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| News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies | | |
 SYNOD TAPS EMERGENCY FUNDS TO SUPPORT FEEDING DISPLACED IN MINOT, N.D.: The Synod of Lakes and Prairies sent $5,000 from its Emergency Fund to First Presbyterian Church in Minot, N.D., to support that church's effort to feed those displaced by flooding in that city. A letter to the church's clerk of session stated, "We have seen the images and read the stories of the severe, record-breaking flood that struck Minot and the surrounding area in June. We have also read of the response of Minot's First Presbyterian Church and learned that you have served thousands of meals through the congregation's food trailer. ... While the Synod of Lakes and Prairies supports the ministry and mission of its 16 presbyteries, there are times when extraordinary circumstances require the synod to reach out to an individual congregation. This is one of those times." In the first 15 days after the flood, Minot's First Presbyterian Church fed 18,000 meals through its food trailer. To assist Minot's First Presbyterian Church in flood relief efforts, direct contributions can be made by check to Minot First Presbyterian Church, 1000 3rd Street NE, Minot, ND 58703. The memo line of the check should indicate "flood relief." Contributions to support the long-term disaster relief efforts of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance can be made at "PDA."
'LIGHT OF NORTHERN PLAINS' INCLUDES FLOOD UPDATE: Writing in the July 14 edition of the "Light of the Northern Plains," the newsletter of Northern Plains Presbytery, the Rev. Gretchen Graf, chair of the presbytery's Flood Response Task Force, noted, "Representatives from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance have been in our presbytery meeting with churches in flooded areas, connecting with pastors and church staff, and helping to assess the needs we can help to meet. They were able to attend worship in Minot and Bismarck last Sunday. The PDA team also met with the Flood Response Task Force and shared their expertise. The Presbytery has applied for a grant of $10,000 from PDA (One Great Hour of Sharing funds) and that money will help us meet some immediate needs through the presbytery. People are stepping up to the plate to serve on ecumenical groups which will deal with long-term recovery." Graf's complete column can be found at "Responding."
 SYNOD SCHOOL HEARS ABOUT 'PRESBYTERIAN STYLE' TESTIMONY: Anna Carter Florence, who teaches preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary, said she's very interested in one topic: how the people of God talk about God. That includes everyday people giving their testimony, Florence said, which makes Presbyterians "hyperventilate, because a lot of us have seen it done badly, where people talk about themselves, not about God." Florence is adult convocation speaker at the 58th Synod of Lakes and Prairies Synod School, being held this week at Buena Vista University. More than 625 people are attending the week-long education event. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Presbyterian Style."
DENVER PASTOR BRINGS MESSAGE OF SUDAN AID GROUP TO SYNOD SCHOOL: Presbyterians have stuff in their garages that can save lives in the world's newest nation. The Rev. Heidi McGinness told Synod of Lakes and Prairies Synod School participants July 25 that even though South Sudan gained independence on July 9, there's still much work to be done, including freeing an estimated 200,000 of its people from slavery. That's the most pressing work of McGinness and her colleagues at Christian Solidarity International, a Swiss-based human rights organization that campaigns for religious liberty and human dignity. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Sudan."
 SYNOD COMMUNICATORS CONFERENCE SET SEPT. 15-16: The Synod of Lakes and Prairies will be host to its third Communicators Conference Thursday and Friday, Sept. 15-16, in Eagan, Minn. The conference theme is "Doing it All: From Storytelling to Disasters." Conference speakers include Jerry Van Marter, coordinator of Presbyterian News Service, and Eva Stimson, editor of Presbyterians Today magazine. Running noon-to-noon at Eagan's Holiday Inn, 1950 Rahncliff Court, the cost of the conference, including workshops, one-night's lodging, meals and snacks is $50 for the first 25 registrants. Registration is simple. Those who want to attend need only to send an email to Duane Sweep, the synod's associate for communications. The email needs to state an intent to attend, any special lodging requirements (all rooms will be single occupancy) or meal requirements, and an emergency contact. A $50 check must then be sent to Sweep at Synod of Lakes and Prairies, 2115 Cliff Drive, Eagan, MN 55122. All registrants will receive confirmation emails and receipts.
