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| News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies | |  TIME IS RIGHT FOR SYNOD SCHOOL: Synod School 2010 - "Grace Notes" - is coming in July and there is still time to register. Synod School runs July 25-30 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. "Synod School is a learning and personal enrichment experience for people of all ages," the 2010 Synod School catalog states in its opening line. The 2010 Synod School catalog is available on the Synod of Lakes and Prairies' website. The catalog includes course descriptions, information about convocation and worship leaders, the fee schedule, housing information and much more. Registration materials - with multiple options - are also on the website. Additional information is available from the synod office at 651.357.1140 or 800.328.1880.
WISCONSIN'S PIONEER PARISH IS THRIVING GROUP: Many rural Presbyterian churches share their pastors with one or two other churches in partnerships that enable them to survive and thrive despite small numbers in the pews. But northwestern Wisconsin's Pioneer Parish, part of the Presbytery of Northern Waters, takes this approach to a distinctly higher level. The parish consists of six churches spread all over Douglas County and drawing members from two other counties. The Rev. Richard Blood has served as head of staff for the past two years, assisted by a part-time youth director/lay pastor and several other lay pastors. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Pioneer Parish."
NEBRASKA RECEIVES SDOP GRANT IN RECENT DISTRIBUTION: The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People recently approved grants totaling $260,070 to 14 self-help projects in the United States. The money is from the One Great House of Sharing offering. Projects included the Sudanese Cultural and Community Development Association of Omaha, Neb., which will receive $20,000. This group of Sudanese refugees was admitted to the United States with few resources and limited English skills. This grant will allow them to invest in their own training and prepare them for employment, thereby enabling them to become participants in the social and economic life of their new country. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "SDOP."
 WAUNAKEE PASTOR ON MISSION ABOARD SHIP IN PACIFIC: The Rev. Kirk Morledge, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Waunakee, Wis., is serving as command chaplain aboard USNS Mercy, a hospital ship on a humanitarian mission across the western Pacific. During the coming months, the ship's medical staff will provide medical care to people in various Pacific Rim countries where medical care is not ordinarily available. Chaplain Morledge wrote in his church's June newsletter, "This floating leviathan in which I now sleep, work, shower, eat and pray is one of the largest hospitals on the earth: 1,200 staff, a thousand beds, 12 surgical operating rooms. ... I eat breakfast up on the mess decks with uniformed Navy doctors and nurses, civilian health care volunteers from eight nations, sailors who monitor radio traffic from their perch up near the bridge, pilots who will fly the helos that will transport needy patients to the flight deck above. ... One does not need to have an especially acute faith to sense something divine coming together here: 1,200 people of different faiths, from different nations, most in uniform, bringing different skills and different gifts, gearing up not to fight, but to heal, to help and to serve." Morledge's complete article can be found at "Mercy."
15 PC(USA) MISSION WORKERS TO BE COMMISSIONED AT GA: Fifteen new international mission co-workers will be commissioned July 8 during the upcoming 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).Their appointments by Presbyterian World Mission were confirmed at the recent meeting of the General Assembly Mission Council in Louisville, Ky. "These new international workers ... will be spanning the globe in their assignments, from Europe to Asia, the Middle East and Latin America," said the Rev. Hunter Farrell, director of Presbyterian World Mission. Among those named was the Rev. Karen Moritz of Homestead Presbytery who will serve as ecumenical relations facilitator in the Czech Republic, working with the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Mission Co-Workers." |
| News about the 219th General Assembly | |
MINNEAPOLIS WESTMINSTER KICKS OFF GA WITH MINNESOTA MUSIC, OFFERS OTHER EVENTS: Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis is welcoming all those attending the 219th General Assembly to a free opening concert Friday, July 2, and offering a variety of events, including meals, massages, an open house, midday breaks, and tours of the historic church and its art. The Friday concert features Monroe Crossing, one of the nation's premier bluegrass bands, and Cantus, considered by many critics to be the nation's top male a cappella ensemble. There's no charge for the concert, but dontions are welcome at the door. Westminster's Calvin Café will be open for breakfast and lunch, and the midday breaks, offered Monday through Friday, July 5-9, will feature entertainment. Information about the church can be found at the church's website.
MODERATOR ELECTION JULY 3, INFO AVAILABLE: Six candidates are standing for moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the election takes place Saturday, July 3, when the assembly opens in Minneapolis. Two of the six candidates are from presbyteries within the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. Clicking on a candidate's name in the following sentence will take readers to the Presbyterian News Service story about the candidate. The candidates, and their respective presbyteries, are the Rev. James Belle, Philadelphia Presbytery; the Rev. Eric Nielsen, Northern Waters Presbytery; the Rev. Maggie Lauterer, Western North Carolina Presbytery; the Rev. Jin Kim, Twin Cities Area Presbytery; Elder Cynthia Bolbach, National Capital Presbytery; and the Rev. Julia Leeth, Santa Barbara Presbytery.
