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| News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies | |
 SYNOD SCHOOL SETS ENROLLMENT RECORD, NISHIOKA LEADS CONVOCATION: As host for a multitude of participants, from infants to adults - some over 80 - Synod School 2010 Synod School 2010 in Storm Lake, Iowa, lived up to its promotion as "a learning and personal enrichment experience for people of all ages." Sponsored by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Synod School drew 627 participants - a record for the event - when it ran July 25-30 at Buena Vista University. Enrollment typically runs in the high 500s. This year's event, running under the theme, "Grace Notes," featured 67 scheduled classes, daily convocation addresses, morning and evening worship, mini-courses, coffee-house music, movies and more. In the photo above, Emily Stanfield, left, and Gina Meester silk screen a T-shirt. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Synod School."  'BUCKET LIST' IS PART OF SYNOD SCHOOL CLASS: When the hit movie "The Bucket List" ended and lights came up, the Rev. Bill Humphreys, left, asked for comments. "In the end, the only thing that really mattered was relationship," someone said, and the discussion took off. The discussion took place in "God at the Box Office," a class led by Humphreys at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies' Synod School 2010 in Storm Lake, Iowa, during the last week in July. Described in its catalog as "a learning and personal enrichment experience," the annual event takes place each summer at Buena Vista University. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Bucket List."  NISHIOKA'S CONVOCATION POWERPOINTS AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE: Rodger Nishioka, associate professor of Christian education at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., delivered Synod School's morning convocation addresses, focusing on "Grace Notes," the theme of Synod School, and the history of reformed theology and his own five tenets of reformed theology. Nishioka's morning addresses, part lecture, part humor and part personal experience, provided a good start to every day at Synod School in Storm Lake, Iowa, during the last week in July. The Power Point presentations used during those addresses are now available at " Convocation." Those who are interested in finding some pictures from Synod School can find them at the Facebook page, " Synod School - "Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa!"
 TOLLEFSON LECTURES, DINNER SET IN OCTOBER AT BUENA VISTA: The Rev. Jennifer Ayers, right, assistant professor of Christian ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, will be the guest lecturer Monday, Oct. 18, at the Robert and Barbara Tollefson Reformed Lecture and Dinner at Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa. The theme for this year's lectures is "Waiting for a Glacier to Move: A Reformed Reading of Social Witness Practice." An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Ayers joined the faculty at McCormick in 2007. Her first lecture, set at 3 p.m., is titled "Seeking the Good in Public Life: Social witness as a Christian Practice," and her second lecture, at 7 p.m., is titled "'With an Urgency Born of this Hope ... ' A Theology for Social Witness." A dinner is scheduled between the lectures at 5:30 p.m. Those who would like to attend the lectures and dinner are asked to contact the Rev. Ken Meissner, university chaplain, at meissnerk@bvu.edu or 712.749.2111.
GREAT PLAINS PRESBYTERIAN PILGRIMAGE PLANNED AT CALVIN CREST: The Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage, a time for church leaders to deepen their spiritual life, is slated with fall and spring dates at Calvin Crest Conference and Retreat Center, Fremont, Neb. The pilgrimage runs Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 21-24, and Thursday through Sunday, March 24-27, and each offers a time to gather with fellow travelers, break bread, laugh, sing, worship, listen and be heard. The cost is $230 per person and scholarships are available. Additional information can be found at " Pilgrimage." |
| Responding to disaster | |  PDA RESPONDS TO FLOODING IN PAKISTAN: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working with its ecumenical partners to respond to the recent disaster in Pakistan, where monsoon-related floods have affected five provinces in the country, killing more than 1,400 people and displacing at least 1.5 million. Thousands remain stranded, PDA reported. One Great Hour of Sharing funds have already been sent to help with the provision of basic needs, including food packages, shelter materials and non-food essentials. PDA's partner, Church World Service Pakistan, which has worked in the area for more than five decades, is providing medical teams and mobile health facilities. Additional information is available on the PDA website.
