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29 October 1997 
97413 
 
                  PRESBYTERY AND SYNOD NEWS 
 
                    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
MORGANTON, N.C.--On Dec. 6, Western North Carolina Presbytery will be 
celebrating its partnership with the National Evangelical Presbyterian 
Church of Guatemala.  To be held at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, the 
celebration will include stories by presbytery members who have 
participated directly in the partnership, a Christmas gift project, a 
bilingual worship service with Communion and lunch.  Aspects of the 
partnership that will be highlighted include health ministries, youth work, 
Christian education, advocacy, theological reflection, Guatemalan 
self-development, hospitality for Guatemalans in the presbytery and 
seminary education. 
 
SAN ANTONIO, Texas--The Small Church Committee of Mission Presbytery is 
sponsoring an elder training retreat Nov. 21-22 at El Shaddai Ranch in 
Yorktown, Texas.  Topics to be covered include Presbyterian polity, 
Presbyterian beliefs, working as a team, the "vows" of an elder and the 
"nuts and bolts" of being an elder. 
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--Three committees of Genesee Valley Presbytery are joining 
to sponsor a Nov. 8 seminar for pastors and church leaders on a variety of 
church personnel issues. 
    The first session will address "The Church as Employer" and will cover 
such topics as personnel policies and committees, grievance procedures, 
evaluation processes and the church and the law. 
    The second session, primarily for pastors, will address "The Pastor and 
the IRS."  It will cover such topics as changes in the tax laws for 
ministers and what is and is not included in "effective salary." 
    The seminar will be held at Victor (N.Y.) Presbyterian Church. 
 
PANORAMA CITY, Calif.--On Oct. 15, the Rev. Vartkes "Kass" Kassouni, former 
associate executive for Los Ranchos Presbytery, began work as interim 
executive for San Fernando Presbytery.  He fills the position vacated by 
the retirement of the Rev. Robert Fernandez. 
    Kassouni, a native of Cyprus, came to the United States in 1949.  He 
holds degrees from New York Theological Seminary and McCormick Theological 
Seminary.  In addition to governing body staff work, he has served several 
churches as pastor. 

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