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17-Nov-95

95416            News of Presbyteries and Synods 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
RICHMOND, Va.--Following several years of consultation and discussion, the 
Synod of the Mid-Atlantic is emerging with a new mission structure.   
     It calls for the synod to be active in five areas: campus ministry, 
evangelism, justice and mercy, partnership ministries and racial-ethnic 
ministries.  The new structure eliminates the synod's historical financial 
relationship with Presbyterian-related colleges, child care agencies and 
older adult institutions. 
     The new structure also reduces the size of the Synod Assembly, the 
Synod Council and the synod staff.   The synod staff will be reduced by 25 
percent. 
 
CAMP HILL, Pa.--Twelve representatives from six Presbyterian-related 
colleges in the Synod of the Trinity are traveling to south Korea this 
month to establish relationships with Korean Presbyterians. The delegation 
hopes the partnership will result in the exchange of students and faculty 
members and other programs of cross-cultural enrichment. 
     Participating colleges include Beaver College, Davis & Elkins College, 
Grove City College, Lafayette College, Waynesburg College and Westminster 
College. 
 
MORGANTON, N.C.--The Rev. J.W. (Bill) Taber was elected executive of the 
Presbytery of Western North Carolina during its Oct. 17 stated meeting. 
     Taber, a graduate of Clemson University and Columbia Theological 
Seminary, has served the presbytery as associate executive for leadership 
development since August 1990 and added the duties of stated clerk in 1994. 
He is also a certified Christian educator. 
 
BERKELEY, Calif.--San Francisco Presbytery's Iglesia Presbiteriana de la 
Mision is sponsoring "The Great Thanksgiving Multicultural Party" on Nov. 
18. 
     Festivities hosted by the bilingual (Spanish and English), 
multicultural congregation in San Francisco's Mission District include a 
parade, music and dances from throughout Central and South America, food 
and other entertainment.  Proceeds from the party will support the church's 
after-school program, which offers a safe place, snacks, tutoring, guidance 
and Bible study to neighborhood children. 
 
PETOSKEY, Mich.--More than 60 persons in Mackinac Presbytery gathered Oct. 
20-21 at the presbytery's Cedar Campus to study and dialogue about human 
sexuality issues. 
     Keynote speaker  was the Rev. John Buchanan, pastor of Fourth 
Presbyterian Church in Chicago. The event also included seminars on such 
human sexuality-related topics as Bible references, theological dimensions, 
scientific findings, personal stories, the thinking of other denominations, 
social justice issues, ministries to reorient gay and lesbian persons and 
Presbyterian polity aspects of the issue. 
 
SAN JOSE, Calif.--The Rev. Arlene Gordon, associate for resource center 
development and educational ministry advocates support in the 
Congregational Ministries Division in Louisville,  led a Nov. 8-9 workshop 
on curriculum information and training for San Jose Presbytery.  The 
workshop was held at First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto. 
     The first day provided training in the use of Presbyterian and 
Reformed Educational Ministry (PREM) curriculum for pastors, church school 
teachers, Christian education committee members and resource center 
directors.  The second day provided training for educational ministry 
advocates. 
 
ANAHEIM, Calif.--Two long-time staff members of Los Ranchos Presbytery have 
resigned to pursue other ministry opportunities and to enable the 
presbytery to undergo necessary downsizing. 
     On Nov. 1, the Rev. Vartkes "Kass" Kassouni, associate executive for 
congregational development, began work as interim head of staff at First 
Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove.  He had been on the presbyery staff 
since 1986. 
     Betty Crowell, who began part-time with the presbytery in 1979, 
departs at the end of 1995.  Currently associate executive for educational 
ministry and program development, her future plans are not set at this 
time. 

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