Passage to Ponder - Philippians 4:1 (MSG)   

 

 "My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God."


(from Transformation Ministry Team 2013 Monthly Bible Reading and Reflection)

 LabCross

  The Presbytery of Wabash Valley creates, connects and nurtures congregations and other ministries to fulfill Christ's mission.

God Calls
Presbytery of Wabash Valley
PWV Summer Office Hours
 Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 4 pm
Friday 8:00 am - NOON 
August 21, 2013
Transitional Ministry

Steve Braden Steve Braden, Transitional Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Mishawaka

 

I have been invited to share a few thoughts about "transitional ministry." Interestingly, most installed teaching elders rarely get to see the transitional process in action, since it happens before and after their tenure. I am no expert, and have not served on the Commission on Ministry (COM), but I have experienced the transition of the associate pastor while I was head of staff, I have received our synod's transitional ministry training, and I now serve as a transitional pastor.

 

I think many would agree that pastoral transition is a crucial time for the life and health of a congregation. At its best, it is a time of focused energy and attention on God's call to the particular congregation. It offers the opportunity to rethink the balance between "keeping our current members happy" and "doing what is needed to attract new people" (two things that are often in tension). And it gives a congregation a chance to address conflict and unhealthy patterns of behavior. But transitions are also fraught with peril: the consequences of a mismatch between pastor and congregation are dire indeed.

 

A few basics: We are in a time of new titles: "ministers of word and sacrament" have become "teaching elders," "commissioned lay pastors" have become "commissioned ruling elders," and "interim ministers" have new titles as well: under the Book of Order they have a "temporary pastoral relationship," which is further defined by our presbytery as "transitional pastors."  Unlike a "called" teaching elder, who is called by the congregation after a search by an elected pastoral nominating committee, a transitional pastor is chosen and contracted for a fixed term by the session, with consultation and approval by the COM. Our presbytery specifies a one-year contract, with the option of a one-year renewal, and six-month renewals up to three years.

 

A transitional pastor's duties include normal pastoral duties of worship planning and leadership, pastoral care, moderating session, administrative and staff leadership, and helping the church live out the faith through its Christian education, mission, stewardship, worship, prayer, and spiritual growth. If there has been conflict and/or grief around the prior pastor's leaving, the transitional pastor seeks to help the church deal with and move beyond those. In addition, a transitional pastor has certain transitional ministry goals, outlined by the presbytery:

1. Helping the church come to terms with its  history (including recent conflict).

2. Helping the church discover a new congregational identity.

3. Facilitating shifts in lay leadership and changes in congregational power structures.

4. Helping the church rethink and renew denominational links.

5. Helping the church prepare for new pastoral leadership and a new future.

 

Work on these transitional ministry goals is not sequential; they are all addressed in a variety of ways from the time the transitional pastor starts. Nor is this work done by the pastor alone; these are congregational tasks.   Depending on the circumstances, work on these tasks may take considerable time before the congregation is ready to actually start seeking new pastoral leadership.

Once the congregation is ready to seek new leadership, there is another set of tasks which are sequential and done in consultation with the COM:

  • congregational mission study, approval of which comes before the next step,
  • nomination and election of pastoral nominating committee (PNC),
  • preparation of Ministry Information Form by the PNC, and
  • actual search by PNC.

The transitional pastor assists with designing and implementing the mission study, but is not directly involved with the PNC or the actual search. The transitional pastor is on a limited-term contract, and may need to start seeking a different transitional position during this process.

 

 Continue Reading 

In This Issue
Transitional Ministry
Prayers of the Presbytery
Celebration of Ordination
Rev. Wayne Rhodes Retirement Celebration
Jim Dougans Commissioning Service
PDA & GA Stated Clerk - Call to Prayer for the people of Egypt
Understanding Why Youth & Young Adults Stay in Church
Where is Frank
PWV Calendar
SAVE THE DATES
2013 COUNCIL
August 27, 2013
October 22, 2013
December 10, 2013
  
2013 ASSEMBLY
September 13-14, 2013
November 19, 2013

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Ministerial Excellence Fund 

CHURCH STEWARDSHIP, FINANCIAL REPORTING & CHURCH MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE:  

 

Thursday, August 22, 2:00-7:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, Merrillville - 7898 Taft Street Merrillville, IN 46410
Please register for this workshop at: http://fpcmerrillville.eventbrite.com/ 

Thursday, August 29, 2:00-7:00 p.m.

