Quick Links

Stay Connected

EMerge is a newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Through most of the year it is published weekly and distributed to congregations, teaching elders, ruling elders, church members, committees and friends of the presbytery. Please send submissions and address corrections to office@ptcaweb.org.

April 1, 2016

Presbytery news

Need still exists for ruling elders

on presbytery committees
When the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area meets May 10, the presbytery will elect officers for the coming year. It will also elect people to serve on various presbytery committees. The Nominating Committee is seeking about 40 people to fill existing and upcoming vacancies.

While there are opportunities for teaching elders and ruling elders on most committees, the greatest need at this time is for ruling elders on the following committees:

Committee on Ministry
Committee of Preparation for Ministry
Mission and Witness Committee
Nominating Committee

Details are available from Manley Olson, chair of the Nominating Committee, by calling 651.644.2848 or by e-mail at manleyolson@gmail.com.

Lake Nokomis' Sabbath keeping

noted in Faith & Leadership

"When the Rev. Kara Root, at right, came to Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in 2008, the congregation wasn't exactly desperate. 'They were already past desperate,' Root said." That's the way Jeff Strickler, writing for Faith & Leadership, an online magazine of leadership education at Duke University, opened a March 22 article about the congregation's effort to hold Sabbath-keeping at the "heart of its life together." The complete article can be found at "Keeping Sabbath." (Photo by Tom Wallace.)

Jeff's Jottings

My top-10 questions for today

By Jeff Japinga

Transitional Executive Presbyter

Yesterday was the final day of my 10th official month as your transitional executive presbyter. I'm the guy with the already well-earned reputation of asking questions. And what have I learned from all those questions? Well, a lot, I think. Today, April 1, in honor of my first 10 months on the job, I want to test with you my answers ... to the top-10 questions that I've been asked by my non-Minnesotan friends. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

The complete column can be found at "Questions for Today."

Activities in presbytery

Community building, conflict

resolution through art workshop set

Charmayne Harper, an artist who strives to promote creativity that fosters community building and conflict resolution through art and ideas, will present a workshop Saturday, April 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at Andrew Riverside Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Harper is an artist, graphic designer, videographer and seminary student. The workshop will be participatory and everyone will have the opportunity to make art with Harper. There is no registration fee, but adults are encouraged to make a $5 donation. Light refreshments will be served. Harper is currently an intern at Uptown Church in Minneapolis.

Cherokee Park plans

open house for Tim Johnson

Called "Just Desserts for Pastor Tim," the congregation of Cherokee Park United Church of West St. Paul will celebrate the retirement of the Rev. Tim Johnson with a community open house Saturday, April 9. Johnson is retiring after 35 years of ministry with the congregation. The event runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Details are available at "Just Desserts."

Lake Nokomis offers

'24-Hour Deep Breath'

Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church is offering a "24-Hour Deep Breath." The website description of Nokomis deep breath

the event notes, "For so many of us, life feels full of busy. Every minute is packed. There are no margins. Guilt and endless pressure. So much noise, so many screens, pulled in all directions and moving faster than you can keep up with. What would it be like to take a deep breath from that?" The event begins 4 p.m. Saturday, April 9, with an "orientation to Sabbath, gentle worship and a delicious meal." The next 24 hours are a home retreat. Details and registration information is at "Deep Breath."

Diana Butler Bass leads

Didier Seminar at House of Hope

Diana Butler Bass, renowned speaker and author of "Christianity after Religion" and "Grounded," will lead the April 15-17 Didier Seminar on Religion and Contemporary Thought at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. The seminar is titled "What does it mean to say, 'I am spiritual but not religious'?" Details are at "Didier Seminar."

Social justice workshop

planned April 23 at Westminster

Andrew Kang Bartlett, associate for hunger concerns of the Presbyterian Hunger Program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will present a workshop Saturday, April 23, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. The workshop, titled "Food Justice in an Age of #BlackLivesMatter & Climate Change: Open Mind, Warm Heart, Willing Hands," runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details are at "Food Justice."

Prayer requests ...

Prayers are requested for the Rev. Laurene Lafontaine, pastor at Community Presbyterian Church in Rochester, who will undergo surgery April 4 and faces a four-week recovery period.

Conferences, resources

Resources made available

for Earth Day celebration

Earth Day 2016 Earth Day is celebrated April 22 each year and Presbyterian churches are encouraged to celebrate Earth Day Sunday near this date or to celebrate worship at some point with a theme of creation. Creation Justice Ministries (formerly the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program) produces Earth Day Sunday resources each year. The resources include sermon starters, prayers, Christian education suggestions, action tips and more. All the information can be found at "Earth Day."

Enneagram workshop dates

change, still in May

A follow-on workshop to last fall's introduction to Enneagram, an ancient system that combines psychology and spirituality for the purpose of personal transformation, is now planned May 20-21 at Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Led by the Rev. Phil GebbenGreen, who was trained by the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Institute, will facilitate the workshop. GebbenGreen is pastor of Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church of St. Paul. Details are at "Enneagram."

