Keeping in Touch

MEETING, WEBINAR SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH SYNOD:The Web-based programs "Go To Meeting" and "Go To Webinar," both programs of Citrix Systems Inc., are available for presbytery use through the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The "Go To Meeting" program enables collaboration with remote members for committee meetings and provides the cabability of integrating online meetings into a regular meeting schedule. The "Go To Webinar" program enables the presentation of training, orientation and other seminars to all who have online access. Additional information is available at the respective websites. The synod's corporate license enables presbyteries to use these programs. However, only one meeting or webinar may be conducted at one time, requiring a coordinated calendar. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Duane Sweep, the synod's associate for communications, at dsweep@lakesandprairies.org or at 651.357.1148.

SUE COLLER ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION IN MINNESOTA VALLEYS: The Rev. Sue Coller, executive presbyter for the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, shared her letter of resignation, which takes effect Feb. 28, at the November meeting of the presbytery in Willmar, Minn. The presbytery meeting highlights can be found on Page 3 of the Valley Bridge, the presbytery's newsletter, at "Highlights."

BELOIT MINISTER FEATURED IN VIDEO: The Rev. Neddy Astudillo, pastor of the Lutheran and Presbyterian Latino Ministry in Beloit, Wis., is featured in a video on the website of "30 Good Minutes," produced by the Chicago Sunday Evening Club. The site includes a collection of inspirational videos and text, including stories of personal faith and reflections on spiritual topics, gathered from television broadcasts of "30 Good Minutes," a weekly ecumenical and interfaith program on WTTW 11 (PBS) in Chicago. The four-minute video can be found at "Grace." The video selections on the page are arranged in alphabetical order by last name.

SYNOD CONNECTIONS CITED IN NEWS SERVICE ARTICLES: Three brief items, including stories from the presbyteries of East Iowa and Twin Cities Area, and about Synod School, made it into the presbytery and synod news of the Presbyterian News Service this week. The stories addressed the Advent services of Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, the new strategic plan of the Presbytery of Twin Cities Area and the convocation speaker of Synod School 2011. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "News Stories."

Conferences, camps and other resources

WINTER PASTORS SCHOOL REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS DEC. 15: The Rev. Eric Hoey, director of evangelism and church growth in the General Assembly Mission Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will lead Winter Pastors School at Hastings (Neb.) College this winter. The school runs Jan. 31 through Feb. 1. The Winter Pastors' School is sponsored by the presbyteries of Central Nebraska, Homestead, and Missouri River Valley, with Hastings College and the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation as supportive partners. The application deadline is Dec. 15 for guaranteed participation. Additional information and a registration form can be found at "Winter Pastors School."

Colleges, universities and seminaries

GRINNELL OFFERS SUBSTANTIAL AWARD TO 'POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE' LEADERS: The Grinnell (Iowa) College Young Innovator for Social Justice Prize is a new annual awards program to honor individuals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated leadership in their fields and who show creativity, commitment and extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change. Up to three individuals will be honored annually. Each prize carries an award of $100,000, half going to the winning individual and half to an organization committed to the winner's area of social justice, for a total of up to $300,000 in prize awards each year. The deadline for 2011 nominations is Feb. 1. The first prize recipients will be announced in May 2011. Details of the program are available at "Social Justice Prize."

UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING FOR MAJOR PROJECTS: Jeffrey Bullock, president of the University of Dubuque, Iowa, announced in November the university's board of trustees' approval to move forward with the construction of two major capital projects - a $30 million Performing Arts, Worship and Campus Center, and a $27 million housing project, consisting of three, suite-style student residences. Both projects are intended to be built simultaneously with ground-breaking proposed for Commencement, May 2011. The complete story can be found at "Construction Projects."

'TEACHING OF THE BIBLE' GRANTS AVAILABLE THROUGH PC(USA): Through its Financial Aid for Studies Office, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) offers grants to Presbyterian colleges for courses and programs on teaching the Bible. Awards range from $500 to $10,000. At least five awards will be given in 2011. The deadline for applying is March 1. More information and an online application form can be found at "Teaching the Bible."

COLLEGE STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR SAMUEL ROBINSON AWARDS: The Financial Aid for Studies Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) offers $2,000 to $5,000 to juniors and seniors who attend a Presbyterian-related college or university and do not currently receive a grant or scholarship from the PC(USA). Recipients of the Samuel Robinson Award are required to recite from memory the answers to the Westminster Shorter Catechism and to write a 2,000-word essay on an assigned topic. Applications must be postmarked by April 1. More information is available at "Samuel Robinson." Reflections by two of this year's award recipients can be found at "Robinson Recipients."

UNITED SEMINARY PLANS 'POST-RACIAL' WORKSHOP: United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, Minn., is offering a seminar that asks the question, "If our churches were "post-racial," what would that look like?" The workshop examines specific practices, mind-sets, and life-ways that hinder the creation of an inclusive community. Titled "Post-Racial? - Removing Hidden Barriers to Beloved Community," the workshop will be led by Herbert Perkins, who holds degrees from United and the University of California-Santa Cruz. Fees and registration information are available at "Post-Racial."

