Celebrating Resiliency and Recovery in the
Presbytery of Missouri River Valley
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Committee is organizing a presbytery wide work week March 15 - 21. This is the one year anniversary of the initial flooding in the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley. There are work areas in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa where help is needed. Call Sheri Sessions at 402-657-9256 for more information and to make a reservation.
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The Ministry Lab Hires New Director
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The Ministry Lab—an ecumenical organization that serves United Methodist, United Church of Christ, and Presbyterian churches in Minnesota—has hired a new executive director to resource and engage congregations and leaders around innovative practices and fresh approaches to faith formation.
Rev. Emily Meyer, an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), began the position in mid-December. She succeeds Lizabeth Bougie, who retired after nearly eight years in the position.
“I hope to help congregations do things on purpose and do them well in their particular context,” she said. “That doesn’t mean it has to be shiny or professional. It does mean using the resources you’ve got to the best of your ability.”
Consultations with Meyer can be conducted by phone, email (
info@rcc-mn.org), or video conference—and physical resources can still be mailed to churches unable to obtain them directly from The Ministry Lab.
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PC(USA) Stated Clerk and GA Co-Moderator to visit presbyteries
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Presbytery of Milwaukee Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
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Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the PC(USA), will be the keynote speaker and worship leader at the February 4, 2020, Presbytery Gathering at Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church.
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Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, GA Co-Moderator, leading "Will You Be My Neighbor" at the February 15, 2020, presbytery meeting in Redwood Falls.
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Rops Elected to UN Delegation for PW
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United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
Judy Rops has been selected to attend the Presbyterian Women (PW) delegation to the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) March 9-20, 2020, at the United Nations in New York City.
“This is a rare and wonderful opportunity,” said Rops. “I have been told that no one from South Dakota has ever attended. I am truly humbled and honored to represent my church (FPC Sioux Falls), my local PW, my Presbytery and my Synod. I look forward to sharing my experiences in the future.”
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Stated Clerk urges Presbyterian churches to
enforce sexual misconduct policies
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J. Herbert Nelson says churches need to do more to protect the vulnerable
Rick Jones | Office of the General Assembly - January 22, 2020
LOUISVILLE-The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is urging churches to do more to protect vulnerable people from sexual abuse. The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II,
has sent a letter to the church
, reminding leaders of all councils to approve sexual misconduct policies.
“While we as a denomination have talked about providing a safe space for individuals to live, work, and play while carrying out the mission of God in Christ, our sexual misconduct policies have not always been effective in protecting vulnerable persons among us,” the letter states. “Tragically, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has sometimes failed to listen to the long-silenced voices of survivors of sexual misconduct by church leaders.”
The General Assembly of the PC(USA) approved a number of policies related to sexual misconduct in the 1990s. The 222nd General Assembly (2016) appointed the Safe and Sacred Task Force to discuss ways to help congregations implement child/youth and vulnerable adult protection policies.
Nelson writes that the prevention of sexual abuse and the protection of the vulnerable needs to be a focus throughout the denomination.
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Work Smarter, Not Harder:
Gretchen Rubin's The Four Tendencies
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Like many of us, I like to imagine myself as more productive and generative than I tend to be. I spend time crafting detailed to-do lists, I set myself up for success by buying new pens or cleaning supplies or workout clothing, and most importantly, I give myself dedicated time to get things done. However, more often than I’d like, my to-do list sits untouched and the time ticks by without me completing those tasks. I grow frustrated with myself, blame myself for being lazy or unmotivated, and begin to dread writing yet another list. Through it all, I have the sense that I am working against myself in trying to get tasks done, even tasks I value.
Of course, we cannot expect to be productive whenever we choose; we are not robots, after all. However, the difficulty that many of us have in completing necessary tasks for work, school, or domestic life leaves us feeling stuck, resentful, and guilt-ridden.
Gretchen Rubin
(“The Four Tendencies”, “Better Than Before”) proposes that people fall into four different approaches to productivity, and that by understanding these “tendencies” we can better motivate ourselves and others.
Upholders
like to check items off a to-do list. They are motivated by their own and others’ expectations and tend to be seen as self-starters, conscientious and dependable. However, they likely have difficulty delegating, are uneasy when goals are not clear, and may be seen as rigid.
Questioners
want to know the “why” behind the task or goal. They enjoy researching tasks and applying logic and reason to their completion. While they are well-suited to developing an innovative and creative solution to a problem, they may get stuck in analysis rather than completing a task.
Obligers
readily respond to the expectations of others but may struggle to meet their own expectations. These people-pleasers genuinely value meeting others’ needs and are seen as reliable and responsive. However, they may have trouble saying “no” and may experience resentment.
Rebels
resist expectations of any kind in favor of freedom, choice, and being authentic. They may be more likely to complete a task in defiance of expectations. While they may be restless and reject routine, their strengths lie in their independent-mindedness and their self-knowledge.
As an Obliger, I now know that I must connect my goals with accountability to others. I sign up for workout classes, I join study groups, and I share my to-do list with my spouse. With the knowledge that I can cater my approach to my productivity style, I am able to let go of guilt and self-blame. Moreover, I can make progress on values-driven goals and build a sense of accomplishment.
Interested in knowing your Tendency?
Click here
to take the online quiz.
For Further Reading: Gretchen Rubin has written extensively on the topics of happiness, habits, and living better. Check out her
website and blog
, or read
The Four Tendencies
and
Better Than Before
to learn more about catering to your Tendency and creating habits that stick.
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Katie Cannon Scholarship Supports Women's
Leadership Development
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By Gail Strange | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — Applications are now being accepted for the
Katie Cannon Scholarship
, sponsored by the Women’s Ministry Fund.
The scholarship supports Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) clergywomen and college women of color as well as other women of color with opportunities for leadership and spiritual development, helping women to develop leadership gifts and to be equipped for even greater service in the PC(USA).
The scholarship, named in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, a pioneer and legend in the PC(USA), awards up to $1,500 to qualifying women for expenses for a leadership development event in the United States.
Individuals must complete a scholarship application and provide supporting documentation to be eligible for funding. Applications will be reviewed by a staff team in the
Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries
ministry area. The deadline for applications is June 1. Scholarships will be announced and disbursed by July 31.
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SDOP Sunday - March 15, 2020
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