As many of you know, the ongoing voting in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) reached a critical mass yesterday when Twin Cities Area Presbytery became the 87th presbytery to vote in favor of Amendment 10-A.

During Winnebago Presbytery’s regular meeting yesterday there was discussion about what this means for congregations and presbyteries.  Several resources were mentioned and you can find links to all of the resources below including the four key points used to begin yesterday’s discussion.

Official PC (USA) press release and churchwide letter from the Stated Clerk, Executive Director, Moderator and Vice Moderator

Frequently Asked Questions – Amendment 10-A and ordination standards

Communication Guidelines for Working with the Media re: 10-A

4 Key Reflection Points (from May 10, 2011 Presbytery Meeting Discussion)

You may also find these comments made via YouTube videos useful as well:

Elder Cynthia Bolbach, Moderator of the General Assembly

The Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

We will continue to add resources as they become available.

It’s not to early to plan!  Rhashell Hunger, Director of Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW writes,

“March 8, 2009 is Celebrate the gifts of Women Sunday and International Women’s Day.  By action of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly (Orlando, 1993), Celebrate the Gifts of Women appears in the planning calendar each year.  Congregations and individuals are encouraged to celebrate this day each year, recognizing the gifts women bring to God, the Church and community.”

More resources for this event can be found here

The February Meeting of Winnebago Presbytery was held at Frame Memorial Church in Stevens Point. The day opened with a joyous worship service filled with music! The Frame choir sang, there were many congregational hymns and outgoing Moderator, Elder Barbara Jordanger preached on faith and music.

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.

Winnebago Presbytery met on November 10, 2007 at First United Presbyterian Church in DePere.

The 2008 Presbytery operating budget was adopted. Per Capita was set at $26.00per member based on membership reported as of December 31, 2006.   For those who want to learn more about the history of per capita, click here.Â

As congregations establish their Unified Mission budget, please consider the recommended percentagesof 26% for General Assembly, 21% for Synod, and 53% for Presbytery.  Winnebago Presbytery operates with a unified budget, which means that per capita and mission giving are combined income for the operating budget.  Per capita statements and mission pledge forms will be mailed to congregations in early December.

Other actions included election of Presbytery officers, Synod and General Assembly Commissioners. The Associate Executive Presbyter position was approved as a permanent position and the Rev. Randy Argall was received into membership. He has been called as pastor to Green Bay First Presbyterian Church beginning January 1, 2008.

As you may know, Winnebago Presbytery is engaged in a long term partnership with the Presbytery of Uraba in Colombia. Recently the Rev. Diego Higuita was able to visit and spend some time in and around the presbytery.

He met with the Global Partnership Task Group and attended the Presbytery Meeting on September 11, 2007.

Here he is seen with the Rev. Susan Phillips. Members of the Shawano community have been collecting fire fighting equipment to send to Colombia where Diego and others have been trained to fight fires but lack safety equipment.