July 5, 2011

Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders
Mark Your Calendar!
 
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.

 A Day with Gil Rendle
Where Is the Hope for Mainline Churches?
October 28
Urbana, 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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www.lincolntrails.org

Big Tent 2011 

1700 Presbyterians Meet Under the Big Tent


Singing, talking, eating and praying were abundant at PC(USA)'s 2011 Big Tent gathering

Pathways Suburban Farming 

Big Tent young adult participants help Urban Mountain Farms convert a bus stop into a community greenhouse. Photo by Jessica Reid.

Nine denominational partner conferences were held at the same time, in the same place, in Indianapolis June 30 - July 2. Rounding out the program were worship services, pre-conference events and a mission project. Because the conferences were concurrent, attendees were able to select workshops from any of the conferences.

The Presbyterian News Service, aided by volunteer reporters, filed dozens of stories about workshops, plenaries and other aspects of the event. Read all about Big Tent at www.pcusa.org/news

 

Book of OrderNew Book of Order Available Soon

Barring unforeseen circumstances, copies of the Book of Order 2011-2013 (including the newly adopted Form of Government) should be delivered to the PC(USA) warehouse during July. A small number of copies were available for purchase at Big Tent 2011.

 Orders can be placed now via PC(USA) Church Store website or by calling (800) 524-2612 and asking for item #OGA-11-001. Orders placed now will be the first to be fulfilled once the books are in stock.

The price is $10 for 1-9 copies, with a 10% discount for 10-24 copies, 15% discount for 25-49 copies, and a 20% discount for 50+ copies.

Where is the Hope for Mainline Churches? 


Well-known author and consultant Gil Rendle will present a day-long event on Friday, Oct. 28, in Urbana, Ill.

He will be discussing the leadership and organizational challenges in mainline churches today, as they journey through the wilderness of change.

Registration cost is $25, which includes the cost of lunch. Copies of Rendle's book, Journey in the Wilderness, will be available for sale. This event is sponsored by the synod in partnership with the presbyteries of Blackhawk, Chicago, Great Rivers and Wabash Valley.

Download a flyer and registration form

 

We Are Presbyterian Online Video Series Showcases Voices from Across PC(USA)

by Anitra Kitts

Two months ago, the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008), invited Presbyterians to record a short video expressing their hopes and dreams for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Sixteen videos, recorded from church pews, home kitchens and backyards, were publicly released June 22 on Reyes-Chow's blog page. Click to see We Are Presbyterian.

Originally promoted as an online conference with a full day of streaming eight-minute videos, the project ran into limitations of time and technical capacity. Instead, it became a webpage with links to the videos submitted. Viewers are encouraged to comment on the videos or post on the Facebook or Twitter news feeds related to the project.

The We Are Presbyterian project was intended to make a space for low-profile Presbyterians to speak to the whole church. Some are intimate recordings of individuals talking directly into the camera, and others are edited interviews of members. Almost all of them speak of a love for the connectional church, a shared decision-making process between lay and clergy, and a sense that their congregation was also a family.

Free Demographic Service Lends Lincoln Trails Congregations Insights about the Families Near Them
Article Subtitle

Members of the Synod of Lincoln Trails have free, unlimited access to MissionInsite, a web-based tool that allows congregations and presbyteries to learn more about ministry opportunities in their area. Click here to learn more about MissionInsite.