GA INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON WEB: For those who aren't attending the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) July 3-10 in Minneapolis, the business of the assembly can be tracked online at the denomination's website. For those who are interested in local activities and tours, information is available from the Committee on Local Arrangements.
COMMISSIONERS, ADVISORY DELEGATES HAVE TASKS BEFORE, DURING, AFTER GA: By now, all 173 presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have elected their commissioners to the 219th General Assembly. Those commissioners - 712 in all - and 221 advisory delegates will make their way to Minneapolis to serve in their respective roles when the assembly meets July 3-10. But their work as commissioners and advisory delegates will have begun long before the gavel sounds to convene the assembly. Let's imagine that Blossom Creek Presbytery has elected Helen as a commissioner and Peter as a young adult advisory delegate to this year's assembly. Let's follow them as they fill their respective roles before, during and after the assembly. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "General Assembly."
GENERAL ASSEMBLY BOOTH NO. 107 - 16 REGIONAL SYNODS: Rob Brink, Synod of the Pacific executive had an idea. What if all of the synods of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) hosted one booth at the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis July 3-10? Joyce Emery, executive of the Synod of Alaska-Northwest, and then-synod moderator J. Roger Lee conferred and pledged to coordinate the creation of the booth. Emery created a design and began recruiting. The Synod of Living Waters offered to send Donna Hoppestad to staff the booth at its expense. Nine of the sixteen synods have joined the cause. Duane Sweep, associate for communications for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies is receiving all the packages of display materials. Presbyterians from across the country are signing up on the Synod of Alaska-Northwest's website to join in staffing the booth.
 TICKLE LEADS WORKSHOP JULY 5 DURING GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Governing Body Relations, with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies as host, author Phyllis Tickle will lead a free workshop Monday, July 5, during the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis. Called simply "A Workshop with Phyllis Tickle," the workshop in Ballroom C of the Hilton Hotel, Minneapolis, is open to the public and runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. (The June 14 issue of Keeping in Touch incorrectly noted the location as the Convention Center.) Tickle wrote " The Great Emergence," a look at the current church and the changes in society that affect the church now and in the future. She will discuss ideas from that book and present ideas that will be in a new book scheduled for publication this year. |
| Education: Institutions and Resources | |
UDTS PRAISED FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION: Derek Maul, an author and freelance writer in the Tampa, Fla., area "called out" seminaries in an article in the June 14 edition of The Presbyterian Outlook magazine. He wrote, "My friend Peggie was in her 50s when she answered God's call to ministry. ... Consequently, Peggie is taking M.Div. classes at the extension campus of a seminary associated with another denomination - a church more inclined to put resources to work in support of vision. ... Dubuque has been a pioneer in the field, offering a sampling of M.Div. online courses since the summer of 2004." Maul's complete article can be found at "Calling Out Seminaries."
JAMESTOWN COLLEGE AWARDS FIRST MASTER'S DEGREE: Jamestown (N.D.) College awarded its first master's degrees in the school's 127-year history May 8. Six graduates received master's degrees in education. Another group of master's students will begin in the fall. Jamestown College is one of seven colleges and universities in covenant with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
MCCORMICK SETS CONTINUING ED OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2010-11: As part of its commitment to continuing education, McCormick Seminary, Chicago, will offer innovative, in-depth certificate programs in leadership and in environmental ministry during the 2010-11 academic year. These programs are designed to offer continuing spiritual formation and growth, as well as practical skill development for ordained clergy and others involved in the mission of the church. Registrations for Environmental Ministry and Cohort II of Executive Leadership, planned in Chicago, are due on or before July 31. Registrations for Cohort III of Executive Leadership in Montreat, N.C., are due on or before Nov. 30. Additional information is available at "McCormick."
