Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Office Hours: 8 - 4 Monday - Friday
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January 7, 2015
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Passage to Ponder... Ezekiel 22: 25-26 (NRSV)25There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
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God challenges each of us every day. We are challenged when the Word is proclaimed. We are challenged by Scripture. We are challenged in prayer. Sometimes the appropriate response is worship, sometimes further study, and often continued prayer. At other times, however, God is calling us to action.
Collectively, we have challenges as well. The overarching challenge for the Board of Pensions is figuring out how to serve more people, more affordably, and with quality. We've been talking about these issues for several years now, particularly where the Medical Plan is concerned. And, as you know, we've made changes to help sustain the plan. Despite the effort and energy expended, those changes were on the margin and have not fully addressed more fundamental structural questions.
Shifts in congregational hiring patterns and church demographics seem to guarantee that the one-size model of the Benefit Plan's Traditional Program is going to fit fewer employers. It was designed with clergy in traditional roles in mind. Many of our smaller churches have only one Benefits Plan member: their pastor. And churches without a mandated member and other employing organizations may have no one left in the plan. They're telling us with their checkbooks that the plan isn't working for them.
At times, when we're deeply rooted in one way of doing things, it's tough to see the obvious and also difficult to imagine doing things any other way. Here at the Board, we're now asking ourselves not only what is good for plan members, but what might we do to serve the tens of thousands of Presbyterian church workers who are currently excluded from the Benefits Plan. In a changing context, we must look beyond tradition if we are to keep the covenant with our pastors and fulfill the Board's centuries-old mission of caring for church workers.
So we're asking: How could we redesign the Benefits Plan so that it continues our commitment to teaching elders and makes it flexible enough for church employers to cover other employees? How can we replace membership decline with membership growth? What plan design and policy will help to build the Church through empowering congregations? Answering those questions is going to be part of a large outreach effort in 2015, when we'll be asking you to help us out with comments and suggestions and reactions to our thoughts.
So, please, stay alert for opportunities and invitations from the Board to contribute because we can't do this alone. We need to address these questions as a community. Help us, so that we might respond to God's challenge with flexibility and faithfulness.
Grace and peace,
Frank C. Spencer
Board of Pensions President
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Rev. John Ritchie, Presbytery of Wabash Valley Board of Pensions Liaison Here we are entering another new year. I am still your Board of Pensions Liaison so please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have at (260) 224-7056 or [email protected]. I would encourage you to follow the link below to see what resources, changes and updates the Board of Pensions has to offer for 2015. The newest edition of Board Connections, the Board of Pensions newsletter, is now available. Board Connections highlights recent Board news, important updates, and information. In this month's edition, you'll find:
* a message from BoP president Frank Spencer on the future of the Benefits Plan (see above); * articles on the new Roth option for the Retirement Savings Plan, online account statements from Fidelity, Call to Health in 2015, updated Board resources, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. * Board University news and resources, including a Web module on effective salary. * Make sure your personal and beneficiary information is up to date.
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- January 10, 2010 - Rev. Jonathan Cornell, The Presbyterian Church of Wabash
If you have been omitted or your information is incorrect please accept my apology. Help to update our records by sending your current information to [email protected].
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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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Lord, thank you for the promise that those who ask receive and that when we seek, we will find. Grant us the grace to persevere, to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking until the answer comes. Thank you for the power and grace of your Spirit, who gives strength to persevere in prayer even when we are at our weakest and ready to give up.
Please lift those listed below in prayer:
- Rev. Jack Hess, Honorably Retired, as he continues medical care for multiple health concerns.
- Rev. Frank Gready, Honorably Retired, for healing
- Inquirer Diane Shircliff, Lebanon, First Presbyterian Church, as she travels to Israel/Palestine
- Rev. Ruby Kleymann, Rossville Presbyterian Church, as she travels to Colorado to be with her sister Mary Iverson who is being treated for blood clots in her lungs
- All of our Mission co-workers
We pray for and with Portage, First Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and followed you Lord since 1962.
In your holy name we pray. Amen.
