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15-November-1996 
 
 
96460               Presbytery and Synod News 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
POMPANO BEACH, Fla.--Tropical Florida Presbytery has scheduled three 
conversations on various aspects of church renewal with the Rev. Andrew 
Purves, professor of pastoral theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. 
     The conversations begin with a prepresbytery event Nov. 19 at First 
Presbyterian Church of Tequesta, Fla., on the topic "The Reformation: Back 
to Our Roots."  Later that same day Purves will lead a conversation on "For 
Elders to Consider the Vow They Take to Be the Spiritual Leaders of the 
Congregation" at Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach, Fla. 
And on Nov. 20, he will lead an adult retreat at the Deerfield Beach church 
on the theme "Intimacy with God: A Spiritual Life Review." 
 
LOS ANGELES--Pacific Presbytery has given final approval to the creation of 
the Hollywood-Wilshire Cluster of Presbyterian Churches -- an alliance of 
eight congregations and related mission agencies within the presbytery. 
     Most of the funding for the first three years of the cluster's work 
together will come from the sale of the property of the defunct South 
Hollywood Presbyterian Church.  Initial goals for the project include youth 
and young adult ministry development, community organizing, immersion 
experiences for those interested in urban ministry, joint worship 
experiences, an annual retreat and the sharing of resources and skills 
within the cluster. 
 
BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--Hillcrest Family Services of Dubuque, Iowa, a ministry 
of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, celebrates a century of service this 
year. 
     Originally called the Women's Rescue Society, the organization was 
founded by Dr. Nancy Hill, the area's first female physician, who called 
upon the Protestant women of Dubuque to help unmarried mothers and their 
babies who weren't receiving proper care. 
     Over the years, Hillcrest has grown into one of the largest nonprofit 
human services agencies in the state of Iowa.  The staff of nearly 250 
serves almost 12,000 people annually. 
 
CHEHALIS, Wash.--Olympia Presbytery has granted honorable retirement to its 
long-time executive presbyter, the Rev. Paul McCann.  McCann concludes his 
work for the presbytery Dec. 31. 
 
LOS ANGELES--The Synod of Southern California and Hawaii is sponsoring a 
stewardship and mission rally Feb. 1, 1997, at Bel Air Presbyterian Church 
here.  The rally theme is "The Changing Face of Stewardship and Mission." 
     Keynote speaker is the moderator of the General Assembly, the Rev. 
John M. Buchanan.  The rally will focus on China, Hong Kong and Taiwan; the 
Year With Latin America mission emphasis of the General Assembly; urban 
ministry; and stewardship. 
 
RICHMOND, Va.--Reacting to actions of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic 
Assembly last summer, the synod's council has begun to address the lack of 
funding for ministries on racial-ethnic college campuses. 
     At its fall meeting, the council called for a consultation early in 
1997 of representatives from racial-ethnic colleges and universities within 
the synod to discuss how to start or support ministries on those campuses. 
The council also authorized a one-time grant of $21,500 to one ministry on 
a racial- ethnic college campus. 
 
KALAMAZOO, Mich.--"Modeling the Magi: A Day of Theological Reflection" has 
been scheduled for Epiphany Sunday, Jan. 5, 1997, by the Spirituality and 
Discipleship Committee of Lake Michigan Presbytery. 
     Organizers have described the event as "a time to reflect together 
about God, scripture, salvation, our Reformed tradition and what it means 
to be a self-avowed, practicing Presbyterian." 
 
BATON ROUGE, La.--The Presbytery of South Louisiana honored Betty Redman, 
the presbytery's director of nurture services, at its Oct. meeting in 
Slidell, La.   
     Redman, who is retiring at the end of the year, has served the 
presbytery for 18 years.  Her column, "Thoughts," in the presbytery's 
newsletter, is one of the finest pieces of inspirational writing in the 
Presbyterian Church. 
 
BAINBRIDGE, N.Y.--Susquehanna Valley Presbytery has received word that its 
proposed mission partnership with the Western Wollega Bethel Synod of the 
Evangelical Church Mekane Jesus in Ethiopia has been approved by the 
Ethiopian synod. 
     Details of the partnership will be coordinated by the presbytery's 
Mission Support Committee. 
 
