Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Summer Office Hours: 8-4 Monday - Thursday & 8-12 Friday
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June 10, 2015
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 God Calls
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Lafayette Bethany Presbyterian Church
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Passage to Ponder... Amos 5:22 (NRSV)Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon.
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It has been a couple of weeks, since the Leadership Team of Presbytery asked you to Save the Date for a called Presbytery Assembly on June 23rd. We would now like to give that date back to you! At the Council meeting yesterday, we determined that we are not ready to present a budget for consideration by the Assembly and have instead directed the Stewardship Ministry Team to keep the existing budget for Fiscal 2015 in place for a period of 3 months. At September's Assembly Retreat on September 18th and 19th, a budget will be presented along with the work to conclude the Joshua Journey process.
To get to that point, Council has set aside August 17th and 18th as a working retreat at Geneva Center. Invited to join with Council will be the Team of Four (formerly Five) --- Sue Babovec, Kevin Bowers, Sara Dingman, and Jim Dougans --- plus Eric Herzog, and Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, as the candidate for incoming Vice Moderator of the Assembly. We have committed to remain in retreat mode until the work is done on presenting the new structure of the Presbytery.
God has been patient with us, and it's now time to hold ourselves accountable for the Visioning of the Presbytery. We ask your prayers as the group meets to discern
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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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how we will be positioned to carry out the vision of the Joshua Journey.
Peace be with you!
Jill Kitowski, Moderator
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Council Meeting....
Challenging Yet Reassuring
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Seventeen Council members met June 9th to wrestle with the message of Amos 5:21-24 and prayerfully to address a long docket of major matters for our presbytery pastors, congregations and Geneva Center. Realizing the difficulty of making decisions piecemeal, Council conducted a probing assessment of the interconnected issues and by consensus, agreed to cancel the anticipated call for an Assembly meeting in June, and to request specific information in preparation for its July Council meeting and a two day retreat in August. Council invited the team appointed to recommend revisions to presbytery structure as well as the nominee for Presbytery Vice Moderator, Rev. Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, Elkhart First PC and Rev. Sara Dingman, Transitional Executive, Synod of Lincoln Trails.
Specific actions taken by Council:
- Rescinded its previous decision to conduct a search for a Transitional Presbyter with thanks to those who had agreed to serve as the search team.
- Affirmed its previous decision to eliminate the position of General Presbyter, effective May 11, 2015.
- Approved an extension of the current budget for three months, to expire September 30, 2015. This action is to assure there is authority in place for the bookkeeper to pay ongoing bills within approved line items. Reviewed preliminary financial reports for Presbytery and Geneva Center, both continuing to show substantial deficits even with below-budget expenditures.
- Limited the business of the September Presbytery Assembly to focus upon essential reports and decisions about presbytery vision, structure, staffing, budgets and funding including next steps concerning Geneva Center, as well as to welcome and hear the message of Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick and Joshua Yoder home from Egypt. Our working retreat will also include meeting two Inquirers seeking move to Candidacy, election of leadership, and other essential business likely to extend into Saturday afternoon.
- Approved sale of the former Thorntown church property for $100 to Neighborhood Fellowship, Inc. an Indianapolis-based 501c3 corporation, to extend its Christian ministry in that community. Neighborhood Fellowship, Inc. is to assume all closing costs.
- Reported that in partnership with Synod of Lincoln Trails, an additional $10,000 has been provided to former GP Frank Vardeman to meet extraordinary, documented medical expenses.
- Agreed to negotiate with Indiana Landmarks Foundation concerning extension of its option to market or purchase the property of the former Columbia City church.
- Approved proposal from Comer Nowling CPAs to review presbytery financial records and considered forecasting report of Eric Herzog on budgeting prepared at Council's request.
- Approved request from Geneva Center Transition Team to begin immediately a "startup funds" campaign with gifts to be received by presbytery and specifically designated for Geneva Center ministry and its anticipated 501c3 corporation.
