• May 18, 2013 - Sault Ste. Marie
   

• September 20-21 (Retreat) Presbytery Point Camp

  

  

Click on links below to read newsletters from some of our congregation that send their publications to the presbytery office electronically. (If your church newsletter is not linked here, contact the presbytery office to ask how you may be included)

  

Alpena

Bellaire 

Beulah 

Big Bay

Escanaba 
Florence 

Gaylord

Harbor Springs

Houghton

Marquette 

Petoskey

Rogers City 

Sault Ste. Marie

 

 

Sometimes the best solution to a problem is in your back yard.

So it is with the Alpena Free Clinic, which has been addressing the health needs of the community now for five years. 

With all the debate over the Affordable Health Care Act, Obamacare, or whatever you want to call it - to view a health care program at work that addresses the needs of everyone, the Alpena Free Clinic is it. 

Started by Rev. Steve Hammond in 2008, the clinic has provided medical care to over 2,200 patients since its doors first opened. Open two days each week, the clinic handles a wide assortment of cases. Today 10 doctors, four physician's assistants and 16 nurses volunteer their services at the clinic. A number of other volunteers handle other functions there as well. 

Hammond, who also is a physician assistant, might be viewed as a holistic renaissance man. By day he addresses the spiritual needs of his congregation, while at night he meets the physical needs of the community. 

As the rest of the country struggles with making health care accessible to all, in Alpena the seeds of the eventual solution were sown years ago. 

 

There are no plans to expand the clinic, but Hammond said they sometimes open on different nights if they start to become too full.

The clinic is funded by a grant through Blue Cross Blue Shield, the VFW, and donations. Contributions are always welcomed to help with clinic expenses.

When it first opened, the medical director was Dr. Henry Stibitz; the current director is Dr. David French.

"Most of the doctors we have here at the clinic come from other clinics," Hammond said. "Most all of the volunteers have a day job."

Hammond said when the clinic first started, it had three charts on file, now after five years, it has 2,214 charts on file.

"The age group we generally serve is 19-64 year olds, because they are in between medical insurance or help," Hammond said. "Based on the numbers, we're pretty convinced the need is there."

 

How are we doing and how are we doing it?

Council members in attendance at the April 15, 2013 meeting discussed the fact that Council Teams are assuming greater responsibility for doing the work of Presbytery.  We had a very good discussion sorting through where we are and where we need to go.  It was noted that a lot of work has been accomplished.

Several members commented positively on the progress made, the quality of interaction and that we actually had fun as we worked.  You will see testimony to work "accomplished," at the Presbytery meeting through written and verbal reports.  Bottom line is we are doing well.

Activity of Council Leadership:

The Council Moderator, Presbytery Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk and Chair of the Leadership Team have been working via telephone conference calls.  We outlined plans to be presented to Council and Presbytery.  The Leadership Team recognizes that we have greater responsibility to lead.  We commit to continue to work together between meeting times to help plan the meeting and take care of business.  We are also available to meet with teams at their requests.

What's Happening with Presbyter Vacancy?

Council has called a special meeting of Council to discuss options.  We have asked Synod Executive, Raafat Zaki, to meet with us to help us discern what our priorities are and our options for meeting those needs.  Stay tuned.

Take away from last Presbytery Meeting:

The most significant is the need to stay focused on how we will proceed proactively in response to the challenges from Eric Hoey.  We need to focus on our part in meeting the goal of "1001 new churches."  Some of this helped influence our committee structure as will be reflected in our "restructuring." recommendations.

Status of Synod Review:

The Synod Review Team met with the Personnel Team, Lindy Bearss, Kay Morrill and me on April 27.  The team met with the Personnel Team as a group and teams of two with Lindy, Kay, and me separately.  They followed up with Scott White by phone.

Those of us who met on the 27^th felt the Synod Team was very professional, friendly and engaging.  They listened attentively and took detailed notes.  They have others to meet with and must compile their report with recommendations.  We will have an opportunity to review and have input before the report is submitted to the full Synod.  Once Synod approves, it will be sent to Presbytery.

Those participating on behalf of Presbytery are actually expecting good things.

Status of Teams Working on Recommendations to Help the Body Avoid and Deal with Conflicts:

The team of Ruling Elder Marilyn Kelly, Teaching Elder Al Valentine, and Teaching Elder Robert Faulman has been developing guidelines for Presbyterians during times of disagreement.  A preliminary proposal has been drafted.  However, they have not been able to sit down together.  Pastor Faulman was away for a time.  Pastor Valentine is currently on study leave.

Ruling Elder Don Mead, Ruling Elder Florence Morrison, and Ruling Elder Kay Morrill (Clerk of the Presbytery) have been working on their task which is to "create an understanding of accountability within relationship and the pathways of accountability.  The Team has completed a draft which has been shared via email with Council Members.

The "Pastoral Task Force" of Commissioned Ruling Elder Don Myers, Teaching Elder David Henderson and Teaching Elder Robert Lueck has been in email contact with each other and has sought some additional more specific input on their task.  They will now be moving ahead.

As Moderator of Council, I have offered to meet with the teams as the need arises.

Respectfully submitted, 

Ken Visser, Moderator of Council