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| News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies | |
 OLSONS, KWANZAA CHURCH RECEIVE 'VOICES FOR JUSTICE' AWARD: Members of two Minnesota churches were honored at the Presbyterian Voices for Justice awards luncheon July 4 at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Minneapolis. The Andrew Murray Award went to Ann and Manley Olson, left, of Falcon Heights, Minn., for their outstanding leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Members of the Kwanzaa Community Church, Minneapolis, were honored with the Whole Gospel Congregation Award for commitment to living out the radical, liberating good news in our society and the wider world. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Voices for Justice."  STREET-STEWART ADDRESSES NATIVE AMERICAN CONSULTING COMMITTEE: As participants arrived for the annual Native American Consulting Committee dinner at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Rev. Irvin R. Porter, moderator of the Church of the Indians Fellowship in Tacoma, Wash., lit a sage branch and quietly smudged the room in preparation for the gathering. Keynote speaker Elona Street-Stewart, right, a recipient of a 2010 PC(USA) Women of Faith award and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies' associate for racial ethnic ministries and community empowerment, called on the crowd to remember their history. She said, "We are a proud, beautiful, intelligent, adaptive Native American people!" she proclaimed. "At the time of first contact ... we had difficulty understanding why our normal activities alarmed the newcomers. We had no idea that we were being caught up in the massive globalization of the old world with the new world." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " NACC." BLOCK ELECTED CHAIR OF PRESBYTERIAN PUBLISHING BOARD: The Rev. Deborah A. Block has been elected to serve as chair of the board of directors of Presbyterian Publishing Corp. Block, a member of the PPC board since 2004, becomes the first woman to serve as chair in the history of PPC. She succeeds Kenneth Godshall, who has been chair since 2006. She begins her term this month. Block is pastor and head of staff at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Milwaukee, where she began her ordained ministry in 1978. The complete Presbyterian Publishing Corp. news release can be found at " Deborah Block."
2 LAKES & PRAIRIES PRESBYTERIES LISTED IN BOOKLET ON 'TOP TEN' IN GIVING: In a booklet simply titled "Thank You: A Giving Report of the Top Ten Presbyteries for 2009," the General Assembly Mission Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) thanked presbyteries for their generous support of Presbyterian mission in 2009. "Top Ten" lists were compiled in four categories: total giving, basic mission support, special offerings, and other appeals. Within each category, the lists are sorted by total giving and by average giving per member. Two presbyteries of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies - Milwaukee and Twin Cities Area - made the lists. The booklet can be found at " Mission Giving." LOCAL SHELTERS BENEFIT FROM SUCCESSFUL GIFT PROJECT: Underwear and socks: simple gifts, simple necessities. Presbyterian Women in the three hosting presbyteries (Twin Cities Area, Minnesota Valleys, and Northern Waters) collaborated to organize this year's gift project for the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Minneapolis. Those coming to Minneapolis were invited to bring underwear, socks and gift cards with them. Expecting to receive 1,500 donations, more than 6,800 were in hand by midway through the assembly. Early this week week, Ann Rock, co-chair of the gift project, wrote, "The count for donated pairs of socks and underwear for men, women and children in shelters was 7,200. Way, way over our expectations. Plus, just over $900 was donated by delegates and guests. This money is being used for Target gift cards to be given to the 17 shelters we had selected throughout our presbytery and some from Northern Waters and Minnesota Valleys. With the extra $900, we will be able to support some additional shelters. ... Target Corp. had given us $1,000 in gift cards before General Assembly started, and those were divided among the first 17 shelters." The original Presbyterian News Service story is at " Gift Project." |
| News about the 219th General Assembly | |
MODERATOR, STATED CLERK ADDRESS LETTER TO CONGREGATIONS: Cindy Bolbach, moderator of the 219th General Assembly, and Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), addressed a letter to the denomination's congregations following the completion of the assembly earlier this month in Minneapolis. The letter addresses actions of the assembly and points to locations for additional information. They wrote, "Just one week ago, [the assembly] convened with scripture and music and prayer. Commissioners and advisory delegates from every presbytery across the church gathered around the baptismal font with hopeful expectation of what God's spirit would do in and through them as they sought to discern together the mind of Christ for the PC(USA)." The complete letter can be found at "Congregations Letter."
