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07460 July 27, 2007
Presbytery and synod news
by Jerry Van Marter Presbyterian News Service
FRANKLIN, TN - The Synod of Living Waters
<http://www.synodoflivingwaters.org/> has completed work on a new educational video about its clean water system ministry, Living Waters for the World (LWW) <http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/>.
The 21-minute video, entitled "Clean Water for All God's Children," includes interviews with LWW leaders and documents the installation of a clean water system in Campeche, Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Teams from congregations and presbyteries in the synod have installed more than 125 water systems around the world through the program and trained thousands of local residents how to maintain them.
OKLAHOMA CITY - "Listen more, fight less and tell God's story" was the advice of church transformation consultant Bob Clary to a combined gathering of Cimarron <http://www.cimarronpresbytery.org/>, Eastern Oklahoma <http://www.eokpresbytery.org/> and Indian Nations <http://www.okinp.org/> presbyteries last month.
Clary disputed the assumption that the simply recruiting new members is the key to reversing membership decline in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). "We need to tell the Gospel story," Clary told the group gathered at Central Presbyterian Church here. "To do otherwise is to focus on the problem," he said.
The sanctuary is not the destination of congregation's ministry, Clary insisted. The sanctuary is for worship, a place to be renewed before returning to the mission field, he said. And it is in doing mission in the world that the church will be truly transformed.
Reported by Shane Whisler, communications director for the Synod of the Sun.
MORGANTON, NC - At its July 31 meeting, the Presbytery of Western North Carolina <http://www.presbyerywnc.org/> will honor seven persons who have completed the presbytery's two-year School for the Laity and Commissioned Lay Pastor Program.
The program provides "opportunities for individual growth in faith, knowledge and leadership." Course work includes Bible, theology, church history, worship and sacraments, Christian education, preaching, pastoral care, polity and church leadership. More than 50 people have completed the program.
The seven who will receive their certificates at the presbytery meeting are Linda Amos, Fairview Presbyterian Church, Lenoir, NC; Joe Ella Bennett, Black Mountain Presbyterian Church; Tim Clippard, First Presbyterian Church, Mount Holly, NC; Rod Ledbetter, Hopewell Presbyterian Church (Salem Presbytery); Tom Rogers, First Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, NC; and Ken and Sue Unnasch of Long Creek Presbyterian Church, Kings Mountain, NC.
BIRMINGHAM, AL - More than 300 Presbyterians are expected at First Presbyterian Church here Aug. 10-11 for The Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley's <http://www.pslpcusa.org/> third annual "Main Event."
The event, sponsored by the presbytery's Nurture Ministry Unit, will feature keynote speaker Michelle Thomas-Bush, a popular speaker on youth and young adult ministry from Jacksonville, FL.
The Rev. Danny Murphy, associate executive for Trinity Presbytery in South Carolina, will lead workshops on strategic planning, and Rebecca Davis of Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte will lead sessions on officer development.
The event will also include field trips to local mission projects and displays by four national curriculum publishers.
ALLENTOWN, PA - Lehigh Presbytery
<http://www.lehighpresbytery.org> has created a "Barnabas Initiative" to assist congregations in conflict. "Our goal is to be a resource for congregations and pastors who sense 'something's not right,'" organizers say, "and who seek a better outcome than fanning flames into a fire."
The initiative grew out of a week-long conflict management training seminar sponsored by the Synod of the Trinity <http://www.syntrinity.org/> and attended by representatives of Lehigh, Carlisle <http://www.carlislepby.org/>, Donegal <http://www.donegalpby.org/>, Lackawanna <http://www.presbylack.org/>, Northumberland <http://www.northumberlandpresbytery.org/> and Philadelphia <http://www.presbyphl.org/> presbyteries.
The workshop was led by the Rev. Jill Hudson, former executive of Whitewater Valley Presbytery, who will begin work this fall as middle governing bodies coordinator for the Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council.
BATON ROUGE, LA - The Presbytery of South Louisiana's <http://www.pbysouthla.org/> post-Katrina rebuilding initiative, known as "Project Homecoming," will soon be housing 11 long-term volunteers in two locations in the Greater New Orleans area.
The presbytery has purchased a duplex, which will house eight volunteers, and is renting a three-bedroom house owned by Parkway Presbyterian Church.
The volunteers will include construction assistants, volunteer coordinators, trade and construction volunteers and pastors willing to assist with pulpit supply in area churches.
LOUISVILLE - Mid-Kentucky Presbytery
<http://www.midkentuckypresbytery.org/> has launched its "Acts Initiative," a program designed " to challenge and enable congregations to be vibrant and relevant in the 21st century."
Recently, representatives of 20 congregations gathered at Second Presbyterian Church here to "learn ways to find new spiritual energy in old scriptural truths." They were led by E. Stanley Ott, president of the Vital Churches Institute.
Coordinated by the presbytery's Congregational Development Unit, "Acts Initiative" is a three-year program of engaging leaders in Bible study, prayer, study, faith-sharing techniques and growing and sending disciples into the community and world.
HOUSTON - Presbyterians in New Covenant Presbytery <http://www.pbyofnewcovenant.org/> will gather Oct. 6 at Northwoods Presbyterian Church here for the presbytery's "Focus 2007" leader training event.
Workshops will be offered on such topics as "The conversation between faith and science," environmental stewardship, "Theology and baseball," on-line adult curriculum, varieties of prayer, "Leading positive change in your church," nurturing faith in children, "How to talk about war and peace in the church," Sabbath keeping, and holistic stewardship.
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