writer's Guild Conference
May 16-17
Louisville, Ky.
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 3-8, 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!
|
|
June 30 - July 2, 2011
Indianapolis
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Register Here
|
|
|
|
 | Carol McDonald
|
From the Synod Executive
What's Your Opinion?
It is finally April. T. S. Eliot referred to April as "the cruelest month," drawing us into its gentle spring-like breezes and then shocking us into the reality that cold weather is not quite finished with us for another year. April's rollercoaster of weather transitions is a good metaphor for the life of the church right now. There are days when everything feels stable, even gentle. And then there are days when everything feels uprooted, ready to vanish in the blink of an eye.
Frankly, I love this time of year! Never knowing quite what to expect from day to day keeps me on my toes, keeps my eyes wide open and my ears focused. And it's a great time to be active in the life of the church; the ground beneath us is shifting and I've always (mostly in my dreams) wanted to be a wave-rider!
I spent several days last week in Louisville at a meeting of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly to which I was elected by the 219th General Assembly. We spent most of one morning in conversation with Tod Bolsinger, the Moderator of the Middle Governing Bodies Commission, a group mandated by the 219th General Assembly and appointed by G.A. moderators Cynthia Bolbach and Bruce Reyes-Chow. The commission is in the research and consulting phase of its work; we were asked to focus on the following questions:- What, in your opinion, needs to be preserved in our current middle governing body system?
- What, in your opinion, needs to be changed in our current middle governing body system?
- What is working well in your current experience with middle governing bodies?
- What is not working well in your current experience with middle governing bodies? How might these issues be addressed?
- What else would you like to share with the MGB Commission?
These are the questions the synod will address on Saturday, April 30, 2011, as it welcomes two members of the commission, the Rev. John Vest of Chicago and Elder David Rue of Sacramento. I look forward to a fruitful and helpful conversation.
The Middle Governing Bodies Commission wants to hear from as many people as possible during this research and consulting phase. Their message is: "We want to hear your thoughts, experiences, hopes and concerns. Join in on the conversation and encourage others to join in as well!" The commission is available in the following ways:
Share your thoughts using the commission's online surveys:
I hope you will take a few minutes during this busy month of April to share your thoughts and hopes with the Middle Governing Bodies Commission. They have promised to take seriously "the voice of the church." Make sure your ideas are included!
|
 APA Heartland Region to Meet May 20-21 in Louisville
The Administrative Personnel Association, Heartland Region, will hold its annual meeting at the Breckenridge Inn in Louisville, Ky. on May 20-21. APA's Heartland region serves Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. The meeting will offer PC(USA) administrative and support staff opportunities for training and certification. Visitors or inquirers are welcome to participate in any conference. Download a conference brochure here. Important: since publication of the brochure, the location of the conference has changed to the Breckenridge Inn in Louisville. |
 Women Touched by Grace WTG is a spiritual renewal program for Protestant and Catholic women pastors. The program is now forming its third group of 20 clergywomen, who will gather for five 10-day sessions in 2012-2014, designed to increase their skills as spiritual leaders. Applicants must have been ordained for a minimum of five years and be serving a congregation. Application deadline is June 6. Application FormMore informationThe program is partially funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. and is hosted by the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center in Beech Grove, Ind. |
Voting Tallies for Proposed Amendments to the PC(USA) Constitution
Click here to download a document that shows the voting tallies for the proposed amendments to the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as approved by the 219th General Assembly (2010). The approval of the Belhar Confession requires 116 affirmative votes; all other amendments require 87 affirmative votes.
The voting tallies are frequently updated.
|
 A Field Guide to Presbyterian Congregations
Who's Going Where and Why
Conducted by the PC(USA) Research Services office, the U.S. Congregational Life Survey tallied responses from 40,000 worshipers in a national study of Presbyterian congregations. In the fall of 2008 and the spring of 2009 a random sample of 521 PC(USA) congregations participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. The survey was given in worship and included the responses of all worshipers age 15 and older. In 2001, a random sample of 523 PC(USA) congregations participated.
Download a PDF of the Field Guide
Order a Copy of the Field Guide
The resource is a companion piece to A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, previously released by Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