NEWS SERVICE LISTS OPTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION: Presbyterian individuals and congregations will have several options available to them to learn about the actions of the 219th General Assembly in the days following the July 10 adjournment of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) national gathering. Among the items is "Assembly in Brief," a 16-page bulletin insert-sized summary of the assembly in words and pictures produced by the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian News Service. The publication was slated for availability this week and can be ordered by calling 800.524.2612 and ordering OGA-10-030. The price is $8 for a bundle of 25 copies. The document is also available online in html format. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at " Assembly in Brief." OGA SUMMARIZES ACTIONS ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE: The Genenal Assembly approved a comprehensive report on the Middle East - its first since 1997 - at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Minneapolis earlier this month. The paper calls for an immediate cessation of all violence, whether perpetrated by Israelis or Palestinians, the reaffirmation of Israel's right to exist as a sovereign nation within secure and internationally recognized borders, the end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, an immediate freeze on the establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and on the Israeli acquisition of Palestinian land and buildings in East Jerusalem, and many other steps toward peace in the region. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Middle East Peace." OGA SUMMARIZES ACTIONS ON CIVIL UNION, MARRIAGE ISSUES: At the 219th Genenal Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Minneapolis, the assembly approved both the final report and the minority report of the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage. The special committee report provides descriptive material on the historical and theological aspects of marriage, as well as a look at current laws on same-gender partnerships and their children, and the place of same-gender covenanted relationships in the Christian community. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Marriage Issues." OGA SUMMARIZES RESULTS RELATING TO ORDINATION STANDARDS: At the 219th Genenal Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Minneapolis, the assembly proposed a change to the PC(USA) Constitution regarding ordination standards by a vote of 373-323-4. This action does not change the Constitution. It is a first step in the process. A majority of the 173 presbyteries would have to vote in the affirmative to approve the replacement by July 2011. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Ordination Standards."
ASSEMBLY GIVES O.K. TO MIDDLE GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION: The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted overwhelmingly to create a 21-member middle governing body commission with authority to act on the assembly's behalf in responding to realignment requests from synods and presbyteries. The vote was 566-104. The commission, with authority to "act as the General Assembly," is needed, said Cliff Lyda of Chicago Presbytery, moderator of the assembly Committee on Middle Governing Body Issues, "because of rapid cultural shifts ... that have created the need to make our structures more functional." Responding to concerns that the commission might be act unilaterally to change synod and presbytery structures, the assembly added an amendment that makes explicit that the commission can only act "upon a majority affirmative vote of the affected presbytery or presbyteries or a majority affirmative vote of the presbyteries in the affected synod or synods." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Middle Governing Bodies."  ASSEMBLY VOTES TO SEND REVISED FOG TO PRESBYTERIES: The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted by a more than 2-to-1 margin last week to send the proposed Foundations of Presbyterian Polity and revised Form of Government to the presbyteries for ratification. The Assembly voted 468 to 204 with 6 abstentions. Elder Cindy Bolbach, moderator of the assembly, had served as co-moderator of the Form of Government Task Force. She passed the gavel to the Rev. Landon Whitsitt, vice moderator, to moderate the discussion. In the photo above, Bolbach and Whitsitt are shown following the FoG vote. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " FOG." CONSTITUTIONAL SERVICES SUGGESTS PRESBYTERIES CONSIDER GA ACTIONS IN 3 MEETINGS: Mark Tammen, director of the Department of Constitutional Services in the Office of the General Assembly, in a July 14 letter to presbytery and synod executives, suggested that presbyteries "might wish to schedule [ratification] votes over three separate meetings." Presbyteries will vote up or down on several items coming out of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that took place earlier this month in Minneapolis. Tammen grouped the assembly actions into three "clusters," including the revised Form of Government, the Belhar Confession and the Book of Amendments. Concerning the revised Form of Government, Tammen indicated that it should be posted online by July 19 "at the latest" and that the printed edition should be ready by mid-August. Regarding the Belhar Confession, Tammen wrote, "We hope to have a separate pamphelt ready by the end of August, complete with background and study guide." The confession, as adopted by the assembly, should be online later this week, Tammen wrote. In the normal Book of Amendments, there will be nine different proposed amendments, including five to the Form of Government, one to the Directory for Worship and three to the Rules of Discipline.
