Our country is engaged in a debate on Health Care Reform.  Presbyterians in our pews are as likely to be as polarized in this as the rest of the country.  Yet it is important and it is now!  Click here to read a formal letter from our General Assembly Stated Clerk, Gradye Parsons, in which he shares what the 218th General Assembly directed him to communicate to congressional leaders last summer and his comments to us. Closer to home, see the Grand Rapids Business Journal article about Rev. Tom Cook's recent sermon on the subject reported by Mark Sanchez, a member of the church.  Tom is the head of staff at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven. Click here to read the editorial.

Health Care just got a little more personal for me.  I am a survivor of prostate cancer.  The day I was elected General Presbyter of Lake Michigan Presbytery was the first anniversary of my surgery, to the hour.  Since then, at least three fellow presbyters have had the same surgery plus my brother.  Now, my doctors tell me my cancer has reemerged.  So I must continue to fight it.  I will begin a schedule of daily (Monday through Friday) radiation treatments on October 19th.  It will take about a half an hour at the West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo, just a few miles from the office.  I should complete my schedule of treatments on December 10th.  I will use my sick days, personal days and vacation after Thanksgiving through the end of December as I rest and give my body time to heal.  Until then, I shall remain active at work.  I also anticipate using some afternoons as I approach Thanksgiving, if I am able, for continuing education reading at home. 

Like every cancer patient, it is an understatement to say, that I don't like that I have to do this, but I must.  I am grateful for a gifted and loyal staff, for a loving family and for your understanding, encouragement and support.  I am also grateful for the medical coverage I am provided by the church through our Board of Pensions.  I ponder the struggle of those without such insurance and pray for the day when none of my neighbors will have to fear bankruptcy when they get sick. It requires a political answer to fulfill that prayer. It could take many different forms to fulfill.  May we together form the political will moved by the Holy Spirit's leading and moral imperitive, to forge a way! 

Faithfully yours, 

John M. Best,
General Presbyter
Presbytery of Lake Michigan

NOW AVAILABLE - CD of ANNOTATED BOOK OF ORDER

At last week's Fall Polity Conference we were provided with a CD that contains the new Annotated Book of Order, dated  2009-2011.  The disc will be available at the presbytery office.  If you attend a meeting here, please bring your laptop if you wish to download your own copy. 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Clerks of Session no longer are required to keep Session Minutes in the "official" post binders.  We no longer see the need to replace the expensive binder books.  Continue to print those minutes out after each Session meeting, but keep them in a 3-ring notebook so they are easily transferred to a good Southworth archival paper at the end of the year.  There will be more changes in our Minutes Review process - so stay tuned!

ThePresbyterianLeader.com
Has great reasources for lay leaderhsip and sessions. Every two weeks an electronic newsletter features experienced Presbyterian leaders offering prayerful support and practical advice.  Click here to learn more!