Bethany Presbyterian Church, Lafayette - 3305 Longlois Dr Lafayette, IN 47904
Please register for this workshop at: http://bethanypc.eventbrite.com/

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PRESBYTERY ASSEMBLY RETREAT
More Than Being Polite:
Hospitality in the 21st Century
Friday & Saturday, September 13 & 14
Keynote Speaker/Worship Leader
Dr. Rodger Nishioka
Click for Registration Information
(Only 6 rooms left in the Conference Center)

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2013/2015 Book of Order
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Hard copies available from the presbytery office complete
   Order Form
and forward to presbytery office
or call 574-223-5678

 

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Association of Retired Ministers, Spouses, or Survivors and the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network Conference

 

October 8 -11

 Atlanta

Register at armss.org or poamn.org

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Resource Center

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Congregational Resource Center 

 

 

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Center for Congregations

 

 Positive Change for Congregations

11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Central time)
November 6 & 20 and December 4, 2013 in Valparaiso

11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Eastern time)
November 7 & 21 and December 5, 2013 in Fort Wayne
 

  

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ALBAN WEEKLY

The Science and Art of Motivational Leadership
by Peter Coutts

 

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The Presbytery office has  
noticed many congregations have pictorial directories available. Would you consider providing a copy to the presbytery? The copy may be given to any one of the staff members to take back to the office. Thank you!

 

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Prayers of the Presbytery

LabCross

O' God we come to you on yet another beautiful summer day with gratitude of the gift of life and our blessings. We seek a clearer vision of yourself in the person of your Son Jesus, realizing that is the force that holds us together that you sow in our hearts.      

 

We request prayer for Elder Dot Smook, Geneva Center Ministry Team Member and wife of Rev. David Smook, Honorably Retired, as she anticipates surgery Thursday, August 22nd.  

 

Please hold in prayer Rev. Ralph Smith, honorably retired and his wife, Barbara, during this time of her continued health concerns.  

 

We hold Nominating Committee member Elder Bob Shoemaker, Dyer Presbyterian Church, in prayer as he anticipates back surgery on August 28th  

 

We give thanks that CRE Barbara Wirt, Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, South Bend was not injured in a recent accident.  

 

Please hold the family of Geneva Center Manager Cathy Adley, in prayer as they deal with multiple family members health issues.  

 

Please continue to hold Rev. Frank Vardeman, General Presbyter in prayer, as he recovers from knee replacement surgery.

 

Please continue to hold Rev. Jeff Deardorff, Range Line Community Presbyterian Church, Hebron as he recovers from torn rotator cuff surgery.


Prayers are requested to surround the family on the passing of Elder Elizabeth "Fergie" Ferguson August 18, 2013. A faithful servant and life-long member of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Logansport, and also to this Presbytery in her dedicated service as Assembly Elder Commissioner, Mission and Interpretation Committee, and Committee on Representation. Visitation will be Friday, August 23, 1:00-2:00 p.m. and Memorial Service, 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 701 Spencer Street, Logansport. 


We continue to pray for the safety of our mission co-workers and the people of Egypt during such unsettled times. 

 

We give thanks for First Presbyterian Church, LaGrange as they have faithfully served your church and ministered to their community since 1840.  

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.   

Celebration of Ordination

Thank you for your ministry and your service... 

  • August 27, 1978 - Rev. Chuck Compton, Flora Presbyterian Church       
  • August 27, 1978 - Rev. Les Johnson, Chaplain St Joseph Regional Medical Center

If you have been omitted or your information is incorrect please accept my apology. Help to update your records by sending your current information to [email protected].   

