• Equip and encourage leaders and churches in living their call,
• Nourish and build spiritually and emotionally healthy congregations,
• Nurture, challenge and support disciples to be Christ in the world.

In order to equip, nourish and nurture, we each must continue to be equipped, nourished and nurtured.  Understanding this, six and a half years ago Debbie Rundlett was called to serve as our General Presbyter.  We understand her presence in our life as a gift.  She has led with faith, wisdom, passion and compassion.  We have all experienced this through pastor cohorts, leadership training events, transitional support, conflict support and in her ability to weave us into a strong network of relating churches and individuals.  We know of her deep, deep desire for her own personal growth directed, in the end, to equipping, nourishing and nurturing us.

To this end, Debbie has stated her desire to "trade in" her Sabbatical to do post graduate work in positive organizational development at Case Western University.  Case is internationally recognized for their work in community transformation.  The 14-month program educates and develops leaders in the creation of sustainable structures which contribute to both individual and community well-being. 

To do this, she needs our support: both participatory and financial.  On the participatory end, she is asking us to prayerfully consider taking part in either hosting an Appreciative Inquiry Summit, participating in a cohort, or "testing" the materials she develops in your congregational setting.  She will provide greater detail on this need at the September meeting.

The greatest challenging obstacle to Debbie participating in this program is funding.  The tuition totals $69,000, plus travel and immersion expenses.  Case has provided a tuition grant of $20,000.  Debbie will personally contribute $18,500, as well as her continuing education moneys for 2013 and 2014. The Total Living Center and a presbytery leader, getting a sense that something special is in the making, have already pledged $500.00 each! First United Presbyterian Church in Alliance has pledged $6,000!  Each member of the Presbytery Council has made a personal pledge of support, the total of which is yet tallied.

We believe this is a good and worthy direction for Debbie and for the Muskingum Valley Presbytery.  The reality is that we still need to raise approximately $18,500 to fund the venture, and we pray you and your congregation will consider a mission gift to make it all happen.  Some churches will be able to forward $100, others $500, and others $1,000.  Together, we can continue to equip, nourish and nurture, Debbie, one another...and the world in the faith and new life Jesus has to offer each of us.

We ask you to take this request to your Session, prayerfully consider the wonder, growth and future that might be born through it, and respond generously.  May the Lord bless you and keep us as, together, we work out the future God has in store for us.

In Christ,

Dave de Vries

Chair, Council