EMerge is a newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Through most of the year it is published weekly and distributed to congregations, teaching elders, ruling elders, church members, committees and friends of the presbytery. Please send submissions and address corrections to office@ptcaweb.org.
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Presbytery plans May 9
meeting in Rochester
The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area will conduct its annual stated meeting Tuesday, May 9, at First Presbyterian Church in Rochester, Minn. The  presbytery plans to examine Gilo Agwa and John Nelson for ordination as teaching elders. Agwa, a candidate under the care of John Knox Presbytery, is preparing to lead the Presbyterian-Lutheran ministry to the Ethiopian community in this area. Nelson, a candidate under the care of the PTCA, is seeking ordination to serve in the ministries of the Church of All Nations. The presbytery will also hear directions and possibilities that emerged from listening sessions on the future of the presbytery. The complete meeting call can be found at "May 9 Meeting."
Eden Prairie Administrative
Commission offers update
On Monday, April 24, the Minnesota Court of Appeals filed its decision in the Presbytery's appeal involving Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church. Unfortunately, the court's decision was to affirm the district court's determination that the Book of Order does not create  a trust in this case.
The Administrative Commission for the Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church is deeply disappointed in this ruling, which treats the underlying dispute as limited to ownership of property, and does not recognize the PC(USA)'s constitutional right to organize and govern itself and to resolve intra-denominational disputes such as the dispute with the Eden Prairie Church, according to the long-standing provisions of the Book of Order. It has been the PTCA's position throughout the court proceedings that this dispute is theological and doctrinal in nature, and not merely a dispute about property ownership.
The Administrative Commission is consulting with legal counsel, Eric Caugh (Ruling Elder, Westminster, Minneapolis), about the next steps to be taken, and will continue to update the presbytery regarding this matter. According to Eric Caugh, "While the decision is not what we had hoped to receive, we continue to seek resolution and reconciliation in this matter."
Questions concerning this decision may be directed to Jeff Japinga, transitional executive presbyter, at ep@ptcaweb.org or 651.357.1150.
Contributors still needed
for presbytery committees
The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area will elect its new officers and members of presbytery committees at its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 9. There are still opportunities for participation on most presbytery committees, and include key needs for the Board of Trustees (finance or legal experience) and the Committee on Ministry (especially ruling elders). Also needed is a Young Adult Advisory Delegate, age 17-23, to the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.
Presbytery committees hold an important role in supporting the life and health of the congregations of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Bring your skill and passion to the table. Contribute to our shared ministry. If you are interested, contact Manley Olson at 651.644.2848 or manleyolson@gmail.com.
We need you. More importantly, the ministry of our churches needs you. Come join.
Jeff's Jottings
Church Ladies
By Jeff Japinga
 Transitional Executive Presbyter
Sometimes, what you learn from someone else is far more compelling than what you might have said or done or thought yourself. I think today needs to be one of those days, and I hope you will too.
Please allow me to introduce you to my good friend the Rev. Ann Kansfield. Ann serves as pastor of a small Reformed church in Brooklyn, N.Y.; she is also a chaplain for the New York City Fire Department. She is a pastor and wife and mother; faithful, irreverent, scattered, creative, and uses even more words than I do when she writes.
Last evening she posted the following on Facebook. I saw it just before bed, and laid awake long into the night thinking about it. We spend so much time thinking about how our faith impacts our own lives, or we go immediately to the intersection of faith and global issues. Please read this.
Today I had the honor of attending the funeral service for FDNY Firefighter William Tolley who died in the line of duty while bravely serving the people of our city.
It was a Catholic mass, so the non-Catholic FDNY chaplains sat next to two altar servers and eucharistic ministers sat on the side opposite the pulpit (I imagine there is a fancy church word for this spot in a church, but I do not know it).
The complete Jottings is at "Church Ladies."
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Installation service slated
for Heidi, Greg Bolt in Red Wing
 First Presbyterian Church in Red Wing, Minn., and the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area is making an open invitation to the service of worship and installation of the Rev. Heidi L. and the Rev. Gregory G. Bolt on Sunday, May 7, at 3 p.m. The church is located at 503 W. 6th St. in Red Wing. A reception will follow the service.
Conference on faithful LGBTQ+
inclusion set at First Christian
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Minneapolis will be host to Nicole Garcia, self-identified transgender Latina, speaker, advocate and counselor, on Friday and Saturday, May  5-6, for the conference titled "Let Justice Flow Like Water: Refreshing our Commitment to Faithful LGBTQ+ Inclusion." This is the third installment of FCC's conference series "VOICES: Addressing Issues That Affect the Church and Wider Community." The conference will bring together faith leaders, congregants, and secular and faith-based partners to refresh their commitment to faithful LGBTQ+ inclusion inside churches and ministry settings, especially amid the recent changes in our government and culture. Information and registration can be found at "Let Justice Flow Like Water."
Tour of Dakota sacred sites
planned May 13
Jim Bear Jacobs and Bob Klanderud, of Mohican and Dakota tribes respectively, will lead a tour of Dakota sacred sites around the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tour provides history from the American Indian perspective. During the past two years more than 500 participants have gone on the tour. Details can be found at "Sacred Sites."
Christian educators in presbytery
plan gathering May 11
Christian educators of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area are planning their spring gathering Thursday, May 11, at Como Dockside, 1360 Lexington Parkway, St. Paul, beginning at 11 a.m. Hosted by Sally Narr and Wendy Griffin, the event's theme is "A Year of Sacred Spaces and Places." Participants are asked to bring their favorite summer ministry idea and to respond with plans to attend to wendyg@newlifechurchroseville.org. The complete announcement is at "Christian Educators."
