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Our Mission:
To identify and strengthen leaders
so that every congregation
makes new and mature disciples for Jesus Christ.
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Did you know the Presbytery of Tampa Bay has a Facebook page? Please "like" and "follow" us there for information and inspiration in between issues of the eNews!
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We are living in the midst of two pandemics
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And hurricane season. Oh, and did you see the story about the giant killer toads in South Florida?
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It's a lot. But, we can get through them. With God's help.
One of the pandemics, COVID-19, has been front and center in our lives in Tampa Bay since mid-March. According to the "Health Metrics" tab on
Florida's COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard, the trend in documented new cases overall and the percent positive tests has been moving up for the last two weeks or so statewide and in at least both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties where most of our churches are. Both the White House and Florida guidelines for reopening call for a two-week downward trend on either of those metrics before moving to the next phase, and we continue to encourage pastors and sessions to consider those indicators carefully as they plan for re-entry to buildings and re-engaging in in-person worship .
The other pandemic, racism, has been lurking in our communities all along and erupted into the national forefront following the killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, GA, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY, and George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN. People may disagree on causes and solutions, but across the theological and political spectrum people recognize that we face bigger challenges in addressing racism than many of us want to admit -- to ourselves if not also to each other.
Just before the first local safer-at-home orders came out in March, the Coordinating Team (CT) had a daylong retreat at Cedarkirk in which we focused much of our discussion on what it means, as a Matthew 25 denomination, to come to grips with dismantling structural racism (one of the three focuses of the Matthew 25 invitation). At its meeting on Thursday afternoon this week, the CT approved formally presenting the following recommendation for Presbytery action at the August 27 Stated Meeting:
The Presbytery of Tampa Bay commits itself to being a Matthew 25 Presbytery, putting intentional effort into each of the three focuses of the Matthew 25 Invitation:
- Building congregational vitality by challenging congregations and their members to deepen and energize their faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples actively engaged with their community, seeing new disciples engaged in ministry and longstanding believers develop in faith as the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared in word and deed.
- Dismantling structural racism by fearlessly applying our faith to advocate and break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color.
- Eradicating systemic poverty by acting on our beliefs and working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.
Those descriptions are taken from a Matthew 25 brochure we distributed in the packet for the August Presbytery meeting last year; you can download it again by
clicking here, and look for links to more Matthew 25 resources below. This summer, CT and other commissions in the Presbytery will also be exploring how best to engage in conversation and training about racism not only this summer but beyond.
With racism and racial justice in mind, this eNews includes links to recent PC(USA) stories of responses to current events and a new webpage of Racial Justice Resources on the PC(USA) website. You'll also find a link below to a video of a powerful service of Lament, Confession, and Contemplation featuring a number of different voices from across this presbytery that we offered via Zoom and Facebook on Thursday evening, June 4.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 also continues to demand our attention, so you'll also find links to recent issues of the eNews with resources and guidance from denominational sources and public health officials and organizations. We're also including info on a new set of resources we learned of right after the last eNews that churches still in their planning phases may find helpful in refining their plans as they move forward.
And in the midst of both pandemics other work of the church continues. More on that below, too -- including information on the upcoming General Assembly, Cedarkirk at Home, and a celebration to smile about at the end of the newsletter!
Blessings,
Bill
Rev. William A. Wildhack III
Stated Clerk and Manager of Communications
(813) 868-4800, opt. 2
+ + +
My work---and this newsletter---is supported by per capita funds from congregations in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, which also help unite all Presbyterians in sharing God’s love through mission and ministry. Thank you!
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Conversations that began between Easter and Pentecost will continue in new ways
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You're invited to join a Summer Discussion Cohort
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Now, perhaps more than ever, we are seeking meaningful connections with our friends, colleagues, and even strangers as we seek to process, learn, and reflect on all that has happened and is happening in our world and in our church.
To that end, in July and August we would like to invite and encourage you to take part in virtual cohort groups across the Presbytery. This opportunity will bring small groups together for an hour each week for eight weeks to engage with, learn from, and nurture one another.
At the center of our conversations will be the call from Jesus in Matthew 25 to be present with one another and present with God’s beloved people so that our faith might be enlivened and sustained during this season. Matthew 25 sits at the center of our work together as a primary initiative of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the PC(USA).
