Passage to Ponder - 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)   

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

from Elder Linda L. Long,  

Stated Clerk  

Yesterday, Council focused most of its meeting on University Church, a specialized ministry of the Presbytery on the edge of the campus of Purdue, West Lafayette. There were sixteen elected Council members present, plus two staff and two non-voting Council members and Doug Tracy, Stated Clerk of Synod of Lincoln Trails, filling the Presbytery Conference Room.

• Moderator Laura Reason called the meeting to order with opening prayer by Jeff Cover, and led introductions and discussions of Philippians 3:17-4:1. All written reports were accepted by omnibus motion and no other action was taken on reports of commissions, teams, officers and staff.
• Visioning Team vice moderator and Council member Steve Braden briefly highlighted progress on the Joshua Journey process and encouraged all to attend the remaining two retreats:       October 19th to deliberate on presbytery functions and structure to support its priorities; and November 9th to consider the role of Geneva Center in the ministry priorities of the Presbytery.
• Remainder of Council's meeting focused upon the Presbyterian Investment and Loan (PILP) requirement that presbytery co-sign the loan application of University Church (UC) to procure funds to reimburse the Synod of Lincoln Trails (SOLT) for $487,000 temporarily advanced in 2011 for essential HVAC renovations. The University Church building is owned by Synod and leased for many years by University Church.
• In June Council approved a motion: "PWV affirms its commitment to UC ministry and to accept transfer of UC property from SOLT, and recommends to Assembly: PWV will co-sign a loan with UC from PILP to repay SOLT $487,000, subject to consultation with UC Board and leaders to set specific actions and deadlines for a capital campaign by UC."

• Extensive discernment among Council members and staff, guest from the Synod and some of the UC Board sought to separate out matters of ministry partnership from decisions about property and money.
• There were reports that UC's July Board meeting was cancelled, and there were insufficient attendees for a quorum for its August Board meeting, so the UC Board took no specific actions in response to Council's June request.       There was review of written communications from the UC Board president, reports of various conversations with the UC pastor, and several people spoke to the historic Presbyterian UC ministry, its years of support through ecumenical funding for campus ministry, and the more recent Presbyterian re-affiliation and need for renovations after years of neglected maintenance.
• Left with lack of specific action by the Board to assure the Presbytery and PILP of its ability to maintain payments on a $487,000-loan and reports of inconsistent statements from University Church leaders and Board members, Council voted to rescind its June motion, and defeated by divided votes two motions to co-sign the loan under other conditions.
• In support of the UC ministry, Council unanimously approved a motion directing the presbytery's Financial Consultant to continue to provide an additional 15-20 hours of consultation and technical assistance to the UC on financial matters.
• Council agreed by consensus that communication among University Church, the Presbytery, Synod and PILP will be channeled through the Presbytery's Stated Clerk and President of UC's Board of Directors, and the Stated Clerk was directed to communicate the decisions of Council.

Council adjourned with prayer led by Joe Hufford at 1:30. Next meeting of Council is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2013, at 10 am EDT at Geneva Center.

 Atlanta, GA 

Resource Center

In Partnership with PWV

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

WHAT IS A STORY?

by Richard L. Hester, Kelli Walker-Jones

Thank you for your ministry and your service... 

• September 1, 1981 - Rev. Bill Hambright, Salem Center Presbyterian Church, Hudson       
• September 1, 1968 - Rev. Stanley Kessler, Honorably Retired

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 vicki@ourpresbytery.org.  

by Jim Dougans, Transitional CRE, First Rensselaer

God was truly worshiped on the afternoon of August 25.  Worship leaders came from all over Wabash Valley Presbytery.  Teaching Elder Kevin Bowers came from Lafayette.  Ruling Elder Linda Long traveled from Valparaiso.  Teaching Elder Robert Shaw drove from Winfield.  Teaching Elder Tom Albaum motored up from Monticello.

Worship leaders also came from Rensselaer.  Ruling Elder Bill Craig brought a warm welcome and asked the constitutional questions of the congregation. Ruling Elder Kathy Staddon gave a powerful sermon and led us in the affirmation of faith.  Musician Stephanie Davisson showed her musical dexterity by playing both the organ and piano, although not at the same time.