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| Conferences and other activities | | | WESTERN NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING SLATED IN OCTOBER: The Rev. Laura Mendenhall, senior philanthropy adviser at the Presbyterian Foundation and former president of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., will be the plenary speaker at the Western National Leadership Training Event slated Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 6-8, at the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole, Wyo. In addition to numerous workshops, the event features training for commissioned lay pastors, members of committees on ministry and members of committees on the preparation for ministry. It also includes the opportunity for a geological-theological field tour. Additional details can be found at "WNLT." |
| News around the PC(USA) | |
 GP WRITES OF CUBAN PRESBYTERIANS' CONCERN FOR PC(USA): The Rev. Mike Cole, general presbyter for the Presbytery of New Covenant, recently wrote about the Cuban Presbyterians' concern for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on the website of the Association of Executive Presbyters. He noted, "On our first full day at the seminary in Matanzas, we participated in an 'encuentro,' an encounter with pastors and members of the Presbyterian Church in Cuba. Two members of the Cuban Presbyterian Church and two members of the PC(USA) made presentations on the mission of their respective church in our present world. During the Q & A time following the American presentations, which honestly characterized the PC(USA) as aging, fragmented and internally focused, a Cuban pastor asked, 'How can this happen in our 'Mother Church?' I was stunned by the question and completely unprepared for the esteem in which the Cuban Presbyterian Church holds us. They view us as their Mother Church and expect us to be leading the way for them in being the missional church. What they heard from us is that their Mother Church has sort of lost her way in the midst of much in-fighting." The rest of Cole's comments can be found at "Perceptions."
DENOMINATION'S NEW WEBSITE TO BE UNVEILED JULY 3: A complete overhaul of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s web presence has resulted in a new look, feel and functionality for the site, which will have its formal premiere Saturday, July 3, during the General Assembly Mission Council's presentation at the 219th General Assembly. The new design is coupled with a new content management system, which serves up content in more dynamic and flexible pages that are geared to help users quickly find relevant and helpful information. New tools to aid conversation around each story have also been incorporated, offering the site as a place to share ideas about ministry and mission as well as to find and share resources to inspire and equip congregations for the church's work.
SOUTH ALABAMA CHURCHES FORM PARTNERSHIPS IN DIALOGUE: The June 21 installment of the 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study highlighted a 20-member church that acts large. It noted, "Partnering with the mayor, superintendent, principal and school transportation staff, the church invites the children of Geneva's elementary school to participate in an after-school arts program titled 'Artful Wonders.'" Several other examples can be found at "Partnerships."
SMALLER-MEMBERSHIP CHURCHES EXPLORE COOPERATIVE MINISTRY: About 100 people gathered at Clinton, S.C., earlier this month to learn more about cooperative ministry among small-membership churches. The "Linking for Ministry" event evolved in response to a renewed interest in cooperative ministry that can enhance the work and mission of churches with fewer members. Participants attended workshops on topics like practical ideas for enhancing existing ministries or initiating cooperative ministries, both locally and globally. Keynote speakers spoke about partnership in the gospel and congregational transformation. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Linking for Ministry."
OUTGOING LEADERS CALL FOR BEST TO GO FORWARD: The general secretaries of the Reformed Ecumenical Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches gave their final reports June 19 as the day-old World Communion of Reformed Churches took flight at a joint gathering in Grand Rapids, Mich. Richard van Houten, who is retiring after 21 years as REC general secretary, and Setri Nyomi, WARC's general secretary who will continue as the head of WCRC, mixed accounts of their organizations' progress since their last meeting with an optimistic look to the future of WCRC, which unites 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide. The historic emphases REC brings to the union are biblical and confessional integrity, Reformed piety, mutual care and a commitment to social justice based on biblical principles, van Houten said. He urged WCRC delegates to maintain those emphases by continuing "personal ministry visits" to member churches, efforts to overcome racial and ethnic discrimination and youth ministry. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Reformed."
'MESSAGE' AUTHOR TO ACCEPT WRITERS GUILD AWARD AT GA: The Rev. Eugene Peterson, author of Gold Medallion Book Award-winning "The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language," has been named recipient of the David Steele Distinguished Writer Award by the Presbyterian Writers Guild. The biennial award - named after the late poet, essayist and humorist the Rev. R. David Steele - will be presented at the Guild's General Assembly luncheon July 8 during the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "The Message." |
| And just one more | | | WSJ ARTICLE NOTES COMPANIES EMPLOYING CHAPLAINS: A recent issue of The Wall Street Journal included an article by Sue Shellenbarger that addressed the increasing use of chaplains in the workplace. The article noted, "Marisol Corrales, an operations manager for a Dallas housecleaning service, doesn't attend church regularly or see herself as a religious person, she says. But she calls regularly on a workplace chaplain provided by her employer whenever she is worried about her family or stressed over problems on the job. ... A growing number of companies are offering the services of chaplains in the workplace. ... Executives at Tyson Foods Inc., which employs 120 chaplains serving a work force of 117,000, say they believe the service reduces turnover. Other companies contract with chaplain-placement services to handle workplace disruptions that managers can't." The article goes on to mention Capital Chaplains of Middleton, Wis., a start-up founded in 2005 that has built its client base to nine employers. Later the article mentions Tyson Foods' director of chaplain services sending an imam to meet with workers at a beef-packing plant in Nebraska. The complete article can be found at "Workplace Chaplains." |
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