Office of the General Assembly
by Cynthia Bolbach
Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010)

LOUISVILLE — “I’m just an elder.”

Have you heard someone say that? Have you said it yourself? Maybe in response to being asked to lead worship, or preach, or visit someone in the hospital?

“No,” you reply, “I couldn’t do that. I’m just an elder. Those are things the pastor does.”

Our Presbyterian polity doesn’t recognize the statement, “I’m just an elder.” In our polity, ruling elders and teaching elders (also known as Ministers of the Word and Sacrament) share equally in the governance and spiritual leadership of the church. Our calls to ministry encompass different functions and tasks, but we are called equally to ministry and to leadership in the church.

For too long the ministry of ruling elder has been diminished, equated with serving on a non-profit board of directors. Yes, the session does perform tasks like hiring nursery attendants and deciding whether the amount of insurance coverage is adequate. But that is not the primary task of the session or of the ruling elders who serve on it.

Ruling elders have the awesome task of measuring our community of faith’s fidelity to the Word of God. As the proposed new Form of Government puts it, “Ruling elders, together with teaching elders, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships” (G-2.0301).

There’s no “just” anywhere in that sentence.

Being a ruling elder is not easy. But we are not in this alone. Others are there to guide us as we seek to carry out our high calling.

From June 30–July 2, Presbyterians will gather in Indianapolis for the “Big Tent.” A significant component of the Big Tent will be the Elders Conference – a chance for all of us who are ruling elders to come together, share common thoughts and concerns, learn how to be better ruling elders, and, not least, to discover the “top ten things elders need to know.” Really, how can you stay away?

Visit the Big Tent website to register. I look forward to seeing with you there!

So here we are thinking about back to school and gearing up all the local church programs.  And so it is at the presbytery level as well.

The next several weeks include meetings of:

• the Mission Grants Allocation Committee reviewing and recommending all the projects submitted for 2010 funding;
• All Things Green, on August 13, looking at pursuing a green strategy for Winnebago Presbytery;
• the Global Partnership Task Group working on  plans for the early October visit of International Peacemaker, the Rev. Diego Higuita, from Colombia;
• the  Camp Task Group preparing for the the October 28-31 Presbytery-wide youth event;
• the Finance Committee taking a first look at presbytery budget requests for next year;
• the  Council in preparation for the September 15 Presbytery meeting in Wabeno;
• the Transitional/ Directional Task Force of Council continuing to look at the future course of the Presbytery;
• the Committees on Ministry and Preparation for Ministry continuing their work with the clergy, lay pastors, congregations, and seminarians.

Already scheduled for September:

• September 12 – Barbara Anne Keely is the featured presenter at a joint Presbytery/Northeast Association UCC Christian education event in Oshkosh designed for teachers, committee members, pastors and educators.   More information.
• September 15 – Presbytery Meeting at First Church, Wabeno.  The theme is “accessibility.”
• September 20-21 – Winnebago and Milwaukee Presbyteries are sponsoring a joint Christian Educator Retreat at Green Lake Conference Center.  More details coming soon.

WOW!  We’re busy, and none of this would happen without the wonderful folks from our 40 congregations who volunteer!  Thanks for ALL you do!

The theme of the meeting was integrating technology into the life of the congregation.  The meeting was held in the newly renovated fellowship hall which, in addition to many physical improvements, is wifi accessible.

Elder Jess Wakefield of Covenant Community Church in Schofield was recognized for completing his lay pastor training and was certified as a Trained Lay Pastor in the presbytery.

Upon return from the Women’s Lambing weekend at the Heifer Ranch in Arkansas, five of the participants shared pictures and stories of their time together.  They presented to the staff a token of their appreciation – pictured below – which now hangs in the presbytery office.

By Dave Root – First Presbyterian Church, Marshfield

The first two weeks in November, my Son in Law, Kevin Mitchell, and I made another disaster relief trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to assist Katrina victims. As a point of comparison, this was my 7 th trip to the area, the first being three weeks after the storm hit. You can see a difference now as people are trying to put their lives and living conditions back in order.

