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18-Apr-96

96140            News of Presbyteries and Synods 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
DENVER--A team of 10 "stewards" from each presbytery in the Synod of the 
Rocky Mountains is gathering in late April to begin developing a 
"spirituality of stewardship" synodwide.  According to the synod's mission 
yearbook, the team is committed "to work together in their presbyteries to 
develop a spiritual foundation for benevolence giving by individuals in 
each congregation to the end that support for the work of the church 
becomes a response of thanksgiving, reflecting the heart of the member 
given to Christ." 
     Plenary sessions will be led by the Rev. Steve Doughty and will focus 
on how community can be built and sustained in congregations; explore the 
community nature of stewardship and common spiritual growth; and study the 
practical spiritual disciplines that can lead communities of people to a 
fuller understanding of what God is doing. 
     The gathering also includes eight stewardship-related workshops. 
 
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--The Presbytery of South Dakota has been designated to 
select recipients of a scholarship set up by the late Donald and Pearl 
McMurchie of Turner County.  The presbytery has set up a selection 
committee. 
     Any member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who is attending a 
PC(USA)-related institution of higher education is eligible for the 
scholarship.  Preference is given to students who have graduated from South 
Dakota high schools. 
 
CAMP HILL, Pa.--In 1995, 55 people received money from the Synod of the 
Trinity for travel grants. Individuals, congregations and presbyteries 
within the synod can apply for the grants of $100-$250 per individual or 
$1,500 per group.  The synod budgets $10,000 annually for the travel grant 
program. 
     Travelers funded by the program in 1995 visited mission projects in 
Puerto Rico, Zimbabwe, Malawi, India and Sudan. 
 
GREENVILLE, S.C.--Foothills Presbytery has chartered its first new church 
since 1982.  Providence Presbyterian Church in Powdersville was constituted 
with 104 charter members on March 10. Organizing pastor is the Rev. Mike 
Fitze. 
 
MORGANTON, N.C.--A team of up to 15 people from Western North Carolina 
Presbytery will travel to Mexico June 15-22 to live, worship and work with 
Puentes de Cristo, the presbytery's partner ministry in that country. 
 
SEATTLE--Seattle Presbytery has renewed its partnership with Seoul North 
Presbytery in Korea for a second five-year term.  During the first five 
years, more than 150 Seattle Presbyterians and almost a third of the 
presbytery's congregations have had direct involvement in the partnership. 
     Seoul North Presbytery is 12 years old and is one of 14 presbyteries 
in the city of Seoul.  It consists of more than 150 congregations, many 
with several thousand members. 
 
SHAWNEE MISSION, Kan.--"Mission: Urgent Call" is the theme of the Synod of 
Mid-America's 1996 Synod School, July 29-Aug. 2 in Warrensburg, Mo. 
     Keynote speaker is Gwen Crawley, recently retired associate director 
for global service and witness in the Worldwide Ministries Division in 
Louisville.  A number of courses will be offered centered around health 
ministries. 
     The synod's Youth Committee is sponsoring a conference in conjunction 
with the Synod School. The theme for that conference is "Destined to Win: 
Take Your Mark, Set, Go!" 
 
NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio--Presbyterian Women of Muskingum Valley Presbytery 
is sponsoring a fall mission tour to Kentucky, Oct. 17-20.  Tour members 
will visit Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the Presbyterian 
Center, Berea College, the Morris Fork Church and Craft Center and the 
Buckhorn Children's Center. 
 
RICHMOND, Va.--The Synod of the Mid-Atlantic is sponsoring a mission trip 
to the Czech Republic, June 15-27.  Travelers will gain insight into the 
mission of the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren as they worship and 
study the Bible together and work on a mission project. 
 
CHARLESTON, S.C.--The African American New Church Development of 
Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery met recently in Summerville. 
     Group members agreed to contact friends and relatives in the target 
area to gauge interest in a new church, identify real estate developments 
in the target area and survey residents of those developments about the 
potential for a new Presbyterian church there. 
 
DRESDEN, N.Y.--The Social Concerns Committee of Geneva Presbytery is 
sponsoring a conference on domestic violence April 27 at Geneva 
Presbyterian Church.  Leaders of the conference are Kathy Clarke, an 
educator, writer, member of Mendon Presbyterian Church and survivor of 
domestic violence, and the Rev. Laura Collins, pastor of Laurelton United 
Presbyterian Church and community social worker. 
 
COLUMBUS, Ohio--"Walking the Way" is the theme of the Synod of the 
Covenant's Synod School 1996, July 7-13 at Muskingum College. 
     The school will include 14 courses on such subjects as biblical 
interpretation for Christian educator certification candidates; adult 
education; basic and advanced Bible study; faith through the arts; conflict 
management; self-care for church professionals; the spirituality of 
children; aging; non-Christian religions; commitment; and attitudes about 
poverty and wealth. 
 
BERKELEY, Calif.--As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, San Francisco 
Presbytery's Faith Presbyterian Church of Oakland is seeking to establish 
the Themus Spencer Learning Center, named after a beloved charter member of 
the congregation. 
     The goals of the center are to provide tutorial support to students in 
neighborhood schools, serve as a resource for those seeking employment with 
"retooling" skills, and assist in the development of community volunteers 
who have computer skills. 

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