News From the Presbytery of Transylvania
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The circuit preacher was an idea of the frontier past. Now it’s the cutting-edge response to shrinking churches.
The Washington Post
by Julie Zauzmer
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UPPER TRACT, W.Va. — The Rev. Jess Felici looked out from her pulpit at her tiny flock.
“Our closing hymn comes from our green books, Number 492,” she said. The pianist struck up the opening notes. And the pastor walked right down the aisle and out the church door, leaving her congregants still singing without her.
She turned on her car. Drove down the gravel road until she reached the paved one. Took the hairpin turns down into the valley and back up the next mountain.
Forty-one minutes later, she walked through the doors of her next church, where the service was well underway. Still wearing her white robes, she waited while a congregant finished reading from the book of Psalms, then took over the pulpit. “I invite you to stand as you are able for a reading of the Gospel,” she picked up seamlessly.
Two churches down and one more to go on this Sunday for Felici.
Jess, 36, and her husband, the Rev. Jason Felici, 33, serve together as the pastors of five churches in one of the most isolated pockets of America. Their weekly acrobatics of military-precision timing and long-distance driving are what it takes to make Sunday church services happen in a place where churchgoers are aging, pews are getting emptier and church budgets are getting smaller.
AD
That makes Appalachia much like the rest of the country when it comes to mainline Protestant churches.
Mainline denominations — the historically indomitable Protestant institutions that were the backbone of early American respectability, including Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches — are now on a precipitous decline.
From 2007 to 2014, according to Pew Research, the number of mainline Protestants in the United States dropped by about 5 million people, leaving just 14 percent of Americans — about 36 million — identifying with any mainline denomination.
One in every five American adults were raised in a mainline church. But less than half of them continue to affiliate as adults.
That has left churches, especially in rural areas, facing the tough question of how to keep serving the members who remain. Some churches simply close. Others merge. And in an increasing number of places, rural and even urban, pastors are bringing back an old-fashioned concept: the circuit preacher.
Read the Full Article
HERE
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From time to time, I receive questions on various issues. If you have a question or something you’ve always wondered about, send them to me at
statedclerk@transypby.org
and I’ll address it in a future newsletter.
Here’s a question I received recently:
Does the session moderator have a vote in session meetings?
A.
Yes
B.
No
C.
It Depends
Answer: C. It depends.
The determining factor in this question is the status of the church’s moderator. The Book of Order determines status in this way: Is the moderator an installed, designated, or associate pastor? Or, is the moderator in a temporary position (stated supply, interim, CRE/CLP, etc.)?
If the moderator is an installed, designated, or associate pastor, then the moderator is a member of session and all session members are entitled to vote. (See G-3.02
The Session
and G-3.0201
Composition and Responsibilities
.) If the moderator serves in a temporary role (interim, etc.), then the moderator is not a member of session and is not entitled to vote.
Blessings,
Rev. Jerry Utt
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DEADLINE COMING SOON!!!
TRI-PRESBYTERY YOUTH RETREAT
REGISTER NOW!
November 8 - 10 2019, @ Cedar Ridge Camp, Louisville, KY
Psalm 121 - "See And Be Seen"
How do others see you? How do we see ourselves? How does God see you?
Featuring Co-Moderator of the PC(USA) Vilarie Cintron-Olivieri, Keynote
All youth 6th - 12th Grade from across Kentucky
Fellowship and Fun with our Presbyterian friends in Kentucky!
CONTACTS: Hannah McIntyre, Danville (hannah@presbydan.org)
COSTS (includes listed meals, all activities, tee shirt):
Full weekend (two nights, Breakfast, lunch, dinner Saturday; breakfast, lunch Sunday) $70
One night: lunch, dinner Saturday, breakfast, lunch Sunday: $50
Daytime only: Lunch, dinner Saturday, lunch Sunday: $30
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Kentucky Council of Churches Annual Assembly Registration is now Open!
October 24-25
First Baptist Church, Morehead, KY
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RECLAIMING JESUS!
We are living through perilous and polarizing times as a nation, with a dangerous crisis of moral and political leadership at the highest levels of our government and in our churches.
It is time to be followers of Jesus before anything else—nationality, political party, race, ethnicity, gender, geography—our identity in Christ precedes every other identity. We pray that our nation will see Jesus’ words in us. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
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Church Openings and Other Jobs
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There are a number of Pastoral Opportunities available in the Presbytery. If you know of anyone who might be interested in one of the following positions, please share this information with them.
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FACILITIES MANAGER- First Presbyterian, LEXINGTON
First Presbyterian Church, Lexington is searching for a part-time facilities manager. The position description can be found at the link below. Please contact
Mark Davis
if interested.
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PASTOR- First Presbyterian, London
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CHILDREN & YOUTH DIRECTOR- First Presbyterian, Winchester
First Presbyterian Church of Winchester has an immediate opening for a part-time Children & Youth Director. The Director would function to assist in the development and implementation of the mission and ministry of the children and youth of the church. The Children/Youth Director will: plan a program and curriculum for the children/youth with the assistance of the CE Committee and the Pastor, meet with the children/youth or their parents outside of the Sunday service, and plan activities that are not part of the normal Sunday service. This is a 10 hour per week position with 4-5 hours per Sunday. The remainder of hours are to be used to meet with the children/youth or their parents, 1-2 times per week. If interested, candidates should submit their resume to Pastor Ryan at:
ryanbradney@gmail.com
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First Presbyterian Church in Paris- Part-time stated Supply
First Presbyterian Church is located 18 miles from Lexington on the scenic Paris/Lexington Road, is looking for a part-time stated supply minister to lead worship and preach each Sunday, administer the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, moderate the session and congregational meetings, visit the sick and shut-in, and lead funeral services upon request.
We are a small church but have a strong music program and a full-time Music Director. We are active in the community with music and art after-school programs.
Please consider our congregation if you are looking for a part time position. Direct inquiries to Rogers Barde, Clerk of Session, 859-987-1225.
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OCTOBER
23- Pastoral Transitions Commission, 10am, Winchester
24-25- Kentucky Council Of Churches Annual Assembly, Morehead, KY
30- Administration Commission, 10 am, Camp Burnamwood
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OCTOBER
10/11-Mark Davis-35 years
10/12 Michael Brothers- 33 years
10/18 Keith Benze- 10 years
10/19 Roger Dermody- 22 years
10/20 Bob Shaffer- 64 years
10/24 Steve Pace- 15 years
10/26 Ernest Stricklin- 67 years
10/26 Jackie Lindberg- 22 years
10/27 Jerry Utt, II- 17 years
May God continue to bless your ministry!
If we have missed your ordination anniversary or have incorrect information, please email
rjustus@transypby.org
so we can update your information.
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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