PDA PROVIDES GRANT TO ASSIST IN RECOVERY FROM WISCONSIN TORNADO: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance provided a $10,000 grant to Winnebago Presbytery to support the community of Merrill, Wis., in its recovery from a tornado that struck in April. The July 22 edition of Winnebago News and Notes, the presbytery's newsletter, noted, "Following the F-3 tornado that hit Merrill ... April 10, PDA contacted the presbytery with an offer of funds. At the time, immediate needs were being met by the local and surrounding communities and funds were declined. PDA kept in touch on a regular basis and as assessments were made the total damages reached more than $11 million to the industrial park, airport and neighborhoods. Winnebago Presbytery requested and received $10,000 in PDA funds at the end of June. Those funds were forwarded to the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation which has established a Tornado Relief Fund." Debbe Kinsey, executive director of the foundation, responded, "With your assistance, the foundation's fund will help our community rebuild, providing financial aid to those who need it most - the uninsured and under-insured ... for daily basic needs, clean-up and clean-out, reconstruction/repair of primary residences or replacement/repair of household mechanicals or appliances." PDA is supported by contributions to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering and through direct contributions.
KWANZAA POSTS TORNADO TESTIMONIALS: Several personal testimonials about the May 22 tornado that ripped through north Minneapolis can be found on the website of Kwanzaa Community Church. Iyana Galloway wrote, "Out of all Sundays, this was a day we decided not to go to church. ... As everyone was coming upstairs from the basement shelter, those were steps of fear for us; we just knew that there was damage after hearing all of the glass breaking. ... We looked out of the windows and saw a green convertible totaled. My initial thoughts were, "Oh my gosh, someone's car is totaled!" Taking a closer look, we saw that it was our green van that had taken the blow from this unexpected tornado." The complete story and others can be found at "Minneapolis."
CHURCHES URGED TO REMEMBER COLLEGIATE MINISTRIES WHEN STUDENTS GO AWAY: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations are being asked to do more than hold going-away parties when their young adults leave for college in the fall. Collegiate ministers and chaplains would like to be informed when students move to their college or university. Congregations unsure of the PC(USA) ministry connection at colleges or universities within the Synod of Lakes and Prairies should contact Duane Sweep, the synod's associate for communications. |
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Conferences, camps and other resources | | |
NORTH CENTRAL OFFERS WORKSHOP ON PASTORS AND PORNOGRAPHY: Mark Sundby, executive director of the North Central Ministry Development Center, and Susan Nienaber, a senior consultant with the Alban Institute, will lead a workshop titled "The Pastor's Use of Pornography and Other Sexual Compulsions" Friday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton. The one-day workshop is for denominational executives, seminary administrators and faculty who seek to better understand and respond to pastors and others who are struggling with pornography and sexual compulsivity. Sundby is a licensed psychologist and Nienaber is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Registration is $150 per person, $125 per person for two individuals, or $100 per person for three or more individuals from the same organization. Registration can be completed by contacting Gaynelle Erickson at North Central Ministry Development Center by calling 651.636.5120 or writing ncmdc@comcast.net by Sept. 2. Registration is also available online. Nienaber and Sundby will also present a brief presentation on their research into emotional intelligence and pastoral leadership Thursday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. They will use data gathered from hundreds of seminarians and clergy, as well as their own experience in counseling and consulting roles, to discuss "Emotional Intelligence: Five Things Pastors Need to Know." Free and open to the public, the event is co-sponsored by the Alban Institute, North Central Ministry Development Center and United Theological Seminary.
 2 PRESBYTERIAN PASTORS FEATURED AT IRMS RE:IMAGE CONFERENCE: The Sept. 17 RE:image Conference presented by Iowa Religious Media Services in Des Moines will include presentations by two Presbyterian pastors from Iowa: the Rev. Austin Hill, associate pastor of youth and young adults at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Dodge, and the Rev. Suzanne Gorhau, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Centerville. Hill's session is titled, "Texting, Twitter and Time with God: Cultivating a Devotional Life in a Digital Age," and Gorhau's presentation is titled, "Enhancing Worship with Technology." RE:Image details can be found at the IRMS website. IRMS, an ecumenical media library supported in part by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and five other covenanting denominations, has more than 15,000 resources.
