February 10, 2012

Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders

Mark Your Calendar!
  

Synod of Lincoln Trails

2012 Meetings


July 21

Philo Presbyterian Church

Philo, IL

 

October 26-27

Philo Presbyterian Church

Philo, IL

 

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February 11, 2012

CRE Coninuing Education

Philo Presbyterian Church

Philo, IL

 

April 17-18, 2012

Reading of the

Presbytery Minutes

Eastland Suites

Urbana, IL

 

 

May 7-11, 2012

Interim Pastor Training

Mercy Center

St. Louis, MO

 

May 18-19, 2012

CRE Continuing Education

Champaign/Urbana

 

 

June 30-July 7, 2012

General Assembly

Pittsburgh, PA

 

 

Check our website or contact the synod office for details!

 

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www.lincolntrails.org

Synod Meeting Highlights

by Carol McDonald, Synod Executive

 

 

The Synod of Lincoln Trails met for the first time in 2012 on Friday, January 27, at First Presbyterian Church, Urbana, IL.  Highlights of the meeting include:

  • Unanimous endorsement of The Rev. Susan Davis Krummel, General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Great Rivers, as a candidate for Moderator of the 220th General Assembly
  • Installation of The Rev. Cheryl Montgomery, Presbytery of Whitewater Valley, as Moderator of the Synod for 2012
  • A fine sermon based on Joshua 24 - preached by out-going Synod Moderator The Rev. Christina Berry of Blackhawk Presbytery
  • Conclusion of a year-long exploration of Journey in the Wilderness by Gil Rendle
  • Laughter and humor as commissioners and others 'oriented' themselves to the history, geography, work, and institutions of the synod
  • Reports from Standing Committees, from the Synod Executive, and from the Stated Clerk
  • In the annual meeting of the Corporation, election of the following officers:  Marylynn Boatright, President; James Mann, Vice President; Carol McDonald, Secretary/Treasure

The next Stated Meeting of the Synod of Lincoln Trails will be July 21, 2012, at the Philo Presbyterian Church, Philo, IL. 

 


 
Commissioned Ruling Elder Continuing Education Offered by the Synod of Lincoln Trails

 

The Synod of Lincoln Trails is offering continued education to commissioned ruling elders. The Rev. Dr. Laura Reason, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Highland, Ind. will lead participants through the sacred seasons of the luturgical year. Dr. Reason is a eight-time teacher of preaching and worship leadership to Synod of Lincoln Trails ruling elders.

 
CRE ConEd Dates:
May 18-19, 2012 - N-Fog Interpretation and Pentecost I - Year B
August 18, 2012 - Preaching and Worship, Pentecost II - Year B
Nov. 2-3, 2012 - "What I Want to Know Is..." and Preaching &
                          Worship, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany - Year C
 

"The Art of Transitional Ministry"

Interim Pastor Training

 

May 7-11, 2012

Mercy Center

St. Louis, MO

Registration deadline: April 9

 

Interim/Transitional Ministry Education is intended for those presently engaged in interim or transitional ministry and those inquiring about this ministry. Committee on Ministry members and presbytery staff persons with responsibility for contregations in transition will also find the education helpful.

 

Read the brochure or download the registration form (registration requires signature from your Executive Presbyter or Committee on Ministry moderator).

 

Life After Synods

Mid-Council Commission Approves Enabling Recommendations

  

by Jerry L. Van Marter

Presbyterian News Service

 

 

Dallas - In October, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Mid-Council Commission, recommended the elimination of synods as ecclesiastical units of the church's governing structure by 2016.

 

Today (Feb. 2), the commission approved recommendations to the upcoming 220th General Assembly to implement that goal.

The proposal seeks appointment by the GA moderator of two special committees:

 

- To come up with needed changes in the Manual of the General Assembly and the Book of Order to create regional administrative commissions "to facilitate churches and presbyteries to fulfill their missional objectives" and "to continue to facilitate and support the racial ethnic ministries that have historically been supported by the Synods."

 

- To come up with needed changes to create regional judicial commissions to replace current synod Permanent Judicial Commissions. 

  

More...

 

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Speaking a Word of Grace

from PC(USA) Leadership

  

 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

Five months from now, commissioners to the 220th General Assembly will be hard at work in Pittsburgh. They will be engaged in worship, study, reflection, discussion, debate, and much prayer as they seek to discern the mind of Christ for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

 

The discussions at the assembly will be thorough and spirited, as they should be. After all, matters of faith and how we live out our call to be followers of Christ run deep. Seeking to end warfare, poverty, and injustice, to feed the hungry, to do our part to spread the gospel worldwide, and much more, invoke great passion, energy, urgency, and commitment.

 

More...

 


  

  

 

 

 

Continuing Education Opportunities for 2012-2013

 

Allen Lectures: Professor Emilie M Townes will present the 2012 Allen Lecture on pastoral care on Monday, February. 20, 2012 

 

Certificate in Executive Leadership: This highly acclaimed Certificate in Executive Leadership program equips pastors and other key leaders of Christian institutions, both congregations and broader church or non-profit systems, with the skills and abilities vital for effective leadership in today's rapidly changing landscape.  The program emphasizes the development of adaptive and transformational skills, and draws on contemporary leadership theory and practice, as well as McCormick's recognized excellence in providing theological education and its thirty-five years of experience in organizational development and leadership education. 

  

Presbytery of Chicago Offers Worship Alive! Scholarships
 

The Worship, Music, and the Arts (WMA) Work Group of the Presbytery of Chicago is offering scholarships to Worship Alive! in honor of the memory of Charles E. Dickerman, former WMA moderator and newsletter editor. The Worship Alive! workshops are for those individuals interested in planning and leading worship. Learn more about Worship Alive! workshop topics, dates, and locations.

 

Scholarship applicants must be a non-clergy member of a church within the Presbytery of Chicago. Scholarships are limited to two people from each congregation.

 

 

For Such a Time as This: A Small Church Residency

Growing Leaders, Growing Church

Announces Recruitement Plans for New Class 

 

Launched by the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC)in Fall 2009, For Such a Time as This: A Small Church Residency - Growing Leaders, Growing Churches is a timely and innovative program that pairs small, underserved congregations with recent seminary graduates in a two-year pastoral residency relationship. The program was designed to renew the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by equipping new pastors to grow small churches Deep and Wide in evangelism, discipleship, servanthood and diversity.

 


Visit the For Such a Time as This website for further information and application forms.

 

What should a stewardship committee be doing?

 

 

Second: Follow the instructions. The Manual says:

 

"An effective financial stewardship program begins with evaluation following the completion of one year's education and stewardship program and moves right into plans for the New Year. This manual

 

More... 

 

March 12-14, 2012

Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Click here for conference updates, a downloadable registration form and information about online registration and payment.

 

Geneva Center Summer Staff

Applications being accepted...

 

Love kids?

This is the summer job for you!

We are looking for:  

  • Counselors
  • Certified lifeguards 
  • Young people who love kids and the outdoors

 Click here for an application.

 

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITION

 

Sound View is looking for someone with a heart for God's work in the community and a lifestyle that reflects our mission of "God's Kingdom First." The Assistant Director will help develop, recruit and train staff as well as manage summer camps, off-season conferences, and program activities for guest groups. The Assistant Director will also run Sound View's Challenge Course and oversee other camp activities such as Waterfront; Paintball; Archery, Arts and Crafts, etc. Other responsibilities include overseeing the maintenance of program equipment and facilities. We are accepting resumes until February 15, 2012. Please check our Open Job Postings page for job description and more information.