I was also blessed to be joined by my wife Jennifer Smith, daughter Katie Dougans of Miami Beach, future son-in-law John Flora, family friend Betsy Lynn from Valparaiso and her daughter Katie Elder.

The sanctuary shone brightly as it always does.  Flowers by the Jordans added to the glow, as did flowers provided by the Craig's grandchildren.

Following the service we were refreshed by cake and iced tea in the fellowship hall.  You couldn't go wrong choosing either the chocolate cake with fruit filling or the vanilla cake with lemon filling.  Everyone ate their fill.

I thank God for the opportunity to serve as the transitional pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Rensselaer.  I thank Wabash Valley Presbytery for commissioning me and the elders who served on the commissioning commission.  

And I thank you for celebrating with me in person or in spirit.

Peace: At All Times in All Ways

Peacemaking Offering, typically received during the Season of Peace leading up to World Communion Sunday (Oct. 6), seeks to promote the peace of Christ at all times in all ways. This year, bulletin inserts and minutes for mission will focus on the church's work in the following areas:

• International peace-building
• Making a local impact through retained Peacemaking Offering gifts
• Preventing gun violence
• Confronting human trafficking and exploitation

Resources for A Season of Peace, including Daily (email) Reflections, an Intergenerational Peace Fair, and an Adult Bible Study are available here.

As in past years, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, the US Food Sovereignty Alliance, interfaith working groups, and others in the United States will be joining with groups around the world to raise up life and death issues related to our global food and farm systems. The Food Week of Action will take place this year from October 13 to Sunday, October 20, spanning the two Sundays that surround World Food Day on October 16.

The theme this year will be "Seeds for Life". Access to and control over natural resources, including seeds, is an essential aspect of supporting small-scale food producers, maintaining the health of our soils, safeguarding biodiversity and, ultimately, addressing hunger. The Week of Action on Food is a time to advocate for policies and practices - locally, nationally and internationally - that tackle the injustices which cause almost a billion people around the world to be hungry and malnourished while over a billion suffer the unhealthy consequences of obesity. The week of action incorporates the International Day for Rural Women (October 15), World Food Day (October 16) and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17).

Please join us!

What can you do? Here are just a few actions that individuals, community groups and congregations might do (just to get the ideas flowing...):

• Organize a church service during the week. The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance will provide worship material on "Seeds for Life" in September, or you can draw from past worship materials available at http://www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/food/food-week-of-action/    
• Gather your local traditional farmers and gardeners to build a seed bank in your local library by 'checking-in' your most successful breeds and 'checking-out' the champions among fellow breeders. For inspiration, see the partnership between Basalt Public Library and the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute and learn how it's done.   
• Organize a community and/or church group to study local plants and indigenous seeds and then write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to reinforce the need to safeguard these varieties.   
• Prepare a meal for your family using heirloom varieties and discuss the nutrient value of wild species versus their domesticated varieties. Would you believe that Peruvian Purple potatoes have 171 milligrams of phytonutrients compared to the Yukon Gold variety (5.45mg) or the standard white potato (1.03mg).    
• Consider hosting a screening of Seeds of Freedom.    
• Schedule a study group to read the articles on Seeds and Peasant Sovereignty in the 2013 Right to Food and Nutrition Watch, which will be launched on October 16.   
• Launch a 'Seed Keepers' network. Learn more by joining the US Food Sovereignty Alliance's Rights of Mother Earth Team. (contact Andrew for additional information)   

Plan awareness-raising events on World Food Day. Support local food markets that return fair prices for small-scale agricultural and food workers and promote a broader use of agricultural biodiversity. Better yet, lobby policy makers and businesses to create a stable demand for local and seasonal produce through school meal programs and hospitals.

For more information on the issues and opportunities for food justice, plus ideas for action, see the resources at www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/food/food-week-of-action/, or contact Christine Campeau, EAA Food Campaign Coordinator, at ccampeau@e-alliance.ch or Andrew Kang Bartlett, Food for Life Strategy Group Member, at andrew.kangbartlett@pcusa.org