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31-July-1998 
98253 
 
    Presbytery and Synod News 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
SAGINAW, Mich.-The Church Development Committee of Lake Huron Presbytery 
has launched a program, in cooperation with the Percept organization, to 
"determine the ongoing and future mission of our congregations." 
    A gathering has been scheduled for Sept. 26 at First Presbyterian 
Church here to introduce the program to the churches of the presbytery. 
 
ZELIENOPLE, Pa.-The summer issue of the "Beaver-Butler Bulletin," the 
newsletter of Beaver-Butler Presbytery, includes the presbytery's mission 
statement: 
    "Grounded in Jesus Christ, Beaver-Butler Presbytery will radiate God's 
love, lift up God's people, share God's gifts and transform God's world. 
We envision our members and congregations participating together in vibrant 
and inviting expressions of the Gospel.  Through a faithful and joyous 
sharing of leadership, resources and training, trust will be encouraged as 
we celebrate a rich diversity of gifts and ministries.  Empowered by the 
Holy Spirit through prayer, we will be drawn irresistibly into spiritual 
enrichment and growth in our congregations, and increased mission and 
outreach into our communities and the world." 
 
RICHLAND CENTER, Wis.--At an Aug. 14 special event preceding the Aug. 15 
meeting of The John Knox Presbytery, noted church personnel authority 
Ernest E. Cutting will lead a program entitled "Up Close and Personnel: 
Selected Problems in Church Personnel Administration."  Designed for 
pastors, sessions and personnel committees, the seminar will address such 
topics as compensation issues, performance evaluations, forms, federal law 
and development of personnel policies. 
    Cutting, an attorney, is stated clerk of the Presbytery of the Twin 
Cities Area and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. 
 
CLEVELAND-The Rev. Victoria G. Curtiss is stepping down after five years as 
executive presbyter for Western Reserve Presbytery. 
    She notified the presbytery of her intent not to seek a second 
five-year term at its June 9 meeting, saying she feels called to other 
areas of ministry. She told the presbytery she believes it needs an 
executive with funds development skills, an area in which she believes she 
has neither the expertise nor interest.  Curtiss has agreed to stay on at 
least through Dec. 31, 1998. 
    A search committee for a new executive presbyter will be elected in 
September. 
 
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-The Presbytery of East Tennessee has formed an 
international partnership with the Presbiterio Occidental de la Iglesia 
Presbiteriana de Venezuela. 
    Preliminary goals of the partnership are to learn about the beliefs, 
activities, mission languages and cultures of each other.  Relationships 
will be encouraged between ministers, churches, elders and members of the 
two presbyteries, and mutually collaborative projects will be established 
between the presbyteries and their churches. 
    Already planned is a trip sponsored by Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian 
Church in Knoxville to Merida, Venezuela, in early 1999.  A group from the 
Presbiterio Occidental is scheduled to come to East Tennessee later in the 
year to lead an institute entitled "The Reality of Venezuela." 
 
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio-Participants are being sought for Eastminster Presbytery's 
next "Work and Awareness Mission" trip.  The trip will be to Thailand in 
November. 
    The Work and Awareness Program, made possible by a grant from The 
Bicentennial Fund, seeks to enable one person from each of the presbytery's 
57 congregations to participate in an international work-study mission 
trip.  Twenty-nine of the presbytery's congregations have not yet 
participated in the program. 
 
SUPERIOR, Wis.-The Program Strategy Committee of Northern Waters Presbytery 
has participated in the planning of a conference entitled "The Biblical 
Message for the Third Millennium" for Oct. 2-3 in Madison, Wis. 
    The conference will be led by Walter Brueggemann, professor of Old 
Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. 
 
YAKIMA, Wash.-Central Washington Presbytery will conduct a pastors' retreat 
Sept. 27-29 at Tall Timber Ranch. 
    Retreat leader is Tom Cashman, an Episcopalian layperson and retreat 
leader who is a student of Celtic spirituality and has extensive experience 
as a spiritual director. 
 
MEMPHIS, Tenn.-More than 2,000 Presbyterians turned out on Pentecost Sunday 
at Rhodes College here for Memphis Presbytery's presbytery-wide Pentecost 
worship celebration.  The celebration also included a picnic lunch and an 
afternoon filled with activities for adults and children. 
    Guest preacher for the celebration was the Rev. J. Randolph Taylor, 
former president of San Francisco Theological Seminary and former moderator 
of the General Assembly (1983). 
 
