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Emerge Logo Little
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.
June 3, 2016
  
Presbytery news  
 
Committee members sought
for presbytery committees
Openings still exist on many presbytery committees. There are openings on the Board of Trustees, Presbytery Logo Committee on Ethics, Nominating Committee, Mission and Witness Committee, and Committee on Ministry (ruling elders). Those interested in filling a vacancy, or those who would like to nominate someone, are asked to contact Manley Olson, chair of the Nominating Committee, at 651.644.2848 or manleyolson@gmail.com.

Jeff's Jottings
Writing that makes you think
Jeff Japinga
By Jeff Japinga
Transitional Executive Presbyter

Being in Korea was awesome! Thanks to so many of you for your well-wishes and your prayers. There is much we here in the U.S. could learn from our Presbyterian sisters and brothers in the Korean church.
 
But that's a Jottings for another day, acknowledging the primacy of overdue responsibilities after being gone. Today, I'll let Cary Nieuwhof do Jottings. Nieuwhof is a Canadian pastor with a blog and a self-described "passion for helping other leaders lead like never before." Sometimes I think he's right on; other times he makes me a little crazy. But he always, always makes me think.
 
This week's offering is on disruptive trends and the church. See how it strikes you. And if you have a chance, send me a link to a writer who challenges you. Blessings.
Activities in presbytery   
 
Andrew Riverside sets
'Courageous Storytelling'
Andrew Riverside Presbyterian Church begins its biweekly summer series, "Living Deeply and Seeking Meaning," Saturday, June 11, with "Courageous Storytelling." Naomi Schwenke, director of StoryCourage StoryCourage, will lead the first session, beginning at 6 p.m. The summer series, which takes place the second and fourth Saturday of each month through August, brings together "a diverse group of people with the desire to discuss living a meaningful life over a shared meal." Additional information about biweekly summer series is at "Storytelling."
 
Kids Camp at Spirit
of Life scheduled June 20-24
Spirit of Life Apple Valley It's not too late to plan for a camp experience for your youngsters this summer. Children in Apple Valley and the surrounding area can enjoy the fun of camping and still go home at night if they attend Kids Camp at Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church. The week-long camp runs June 20-24 from 9 a.m. to noon for preschoolers and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children who have completed kindergarten through 5th grade. The complete story is at "Kids Camp."
Service opportunities ...  

 

First Presbyterian Church of Belle Plaine has an opening for a �-time pastor that it hopes to fill by July 1. Belle Plaine is a vibrant community of about 6,600 people located 45 minutes southwest of the metro area on Highway 169. Details are at "Belle Plaine Pastor."

 

Presbyterian Church of the Apostles in Burnsville is seeking a part-time transitional pastor -- 4/5th time -- to lead the congregation as it works to discern and move forward into the future. The congregation enters its 51st year in 2016 and is a progressive church with a long history of practicing compassionate justice through apostle groups at work in its community and beyond. Details are at "Transitional Pastor."

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

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."

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."
Conferences, resources 

 

'Practical Presbyterian Leadership Training' offered in August

Office of General Assembly A two-day leadership training seminar is planned this summer in Des Moines for presbytery leaders. Called "Practical Presbytery Leadership Training: Teamwork for Changing Times," the training event is designed to benefit teams of people working together in leadership. The session's brochure notes, "There is no limit to the number of people who can attend from one presbytery, but presbyteries are encouraged not to send only one person. This is training for a team, not an individual." The workshop runs Aug. 26-27, from 1 p.m. Friday through 4:30 p.m. Saturday, at Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. Sponsored by the Office of the General Assembly, the brochure can be found at "Practical Leadership." A Presbyterian News Service story about the training is at "Training Event."

 

Synod supports emerging

mission with grant program

synod Part of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies' support for emerging mission within the synod is through grants. For the grant program, the synod gives priority to proposals that support leadership development, congregational vitality and/or mission, or communication. Top priority is given to efforts that further partnerships with the synod or with other presbyteries within the bounds of the synod. Details about the program and grant application forms can be found at "Emerging Mission."

