Red and Blue in the Same Pew . . .

June 5, 2017

Inside this Edition

Save The Date: November Gathering

Last Clerk of Session Meeting

PCUSA Denominational Rolls and Statistics Available OnLine, All Year

Stewardship Webinar: Hate Talking About Money and What to Do About It

Central PC Screening "Walking While Black"

Franklin Presbyterian Church Rain Garden Workshop

Knox Presbyterian Church Celebrating 87th Anniversary

Music of Three Faiths at Se cond PC

Synod Men's Conference focuses on Disabilities

Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference

Tenants' and Users' Liability Insurance Policy

Meetings

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

Committee on Ministry will meet at 10am on Wednesday, June 7

Spiritual Leader Development Commission will meet at 1pm on Wednesday, June 7

Cuba Partnership will meet a 1pm on Wednesday, June 7

Trustees will meet at 9am on Tuesday, June 13

Committee on Preparation for Ministry will meet at 3pm on June 23, Catonsville

Steering Cabinet will meet at 1pm on Wednesday, June 28

New Financial Administrator

Join us in welcoming Chuck Brawner to the Presbytery of Baltimore. Chuck will fully assume the position of Financial Administrator upon the departure of long-time employee Judi Forrester, who permanently retires from the Presbytery on June 30.

Chuck works part-time and -- for now -- is available from 9:00am to 4:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Wednesdays. Laura Mullen, the Presbytery's book keeper, will address financial issues at all other times, except Fridays.

Red
and Blue

in the Same Pew . . .

by Paul Seeback

"As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:27-29).

One of the foundational principles in the PC(USA) Book of Order is unity in diversity. In it we recognize that God brings together people of different races, ethnicities, ages, genders, abilities and theological convictions. Sometimes they sit right next to each other in church. These are the purple churches, mixtures of conservatives and progressives who gather to worship each week.

Individuals and churches across the denomination seek to be faithful to the gospel. But they don't always agree on the best way to do it. Christ calls people from the right and left, the North and South, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party to be his community. Princeton Theological Seminary's president, the Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes, says that the church is not defined by culture or its boundaries, but by its center - Jesus Christ.

He adds that agreement isn't always necessary for a church to be faithful. "Parishioners have to get over the idea that their pastors expect them to agree with their sermons or editorials," Barnes said. "The pastor is not the center."

Nor is any political agenda at the center. In many churches, Republicans and Democrats are baptized in the same font and eat at the same Communion table. They worship the same Christ and share the love of God even when they don't agree.

"We can have diverse and even conflicting convictions about politics and the best way to pursue social justice," Barnes said. But those differences shouldn't be more important than Jesus.

"The center will still hold," he said, "if it is Christ."

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Author, Paul Seebeck is a communications strategist for the PC(USA) Presbyterian Mission Agency. This article was reprinted, with permission, from the May 20, 2017 on-line edition of Presbyterian Today.

To read more on this subject, click here . . .

taff Directory

Take Note/Act Now

Presbytery and Church-wide

SAVE THE DATE for the NOVEMBER GATHERING!

What is your congregation doing to address some of the root causes of racism, classism or poverty? The November presbytery meeting on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Harundale Presbyterian Church will focus on some of the ways our congregations are addressing these issues and how your congregation can get involved. At that Gathering, there will be a room dedicated to displays showcasing the ways our congregations are impacting their communities. Workshops will present some of the models our congregations are using to bring hope and healing to their communities.

We are letting you know about this many months in advance because this can only happen with your help. Would you like to set up a display about a ministry in which your congregation is involved? Is your church addressing root causes of racism, classism or poverty in creative ways that other churches could learn from through a workshop? If so, you can reserve a spot for a display or suggest a workshop topic by contacting Debbie Schmidt: [email protected]. The deadline for workshop submissions is September 15, 2017 and for display space, Oct. 13.

Minutes & Rolls Reviews Now Scheduled!

Howard County - Thursday June 8, 7pm

First Presbyterian Church of Howard County

9325 Presbyterian Circle,

Columbia, MD 21043


	Click here for details

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PCUSA Denominational Rolls & Statistics On-Line: churches and presbyteries can now access the year-end statistics online reporting system . To access the site you'll use the same we bsite previously used, http://oga.pcusa.org/stats . The Portal replaced the eMinister link. Use the same username and password you previously used for eMinister and statistics. You'll find a helpful user guide in the welcome area. Go to the Onli ne Statistics Entry system.

Churches

Central Presbyterian Church in Towson will again feature a screening of "Walking While Black" at 7pm on Monday June 12. This showing will also include discussion with Chief Melvin Russell , commander of the Baltimore Police Department's Community Collaboration Division. For details click Walking While Black .

click here to learn more

Please join Knox Presbyterian Church in our celebrating our 87^th anniversary beginning at 10:30am on Sunday, July 16. Our theme is "Transformed and Renewed to Do Great Things in Christ " and our speaker is the Rev. Michael L. Moore, Pastor. A picnic lunch will follow the worship service. Dress is casual.

Second Presbyterian Church will host "Words and Music of Three Faiths" at 7pm on Sunday, June 18. the event features music by the famous Peabody Consort accompanied by poetic readings from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions. This event is presented in collaboration with the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies (ICJS). For details, click Second Presbyterian Church.

Other

The 2017 Synod Men's Conference entitled "What Does The Lord Require" will include discussion about those who are disabled in support of Presbyterians for Disability Concerns. The conference, held July 14-16 at Massanetta Springs, VA., costs $40 for first-time attendees. For details, click Synod Men's Conference.

SAVE THE DATE!! Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference Sept. 25 -27, 2017 at St. Pete Beach, Florida

Trade Winds Grand Resort. Click Stewardship Kaleidoscope.

What is a TULIP? TULIP is a Tenants' and Users' Liability Insurance Policy, also known as "Events Coverage." It is used by institutions who permit "third parties" to use their facilities for specific events. It protects both the "facility user" (e.g., event host or visiting organization) and the institution against claims by third parties who may be injured or lose property as a result of participating in an event. Click here to learn more.