Community garden plots
available again at Spirit of Life
Since the weather is warmer, many people's thoughts are turning to raising their own healthful foods. As a  means of reaching out to the community, Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church offers a limited number of garden plots for rent for the season. The 8-by-8 foot raised beds are behind the church, which is located at 14401 Pilot Knob Road in Apple Valley. The rental period is from May 1 to Oct. 31. The fee is $35, but gardeners will receive a $20 refund at the end of the season if their plot is maintained and cleared after the ground freezes. The complete story is at "Garden Plots."
Dayton Avenue offers
invitation to banner dedication
Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Dayton Ave. and Mackubin St. in St. Paul, plans a dedication Sunday, May 21, of its banner that proclaims "Peace be with you" in four languages. Its announcement states, "The banner is an assurance to all our neighbors, particularly the Jewish, Islam and Spanish-speaking communities, that we seek peace and stand with them in this time of hostility and division." The sign is in the languages of English, Hebrew, Arabic and Spanish. The dedication takes place at 11:30 a.m.
Compassionate communication
training retreat planned at Bay Lake
During a three-day immersion experience, beginning Monday, May 22, and ending Thursday morning, May 25, participants in a compassionate communication -- or nonviolent communication -- training retreat for pastors at
Bay Lake Camp near Deerwood, Minn., will discover ways to communicate more  effectively. Titled "Empathy & Honesty: A Compassionate Communication Training Retreat for Pastors," the retreat will offer the opportunity for participants to discover compassionate communication as a means of connecting to God, self and others. There are 12 spots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, at a cost of $150. The retreat is sponsored by the PTCA's Committee on Ministry as part of its mission to support clergy, and underwritten by a generous grant from the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation. The complete announcement is at "Compassionate Communication." Details, including registration, can be found at "Empathy and Honesty."
 AHPC plans next reunion,
potluck
in Woodbury
Former congregants of Arlington Hills Presbyterian Church are planning a reunion and potluck Sunday, June 4, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Woodbury. Participants are asked to bring a salad, side dish, casserole or dessert. Sandwiches will be provided.
MCC presents
opportunity
to support its refugee work
An article in the newsletter of the Minnesota Council of Churches offers an opportunity to support its work in support of refugees. The article noted, "Thanks  to the actions of a federal judge in Hawaii, refugees are continuing to arrive to the United States at least through the month of April as we await further information about Trump's executive order. MCC Refugee Services plans to welcome 14 new refugees from Congo, Somalia, and Burma this month." Noting that financial support is vital to the Council's work with refugees, the article added, "We will continue to welcome new refugees and to serve those who have already made Minnesota their home." Financial support can be made at "Refugee Services."
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Resources, conferences ...
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POAMN offers congregation track
at aging, spirituality conference
Washington Island Forum
features historical-Jesus scholar
John Dominic Crossan, generally regarded as the leading historical Jesus scholar in the world, will be  the featured speaker at the 2017 Washington Island Forum that runs June 26-30 on Washington Island at the tip of Door County, Wis. Crossan is the author of "The Historical Jesus," "Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography," and "The Birth of Christianity, and Who Killed Jesus?" The event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Churches, and Christian Century magazine. Details are at "Washington Island Forum."
Big Tent registration open;
 event runs July 6-8
This summer's Big Tent conference takes place July 6-8 in St. Louis and registration recently opened. The theme of this year's conference is "Race, Reconciliation and the Reformation." The event features plenary events, Bible study, workshops and worship. The three-day event, held on the Washington University campus, will provide a variety of opportunities to engage with the issues facing the church and society today. The registration site is at "Big Tent."
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Service Opportunities ...
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The Wisconsin Council of Churches is seeking a full-time executive director to lead the council as it discerns and embraces God's call to the church in the 21st century. The council seeks a director who will help deepen and expand the common mission and develop new relationships to support its work. The complete announcement is at "Executive Director."
First Presbyterian Church of St. Croix Falls, Wis.,
and First United Presbyterian Church of Baldwin, Wis., are seeking a full-time designated solo pastor. This is a yoked congregation and the person will serve both churches. Interested individuals are asked to contact Kathryn Breitbarth, designated pastor task force chair, at kbreitbarth@comcast.net. The complete announcement is at "Designated Pastor."
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Nelson urges churches
to stand up, speak out
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II is calling on Christian denominations to stand firm on social justice issues and get involved. The stated clerk of the Presbyterian  Church (U.S.A.) gave the Sunday morning message, April 23, to the nearly 1,000 attendees in Washington, D.C.
Nelson told the group the nation is at a critical time and people are afraid. "There is confusion in our land concerning who we are as a nation. We are found on plurality, freedom of religion. We are nation where communities are afraid to wear a head dress, Islamic groups fear being labeled as members of ISIS," Nelson said. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rick Jones can be found at "Standing Up."
CPJ Training Day addresses
racism, materialism, militarism
Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech that provided the foundation for this year's theme at Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day.  Speaking at the Riverside Church in New York, King provided a connection between the war in Vietnam with the civil rights movement. King said there needed to be a "radical revolution in values" in order to address what he called the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism. Speakers and workshop leaders at CPJ Training Day, told attendees last week that the issues addressed in April 1967 are still relevant in April 2017. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rick Jones can be found at "Racism Remains."
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