AZUSA, Calif.--Tamara Zgonjanin, a Bosnian refugee and student at Bucknell 
University, will itinerate in San Gabriel Presbytery Jan. 16-19, 1997, as 
part of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program's International Peacemaker 
program. 
     Zgonjanin, whose mother is Muslim and whose father is 
Catholic-Orthodox, will speak in several churches and participate in the 
presbytery's Jan. 18 church officers development event at Westminster 
Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, Calif. 
 
SAN JOSE, Calif.--San Jose Presbytery has called the Rev. Joseph "Joey" Lee 
as its associate executive presbyter for program.  He began work Oct. 15. 
     A graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, Lee has, since 1991, 
been organizing pastor for the South Bay Asian-American Presbyterian New 
Church Development in San Jose.  Prior to that he served as associate 
pastor of First Chinese Presbyterian Church in New York City. 
 
MORGANTON, N.C.--Proceeds from Western North Carolina Presbytery's 
Christmas Gift Project will provide scholarship assistance for Guatemalan 
Presbyterians to attend seminary in their country. 
     The presbytery has a mission partnership with the presbyteries of 
Suchitepequez and Sur Occidente of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in 
Guatemala.  The main campus of Seminario Evangelico Presbiteriano lies 
close to both presbyteries. 
     The Christmas Gift Project is administered by Western North Carolina 
Presbytery's Hunger Committee. 
 
CHARLESTON, S.C.--Marj Carpenter, moderator of the 1995 General Assembly, 
will be keynote speaker for Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery's 1997 Church 
Leader Development Event.  The gathering is scheduled for Jan. 25 at First 
(Scots) Presbyterian Church here. 
     Workshops will cover such topics as missions in the United States, the 
state of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), stewardship, training for church 
treasurers and clerks of session, the use of computers in the church, 
Reformed theology, training for newly elected elders and deacons, and how 
to organize effective committees. 
 
OREGON, Ill.--The Rev. John E. Strausz Clement was installed as general 
presbyter for Blackhawk Presbytery Nov. 11 at the Stronghold Camp and 
Conference Center near here.  This is the fourth presbytery Clement has 
served as executive over the past 18 years. 
     General Assembly moderator the Rev. John M. Buchanan preached at the 
service. 
     Blackhawk Presbytery covers 26 northern Illinois counties, excluding 
the Chicago area, and comprises 90 churches with a combined membership of 
21,000. 
 
COLUMBUS, Ohio--Three members from the Church of North India are guests of 
Scioto Valley Presbytery as part of the Synod of the Covenant's Ecumenical 
Parish Program. 
     Central College Presbyterian Church of Westerville is hosting Bishop 
Franklin C. Jonathan and his wife.  Jonathan served as bishop of the 
Jabalpur Diocese of the Church of North India until his retirement in 1995. 
Mrs. Jonathan, a former teacher and school principal, founded and directed 
a self-employment training center for persons with disabilities and an 
adoption and guardianship program for abandoned babies. 
     Joy C. Michael of New Delhi is the guest of First Presbyterian Church 
of Athens.  Trained in the performing arts, she is the past principal of a 
church-related school for 2,500 girls in Delhi. 
 
HOUSTON--The Racial Ethnic Division of New Covenant Presbytery is 
sponsoring a gathering entitled "Celebrating Our Heritages" Nov. 23 at 
Formosan Presbyterian Church here. 
     The event will feature special speakers, displays and information 
booths representing a number of racial-ethnic congregations and ministries, 
worship and music by a racial-ethnic chorus. 
 
OKLAHOMA CITY--Indian Nations Presbytery, in cooperation with several 
agencies, is sponsoring "Safe Haven," a place of hospitality for those 
victims and family members who are attending the closed-circuit broadcast 
of the Oklahoma City bombing trial in Denver. 
     "Safe Haven" will be a place where viewers can be shielded from the 
public and relax in a secure setting.  Counselors and chaplains will also 
be on duty if needed and trial officials will provide daily briefings on 
the trial. 

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