- Approved expenditures from Geneva Center designated funds for essential capital improvements.
- Took no action on proposed position description for Transitional Executive Director of Geneva Center and suggested amendments and identification of specific timeline and budget and funding sources.
- Took no action on proposed planning for partnership agreement with Geneva Center until core principles are established and alternative models for "spin off" are researched in order to reach a recommendation.
- Approved a grant of $750 from funds designated for transformation to three churches in Carroll County to help support shared outreach events this summer as they continue to find ways to share and expand ministry.
- Approved receipt of donated timeshare vacations at no cost to pastors serving congregations (including CREs) on a first-come, first-serve basis. Office manager Gladys Sargent will coordinate communications between donor and pastors.
- Deferred discussion of proposed revised Gracious Dismissal Policy and of proposed policy for eligibility for election to presbytery leadership until the July Council meeting.
- Deferred action until August on a COM proposal for half-time support in partnership with a small congregation for a full time, designated pastor to develop new and/or shared ministry possibilities in its region.
Council closed with prayer at 3:15 pm after expressing its appreciation to Rev. Bill McLean, Delphi First PC, for his years of service as Asst. Stated Clerk/Recording Clerk and its prayerful best wishes as he moves July 1 to Presbytery of SE Illinois to serve as Presbyter for Congregational Care.
- Linda Long, Stated Clerk
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Save the Dates
2015 COUNCIL
July 21
August 17-18 Retreat
October 20
December 8
2015 ASSEMBLY
CANCELED-Special Called June 23
September 18-19 Retreat
November 17
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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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God we pray for our presbytery and all those who give of their time serving on committees, ministry teams, and task forces to serve the congregations of this presbytery. Give them wisdom to lead, ears to hear your instruction and the courage to speak boldly when necessary. Lord we are here to serve you. Guide us in your best ways possible.
Please continue to lift those listed below in your prayers:
- Rev. Ellis Gasser, Honorably Retired, who will be having outpatient carpel tunnel surgery tomorrow.
- Bruce McVay brother of CRE Jene McVay, Crawfordsville Milligan Memorial Presbyterian Church, who has begun chemo learning the difficult news cancer has spread to his lymph system, lungs and liver.
- Rev. Frank Vardeman, Minister Member at Large, as he settles into Courage Center . 12400 Portland Ave. S., Burnsville, MN 55337
- Our mission co-workers.
- Geneva Center Staff, Summer Staff, Volunteers & Summer Campers.
We pray for and with Lafayette Bethany Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and followed you Lord since 1952.
In your Holy name we pray saying, Amen.
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- June 10, 1967 - TE Ron Elly, Earl Park Presbyterian Church
- June 13, 2010 - CRE Nelda Seger, Winamac First PC
- June 13, 1987 - TE Lloyd Sewdin, Ogden Dune Community Chuch
- June 15, 1958 - TE Kennard Robinson, Honorably Retired
- June 15, 1982 - TE Frank Vardeman, Member at Large
- June 16, 1984 - TE Richard Craig, Honorably Retired
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 vicki@ourpresbytery.org.
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Transformational Leadership Debt Assistance
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Supporting leadership for transforming existing congregations and new worshiping communities.
The Transformational Leadership Debt Assistance program was created to complement the Seminary Debt Assistance program offered by the Board of Pensions by serving pastors burdened with educational debt who do not meet the requirements for the Board of Pensions program.
Learn More
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Lebanon First Celebrates 175 Years with the Development of a Community Park
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 First Presbyterian Church is the recipient of a $25,000 grant for the development of a community park on the Lebanon square. The church wants to offer a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment for the children of the Presbyterian Preschool Ministry, Lebanon residents, employees from local businesses and the Court House and visitors to the city.
During the 1990's, a building at the corner of Main Street and Meridian burned down, removing it from the downtown setting. First Presbyterian Church purchased the lot and has decided to develop the space for community use after an internal vision study resulted in a shifted focus to outreach.