 

'Six New Things' highlights

Real Good Church summer church renewal

The weekly blog of the Resource Center for Churches titled "Six New Things" can be found through its Facebook page and through the Center's website under "Posts." The latest blog highlights "Real Good Church," a practice for summer church renewal.


 

Synod School: Now less

than 2 months away

2016 Synod School With the coming of June, Synod School is less than two months away. The annual midsummer ministry of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies runs July 24-29 on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. The annual summer event, which offers nearly 70 classes, involving worship, great speakers, and opportunities for fellowship and fun, routinely draws more than 550 participants. This summer John Bell, a minister of the Church of Scotland and renowned lecturer and preacher, will lead convocation. Burns Stanfield, a Presbyterian minister and musician (and longtime Synod School participant), will lead evening worship. Stephanie Anthony and Jody Branson will lead morning worship. Classes are filling up -- classes with waiting lists are noted on the synod's website -- but there is still time to register at "Synod School."

 

Presbyterian Women

in synod gather June 15-18

Presbyterian Women logo Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies gather in less than two weeks in Sioux Falls, S.D., for worship, fellowship and workshops. The gathering, which runs June 15-18, features Susan Jackson-Dowd, national executive director of Presbyterian Women, as its keynote speaker. Carolyn Visser of Monroe, S.D., a certified spiritual director and labyrinth facilitator in addition to being a retired Presbyterian minister, will lead worship. Stephanie Anthony, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hudson, Wis., will lead Bible study. Details and registration materials are at "Summer Gathering."

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

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."

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

 

Presbyterian Outlook offers
General Assembly resources

The 222nd General Assembly will be making important decisions about the future of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). How will we be Presbyterian Outlook Logo structured? What will be our shared vision? In addition, there will be debates and votes on overtures that have the potential to impact the world. The Presbyterian Outlook is offering bulletin inserts that provide summaries of what's coming before the Assembly. The front-and-back bulletin inserts -- and other resources -- produced by the award-winning staff of The Outlook can be found at "Coming to General Assembly."

 

Saperstein blogs about important

issues facing commissioners at GA

Dan Saperstein From the future of synods, to non-geographic presbyteries, to the directory of worship, Daniel Saperstein, executive presbyter for the Presbytery of Lake Huron, is blogging about the top issues facing the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) when the church gathers this summer for its 222nd General Assembly. Saperstein wrote, "Over the next several posts I will be previewing what in my opinion are the 'top 10' items before the upcoming General Assembly. Like most top ten lists, the identification of items and their ranking are subjective. The list is based upon my own estimation of several factors: Newsworthiness: Does it carry broad and/or historic significance?, Controversy: Is it a 'hot-button' issue that generates passion on both sides?, Impact: What is the impact on the mission and governance of the church?" Saperstein's blog can be found at "Important Issues."

 

Committee tasks assigned, previewed

for upcoming General Assembly

The 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will take place June 18-25 in Portland, Ore., and there are many issues on the table. That's GA 222 Portland probably an understatement of substantial proportions. From the future of synods, to fossil-fuel divestment, to a new Directory for Worship, Assembly commissioners will be tasked with digesting and then voting on the numerous overtures and other business that will come before the Assembly. Below, by committee number, are introductions to stories published recently by the Presbyterian News Service.

 

Committee 3 looks at changes

in electing Assembly moderator

Changing the timing of the moderator election at General Assembly will be on the agenda of the Committee on General Assembly Procedures. The Presbytery of St. Andrews has proposed moving the election of the General Assembly moderator and vice moderator (or co-moderators) to the end of the meeting, rather than the beginning. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Moderator Election."

 

Committee 4 -- 'Way Forward

Committee' -- looks at OGA-PMA merger

After a two-year period of denominational soul-searching, the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is poised this June to consider dramatic changes to the ways the 1.66 million-member church conducts its ecclesial and mission work. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "The Way Forward."