From my viewpoint, the biggest difference is being made by the faith-based volunteers that continue to provide assistance. Not least among these efforts is the Presbyterian Church( USA) which has committed to years of continuing the rebuilding process. Presbyterian Churches along the coast continue to host and house volunteers that come from everywhere. These congregations demonstrate the patience that God calls us to, in putting up with itinerants that use their facilities, sometimes not always in the way desired.Presbyterians can be very proud of the “Christ-like” atmosphere that is apparent in the region.

Kevin and I joined with a team from the Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church located in Columbia , Maryland . We numbered about 10 in all and with various skills ranging from professional builders to rank armatures. Some of the team had medical backgrounds and volunteered at the free clinic that is established in the area. The Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport was our host.

The effort has changed from repairing existing homes to building new homes. We worked on two homes that were very near completion. One of these was completed to the point that we participated in a “key ceremony ” on our last Friday. This was gratifying as with other trips we didn’t get to witness a completion. The lady occupying the new home was brought to tears as she thanked us and described the hopeless situation she faced after the storm.

The Presbyterian motto for the relief effort is “out of chaos, hope”. It is comforting to know that in Christ’s name we can provide this hope. The work is far from being complete and we must continue to concentrate on being the hope for these unfortunate victims.

September 29, 2008
Peace Passing All Understanding

by Jerry L. Van Marter
Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — The threat — and reality — of violence lurks just beneath the surface calm of Antioquia, Colombia, says the Rev. Diego Higuita-Arango, a Presbyterian pastor in the mountainous agricultural village where he serves.

“Right now is an apparent calm — the violence is more psychological than physical,” Higuita told the Presbyterian News Service in a Sept. 25 interview during a break in the orientation of a dozen International Peacemakers who are preparing to itinerate in Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations for the next month under the auspices of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

“Those who perpetrated the violence are still there,” Higuita says of the protracted conflict that has pitted pro-government paramilitaries against guerilla forces with Colombian peasants and church people caught in the crossfire, “but most of them are fatigued and looking for a change. Some combatants have fled, but are still luring. International pressure has helped. Strategies have changed. The killings are more selective these days.”

In such a situation, “it’s hard to be the church,” Higuita says, noting that he is “afraid for my life all the time.” Colombia remains polarized, these days into pro- and anti-Uribe (Colombia’s president). “Both sides want to force you to choose and everyone is caught in the middle,” he says.

The challenges for the war-torn country and the church are many, Higuita says. “We must reconstruct the social web of our community after so many years of war,” he says. “Our children need education and a sense of security. There is also much diaconal service, because lots of families have lost everything. Many are displaced.”

The fabric of communities like Antioquia has been so torn apart by the decades of violence that “creating a dynamic peace” is very difficult, Higuita says. “How does the church create a community that understands the importance of faith?” he queries.

When people are assailed on all sides, he adds, “We in the Presbyterian Church of Colombia understand ourselves to be in relationship — with God, with the environment and with each other. This sense of dynamic ‘being’ includes all and our general objective as a church is to uplift the human rights of each person.”

Higuita’s itineration as an International Peacemaker will include visits to the presbyteries of Chicago, Winnebago, Hudson River and Salem. His message to the U.S. Presbyterians he will meet:
“Apart from all the bad things, God is all-powerful and will bring peace to God’s world.”

 

Carl Mazza
Bill Teng
Roger Shoemaker
Bruce Reyes-Chow

The commissioners from Winnebago Presbytery are:

CLP Jess Wakefield
Elder Kay Smith
Rev. Richard Moore
Rev. Susan Phillips

Youth Advisory Delegate Meghan Keller

Information about GA will be available here and during the assembly it will be available on the pcusa.org site.

The morning continued with reports from Finance, Personnel, Committee on Preparation for Ministry and the Resource and Program Coordinating Team.