Summer Pastors School runs

in early June at Hastings College

Summer Pastors School, a program of the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation, runs June 5-11 at Hastings (Neb.) College. Speakers include Thomas G. Long, Bandy professor of preaching at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta; James Ayers, renewal pastor at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kan., and professor at Fuller Seminary in Houston; Nancy Ramsay, professor of pastoral theology and pastoral care at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas; and Mark Sundby, executive director of North Central Ministry Development Center in New Brighton, Minn. Early bird registration runs through April 20. Details are at "Summer Pastors School."

Synod PW posts registration

booklet for summer gathering

Presbyterian Women logo The registration booklet for the Gatheringof Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies is posted on the synod's website. The booklet provides detailed information about the Gathering that takes place June 15-18 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The booklet is at "Program and Registration Form."

Leadership Connection plans

face-to-face at General Assembly

The Church Leadership Connection of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the call system of the denomination, will bring together call seekers and representatives of congregations and other calling organizations during the 222nd General Assembly this summer in Portland, Ore. Training will include vocational coaching, one-on-one PIF reviews, guidance on writing effective PIFs, PNC training, and a panel discussion with mid-council leaders. Additional Information is at "Leadership Connection."

Outlook offers 10-for-10

subscription rate for GA

The Presbyterian Outlook, an independent magazine that covers the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is making a special subscription offer for its coverage of this summer's General Assembly. The offer is 10 issues of the print and digital issues of The Outlook for $9.95. The 10 issues will include content not available for free online, and offer a summary of the actions taken at the Assembly. The content also provides the information that will enable readers to interpret Assembly actions to others. The offer details are at "Outlook Offer."

Each year, on a Sunday during Lent, Presbyterians across the country take time to celebrate Self-Development of People, a ministry of One Great Hour of Sharing. Now in its 46th year, SDOP focuses on poor, oppressed and disadvantaged people by establishing partnerships with low-income community groups domestically and around the world. Since the ministry began in 1970, SDOP has provided support to more than 5,600 community projects in 67 countries. Working with its national committee, 25 presbytery and three synod committees, SDOP provides grants to communities struggling with social justice and economic issues. March 13 has been designated as SDOP Sunday this year and church leaders are hoping congregations will take note. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "SDOP."

https://www.pcusa.org/news/2016/2/16/presbyterian-churches-commemorate-sdop-sunday-marc/

Synod School catalog published, distributed, placed on website

The Synod School 2016 catalog has been published, been placed in the mail, and been posted on the Synod of Lakes and Prairies website. The website also includes all the details and forms necessary to register. Registration opened this week. John Bell, the world renowned lecturer, preacher and teacher will be this summer's convocations peaker. Bell is a member of the Wild Goose Resource Group, an autonomous project of the Iona Community. The synod's annual week-long summer ministry runs July 24-29 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Each year about 600 people participate in the courses, worship, fellowship, fun and relaxation. Details are at "Synod School."

http://www.lakesandprairies.org/SynodSchool

United Seminary's art exhibitions continue to April

How are faith communities establishing their convictions and response to the Black Lives Matter movement? And what about the women who are caught up in violent policing tactics? The Center for Arts, Faith & Culture at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is partnering with Intermedia Arts and Obsidian Arts to present two complementary, juried exhibitions - "Faith [In]Action" and "Hands Up Don't Shoot -- HER." Art forms include paintings, photography, digital and paper collage, video, poetry, music, digital printing on fabric, embellished art-wear, sculpture and more. The exhibits run Jan. 28 through April 16. Details are at "Art Exhibits."

http://www.unitedseminary.edu/initiatives/center-arts-faith-culture/in-the-gallery/

Summer Pastors School runs in early June at Hastings College

http://omahapresbyterianseminaryfoundation.org/2016-Summer-Pastors'-School.html

PC(USA) offers resources for designing church website

In this day and age it is extremely important to have a presence online. However, just having a website isn't always enough. The website's layout and content play a huge role in its effectiveness. Among the vital statistics: 85 percent of users leave websites due to poor design, 40 percent never return because the content was hard to find, 83 percent of users leave because there were too many clicks to find what they wanted, and 75 percent of visitors admit to making judgments about a company's credibility based on their website's design. More details are available at "Website Design."

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/communicate/news/

Youth ministry is topic of current Presbyterians Today issue

"It was a hot August night, and Atlanta's Buckhead Theatre had been reserved for a special gala to honor 15 remarkable teenagers. With the help of GivingPoint, a leading youth philanthropy organization, these youth had launched nonprofit organizations that were addressing significant social problems such as homelessness, teen pregnancy, poverty, and inadequate education." That's the way the lead story by Chanon Ross opens in the current edition of Presbyterians Today. The magazine's March/April theme is youth ministry. The complete story, along with other stories from the current issue, can be found at "Youth Ministry Guide."