       

First Presbyterian Church Valparaiso
invites you to the
Rev. Wayne RhodesRetirement Celebration Honoring
Reverend Wayne Rhodes
 Sunday, August 25
10:50 am (CT) Worship
followed by a picnic in the pavilion!
3401 N Valparaiso St., Valparaiso, IN 46383
You are Cordially Invited to

  A Service for the Commissioning

Of

 Ruling Elder James V. Dougans

Jim Dougans 

as Pastor

of

First Presbyterian Church  

220 N. Cullen Street

Rensselaer, Indiana

 

Sunday, August 25, 2013

2:00 pm  (CT) 

PDA

Call to prayer for Egypt

 

The burning and destruction of Christian churches in Egypt causes great anguish and fear in the Christian community there and a desire by many here in the U.S. to help. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), in collaboration with PC(USA) World Mission and our ecumenical partners, is monitoring the situation in Egypt. We have asked for an assessment of the total need, and a report on what fuller response the church will make.  An appropriate PDA response will be determined upon receipt of that assessment report. PDA will also be watching for an appeal from our international ecumenical partners on a broader humanitarian response.

 

Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, has issued a call to prayer for all those affected - that their differences can be resolved peacefully and respectfully. 

From the Center for Congregations:    

 

All congregational leaders hope that their faith lessons make an impact on children and stay with them through their teen and young adult years. In this workshop, Fuller Youth Institute Director Kara Powell explores ways to make faith lessons stick, bringing about powerful changes in not only youth, but in worship, adult education and congregational life. 

 
9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Central time)
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 in Evansville
Thursday, September 19, 2013 in Merrillville

 

Rev Frank Feb 2013  
Where is your General Presbyter

   Rev. Frank Vardeman 
            

Frank continues to recuperate from knee surgery at home. Please contact Gladys, Linda, or Vicki for assistance.

 

Tuesday, August 27 - Council



CALENDAR OF EVENTS & MEETINGS
Thursday, August 22
2 pm (CT) - Church Financial Excellence Workshop - First Presbyterian Church, Merrillville (map)

Sunday, August 25
10:50 am - Rev. Wayne Rhodes Retirement Service - First Presbyterian Church, Valparaiso (map)
2 pm (CT) - Jim Dougans Commissioning Service - First Presbyterian Church, Rensselaer (map)

Tuesday, August 27

10 am - Council

Thursday, August 29
2 pm - Church Financial Excellence Workshop - Bethany Presbyterian Church, Lafayette (map)
  
Monday, September 2
Presbytery office Closed for Labor Day
  
Wednesday, September 4
9 am - Presbyterian Women
11 am - Visioning Ministry Team (Go-to-meeting)
  
Thursday, September 5
10 am - Commission on Ministry
  
All meetings posted on the PWV Calendar are eastern time (ET) unless noted otherwise. Please visit http://www.ourpresbytery.org/calendar.htm for more information regarding meetings and events or call 574-223-5678.
Presbytery of Wabash Valley & Geneva Center Contact Information
Presbytery Summer Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday 8:00 to 4:00 pm
Friday 8:00 to NOON  

Board Of Pensions Liaison ~ Rev. John Ritchie ~ 260-356-8680
General Presbyter ~
Rev. Frank Vardeman  ~ 574-223-5678 ext 101
Stated Clerk ~ Elder Linda L. Long ~ 219-926-7098
Office Manager ~ Gladys Sargent ~ 574-223-5678 ext 102
Church Relations Coordinator ~ Elder Vicki Dreibelbis ~ 574-223-5678 ext 100
Financial Consultant ~ Elder Eric Herzog ~ 574-223-5678 ext 105
IT Consultant ~ Bonnie Kern ~ 574-223-5678 ext 109
Geneva Center Manager ~ Cathy Adley ~ 574-223-6915 ext 200
Geneva Center Maintenance Director ~ Jeff Winegardener ~ 574-223-6915 ext 204 

Presbytery of Wabash Valley