June 13, 2016
Inside this Edition

Rev. Dr. Jacqueline L. Taylor Nominated as General Presbyter

From Hope to Wholeness: Presbyterian Response to the Unrest in Baltimore . . .

Presbytery of Baltimore Hosts Dinner at 222nd GA in Portland, OR

Call for Workshops for November 2016 Presbyterian Learning Day

Faith Presbyterian Church:
  • Boost Summer Camp
  • Art With A Heart
  • God with a Tall, Cool One

Roland Park PC Seeks Part-Time Director of Christian Education


Barbara Bradley Hagerty Book Lecture

Advent Resources

Meetings
Committee and Commission meetings will be held at the Presbytery's office (unless noted otherwise.) 

Steering Cabinet will meet at 1pm on Wednesday, June 15

Committee on Preparation for Ministry (CPM) meets at 3pm on Wednesday, June 15

Commission on Reconciliation will meet at 6:30pm on July 13

The Cuba Partnership meets 2pm to 3:30pm the third Wednesday of each month. 

Our Shared Ministry 2016 

Thank you to the following congregations who have pledged toward Our Shared Ministry 2016. At his date, he Presbytery has received $167,807 in pledges toward our budget goal of $225,000. 

Ark & Dove
Barrelville
Brown Mem'l Woodbrook
Catonsville
Central
Christ Our King
Churchville 
Dickey Memorial 
Faith 
Fallston
First & Franklin
1st of Annapolis
1st of Bel Air 
Franklinville
Frederick
Good Shepherd
Granite
Grove 
Hagerstown
Havre de Grace
Hunting Ridge 
Kenwood
Light Street
Maryland
Mount Paran
Northminster
Prince of Peace
Roland Park
Second
Springfield
Towson
Woods Mem'l

Presbytery Hires Finance Staff 
The Presbytery of Baltimore announces the hiring of staff to form a new finance team. Judi Forrester returns part-time as Financial Administrator and Laura Mullen will serve part time as the presbytery's Book-keeper. Finance issues may be dir ected to either staff  person.
Judi
Laura
Presbytery of Baltimore Sets Strategic Priorities 



Let us recall once again our Presbytery vision written as the Holy Spirit led us through a discernment process at several Presbytery Gatherings. 

"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."

The Steering Cabinet met in retreat in January of this year to ask, "What are the most valuable things our Presbytery has done in the last three years to work at accomplishing this vision?  What are some of the challenges?  What are some things that are unique to us as a community of God?"

As we prayed and dialogued, we listed areas of growth we had experienced and areas of concern that seemed to hold us back from following God's directive.  Since then, we have shared our ideas with the Presbytery Commissions and Ministry Group conveners and coaches combining our efforts to discern our priorities.

Here are the results from our conversations.  In an attempt to live more intentionally into our vision, our decision making in the next two years in the Steering Cabinet, Commissions and Ministry Groups will center on these strategic priorities.  They are not listed in order of importance but are presented as collective spiritual actions designed to hold us accountable before God.
  • Focus on proactive strengthening of congregations.
  • Strengthen leadership competencies among congregational leaders and develop a culture of learning that recognizes new challenges require new or updated skills.
  • Challenge and equip congregations and their leaders to deepen their engagement in justice and reconciliation near and far.
  • Utilize organizational structure in ways that support responsible, agile and creative ministry and problem solving.
Please join with us in prayer specifically asking God to give our Presbytery the courage to follow where God leads.
                                                                                                                                                Your servant in Christ,
                                                                                                                                                Rev. Dr. Renee Mackey, 
Steering Cabinet Chair


taff Directory

Take Note/Act Now

Presbytery  
.  .  . and the Wider Church   

NOMINATING COMMITTEE SELECTS REV. DR. JACQUELINE L. TAYLOR 
AS CANDIDATE FOR GENERAL PRESBYTER

A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING of the Presbytery of Baltimore will be held at 10am on Thursday, July 7 at Faith Presbyterian, 5400 Loch Raven Blvd., to consider the election of candidate Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Taylor as General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Baltimore.  The Presbytery's Nominating Committee is excited to announce the selection of Rev. Taylor and will provide further information about her background after the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s 222 nd General Assembly. The Special Called Meeting will also address recommendations for the Committee on Ministry and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. 

Presbytery publishes book on 2015 Unrest in Baltimore . . .


Are you planning to attend the General Assembly gathering in
June in Portland?  Please let Deb Milcarek know.  The Presbytery of Baltimore will be hosting a dinner for you on Tuesday evening, June 21 and we will need a count of how many to expect.  Looking forward to seeing you in Portland!

The Gathering Team is now issuing a call for workshops for the day. We especially invite Commissions, Ministry Groups, and others in the Presbytery to consider offering a workshop on the theme for the day, or some related theme. If you would like to submit an idea for a workshop, please contact Jack Carlson, at jvcarlson47@gmail.com, or 410.978.1017, or call the Presbytery office.


Churches

Faith Presbyterian Church is hosting Boost Summer Learning Camp "Soar Like an Eagle," June 27-30 for children completing K-5. And for older youth, the church is sponsoring "Art With A Heart," a summer work program for youth ages 14-18, June 27-July 22. Finally, adults are welcomed to join "God with a Tall, Cool One,"  a small group discussion about God and faith on Wednesday nights at Flight Restaurant and Bar, 5723 York Rd. 
 
Roland Park Presbyterian Church seeks a part-time Director of Christian Education to serve as leader and developer of education programming for all ages, including our Sunday morning children's program, youth program, and adult education. $20 - $25/ hour depending on experience  Click Roland Park for details. 


Other

On Tuesday, June 14 at St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute welcomes former NPR religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty, who will speak about her new book, "Life Reimagined: The Science, Art and Opportunity of Midlife".  Join us at 6:15pm at L aubacher Hall. Tickets are $10. Wine & cheese reception at 5:30pm.

"A Well of Advent Resources" - A New Collection of Advent Resources
 
By August or October, at the latest, pastors and churches are making plans for Advent. Although our congregations embrace the familiar, we are often seeking new ideas and new ways to celebrate the season.  T his year the Susquehanna Ministry Group would like your help in preparing an Advent resource which may be shared with the entire presbytery.  Send us your best Advent ideas - sermons, lessons, crafts, congregational events, liturgies, etc. by August 31, 2016, and we will put all this information on a flash drive. This "Well of Advent Resources" will be FREE to all who make a contribution. Others may be able to purchase the flash drive for $10. Send an e-mail to Dr. Stephen Melton pastor@churchvillepc.org  Attach the item to the e-mail - ideally in WORD or PDF. Let's share the blessings of our faith with one another.

taff Directory

 Mary Gaut
Interim General Presbyter
mgaut@baltimorepresbytery.org


  Deb Milcarek
Assoc. for Reconciliation
dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org 
 

Susan Krehbiel
Dir. of Congregational Advocacy
skrehbiel@baltimorepresbytery.org
  
Judi Forrester
Financial Consultant

William Nickels III
 Assoc. General Presbyter


Debbie Ingram Schmidt
Assoc. for Spiritual Leader Development
  
Deborah Greene  
Dir. of Communications
dgreene@baltimorepresbytery.org
 
Laura Mullen
Book Keeper


Catherine Blacka

Judy Johnson
Ministry Group Staff


 Wanda Morgan
Dir. of Events/Services