2015 marks 175 years as part of the Lebanon community for First Presbyterian. They see the development of this park as being good neighbors to their longtime community. The park plans include a playground and sitting area where the church will promote healthy lifestyles and wholesome community activities.
The grant from the Community Foundation, made possible through the generosity of donors to the Community Impact Fund and the Jay Martin Fund for Children, will go toward the ground preparation which will be the foundation for the park design. The church hopes to begin construction in July with work completed in September.
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"Helping Veteran Families:
PTSD and Family Relationships"
June 17, 2015 - 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Register for this webinar.
This free interactive webinar will equip community clergy to help Caregivers of Veterans to recognize and respond effectively to stress within children and others in the family affected when a Veteran has symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program will provide information to help educate Caregivers about PTSD and provide developmentally appropriate guidance on talking with children and adolescents about the Veteran's symptoms and behavior. Strategies for strengthening family relationships of all types while respecting the boundaries or limits needed by the Veteran will be discussed.
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Getting Youth Involved In Emergency Preparedness
Webinar2:00 - 3:00 pm (EDT) - Tuesday, June 23 How to Join the Webinar: -
- Please register for the event. Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting.
- The webinar will conclude with a 10-minute Q&A session and offer closed captioning.
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 Be inspired...Become equipped...Get connected! |
Big Tent is focusing on three areas of missional living: Advocacy, Poverty, and Discipleship. The featured workshops offer opportunities of encouragement and insight to engaged passionately in these ministries.
Camps as Places for Helping Youth Affected by Disaster/Trauma Camps can be amazingly effective places of healing for survivors of school violence, natural disaster, traumas of all sizes, or more chronic trauma such as experienced by children of homeless families, children of parents in prison, etc. Ferncliff Camp (Arkansas) has conducted many such camps and has worked with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) to forge a network of healing camps. Come and get ideas for how your camp/retreat center might be a partner in healing. Led by Rev. David Gill, Ferncliff Director; Brian Frick, Associate for Camp and Conference Ministries, PMA, and Laurie Kraus, Director of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Una comunidad carismática: El sacerdocio/ministerio de cada creyente En este taller vamos a compartir y aprender sobre los dones y capacidades de ministerio de cada creyente; y que la Biblia, la teología reformada y nuestra experiencia en la iglesia nos enseñan sobre el sacerdocio de cada creyente. Habrá oportunidad para compartir reflexiones y dialogar sobre el discipulado y el liderato transformacional. Presentado pro Rev. Dr. Hector Rodriguez, asociado para la oficina de "Apoyo congregacional hispana/latina." The Spirit (Still) Calls Women and Men to All Ministries What does the Reformed theological understanding of "call" as a personal response to the leading of the Spirit and the invitation of the community have to contribute to the process of discernment about our own gifts for ministry and those of others in a culture so focused on individual fulfillment? Led by Tim Cargal, Assistant Stated Clerk and Manager, Preparation for Ministry, OGA.
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New Ministry Development Team
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Transformation Ministry Team
Invite
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Congregation members, lay leaders & pastors to attend
Saturday, August 8, 2015
at Geneva Center
10:00 - 4:00 Presenter, Rev. Dennis Bickers Registration Deadline July 23, 2015 More Information
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Wednesday, June 101 pm - Northwest Church Professionals Gathering - Valparaiso First PC ( map)
Thursday, June 11
10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting)
Friday, June 12
2 pm - Commissioned Ruling Elders' Gathering - Bob Evans, Plymouth (map)Thursday, June 1810 am - Commission on Ministry (Go-To-Meeting) 2 pm - Commissioned Ruling Elders' Gathering - Bob Evans Lafayette (map)Tuesday, June 23CANCELED - Presbytery Assembly Meeting
Wednesday, June 246 pm - Carroll County Churches Block Party - Flora Presbyterian Church (map)
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 vicki@ourpresbytery.org, 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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