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/today/

Workshops announced for 2016 Advocacy Training Weekend

The PC(USA) Office of Public Witness has released workshop titles and descriptions for Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day, held annually in Washington, D.C. The 2016 training date is Friday, April 15. Attending Presbyterians can then join the larger ecumenical community for the next two days in plenaries, worship and discussion as part of Ecumenical Advocacy Days, which brings together more than a 1,000 people within the Christian community for its annual national gathering. The event culminates Monday, April 18, when attendees can lobby their local congressmen on important social justice issues. The complete story can be found at "Advocacy Training."

https://www.pcusa.org/news/2016/2/19/workshops-announced-2016-compassion-peace-and-just/

Conference plannedon bi-vocational ministry

Titled "Bi-Vocational Ministry in the 21st Century," a conference slated April 15-16 at Saint Simons Island in Georgia will offer information important to those serving or seeking to serve in a bi-vocational ministry context as well as others who work with ministers who serve in such contexts. The Rev. Dr. Robert Grove-Markwood, right, director of the BTS Center, mission successor to Bangor Theological Seminary, will be the keynote speaker. A complete brochure can be found at "Serving in the 21st Century."

News of the wider church

United Protestant Church in Belgium responds: 'I am not afraid'

The Rev. Steven H. Fuite, president of the Synod Council of the United Protestant Church in Belgium, wrote a column in response to the deadly bombings that took place March 22 in Brussels. The column, which appeared in a blog of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, opened, "I am not afraid. It is March 22 in the afternoon. Still saddened and confused by the events that took place this morning I sit at my desk in Brussels which has become a surrealistic city. Until noon the city was filled with the sound of sirens from ambulances, fire engines and police. Now it has sunken into stunning silence, interrupted only by a few helicopters crossing the skies of the Belgian capital." The complete column can be found at "I Am Not Afraid."

CUIC, OGA video explores

race, the church

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of the General Assembly has partnered with Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) to produce a video on race. Through the lens of the Michael Brown killing in Ferguson, Mo., "Race and the Church: A New Call" explores how CUIC member churches, including the PC(USA), are responding to the current racial climate in the United States, and challenges them to look outside themselves as they work for justice in the future. The complete story and video from the Presbyterian News Service can be found at "Race and The Church."

Partners in Pakistan send updates

following deadly Lahore bombing

A Sunday afternoon blast ripped through a crowded park in Lahore, Pakistan, killing at least 70 and Pray for Pakistan

wounding more than 300 people. Pakistani Taliban splinter group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that it says targeted Christians celebrating Easter at the amusement park, although most of those killed, including 29 children, were Muslim. Veda Gill, executive director of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) partner, the Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan, sent a note to friends and supporters of the organization earlier this week. "We celebrated Easter with a sunrise service and then a worship service at 10:30 a.m.," she said. "The churches were all jam packed. The State provided us with police security. We were all so thankful to God for His safety ... until it was 6:30 p.m." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Lahore."

PC(USA) stated clerk calls

for repeal of North Carolina law

Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), called for the repeal of a North Carolina law that bans people from using bathrooms that don't match the sex indicated on their birth certificate. Parsons wrote, "Since 1977 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church has advocated for just treatment of LGBT persons in regard to their civil liberties, equal rights, and protections under the law from social and economic discrimination that is due all citizens (Minutes, PCUS, 1977, Part I, p. 174). Therefore, we applaud Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia on his veto of Georgia House Bill 757, which would have caused discrimination against LGBT persons. Governor Deal said, 'I do not think we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia, of which I and my family have been a part of for all of our lives.'" The complete text of Parsons' letter can be found at "Discriminatory Law."

Mission Agency releases

unaudited 2015 financials

The Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) released its unaudited 2015 financial statement this week, reporting a $3.4 million surplus on combined income minus expenses. Total giving income from congregations, presbyteries and individuals was $36.6 million, which is 3.3 percent over expectations. Direct mission support, primarily earmarked for mission co-worker support, was $4.2 million, 12.6 percent over the 2015 estimate. Expenses for the Mission Agency came in at $68.8 million, 10.2 percent less than budgeted 2015 spending, providing the $3.4 million surplus of income minus expenses. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Financials."

UN Presbyterian ministry addresses Commission on Status of Women

For the second year in a row, a representative from the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations was granted the opportunity to speak to the Commission on the Status of Women. Ryan Smith, Presbyterian representative at the United Nations, read a statement on behalf of the church on the importance of education linked to sustainable development. "For 177 years, the Presbyterian Church has served as one of the greatest forces for education in the world, helping hundreds of thousands of children learn to read and write as well as think critically," he said. "Our church's core belief is that every child is created in the image of God, motivating our early mission workers to reach out to new communities with the offer of a quality education." The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Education."