Ministers, Educators, Administrators and Clerks, please share this information with your congregation.  
January 30, 2020
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Westminster to Host Presbytery on February 15
The  104th stated meeting  of Presbytery of the James  will occur on Saturday, February 15, at Westminster Church in Charlottesville.

February 15, 2020
Westminster Church
400 Rugby Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Registration: 8:00 a.m.
Meeting: 9:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Lunch will be provided on a free-will offering basis with a suggested contribution of $10. Net proceeds of offering will be given to The Haven day shelter in Charlottesville to support their hunger program. The planned menu is Brunswick stew, cornbread, and chocolate cake; a vegetarian stew alternative will also be available. 

Announcement notices will be displayed on a TV in the common area. Suggestions for announcements must be sent by February 10 to Kelley Hope , communications specialist.

The presbytery packet is attached below.
Section I
Registration and Docket

(11 pages, 671 KB)
Section II
Reports

(68 pages, 2 MB)
What is a Commissioned Ruling Elder?
Ruling elders , together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament (teaching elders), exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. ( Book of Order , G-2.0301)

A  commissioned ruling elder  (also known as a commissioned pastor) is a ruling elder who has undergone training and received authorization by their presbytery to serve a congregation in some aspects of ministry that ordinarily are covered by a minister of the Word and Sacrament. This includes preaching, sacraments, weddings, funerals, and moderating the session.

Commissioned ruling elders (CRE) serve in the place of a minister (teaching elder) where a congregation is not in a position to establish a contract or call with a minister. The steps to becoming a CRE include endorsement by the church's session, partnership with an ordained minister mentor, and commissioning by Presbytery of the James.  

In order to be considered for authorization as a CRE, a candidate must have been elected, examined, and ordained as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for at least one year.

For more information about POJ's process for commissioning ruling elders, review Committee on Ministry Manual Appendix Y: Becoming a Commissioned Ruling Elder  (PDF).
Increase Your Knowledge and Discipleship through Online Courses at UPSem
Pathways to Learning and Leadership is a program of online courses offered by Union Presbyterian Seminary. The Pathways program is ideal for individuals seeking to become commissioned ruling elders (CRE). However, course are open to all church members interested in enhancing their knowledge and discipleship.

Registration is open now for these courses beginning in February:
· Mission & Evangelism, led by Dr. John Vest, beginning February 24
· Polity & Administration, led by Rev. Carson Rhyne, beginning February 27

Each course is five weeks long and costs $100.
Other News
Choose a Sustainable Witness for Holy Week
Make the loving choice for Palm Sunday, April 5: Choose Eco-Palms for your worship service. Eco-Palms members sort, package, and sell the palms themselves — not via middlemen — so more of the money paid for the palms stays with the people who worked the hardest to provide them. Many of the people employed by Eco-Palms are women who use the extra income to invest in their children’s education and health. In addition, harvesters collect the palms in ways that keep plants healthy and limit deforestation. In 2019, nearly 1,100 PC(USA) congregations waved Eco-Palms on Palm Sunday. Order by March 13.
Create Links of Love with Giving Campaign 
An initiative this year is helping to make giving through the Presbyterian Giving Catalog more visible. Congregations are encouraged to provide paper links to givers and create a chain of links to display in their church. Then, they can send the chain to PC(USA) to be joined with links from other Presbyterians for display at the 224th General Assembly. The links remind us how our gifts connect us to other Presbyterians and those in need around the world.
Stated Meetings
Feb 15
Presbytery of the James
Stated Meeting
Westminster PC, Charlottesville
June 16
Presbytery of the James Stated Meeting
Salisbury PC, Midlothian
Overture deadline: April 21 at noon
Packet online: June 2
Oct 17
Presbytery of the James Stated Meeting
Orange PC, Orange
Overture deadline: Aug 20 at noon
Packet online: Oct 1
Calendar
February
2 -------- Keeping Hope Alive for Haiti, Ginter Park PC
6-8 ----- Vacation Bible School Curriculum Fair, Resource Center
7-9 ----- Confirmation Retreat, Camp Hanover
23 ------ Youth Day, Southminster PC

March
21-22 -- High School Retreat, Camp Hanover
29 ------ Youth Day, Camp Hanover

April
25-26 -- Middle School Retreat, Camp Hanover
26 ------ Youth Day/Camp Fun Day, Camp Hanover
30 ------ Stronger Together Older Adult Conference, Montreat

May
2 -------- Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering

June
20-27 -- 224th General Assembly, Baltimore
Find details for these events and more online .
Jobs
Churches throughout POJ are looking for new talent. Find information about opportunities on POJ's job board . Searching for candidates? Submit a job.

- Musician/accompanist at Madison Presbyterian Church


The national offices of the  Presbyterian Church (USA) A Corporation , based in Louisville, Kentucky, also have job opportunities. Find more information.

- Chief financial officer/chief operating officer (ASG)
- Senior translator Korean (ASG)
- Senior translator Spanish (ASG)
- Editor I – part time (PMA)
- Program assistant (mission specialist for Asia and the Pacific) (PMA)
- Program assistant (mission specialist for financial aids for services) (PMA)
- Mission associate, international property (PMA)
- Associate for African American intercultural congregational support (PMA)
- Associate for inter-religious engagement (PMA)
- Associate for pastoral formation (PMA)
- Director of history and records/PHS executive director (OGA)
Office Telephone (804) 262-2074