Tammen added, "If the changes to the current Form of Government are ratified by the presbyteries, those amendments will also amend the new Form of Government so far as possible." He indicated the normal Book of Amendments will be available by Sept. 1. Regarding presbytery meetings, Tammen wrote, "We would much appreciate votes on [the new Form of Government] and the normal Book of Amendments by May 31, 2011 - as we have historically requested for Book of Order amendments. "All proposed amendments to the Form of Government require an affirmative vote of a majority of the presbyteries to be adopted. "Amending the Book of Confessions requires both a two-thirds vote of the presbyteries as well as confirmation by the 220th General Assembly, so we can receive presbytery votes through July 9, 2011." KIM CALLS ON CHURCH TO BE 'MUTUALLY SUBMISSIVE:' The Rev. Jin Kim got a warm welcome July 7 when he spoke at the Multicultural Church Celebration at the 219th General Assembly. "Presbyterian policy is mutual submission," Kim said. "Submission is a gift from God." Noting that he believes the denomination's ordination standards and definition of marriage should remain unchanged, Kim said he holds a "cultural definition of Scripture." But that doesn't mean he is right. "I put God in my cultural box," he said. "What I'm against is certitude." The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at " Submissive." |
| Education: institutions and resources | |
MCCORMICK SEMINARY OFFERS ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTRY CERTIFICATE: McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, is offering a Certificate in Environmental Ministry and Leadership for 2010-11. The seminary is offering the program in partnership with Faith in Place, a non-profit Chicago-based organization that works in partnership with religious organizations to promote clean energy and sustainable farming. Courses begin Aug. 26. The certificate will equip pastors and leaders of religious and nonprofit institutions to take leadership roles in addressing the ecological challenges and opportunities within the communities in which they serve. Additional information is available at "Environment." |
| Board of Pensions news and services | | BOP DEVELOPS WEB MODULE EXPLAINING PERSONAL HEALTH RECORD: The Board of Pensions has developed a Web-based program that explains the Personal Health Record from ActiveHealth Management. It's the board's latest offering to help members actively manage their health. The module highlights the benefits of the health management tool. The module can be found at "Board of Pensions."
BOP RECOGNIZED FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT: The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been honored with two prestigious Communitas Awards for its commitment to exemplary organizational stewardship. Sponsored by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, the Communitas Awards is an international effort to recognize exceptional businesses, organizations and individuals that are unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business to benefit their communities. The complete Board of Pensions news release can be found at "Community Support." |
| Conferences, camps and other resources | |  CLEARWATER FOREST BEGINS 'CAMP-IN-A-VAN:' Presbyterian Clearwater Forest, Deerwood, Minn., opened this summer its "Camp-In-A-Van" program, a program where a local congregation partners with Clearwater Forest to provide an outdoor ministry experience at the local church site. Similar to a Vacation Bible School, this program helps introduce youngsters in grades kindergarten through sixth to camp songs, stories, games and Bible studies. Three or more summer camp staff are housed and fed by the people of the church and they work with volunteers to help the church have a sucessful, Christ-centered day-camp experience. According to Andy Kennaly, program director, three "Camp-In-A-Vans" are scheduled this summer. Kennaly wrote, "Next summer, Clearwater will offer several more opportunities, but be sure to register soon because they are already being claimed simply by word of mouth." Registration materials are available by emailing Kennaly at andy@clearwaterforest.org or by calling the camp office at 218-678-2325. Kennaly noted that sending in a registration along with a $250 deposit will hold a space for a church on the summer 2011 calendar. |
| News around the PC(USA) | |
STATED CLERK RELEASES PC(USA) 2009 STATISTICS: The Office of the General Assembly has released the 2009 statistics of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The report includes a comparative summary of the membership, a summary of receipts and expenditures for the past four years, and other statistical information. As of 2009, the total membership of the PC(USA) is 2,077,138, a roughly 3 percent decrease, or 63,027 members, from the previous year. The Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the PC(USA), said the latest statistics contain both good news and bad. The complete story from the Office of the General Assembly is at "Statistics."
NEW PC(USA) WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING: The revamped website of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is up and running. Karen Schmidt, deputy executive director for communications and funds development of the General Assembly Mission Council, wrote, "One of the things I am personally excited about are the new intteractive tools incorporated into the website that aid users to share ideas about ministry, creating an ongoing conversation source for mission." The website address remains the same: http://www.pcusa.org. |
| And just one more | |  WHAT WOULD JESUS DO ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?: The RSS feed from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life pointed this week to a McClatchy Newspapers story by William Douglas that addressed a conversation between religious leaders and lawmakers. The story opened, "Religious leaders and lawmakers traded Scripture passages [July 14] at a congressional hearing on whether there's an ethical imperative to overhaul the nation's immigration laws. Arguing for a comprehensive immigration package with a guest-worker program, Richard Land, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, quoted from Matthew, Leviticus and Micah in pressing for action on the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S." The complete story can be found at "Immigration." |
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