Board of Pensions

PENSIONS BOARD RELEASES WINTER EDITION OF 'EDUCATION TALK:' The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has published the winter edication of "EducationTalk," the electronic newsletter dedicated to encouraging stewardship of self. With something for everyone, featured articles include the top five tools for church treasurers and administrators, the online Statement of Benefits now available through Benefits Connect, an overview of 2011 Benefits Plan enhancements and changes, and how the Christmas Joy Offering supports the assistance program. The newsletter can be found at "EducationTalk."

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

NEW COVENANT PRESBYTERY ASSUMES 'VOLUNTEER VILLAGE' RESPONSIBILITY: In a letter to presbytery and synod colleagues, Mike Cole, general presbyter in the Presbytery of the New Covenant, noted that the presbytery, located in Houston, is "assuming responsibility for the operation of the Volunteer Village in Texas City, serving the greater Galveston area in the final projects of recovery from Hurricane Ike." While the presbytery has assumed responsibility for Volunteer Village, Cole noted that groups can still reserve space through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance call center. He asked his colleagues to "publicize the fact that our work on the coast of Texas is not yet done and that the Village will be open through May 2011." Additional information about recovery from Hurrican Ike can be found at "Recovery."

News around the PC(USA)

KOREAN CHURCHES COUNCIL WRITE IN SUPPORT OF BELHAR CONFESSION: The National Council of Korean Presbyterian Churches has written a letter expressing support for the adoption of the Belhar Confession into the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s "Book of Confessions." If included, Belhar would join 11 other confessions and creeds in the first part of the PC(USA)'s constitution. It would be the first confession added in nearly 20 years. The full text of the letter can be found at "Belhar Confession."

STATED CLERK DISTRIBUTES CHURCHWIDE CHRISTMAS LETTER: The Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), distributed his churchwide Christmas letter earlier this month. He wrote, "People, look east: Once more, dawn is about to break upon us in the birth of the Messiah. Once more, God-with-us is about to be born in our hearts, illuminating our lives and this world with the brilliant warmth of God's peace, justice, and hope. The complete letter can be found at "Christmas Letter."

PC(USA)'S SDOP PLANS WORKSHOPS ON GRANT REQUEST DEVELOPMENT: The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Self-Development of People program will hold a series of free workshops across the country during 2011 for grassroots groups interested in applying for grants to aid community organizations. Self-Development of People is a ministry of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. The first workshop will be held in Columbus, Ohio, in February. The SDOP grant application is available at "SDOP." Those interested in attending the first workshop can do so by contacting Mary Lewis at mary.lewis@pcusa.org.

PC(USA) PUBLIC WITNESS OFFICE SEEKS SUPPORT FOR YOUNG ADULT INTERNS: The Presbyterian Chuch (U.S.A.)'s Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C., is seeking financial support to "reinvigorate" its internship program, which trains Presbyterian young adults for prophetic witness and public policy advocacy work. To illustrate the benefits of the internship program, the OPW recently interviewed Natalie "Nan" Arnold, who served with the program from September 2009-June 2010. The complete story from the Office of Public Witness can be found at "Public Witness."

RESEARCH SERVICES LISTS LOCATION OF PRESBYTERIANS: The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Research Services has the number of Presbyterians. Research Services recently tweeted (a short message posted on the Twitter website), "The most PC(USA) members and congregaitons are in the South. Fewest are in the Northeast." The detailed information on PC(USA) membership location is at "Membership Research."

MISSIOLOGIST OFFERS TOOLS FOR CONGREGATIONS DOING GLOBAL MISSION: Effective mission partnerships must include nurturing the spiritual maturity of believers, serving the needy in a variety of ways and witnessing to the saving power of Jesus Christ, a leading missiologist told the Association of Presbyterian Mission Promoters Dec. 1. "Globalization means that partnering at the grass-roots is happening all around the world," said Miriam Adeney, a member of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle and a renowned author and lecturer on the subject of global mission. "We're invited to join the partnering party that is already going on." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Globalization."

NEW PASTORS TOLD TO 'DEEPEN PRAYER LIFE THROUGH SCRIPTURE:' At the annual national transition gathering for The Company of New Pastors at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, recent seminary graduates were encouraged to nurture their spiritual life by allowing scripture to form and shape them as they begin their pastoral vocation (some are still in the call process, others have already begun their first year of pastoral ministry). "This transition event is one of our most significant because these recent graduates are in some of their most teachable moments," says Company of New Pastors program director Quinn Fox. The complete story from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Theology, Worship and Education can be found at "New Pastors."

And just one more

WRITER SHARES TOP-8 HISTORICALLY INCORRECT CHRISTMAS SONGS: Ted Olson, writing at The Christian History Blog, shared what he called the top-eight historically incorrect Christmas songs. He wrote, "I love Christmas music. Not as much as the blogosphere's Ernie (Not Bert), Andy Cirzan, or some of the Christmas music nuts I've met. But still, 10,000 Christmas songs on my hard drive probably qualifies me as a fanatic. There are ample songs that grate (if you think the Chipmunks are bad, try the Chippers, Woody the Chipmunk, or any of the Chipmunk ripoff albums that came after 'Christmas Don't Be Late' hit it big in 1958). But there are other songs that are just plain wrong - and many of them are among the most popular of the season." Olson's list can be found at "Christmas Songs."

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