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Save the Dates
2015 COUNCIL January 20 March 17 April 14 June 23
2015 ASSEMBLY February 24 May 19 September 18-19 November 17
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You are Cordially Invited by
Presbytery of Wabash Valley
&
First Presbyterian Church Goshen
to the Service of Ordination
of
Kellie Tracz
Sunday, January 11, 2015 - 3:00 pm
at
First Presbyterian Church
215 E Lincoln Ave
Goshen, IN 46528-3347
(map)
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It's Statistics Season
The reasons why, tool to benefit your congregation and importance of keeping your congregation's records up-to-date by submitting your statistical reports. Learn More
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2015 Confirmation Retreat
Plans are underway for the next Confirmation Retreat that will be held at Geneva Center.
What? Confirmation Retreat
Who? Youth who are preparing for confirmation
Where? Geneva Center
5282 N Old US Hwy 31
Rochester,IN 46975
Butler Lodge
When? Friday Feb. 6 - Sunday, Feb 8,2015
Registration: 6:45 p.m.
Retreat will end at 1:00 pm on Sunday
For more information about registering for this event, please call Gladys Sargent at (574) 223-5678 or email [email protected]. Watch for email with registration information. For more information about the retreat, please call Rev. Dr. Justin Schlesinger-Devlin at (765) 296-3199 or email [email protected] or call Rev. Dave Comstock at (765) 742- 8481 or email [email protected].
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Columbia Theological Seminary
Center for Lifelong Learning
Application Deadline Extended to January 9, 2015
Spiritual Pioneers: The Challenges, Risks and Blessings of Church Development (Thompson Scholars)
April 21-24, 2015
Click here for complete event information and application link.
Winter/Spring 2015
January 20-23 Lectionary Studies Seminar: Lent B to Christmas C
This seminar will provide a fresh look at lectionary passages (RCL) from Lent B to Christmas C AND time to polish your worship and preaching plans for the coming liturgical year. Read more.
Feb. 12-15 A Dwelling Place For God: Discerning Anew The Relations Between Creation, Eschatology, And Ecology
This course is especially for those who wish to rediscover a Christian spirituality rooted in creation, worship, justice, and hope. Leader: Stan Saunders. Read More.
Feb. 23-25 Seven Concepts that Will Change Your Teaching
Has your teaching become routine? Do you want to be more effective in your teaching? Israel Galindo will introduce seven big ideas that will inspire and invigorate. Read More.
March 19-22 Exploring the Non-Dominant Divine (with Marjorie Thompson)
Two thousand years of Christian history and doctrine have taught a theology of God's dominion, strongly associated with a masculine naming of the Divine. Yet the Incarnation challenges our notions of domination and dominance. Read More.
Don't Miss the Inaugural Courses in the New Certificate Program in Older Adult Ministry April 13-15 The Process of Aging and Implications for Ministry with Mary Ann Johnson.
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Where is your General Presbyter Rev. Frank Vardeman
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Thursday, January 8
- Commission on Ministry Tuesday, January 13- Presbytery Office
Wednesday, January 14
- Northwest Church Professionals
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Severe Weather Policy
The PWV office follows the Rochester Community School Corporation's weather delay and/or cancellation decision. Voice mail at the office will include the status of meetings scheduled. To confirm meeting status don't hesitate to call 574-223-5678.
Thursday, January 810 am - Commission on Ministry
CANCELLED - Commission on Preparation for Ministry Sunday, January 11 3 pm - Ordination of Kellie Tracz, Goshen, First Presbyterian Church (map) Tuesday, January 1310 am - Nominating Committee 3 pm - Gracious Dismissal Team Wednesday, January 141 pm - Northwest Church Professionals Luncheon Thursday, January 1510 am - Commission on Ministry (Conference Call)
All meetings & events 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.
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Every week, we publish this eNewsletter to hundreds of Wabash Valley and PC(USA) members and also post online! The Church Relations Coordinator accepts articles for entry and is actively seeking new and original content sharing how your congregation is engaged in ministry. We would especially like to share photo's and stories of your confirmands, new members, VBS, mission trips and other special ministries that are occurring in your congregation and community. Please forward your stories and photos to [email protected], due each Friday.
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Presbytery of Wabash Valley & Geneva Center Contact InformationFinancial Consultant ~ Eric Herzog ~ 574-223-5678 ext 105 Geneva Center Manager ~ Cathy Adley ~ 574-223-6915 ext 200 Geneva Center Maintenance Director ~ Jeff Winegardener ~ 574-223-6915 ext 204
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Nourished by the living waters of Jesus Christ,
we awaken, enliven and enhance worshiping communities
to courageously extend their branches
and bear new fruit in the Spirit.
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