You can read more about
"Matthew 25 in the PC(USA):
A bold vision and invitation
" (including resources in English,
Spanish, and
Korean) by
clicking here.
Discussion guides for these cohort gatherings will be provided.
Please encourage church members and leaders to participate in this opportunity to care for one another across the presbytery. It is our prayer that this time is fruitful and life-giving in all the ways we seek to be the church together.
If you have questions or would like to know more, please contact Libby Shannon at libby@pbty.com
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Advocating for Racial Justice is NOT a new cause for the PC(USA) . . .
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. . . but it is an ongoing journey or learning, re-learning, forgetting, and learning again
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From the link below:
"One good place to start is by taking the
21-Day Racial Justice Challenge
, which is well suited to individuals, churches and mid councils. The challenge invites us to do something every day to raise awareness about the perniciousness of racism and encourage action in response to that awareness. The PC(USA) has joined several nonprofits, organizations and school systems in adapting the challenge for our use."
It's called a "challenge" for a reason; it's not easy. Learn more, and find the
Challenge, by
clicking here.
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Voices from across the church have been speaking out and offering resources
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Recent stories featured by Presbyterian News Service:
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- Bobby Musengwa, Pastor of Maximo Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg and Vice Moderator of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay participated in creating the statement and produced the video linked from this story.
- Presbytery of Tampa Bay Coach and Coordinator Patrice Hatley is among the leaders in this video.
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Presbytery of Tampa Bay Service of Lament, Confession, and Contemplation
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Voices from across the Presbytery reflect on recent deaths and violence
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This service was held on Thursday, June 4, 2020, following recent killings of Black men and women by or in the name of civil authorities in several states and nationwide protests in response to those killings. Portions of the service were based on the Confession of Belhar in the PC(USA) Book of Confessions.
You can read Pastor Loli Reiter's welcome and introduction and watch a recording of the service (starting during the opening sentences just before the opening prayer by Chaplain Jenny Sumner Carswell) on the Presbytery's Facebook page by
clicking on this link. If you're not on Facebook and would like to view the video, send us a note at
info@pbty.com and let us know.
For more about the Belhar Confession, download a copy and study guide by
clicking here.
The "Belhar Banner" shown here was designed by the Prayer Shawl Group at First Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge, TN. You can read their full description of it on the church's
Banner Page
.
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Re-entry to church buildings and re-engaging in in-person worship is beginning
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Please share your plans for us -- and your struggles, too!
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We've heard from several churches about their plans for re-entry to buildings and re-engaging in in-person worship while seeking to mitigate and minimize the risk to participants from COVID-19. But, we'd like to hear from more of you!
Please share copies of your plans with us to help us answer questions from churches in the presbytery about what other churches around the presbytery are doing. When you do so, let us know if your session is willing to let us share your plan directly with other churches or just refer to "one church we've heard from has decided to . . . ."
Stated Clerk Bill Wildhack will be gathering them for use among our staff in responding to questions as they arise in conversations with other churches as they continue to work on their plans.
You can send copies of (or web links to) your plans, congregational surveys, and other tools you've used in explaining your plans to your congregations to
info@pbty.com with the "RE-ENTRY" at the start of the subject line.
Thank you!
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Several churches across the presbytery have posted their plans online
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Please feel free to contact those churches for more on how they got to where they are; please do not just copy-and-paste their plan onto your church or ministry without some more careful attention.
One church, First, Brandon, has posted a link to an online survey as part of its decision-making and planning. You can view a PDF of it by
clicking here (but please don't go to their website and fill out their survey -- unless you attend worship there!)
Here are links to updates and plans on a few church websites:
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Still moving towards making a plan? Here's help
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You are not alone, and
please take all the time you need to make a good plan for your ministry setting as leaders continue "not simply to reflect the will of the people, but rather to seek together to find and represent the will of Christ."
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For those who are still moving towards making plans for re-entry into sanctuaries and fellowship halls, these two resources from PCUSA are excellent starting points:
These two documents from PC(USA) remain great starting points:
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We also learned of a great resource right after the last eNews went out -- not only for making a plan but also for reviewing plans along the way
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From Ministry Connections Consultant John Reiter
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Zoom Bible Study is a thing now -- and it looks like it's going to be a part of the future, too
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Many of our churches are offering Zoom Bible studies or devotional gatherings as we think about emerging from quarantine and offering some sort of hybrid model (physically present and online) of the church experience. As part of this new blended reality, we will need to pay particular attention to communications, expectations (staff and members), and how to be inclusive of the entire community of faith.