DALLAS-The Synod Assembly for the Synod of the Sun will feature the 
installation of the Rev. Judy R. Fletcher as synod executive.  The Assembly 
will take place Aug. 13-15 at  Mo-Ranch. 
    The Assembly will also feature a "Crash Course in Media Literacy" 
taught by the Rev. Rich Thompson, the synod's communications associate, and 
Patricia Dooley, executive director of the Host Springs Documentary Film 
Festival. 
 
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C.-The Division of Educational Ministries of Coastal 
Carolina Presbytery is sponsoring a workshop for Sunday school teachers, 
Christian educators, pastors and those interested in strengthening the 
educational ministries of congregations entitled "What Are We Going to Do 
about Sunday Morning?"  The Aug. 25 event will be held at Dunn (N.C.) 
Presbyterian Church. 
    Keynote speaker is Neil McQueen, author of "Computers, Kids and 
Christian Education!" 
 
ANAHEIM, Calif.-Los Ranchos Presbytery commissioned two mission work 
project crews at its July meeting.  The two groups are traveling to Kenya, 
Aug. 2-18, and to Mexico City, July 25-Aug. 2.  The Mexico City project is 
being done in cooperation with Partners in Hope and Habitat for Humanity. 
 
YATESBORO, Pa.-The annual Teacher Training Workshop for church educators in 
Kiskiminetas Presbytery has been scheduled for Sept. 13 at the presbytery 
center. 
    At least 11 workshops have been planned, addressing such topics as the 
workshop rotational approach to Sunday school, using the resource center, 
youth ministry, middle school ministry, adult education, creative holiday 
ideas, the Internet, using computers in Christian education and educational 
ministry by pastors. 
 
BAINBRIDGE, N.Y.-As part of its international partnership with Western 
Wollega Bethel Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Jesus, 
Susquehanna Valley Presbytery will host a visit by two leaders of the 
Ethiopian church this fall. 
    The visit, scheduled for Sept. 18-Oct. 18, will be made by the Rev. 
Teferi Barkessa, president of the Western Wollega Bethel Synod, and the 
Rev. Johannes Chewaka, director of the Gadada Bible School, a two-year 
school for lay pastors in the synod. 
 
SAN JOSE, Calif.-San Jose Presbytery has commissioned its first 
Commissioned Lay Pastor. 
    Marta Coulter, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who has lived in 
the United States since 1980, was commissioned by the presbytery June 25 
and is working with Hispanic fellowships in San Jose and Watsonville, 
Calif. 
 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-"Help! I'm a Church Volunteer" is the title of twin 
leadership training events sponsored by Sheppards and Lapsley Presbytery. 
They will be held Aug. 15 at Oakmont Presbyterian Church in Birmingham and 
Aug. 16 at First Presbyterian Church in Auburn, Ala. 
    Keynote speaker for both events is the Rev. Forrest C. Palmer, 
associate presbyter for Greater Atlanta Presbytery.  He will speak on the 
topic "Leadership: A Balancing Act."  The events will also feature about a 
dozen workshops for church leaders and educators. 
 
PLAINFIELD, N.J.-Elizabeth Presbytery is sponsoring a conference on new 
member ministry entitled "The Magnetic Church," Oct. 2-3 at Osceola 
Presbyterian Church in Clark, N.J. 
    The conference will be led by Andrew D. Weeks, renowned evangelist and 
conference speaker, who focuses on spiritually based, practical approaches 
to new member recruitment. 
 
ASHTABULA, Ohio-"Communique," the newspaper of the Synod of the Covenant, 
reports that First Presbyterian Church here has performed an "organ 
transplant" by giving its organ to the Mount Olive Full Gospel Baptist 
Church in Stockbridge, Ga. 
    The Stockbridge church was destroyed by arsonists in 1994.  It was not 
insured.  Grants from the United Methodist Church and the National Council 
of Churches have made it possible to rebuild the church, and now, thanks to 
the Ashtabula congregation, music fills the Stockbridge sanctuary. 

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