FINANCE

In 2007, the Presbytery ended the year with a $13,364 deficit. However, the projected deficit for 2007 was $42,049 so all in all, a positive outcome. Per Capita was paid at 100% (THANK YOU) and mission pledges came in at $214,485 – a full $4000 more than budgeted (THANK YOU AGAIN).

As planning begins for 2009 it is likely that there will be a $1 increase in Presbytery per capita and a request for a 3% increase in mission giving.

RESOURCE AND PROGRAM

The Global Partnership Task Group announced a trip to our partner Presbytery in Colombia in late summer (August) or later in the fall to jointly explore and study environmental and human rights issues. The cost is estimated at $300/person with participating churches adding $200. Global Partnership will subsidize the rest. People interested in going should contact the Presbytery office no later than April 1, 2008.

The Mission Grants Task Group helped us kick off a year of Mission. Mission 2008 is the theme for Presbytery meetings this year and each meeting will highlight the many areas of mission we support. A CD with a brief presentation on the 2008 Local Mission Grants was shown and distributed to every church. The presentation can be seen here. (It is large and takes a few minutes to download.)

Elder Rosangela Berbert (First Presbyterian – Oshkosh), Coordinator of Project Open Door, a counseling service to under-insured youth, gave a presentation on behalf of the Samaritan Center. Winnebago Presbytery has financially supported both the Samaritan Center and more recently, Project Open Door.

The meeting broke for a wonderful lunch of lasagna, warm bread, tasty salads and fabulous desserts. A big thanks to the many hands that went into providing, preparing (and cleaning up) lunch!

Elder Anne Dropp gave a Synod School preview. Winnebago Presbytery will be offering scholarships to between 25 and 30 individuals to attend Synod School beginning July 27th at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake Iowa. A presentation about Synod School can be found here. Brochures for publicity can be found here. Registration and class catalogs will be available soon.

COUNCIL

Barbara Jordanger recognized The Rev. Chuck Valenti-Hein with a word of thanks and a small gift on behalf of the Council for his twelve consecutive years of service!

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY 

The Committee on Ministry report included a welcome to The Rev. Bob Goebel who will begin his new pastorate at Athelstane and Wausaukee on March 1.

The day ended with the installation of new officers. For 2008, the Rev. Tom Willadsen is the Moderator and Commissioned Lay Pastor, Dennis Mannering is the Vice Moderator.

Picture from the day can be found here.

                                         

Congratulations to Roy and Jean Peterson who both achieved the 50 year mark in 2007!

Twenty-one other members were recognized for the 50+ years they have been a part of the life and ministry of Pioneer Church in northeast Wisconsin.  They are:

52 years:  Avis Nelson, Marlene England, Lois Hawk
53 years:  Ida Moraga
55 years:  Betty Messenger
56 years:  Pat Panosky
57 years:  Bea Goss, Jean Twining
58 years:  Henrietta Stepniak, Mary Jane Malmstadt, Patricia Pottratz
59 years:  Alice Whitford
60 years:  Art Nelson
61 years:  Henrietta Leason
63 years:  Jim England
64 years:  Curt Amundsen, Jean Eggener
71 years:  Carol LaCombe
74 years:  Morris Mundt
76 years:  Jim Whitford
84 years:  Ruth Mars

Well done, good and faithful servants!

 Greetings to you. First I want to extend a note of thanks to the Scholarship Committee for the gift that allowed me to attend this wonderful conference on behalf of the Presbytery.

 The conference was held August 29-31, 2007 in Nashville, TN. Almost 300 elders from across the country and Canada were in attendance at this first National Elders Conference. The short time that we spent in Nashville was jam packed with information, fellowship, learning, and worship. Our time together started Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 with these memorable words from Gradye Parsons, “We want to create a bunch of dangerous elders, elders who know what the ministry of being an elder is about and want to claim that ministry for their own.” These words set the tone for the next two days.

