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07060 January 30, 2007
Straight talk
Upcoming 'conversation' to address future of middle governing bodies
by Toya Richards Hill
LOUISVILLE - The future of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) presbyteries and synods in the midst of a changing denominational environment is the focus of a meeting set for mid February.
"Communion and Conversation: Beginning a Dialogue on the Future of Middle Governing Bodies," scheduled for Feb. 14-16 in Albuquerque, NM, will bring together representatives from PC(USA) synods and presbyteries in order to explore key issues such as future identity, mission, funding and staffing.
"The purpose really is to initiate conversation about the vitality and viability of middle governing bodies," said the Rev. Allison Seed, chair of the PC(USA) General Assembly Council (GAC). She also chairs the Task Force on the Vision and Vitality for Middle Governing Bodies, which is convening the February event.
The task force was created in response to a request to the GAC from the Synod of the Southwest and the presbyteries of Santa Fe and Sierra Blanca in September.
The aim also is "to begin a process that will lead to changes in the form of government that will allow us commonality and flexibility," Seed said.
As the denomination as a whole struggles with declining membership and fewer financial resources, the burden has especially been felt at the middle governing body level, denominational leaders said.
"All of our presbyteries own up to experiencing the crunch of having fewer resources to do a more complex ministry than in previous times," the Rev. Gary Torrens, coordinator of governing body relations in the Office of the General Assembly and the GAC, said his paper "Is There A Presbytery Crunch?"
"The most obvious common thread is that every presbytery is struggling with its focus, mission or vision," Torrens said in his paper.
Though conversations have taken place around the church about the shape and function of presbyteries and synods, "up to this point we haven't had a church-wide conversation about those issues," Torrens said in a recent interview. The February gathering, which has registered 170 presbytery and synod representatives from every region of the church, is intended to be such an event.
Facilitating the gathering will be the Rev. Gil Rendle, a senior consultant with the Alban Institute, an ecumenical, interfaith organization that provides research, consulting services and educational seminars to churches and denominations.
Torrens stressed that the upcoming meeting would be one of a number of opportunities to address presbytery and synod issues. He said the PC(USA) Board of Pensions already has agreed for a workshop on the future of presbyteries and synods to be added on to their regional pension conferences scheduled for April 25-26 in Los Angeles, May 2-3 in Arlington, TX and May 9-10 in Atlanta.
"This is not a once-and-for-all meeting, but rather the first of what I hope will be several occasions in the coming months when folks from throughout the church can join in this conversations," Torrens said.
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