 

Committee 5 addresses 8 overtures

concerning Mid Councils

The future of the 16 synods in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will once again be on the docket. The 221st General Assembly directed synods and presbyteries to collaborate on establishing a new configuration of synod boundaries that would reduce the number of synods from 16 to between 10 and 12. This year's Assembly Committee on Mid Councils will consider responses from synods and presbyteries to the 2014 action. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Mid Councils."

 

Committee 6 takes on church

polity, ordered ministry

Overtures on requiring evangelism training for teaching elders, inserting caring for God's creation as part of each congregation's ministry -- and a dozen other proposals -- await the Committee on Church Polity and Ordered Ministry. The Presbytery of Tampa Bay asserts that "practical training in evangelism (agile speaking and teaching concise truths about Jesus Christ as confessed in the Nicene Creed)" should be required of teaching elders seeking ordination. The 1001 New Worshiping Communities initiative, proponents argue, "can become reality if we are intentional about evangelism throughout all denominational organizations." The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Polity and More."

 

Committee 7 will propose

Confession of Belhar adoption

Among the business being considered by the Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations is the final adoption of the Confession of Belhar. Proposed by National Capital Presbytery to the 220th General Assembly, an overture for Belhar's inclusion in The Book of Confessions was affirmed by the required two-thirds, or 116, of presbyteries following the 221st General Assembly approval. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Belhar."

 

Committee 8 considers divestment,

2-state solution, child detention

Thorny issues involved in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East will be among the topics under consideration by the Committee on Middle East Issues. The committee will review progress on the denomination's divestment from three companies engaged in "non-peaceful pursuits" in Israel/Palestine. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Middle East."

 

Committee 9 takes on immigration,

mulls fossil fuel divestment

Competing overtures -- one seeking Presbyterian divestment from fossil fuel companies, the other placing that action on hold -- will headline the work of the Immigration and Environmental Issues Committee. The Presbytery of San Francisco has overtured the General Assembly to call upon the Board of Pensions and the Presbyterian Foundation to stop any new direct investment in fossil fuel companies and to work over the next three years not to own such assets. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Immigration and Environment."

 

Committee 10 will discuss

mission programs, policies

More than a dozen items will be debated by the Mission Coordination Committee. The committee receives overtures and reports on matters related to mission programs authorized by the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) vision and mission goals, "Organization for Mission and Presbyterian Mission Agency Manual of Operations," mission budget, audits, church-wide compensation, initiatives on church growth, and the 1001 Worshiping Communities program. The full Presbyterian News Service story is at "Mission."

 

Committee 12 looks at peacemaking, international issues

The denomination's role in helping build a bridge of reconciliation between the United States and South Korea regarding the Korean War tragedy in the village of No Gun Ri is the subject of one of seven overtures to be discussed by the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee. The Peacemaking and International Issues Committee will also hear an overture regarding the strengthening of Cuban-American relations, particularly in the faith community. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Peacemaking."

 

Committee 13 addresses

administrative functions

Confirming the election and reelection of the presidents of the denomination's loan program and publishing company are among the numerous items to be decided by Assembly Committee 13. The standing administrative committee for The Board of Pensions, Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and the Presbyterian Foundation will be called upon to confirm the election of James G. Rissler as president of the PILP to a four-year term. It will also be asked to confirm the reelection of Marc Lewis to a third, four-�year term as president and publisher of PPC. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Administrative Functions."

 

Committee 14 grapples

with new Directory for Worship

Twelve years in the making, the 222nd General Assembly is poised this June to adopt a new Directory for Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). First, the document (item 14-04) will be thoroughly reviewed by the Assembly Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions before it goes to the full Assembly for adoption and then on to the church's 172 presbyteries for ratification in the coming year. The full Presbyterian News Service story is at "Directory for Worship."