 Our first of five plenary sessions was “Elder as Worship Leader” led by Melva Costen and Rhashell Hunter. The book of order gives a complete discription of what we as elders are called to be about as worship leaders. Just a few of which are to lead the body of Christ in prayer, celebrating the sacraments, and music. We are to get up from the body of Christ to speak the word of Christ. One point that they made that sticks with is “We live as we worship.”

 The second session was “Elders and Mission” led by Corey Schlosser-Hall. Corey gave many examples of what churches in the greater Seattle area are doing to reach out to their communities. Corey also said the we should remember to love God, and love our neighbor, Go, and guide. He encouraged us to read the book of Acts, which I am working on little by little. He finished with these words, “Wake up, pay attention, and go,” reminding us that the “sending” which ends our worship services is the beginning of what we are to continue in our communities, both near and far.

 Our third session was “Elders and prayer and spiritual life” led by Ann Weems. Ann reminded us that our call as elders is to pray. (I have to deviate from our Nashville trip here to tell you a story about a recent mission trip I went on to Puerto Rico. One of the churchs we worshiped at had the elders stand at the front of the church and pray for individuals that needed prayer. This was done during the “prayers of the people” or “pastoral prayer.” It was an amazing thing to witness.) The reason for this story is I believe this is what Ann’s message to us was.

The fourth session was “Elder as biblical teacher” led by Valerie Small, who was reading for Freda Gardner. Unfortunately Freda had a family emergency and couldn’t make the conference. Her message was about elders leading bible studies. In her talk Freda said that good teachers “create a space where truth can be known.”

Our fifth and final session was “Elder as Leader” led by William Winter. As elders we are called to be leaders in the church. However, we are not called to play God, but to follow God. I have to be honest, I was so engrossed with what he was saying I had a hard time taking any notes. The line above was one of many that stuck out. But the only one I took the time to write down. I didn’t want to miss anything.

We also had two “break-out” sessions that we could attend. I chose to go to “Bridging Generations in the Church” and “Reclaiming the Call.” In the first workshop, Rachel Pederson, gave us great resources for furthur study. Two of the major points that Rachel highlighted were to identify the needs (and possible challenges) and identify the gifts of all the members of the membership.

In the second workshop, Ann Weems, spoke on the call of elders. The call to serve as an Elder is sacred and we need to work on reclaiming that call. Once again, I became so engrossed with what she was saying, that I failed to take any semblance of what could be called notes. A few phrases that popped out to me were, “We are a community, we can’t be spiritual by ourselves.” “Jesus is the true vine…we are the branches.” And “Beware of mistaking church work for being disciples.”

We also celebrated worship three times during our time together. The services Wednesday and Thursday evenings were held at the Downtown Presbyterian Church, which was a short 1.5 block walk away in good weather. Wednesday evening we were called to remember our baptisms, and we were reminded as we left the church to head back the the hotel, that God indeed has a sense of humor. During the service we went forward in pairs and dipped our hands in a bowl of water, as we left the church it was pouring rain and the majority of us hadn’t brought any kind of rain gear. So as we tried to walk back to the church we got “baptised” again.

Thursday evening our speaker was Joan Gray, Moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006). We also had a choir of volunteers from the conference. The choir was lead by Melva Costen and was comprised of about 40 conference attendees.

Our Friday service was held at the conference center and was lead by Eric Hoey. There was also a group of outstanding youth that lead us in music. They go by the name SLAMM Band (Students Learning about Music and Ministry.) The youth were between the ages of 13 and 16, and I have to tell you they were amazing!

Friends, I could go on for pages about this conference. I am honored that I was able to attend this very first Elders conference and hope that there will be more in the future. I urge you to jump at the chance to attend future conferences like this. I came back with a renewed longing to do the work for which I was called. And I think that others who attended feel the same way.

Once again, I urge you to read the Book of Order starting with section G-6.0301 regarding what it says about Elders.

 I’ll end with the theme of our conference. “Elders rule…when they serve.” 

Grace and peace to you, Jessica Harrison, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Winneconne