RACIAL ETHNIC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS SOUGHT: The Racial Ethnic Student Scholarship Fund of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies is an educational assistance program designed to encourage racial ethnic students in their preparation for academic success in higher education. The synod is committed to partner with students and schools for leadership development and quality instruction of clergy and lay persons for lifelong service. Application awards are based on personal achievement, financial need and recommendation from a teacher and pastor. Completed applications are due Sept. 30 and must include an official transcript and financial aid statement. Scholarship applications can be found at "Scholarship."
COLLEGIATE MINISTRY GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ON SYNOD SITE: The Synod of Lakes and Prairies is continuing its long-standing commitment to collegiate ministry, and at its May meeting it adopted new funding guidelines to reflect a more inclusive understanding of collegiate ministry that embraces not only campus ministry, but also congregational-based and chaplaincy-based ministry. Details about the synod's collegiate ministry funding and grant applications can be found at "Collegiate Ministry."
'DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP NETWORK' CREATED IN PC(USA): Committed to "creating an open, inclusive, compassionate and healthy church organization by creating cultural proficient organizations," a Diversity in Leadership Network has been established within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The network plans to provide "culturally rich information, valuable recruitment and retention resources, referral resources in the identification of potential leaders [and] interactive open-forum discussion on issues of diversity and inclusion within the church." Information about the network can be found at "Diversity in Leadership."
 CONGREGATIONAL PUBLISHING RELEASES 'YEAR OF BIBLE, REVISED:' The popular comprehensive Bible-reading program, "The Year of the Bible, Revised: An Enhanced Guide to Reading Scripture Together," has been released by Congregational Ministries Publishing of the General Assembly Mission Council. Written by James Davison, the curriculum is designed for both group study and individuals, and provides a sweeping introduction to biblical themes, persons, and concepts. Additional information is available at "Year of the Bible." The curriculum can be ordered at "Disciplined Study."
CONGREGATIONS ASKED TO PREPARE FOR EVANGELISM SUNDAY: A worship packet is available through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for the Sept. 25 celebration of "Evangelism Sunday." The denomination's website notes, "Sharing your faith can be difficult, risky and scary. Maybe we don't want to be identified as religious weirdos. Maybe some of us think sharing our faith in Jesus Christ will seem arrogant or offensive. ... Whatever the myriad of reasons, the fact remains that in most of our churches, sharing our faith with others is daunting and often neglected." Additional information on Evangelism Sunday and links to resources can be found at "Sharing." |
| Colleges, universities and seminaries | | |
FALL WILL PRESENT MISSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR APCU SCHOOLS: The newsletter of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities noted, "Three of our Presbyterian-related colleges - Lyon College in Arkansas, Stillman College in Alabama and Peace College in Raleigh - narrowly escaped disaster from a number of violent storms this past spring. You know from news reports that they were only three among many areas that suffered natural disasters this year. As schools resume this fall, there will be many opportunities to arrange relief mission trips through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance." The newsletter provided links to "PDA Volunteer Opportunities" and PDA's "Worship Resources." |
| News from the Board of Pensions | |
 NORTH CENTRAL IOWA PHYSICIAN DOES BOP VIDEO: The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has released a video featuring family physician and plan member Dr. Paul B. Volker, who explains the importance of getting good preventive care. The video is the second installment in the "What's Your Story?" series. The brief, instructive video looks at the doctor-patient relationship, which, according to Volker, works best when communication is two-way. Married to a PC(USA) minister, Volker is the senior physician at a family clinic in Boone, Iowa, and recent chief of the medical staff at Boone County Hospital. In the video, he addresses what can be expected at an annual "well visit" and what can be done to make the most of the visit. Information about the Board of Pensions preventive care benefit, can be found at "Preventive Care."
BOARD OF PENSIONS PROVIDES 'STATEMENT OF BENEFITS' ONLINE: As announced last fall, the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is no longer automatically mailing annual paper statements. Instead, it generates a current Statement of Benefits on Benefits Connect. The online Statement of Benefits is a dynamically generated report that summarizes benefits through the Board of Pensions. Answers to questions about the online Statement of Benefits or Benefits Connect can be found at "Board of Pensions" or by calling 1.800.773.7752. |
| News around the PC(USA) | |
PRESBYTERIANS ENGAGED IN DISASTER RELIEF, HUNGER MINISTRIES: Presbyterians are active in promoting compassion, peace, and justice in their communities and are supportive of most national Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministries that promote these values. Majorities have personally engaged with the best known of those national ministries. These are findings from the Presbyterian Panel survey on compassion, peace, and justice ministries. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Ministries."
