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Confronting Racism: Notes in Transition
Every now and then we're reminded we need to confront racism. When I shared some months ago that confronting racism is among mission emphases of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I heard indirectly concern that such a theme wasn't or isn't relevant to the mission of many of our congregations. At our winter stated meeting Ray Jones, acting director of Theology, Formation, and Evangelism for the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA), was our guest; he spoke of the seamless way in which our testimony about Jesus is linked with confronting racism and eradicating poverty. PMA is encouraging congregations and mid-councils to become Matthew 25 churches and presbyteries.
I might not be an obvious person to make the case. My family and I have long benefited from the system as it is. I had ancestors who compelled enslaved persons to cross the country with them and to carve a plantation out of Mississippi Delta swampland. Though members of my family told of how hard life was during the Depression - my father heard his mother weep over how she was going to feed her children - the color of our skin never kept us from having opportunity to succeed in education and in professional life. This is not everyone's experience. Meanwhile, I remained aware that Martin Luther King had been assassinated not just seven miles from where I was in Memphis (this was in 1968, the first school year in which the school I attended was integrated, at first only in token degree).
White Southern Presbyterians, who had been members of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. (formerly the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America), lacked appreciation for the experience of African-Americans, freed from slavery, who became members of churches organized in many cases by Northern Presbyterian mission workers. These separate experiences contributed to tensions that surrounded reunion in 1983, particularly in the Carolinas and Virginia. As Synod of the Mid-Atlantic executive and stated clerk Warren Lesane reminds us, our synod has the greatest African-American membership of any in the denomination.
Confront racism as you have opportunity. Reject criticism of others based on skin color or national origin. Celebrate the diversity we enjoy, and seek opportunities to enrich your personal experience in this regard. Remember we follow Jesus, a homeless first century Palestinian Jew who ordinarily spoke Aramaic and preferred the company of those society despised. In Jesus we see and we know God.
Grace & Peace,
Steve Scott
Transitional General Presbyter
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August Presbytery Meeting Preparations
Members of Presbytery, Clerks of Session, and moderators of Presbytery committees/commissions should observe the following calendar with regard to the upcoming meeting of Presbytery:
- July 17: Deadline for docket requests (including media) and display requests (to Laurie Scott by email or phone)
- August 2: Deadline for packet materials, including docket reports and advertisements (to Laurie Scott by email - in MSWord format, please)
- August 9: Deadline for media to be submitted electronically to Laurie Scott
- August 9: Child care requests due to Laurie Scott
- August 9: Presbytery Packet online
Clerks of Session (and clergy) should ensure that elder commissioner(s) are elected prior to the August 17 meeting of Presbytery at Jamestown.
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Nominations for 2020 General Assembly Commissioners
Salem's Committee on Representation is now receiving nominations for Commissioners to the 224th General Assembly, to take place June 20-27, 2020 in Baltimore. We anticipate sending four Minister commissioners and four Ruling Elder commissioners - and hope to identify a Young Adult Advisory Delegate as well. Nominating forms are on the Presbytery website through the link below. Forms must be submitted by October 1, 2019; early submissions are welcomed!
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Healthy Boundaries Training
Learn about Healthy Boundaries events and click the link below for a listing of 2019 events with complete Registration links.
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July Prayers for:
International Hunger Task Group
Peace & Justice Task Group
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Special Events
Please be in prayer for the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, held at Purdue University, July 16-20. Click the link below for the triennium website.
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The Book of Common Worship, Flash Drive Edition
The Book of Common Worship, Flash Drive Edition (Single-User License)* is now available! $50.
This helpful resource contains electronic files from the Book of Common Worship to make worship planning and bulletin preparation easier and more effective. The flash drive contains a PDF file with extensive links to chapters, sections, and individual services that allow for easier reading, searching, and browsing. This edition also contains Microsoft Word files for each of the services and commentaries found in the Book of Common Worship. Services are arranged in separate files for the ease of bulletin creation and copying and pasting.
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Mission Leaders In Salem Presbytery
Salem Presbytery is compiling a list of "Mission Leaders" in each of our congregations. We seek contact information for mission committee chairs, mission coordinators (staff or volunteer), or those excited about the mission of the church. Click the link below to add your info.
Add Your Information Here
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Become a Peace and Justice Church!
Become and Peace and Justice church! Let your Salem Presbytery Peace and Justice Task Force help, inspire, equip, and send you on a journey. Contact Frank Dew at the link below.
Email Frank Dew
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2019 Prayer Calendar
Click the link below for the 2019 Prayer Calendar for Congregations and Ministries of Salem Presbytery.
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Other Special Events
45th National Black Presbyterian Caucus Convention and
Mid-Atlantic APCE Retreat are among the things you don't want to miss.
Deadline to register is coming soon.
Are you hosting a special event *(concert, speaker, training, etc.) at a time OTHER than on Sunday morning worship? Submit your event through the link below to be included on our SPECIAL EVENTS Calendar.
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Meeting Calendar Available
Don't forget to use our Calendar of Meetings for planning your 2019 monthly agenda.
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Hunger Action
Become a Hunger Action Congregation! Check the links below for more info.
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Church Anniversaries
If your congregation is celebrating a significant anniversary (25, 50, 75, 100, etc.), please let the presbytery office know.
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Board of Pensions Call to Health
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PCUSA News and Announcements
Click below for the latest news and announcements from the PCUSA.
PCUSA News
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Salem Presbytery | PO Box 1753, 3950 Clemmons Rd., Clemmons NC 27012
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