Below are several tips to consider for carrying out Zoom Bible studies. Please know that I am available (
john@ptby.com) to help talk through technical possibilities (with all experience levels) and opportunities for new ministry in the face of the unique obstacles in this hybrid time.
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Ten Tips for Zoom Bible Study
- To maintain a secure meeting, make sure you are using an updated version of Zoom. Setup your meeting as Private and require a password. Select the Waiting Room option so that you can admit your members as they join and avoid unwanted participants.
- Assign a moderator for the meeting. This person can act as Host or Co-Host to admit participants from the waiting room and to monitor the Chat area.
- If you have an agenda or materials you would like to share with the group, you can share your screen. You might also consider providing a moderator with your materials and they can share their screen while you continue leading the class.
- Shorten your content to allow for more discussion (folks are looking for more social interaction these days).
- Consider recording the Bible Study to share online later so others can participate later.
- Use the “Gallery View” when you have a small number of people.
- Mute all participants until you want to enable sharing.
- Minimize lighting behind you and try to illuminate your face.
- Use a laptop or stable phone in the horizontal orientation and make sure you look at the device’s camera.
- Set ground rules at the start of your meeting so that all participants know what to expect.
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Links to recent issues of the eNews with other COVID-19 related information are here
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. . . including letters from Patrice (4/29) and Bill (5/13) and
links to resources for leadership and congregational use
in starting, continuing, and revisiting conversations about how to begin and carry out plans for re-entry to in-person worship.
We've worked hard to gather resources, guidance, and real-world experiences to help inform your discussions with congregational leaders, members, and others you encounter in your ministry in whatever your setting for ministry may be. Click below for more:
If you haven't already reviewed them, this would be a good time to do so -- or even to take another look!
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Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control
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The CDC has created a
Social Media Toolkit
with messages and graphics for use on social media profiles and web pages. You can use the resources their in congregational communications and on church Facebook and web pages to help reinforce public health messages about mitigating and limiting the spread of COVID-19.
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The official
Interim Guidance for Communities of Faith was released on Friday, May 22, and revised slightly on Saturday, May 23. The final version is substantially the same as earlier drafts circulating on the internet earlier in the month; the most notable changes appear to have been made in response to perceived First Amendment concerns about speaking too specifically to religious organizations.
Most of those topics were also already addressed in resources we've shared from PC(USA) and other faith-based organizations over the last few weeks (see links to prior eNews issues above).
The CDC's website changes from time to time, but these links were current at the time this email was sent on Friday May 29.
For those who have been following our eNews and
Facebook posts, there should be few surprises here.
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It's June, so it's Hurricane Season, too
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Hurricane Preparedness During a Pandemic
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From the link: Preparing for a hurricane can be a stressful time in any year. But add to that the pandemic environment we are currently in and stress can go through the roof! As we try to keep our roofs intact (both literally and figuratively) let’s look at some of the ways the pandemic will make this hurricane season more challenging and what we can do now to prepare.
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Also in June: The 224th General Assembly
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The 224th General Assembly will be livestreaming on June 19, 26, and 27
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From the official 224th General Assembly
webpage
:
Presbyterians will not gather for the assembly in person in Baltimore in June, but the assembly will convene on Friday, June 19, 2020 to elect a new Moderator and Vice-Moderator or Co-Moderators, and to consider and act on a limited list of critical business items.
These sessions will be conducted online, hosted in a secure environment. Commissioners, advisory delegates and corresponding members will join the sessions from their homes, offices or other safe spaces using their own computer, tablet or smart phone. As in a physical General Assembly, commissioners will have voice and vote and advisory delegates will be polled before the commissioner vote; corresponding members will have voice.
These sessions will be live streamed for the many others who are interested.
Click on the image of the docket for the schedule and visit
https://ga-pcusa.org/
for the latest information.
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Online Worship Opportunities continue around the Presbytery of Tampa Bay
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Many churches in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay are offering worship experiences — in a variety of formats — online both on Sunday and on other days of the week
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Our listing of online worship opportunities has outgrown the eNews!
In the interest of keeping the eNews a little shorter and easier to read, we'll be updating the list on the Presbytery website and on Facebook from now on. Here's where you can find it:
If you’re at one of the churches in this Presbytery offering online worship and don’t see your service listed at the links — or see an error — please send an email to info@pbty.com for adding to later updates.