Church growth involves every member being a minister, Big Tent told: Since it was organized in 1997, Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Englewood, N.J., has grown to more than 2,000 members and has planted two other congregations. Worshipers at Pilgrim can choose from four services in Korean and one in English each Sunday morning. In a workshop for the Racial Ethnic and Immigrants Convocation at Big Tent titled "Non-traditional Ways of Growing Your Church," Paul C. Yang, shared what he has learned as pastor of this vibrant congregation. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Member Involvement."
 BOLBACH, WHITSITT LOOK BACK AT FIRST YEAR: So how do you measure a year? A year ago, in another 'apolis - Minneapolis - Elder Cynthia (Cindy) Bolbach was elected moderator of the 219th General Assembly and the Rev. Landon Whitsitt was seated as vice-moderator. Joined by the members of the Presbyterian Youth Film Crew at Big Tent in Indianapolis, the Presbyterian News Service sat down with Bolbach and Whitsitt to - in the words of Lewis Carroll - "talk of many things" (but, alas, not "of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings.") For Bolbach, her first year as moderator has been momentous. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "First Year."
 NEW METHODS FOR CHURCH DEVELOPMENT HOLD PROMISE: After showing the statistics describing the declining membership of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Jack Marcum, right, coordinator of Research Services for the General Assembly Mission Council, offered what he called a "modest suggestion" - new church developments. But he's not recommending new church developments in the traditional sense unless that model is used "where it fits." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "New Ways."
DO YOU FEEL THE CALL? MODERATOR'S JULY COLUMN: Writing her July column, Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), noted, "When I welcomed everyone to the Big Tent in Indianapolis recently, I said that the Big Tent is like a General Assembly in that the halls are teeming with Presbyterians, either connecting for the first time or reconnecting with one another. I also noted the differences between the Big Tent and an assembly - no voting machines, no time clocks counting down the seconds until a speaker is required to sit down, no gavel-wielding Moderator. That doesn't mean, however, that the Big Tent is somehow better than GA. As a church, we need both." Her complete column can be found at "Feel the Call."
MISSION ACTIVITIES OF PC(USA) CAN BE FOUND IN 1 SPOT ON WEB: It might be described as "the active mission" of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It's the General Assembly Mission Council and a quick look at its location on the web - General Assembly Mission Council - opens doors to the many facets of the church's mission at home in this country and abroad.
SUCCESS TO SIGNIFICANCE, NELSON SAYS GOD IS DOING A NEW THING: It's time to move from worrying about success to significance, proclaimed the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson II, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Public Witness at the July 2 closing worship of Big Tent. "Truly, this has been a blessed event," he said. "It's been a Holy Ghost party in the name of the Lord. A time when we can declare the Presbyterian Church is alive and well. And now we are being moved to return to our places and to do greater things." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Significance."
 PRESBYTERIANS STAGE PRO-IMMIGRANT WITNESS DURING BIG TENT: More than 75 Presbyterians in Indianapolis for the denomination's Big Tent event demonstrated their support of immigrants at the Indiana Statehouse July 2. Holding signs like "Jesus loves everyone, including the undocumented," those gathered were reminded that Big Tent almost switched locations because of Indiana's proposed immigration legislation, HB 1402. "Presbyterians were able to stop the most egregious part of the bill," said the Rev. Tony Aja, coordinator of Hispanic/Latino Ministries for the Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky. Holding up a copy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s policy statement on immigration, Aja reminded the gathering that "Presbyterians stand with immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Pro-Immigrant Witness."
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| And just two more | | |
UCC VOTES TO TAKE 'HEAVENLY FATHER' FROM CONSTITUTION:
Delegates at the United Church of Christ's General Synod 28 recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of amending the denomination's constitution so that the phrase "heavenly Father" will no longer be present anywhere in its text. The complete story can be found at "Wording."
YES, SOCIAL MEDIA IS IMPORTANT: Leading her social media class at Synod School this week, Kim Coulter, director of communications for Des Moines Presbytery, used a YouTube video that pointed out the impact of social media. The video is available here. |
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