HAMNER'S BLOG OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO HAITI SITUATION: Kristin Hamner, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island, Neb., is a mission worker in the Dominican Republic. The Rev. Bob Houser, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Central Nebraska, encouraged the reading of her blog "for some very personal insights into the Haiti situation as she encounters it in the Domincan Republic." |
| Education: institutions and resources | |
 JAMESTOWN (N.D.) COLLEGE NAMED TO 'BEST IN MIDWEST:' Jamestown (N.D.) College has again been ranked as a "Best in the Midwest" college by The Princeton Review in its annual review of colleges and universities. The New York City-based education services company selected the College as one of 152 institutions it recommends in its website feature "2011 Best Colleges: Region by Region." Jamestown College is one of seven Presbyterian-related colleges and universities in covenant relationships with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. Additional information can be found at "Jamestown."
UNITED SEMINARY OFFERS 'VITAL CHRISTIANITY' COURSES: United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minn., is offering a variety of courses this fall in its Academy for Vital Christianity. The academy brings theological scholars to teach short courses at churches around the twin cities and greater Minnesota. This fall, pastoral care professor Christie Cozad Neuger will offer the four-night class, "Effective Caregiving." Theology professor Marilyn Salmon will teach a two-Saturday class in Mankato called "Understanding the New Testament in Today's World." And Episcopal priest and scholar Neil Elliott will offer a five-night class the Bible's relevance today. Other fall classes in the metro area will cover lay ministry, contemporary stories of Christianity's impact and poetry and Hebrew Bible. Other classes on worship, the apostle Paul, the Old Testament prophets and the contemporary church will be offered in Alexandria, Duluth and Rochester. Class details and registration information is available at "Vital Christianity."
LUTHER SEMINARY SETS MISSIONAL CHURCH CONSULTATION: The sixth annual Missional Church Consultation, "Cultivating Sent Communities - Missional Spiritual Formation," will bring together pastors, mission directors, scholars and lay congregational leaders Nov. 12-13 at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Plenary session leaders are Richard Osmer, professor of Christian education at Princeton Theological Seminary; Christian Scharen, assistant professor of worship at Luther; Karen Ward, vicar and abbess at Church of the Apostles in Seattle; and Dwight Zscheile, assistant professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther. In addition to plenary presentations, attendees will connect with peers in the missional church movement over meals, during Bible studies and in workshops. Registration for the consultation is open, and additional information, including registration materials, is available at "Missional Church." |
| Board of Pensions news and services | | | BOP APPROVES HEALTH CARE REFORM-RELATED CHANGES: The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has already taken several steps in order to comply - early in some cases - with the healthcare reform legislation passed by the U.S. Congress earlier this year. "We've all heard a lot about the legal requirements arising from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act legislation," said Pat Haines, senior vice president of benefits for the Board of Pensions. "We will meet or exceed these requirements while placing the best interests of members, churches, and employing organizations first at all times." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Health Care Reform." |
| Conferences, camps and other resources | |  ARMSS CONVENTION PLANNED IN MINNESOTA IN SEPTEMBER: Featuring worship, plenary sessions, workshops and excursions, the 14th annual convention of the Association of Retired Ministers, their Spouses or Survivors takes place at the Ramada Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 9-12. The convention has the theme, "Called to a Lifetime of Service: God's Plan or Ours," and "focuses on the fact that God calls us not just for a portion of our lives, but for the whole of our lives," the Rev. Ellen Davis, convention chair, wrote in the organization's newsletter. In addition to the planned activities, the convention will offer the opportunity for informal conversations and gatherings, giving members and friends of ARMSS the freedom to connect and reconnect. The registration fee until Aug. 17 is $125 plus a $20 membership fee for those who are not currently members. After Aug. 17 the registration fee is $175. The convention registration form is located on Page 9 of the ARMSS newsletter. Additional information is also available by contacting Ginny Nyhuis, Box 700311, Oostberg, WI 53070 (gnyhuis@verizon.net) or the Rev. Ellen Davis, 1540 Garret Lane, #204, Lincoln, NE 68512 (edavis11@neb.rr.com).
 POAMN ANNUAL CONFERENCE PLANNED IN FLORIDA IN OCTOBER: The Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network has scheduled its annual conference Tuesday through Friday, Oct. 12-15, in Orlando, Fla. The conference, "Connecting the Generations: Methods, Mentors and Models of Ministry," will include 11 workshops. Details can be found on the network's website. Reservations received by Sept. 12 will receive a discounted hotel rate.
