Brown Chapel Muskingum University

The Synod Assembly met at Muskingum University on August 8th-9th, 2014. This was the third summer Assembly meeting held within the past three years. Our previous summer meetings were held at Presbyterian Colleges; Alma College in 2012, and College of Wooster in 2013. Rev. Will Mullins, College Chaplain of Muskingum University, led the opening worship this summer.

 

Doris Evans, Synod Program Coordinator, introduced the Mobile Health Fair Team (comprised of six young adults) who were warmly thanked by the Assembly. The Synod held 38 free MHF's for 1,458 clients with the help of 452 volunteers. The team members this year were: Brendan Adkinson, Thomas Collins, Markus Creachbaum, Brian

Mobile Health Fair Team

Harper, Minjung Kim, and Hanan Zaki.

 

Doris Evans also reported on the Multicultural Youth Conference that was held in conjunction with the Covenant Gathering at The Michindoh Conference Center. Sixteen high school students participated and were led by: Mrs. Charon Barcony, Michael Barcony, Joanna Johnson, Eman Zaki, and Hadi Zaki.

 

Mission to the USA has a three-year focus on the Middle East. This year's program will take place on October 18th-November 8th, and will include international partners from Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Syria/Lebanon, and possibly Iraq.  

 

 As with every summer Assembly, Presbytery Moderators and Presbytery Executives were invited. Each Presbytery was given an opportunity to share about the context of their ministry and exchange learning. Ten presbyteries shared.

 

During evening worship, the Assembly celebrated our ecumenical ties with ecumenical greetings from the Ohio Council of Churches by Rev. Rebecca Tollefson and the Rev. Dr. Otha Gilyard preaching. Dr. Gilyard is the President of the Ohio Baptist General Convention and President of the Governing Board of the OCC. The offering and donation were dedicated to support the ministry of the Ohio Council of Churches.

 

Raafat Zaki, the Synod Executive, made a presentation titled "Autopsy of a Deceased Church" by Thom Rainer, and led a discussion on the 221^st GA decisions with a focus on the action related to Mid-Councils. Rev. Zaki reported that the Synod Executives Forum will convene by the end of the month to start a collaborative response with Synods and Presbyteries. The General Assembly voted to reduce the 16 Synods to 10-12 Synods in number.

Rev. Russell Cowden was elected to the Board of Trustees for the Class of 2016.

 

New grant criteria were approved including Peacemaking Scholarships, Racial Ethnic Program Grants, both are due by September 1. New Covenant Grants due date remains October 1. The next Synod Assembly will be held on November 7-8, 2014 at the Synod Office in Maumee, Ohio. 

 

 

 

Synod New Covenant Grants

One-time grants in amounts up to $10,000 are available to congregations, institutions and organizations within the bounds of the synod that have formal established ties to the synod. Projects must fit within the three mission priorities of the synod:

• Church Transformation and Development
• Multicultural and Justice Ministries
• Ministries in Higher Education
  
  Additional information and guidelines may be found on the application form.

Due date: October 1

Racial Ethnic Scholarships

Synod Grants and Scholarships 

The Rev. Bill Golderer (left), founding pastor and convener of the Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia, along with the Rev. Andy Greenhow Bill Golderer will also preach at the September 9 meeting of the Presbytery of the Miami Valley at Clifton United Presbyterian Church, Clifton.Know your target audience. Who are your most important customers, clients or prospects, and why? Know what is important to them and address their needs in your newsletter each month. Include a photo to make your newsletter even more appealing.

Celebrating the New Glory to God Presbyterian Hymnal

Dr. Walter Brueggemann keynotes a celebration event about the new Presbyterian hymnal project, Glory to God. Dr. Brueggemann is one of the most provocative writers and speakers of our time on biblical and theological matters. This event, which begins with lunch, will focus on hymnology and offer opportunities to experience the many joys of singing and exploring the new hymnal's rich resources.

Dr. Brueggemann is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is a past president of the Society of Biblical Literature and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. 

 

More information on both events