Seeking Nominees to the General Presbyter Search Committee

Raising the level of authenticity between what we say we believe and the living out of those beliefs is one of the greatest challenges of our walk with God.  We readily come up with excuses to rationalize our behavior to fit our perceptions of what it means to follow Jesus Christ.  We hear the echo of God who repeats ever so gently into our inconsistent hearts, I want you to "do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).  As we walk through Lent, we are once again faced with the stark reality of the depth of God's love.  There is no hypocrisy here; no incongruence between Jesus' message and his walk; no truth to the allegations hurtled at his feet.

Our Presbytery has been walking the road of creativity and imagination these last few years struggling with the reality of who we are as a community of faith and who we espouse to be in light of our understanding of God's love.  We have agreed on who we want to be:

  Called to community by God, discipled by Jesus Christ, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, Baltimore Presbytery encourages, challenges and equips our congregations to thrive spiritually and to be 

apostles for reconciliation.

But how do we actually live into this vision?  Reflecting now four-years into our restructuring process we see a few incongruencies we want to alter but we also see progress and that gives us reason to hope.  The Holy Spirit has guided this Presbytery to seek out new ways of relating to each other that heighten our accountability to Jesus' claims on our lives and deepen our desire to keep walking the road of faith as a collective body who says in a loud voice, "We want to be the people we say we are."

The Presbytery has charged the Steering Cabinet to present a slate of nominees for the General Presbyter Search Committee at the May Gathering.  If you feel called to be part of the search process, or if you can suggest someone who you believe might be called, please complete the nominating form and return it by March 31.  What do you envision as the character traits of our next General Presbyter?  What type of leadership does our Presbytery need to take the next step into our vision?

Take a moment and reflect on these two questions.  Make a list if you are so inclined.  Talk to a colleague.  Share your thoughts and then fill out the application form to be part of the team who will continue this dialogue.  The search process for a General Presbyter is similar to the one for a Teaching Elder: pray-market our vacancy-pray-read resumes-pray-grapple with our vision statement-pray-put together the compensation package-pray-interview-pray.  Notice any theme that flows through the process?  It is through the prayers of our Presbytery that we will find the collective courage to listen to the Holy Spirit.  Let's get on our knees!  And while you're down there, find a pen and volunteer to be part of our future.

                                                                                                                                Praying with you,                                                                                                Dr. Renee Mackey, 2015 Moderator

Click here for Application for Nominees to the General Presbyter Search Committee