 HOLY LAND TRIP SLATED THIS FALL: The Israel-Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has organized a trip to the Holy Land that leaves Oct. 31 and runs through Nov. 12. The 12-day trip, with an optional trip extension to Petra in Jordan, has been organized by Group Travel Directors Inc. The trip will also include a day to pick olives and attend an olive harvest festival. The spiritual leader of the trip is the Rev. Marthame Sanders of Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church, Atlanta. Sanders has served as a missionary in Palestine and speaks Arabic and Hebrew. Additional information can by obtained at the Group Travel Directors website (search 101007) and a brochure is also available. Additional information can also be obtained from Peter Mann at pgmann@brainerd.net.
CONTINUING ED OPPORTUNITY PLANNED IN CZECH REPUBLIC: The Protestant Theological Seminary in Prague, Czech Republic, will be the host site for the seminar, "How Shall We Sing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land? - Proclaiming the Gospel in a Secular Society," March 23 through April 1. The seminar, led in English by the Rev. Barbara Renton, a former chair of the General Assembly Mission Council, will be conducted in what has been called the most-secularlized country in the world. Renton described the seminar as an "exciting continuing education opportunity" for Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastors to "share experience, discovery and reflection with Czech pastors." Limited to 12 participants, additional information, including a registration form, can be found at "Czech Connections." The registration deadline is Sept. 1.
 COMMUNICATORS NETWORK PLANS TWO FALL CONFERENCES: Communicating with congregation members is no longer limited to a Sunday bulletin or monthly newsletter. Digital technology is rapidly changing the way we communicate with our family, neighbors, co-workers and even congregation members. The Presbyterian Communicators Network is offering regional conferences to provide tips on the latest technology and techniques to communicate with congregations, church neighbors and your communities. The conferences are Oct. 18-20 at Crestfield Conference Center in Slippery Rock, Pa., and Oct. 25-27 at Zephyr Point Conference Center near Lake Tahoe, Nev. More information about the conferences will be available soon at the network's website. |
| News around the PC(USA) | |
FORMER GA MODERATOR, ORDAINED IN WINNEBAGO, DIES: The Rev. Howard Leland Rice, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly and San Francisco Theological Seminary chaplain and professor of ministry from 1968-97, died Aug. 8 in Claremont, Calif., at the age of 78. He was one of the earliest practitioners of spiritual disciplines and formation that led to the current renewal of those practices in the church. Rice graduated from Carroll College, now Carroll University, Waukesha, Wis., in 1953 and from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, in 1956. Ordained by Winnebago Presbytery, he served pastorates in Minneapolis and Chicago before going to San Francisco. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Howard Rice."
DISCOUNT SOFTWARE AVAILABLE THROUGH GA PARTNERSHIP: The Wider Circle, the newsletter of the Presbytery of Des Moines, reported recently that Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010, a suite of software from Microsoft Corp., can be purchased through the General Assembly's Presbyterian Purchasing Partnership. The license cost is $71 per computer. Additional information about the partnership is at " Software Partnership." PRESBYTERIANS TODAY OFFERS CONGREGATION SUBSCRIPTIONS: Presbyterians Today, the award-winning, general-interest magazine of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is offering congregational subscriptions, according to a letter from Jeffrey Lawrence, publisher. "Today, more than ever, congregations have to be smart about where and how they spend their hard-earned dollars. That's why many churches all across America rely on Presbyterians Today to plan an important in their ministry," Lawrence wrote. A variety plans are available at " Presbyterians Today." |
| And just one more | | | PASTOR STRESS, BURNOUT SUBJECT OF TIMES ARTICLE: Early this month the New York Times published an article, based partly on Duke Divinity School research, that addressed stress and burnout among clergy that leads to debilitating medical conditions. The Times article (link may require free registration) quickly became a popular post among ministers on Facebook and Twitter. It led to a followup story on National Public Radio. The Times article listed resources for academic research on pastoral care and counseling, information about the Lilly Endowment's 2010 Clergy Renewal Program (deadline passed, but may be similar in 2011) and additional information about the program from the Lilly Endowment. |
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