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Updates from Covenant and Mission Partners
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We are re-imagining what a week of camp looks like this summer by providing our new
CEDARKIRK AT HOME program!
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Matt Shick, Interim Executive Director, writes:
Cedarkirk at Home Brings Summer Camp to Your Living Room
Even though we can’t be together physically this summer, we are sending fun and faith-forming camp experiences to our campers!
Cedarkirk at Home combines a box full of camp goodies, curriculum, activity supplies, and surprises, with virtual small group Bible studies and activity sessions led by Cedarkirk counselors. In this way, we can still build our unique camp community, deepen personal connections to God, learn from one another, and have all sorts of silly camp fun even though we can’t be together at camp.
If your church is struggling with what kind of summer program or VBS to provide your young people, this could be a unique opportunity for you! Your children and youth could sign up for the same week, participate in the program with one another, and make some new friends, too!
Our theme, LET’S TALK, will explore all the ways we can connect to God through prayer, and discover what communication with God has to do with renewal, guidance, and change!
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Please contact Cedarkirk with any questions.
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Thank you for your support of the ministry at Cedarkirk!
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Back-to-School: Preparing for the New Normal
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We do not know what the fall will look like for our children and youth. Whatever may come, whether it is distance learning or traditional classroom work, we want to prepare our children and youth for a successful academic year. You can make a difference by providing the tools and supplies they need to start their school year with optimism and hope!
Because we are working this year with limited workforce, you can help us to meet the goal of having 75% of the backpacks and supplies by: Monday, July 6th, 2020 and 100% of the backpacks and supplies by: Monday, July 20th, 2020.
We encourage individuals to use Amazon Smile: we get both the supplies directly to our front door and a portion of your purchase as a donation. Win, Win!
After July 20th, you can send your monetary donations designated to Back-to-School via PayPal at paypal.me/bethelfarmworker or by sending your check to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry 18240 Hwy 301 S Wimauma, FL 33598.
To see the full School Supplies Needs List, just
click here
on the image!
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June Glad Tidings and more from PW
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Presbyterian Women in Tampa Bay offer local and national updates
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Be Happy, Calm, Loving, Healthy, Awesome.
Robin
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Online education opportunity
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Audire: The Central Florida Foundation for Spiritual Direction, Inc.
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Rev. Deb Belusa sends:
Orientation Day for the Audire program is scheduled for Saturday, July 18. 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom due to the pandemic and our desire to be sure that everyone remains safe.
Audire is a 3 year formation program that trains people for the ministry of spiritual direction and provides listening and companioning skills which are beneficial to many ministries. Orientation Day is designed for those interested in Audire to provide information and answer questions about the program. A new term begins in September.
More information about Audire can be obtained at
www.audirespiritualdirection.org. Registration for the Orientation Day can be done through the web site at www.audirespiritualdirection.org or by contacting Diane Francisco at 321-254-1876 or DRFran09@aol.com. Once registration is received, the registrant will be contacted and also issued an invitation to the Zoom session.
NOTE:
The flyer
refers to a pre-Covid plan for in-person orientation, but the other information is still relevant.
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And a celebration to smile about
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St. John Presbyterian Church in Tampa ordained and installed new leaders during virtual worship
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Rev. Ginny Ellis, Transitional Pastor at St. John, writes:
We gathered hand-prints of 21 elders and ministers from St. John church and from our presbytery. We made capes of felt in Presbyterian blue and placed handprints on each, the prints in reds, oranges and yellows of the Holy Spirit's flame. Our new elders had been trained, examined and approved by the Session, and they had answered the Constitutional questions. On Pentecost, in our almost empty sanctuary, during a live-streamed worship service we placed these handprint mantles on the shoulders of Cheryl and Angela, as they bowed for the ordination prayer.
It was a powerful and prayerful moment, as we acknowledged the presence of the Holy Spirit in our worship and in the laying on of handprints.
Read more about the ministry of St. John Presbyterian Church in Tampa on the church
website
or
Facebook page
.
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Remember, there's always something new to see on our Facebook page and more at the Presbytery of Tampa Bay website. Click the buttons below to start exploring!
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Be sure to visit and follow us on Facebook, too!
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Our next regular issue should come out the week of June 22, so send ideas to me by then, please!
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! -- Bill
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