Following Jesus: A Presbyterian pastor in Kenosha discusses leading a purple church in a divisive time |
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Presbyterian minister Lance Loveall knew what to expect when he heard the news: that some from his church would be elated and some would be angry, as the district attorney in Kenosha, Wisconsin, announced that his office would file no charges against the white police officer who shot Jacob Blake last August.
Loveall also knew this: part of his job in the months to come will be to help Presbyterians think beyond that decision, to consider bigger issues of systemic injustice in his community, regardless of what the legal system decided in this case.
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The Rev. John Sinclair dies in Tampa, Florida, at 96 |
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For decades he served Latin America ‘with courage and humbleness’
by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — The Rev. John Henderson Sinclair, 96, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastor for more than 70 years and an ardent advocate for peace and social justice, died in Tampa, Florida, on Jan. 2. Read more.
(Contributed photo)
Sinclair served as associate executive at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies from 1973 until his retirement in 1987.
Offering a prayer at First Hispanic Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida. Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana en Tampa, Florida.
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Ashley called as Transitional Leader to Synod of the Northeast |
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Former co-moderators will discuss white supremacy during advocacy webinar |
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Cintrón-Olivieri and Anderson will be guests on the second episode of ‘Where Do We Go from Here?’
by Rich Copley | Presbyterian News Service
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The Rev. Denise Anderson, co-moderator of the 222nd General Assembly, and Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, co-moderator of the 223rd GA, will be the guests Thursday on the PC(USA) advocacy webinar, “Where Do We Go from Here?” (Photos Michael Whitman and Rich Copley) |
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New training resource for ruling elders and deacons launched as part of Year of Leader Formation |
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Curriculum puts focus on the constitutional questions of the PC(USA)
Rick Jones | Office of the General Assembly - January 25, 2021
LOUISVILLE
Newly elected and ordained ruling elders and deacons in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can now access resources that will guide them in understanding the constitutional questions of the denomination.
"Coming Alive in Christ: Training for PC(USA) Ruling Elders and Deacons based on the Constitutional Questions" is the first initiative launched as part of the Church’s Year of Leader Formation. The program was announced in December by the Office of the General Assembly to focus on training for this part of church ministry.
“The Book of Order provides the constitutional questions asked of leaders when they are ordained, installed and commissioned in the PC(USA),” said Martha Miller, with Ministry and Education Support with the Office of the General Assembly. “This new resource provides a study of these beliefs that are central to our lives of faith in our community.”
The free multi-session resource is offered through EQUIP, the Church’s online training platform. Content is provided by a diverse group of ruling elders and teaching elders from across the denomination, including Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Co-Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly, who focused on the constitutional question directed toward ruling elders (W-4.0404).
“We are all called to serve God and the people and to do so together, in a shared ministry,” she wrote. “Although each officer is ordained to specific functions, we all answer the same first eight constitutional questions.”
Cintrón-Olivieri says the most important things ruling elders and deacons should get from her contribution is the need for mentoring and discipleship.
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COGA sets onsite committee meeting dates for the 225th General Assembly |
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Plenary dates to be determined
Rick Jones | Office of the General Assembly - December 17, 2020
LOUISVILLE
The dates for the 13 committees of the 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to gather in-person in 2022 have been set. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) voted on Thursday to hold the meetings over a two-week period, June 19 – July 2, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Earlier this month, COGA approved plans for a hybrid assembly that will include both online and in-person gatherings. The assembly committees will split the time during the two-week schedule to consider church business.
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Aligning the Presbyterian Mission Agency to carry out the work of Matthew 25 |
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PMA Board is taking a long look at the agency’s vision process
by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service
The Rev. Gregory Bentley is co-moderator of the
224th General Assembly (2020). (Photo by Randy Hobson)
Board Member the Rev. Ken Godshall identified some issues he’s been hearing: If Matthew 25 is so important, how will it show up in church life? How will it be helpful to churches and mid councils? Will PMA programs be abandoned?
“It is not a ministry or budget item. It is what the Presbyterian Church will be remembered for,” Godshall said. “Matthew 25 is the opportunity for our church to do something significant … The hard work of Matthew 25, the controversial parts of Matthew 25 — if we do them well, we can make a difference.”
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A Winter Learning Opportunity for Presbyterians
February 1-March 8
Join this class to explore what it means to reflect on what it means to provide pastoral care in a variety of settings and concerns. Rev. Lisa Watson, a long-time hospital chaplain, who currently serves as a Marriage and Family Counselor is the instructor.
Who might want to take this class?
- Deacons who provide pastoral care and make pastoral visits
- Commissioned Pastors who would like to improve their pastoral care
- Those who might be called to be commissioned pastors as it meets the criteria of participating presbyteries
What will this class involve?
This course is designed to introduce you to pastoral care and the issues that commonly arise in this ministry. Our goal is to address topics that are directly relevant and applicable to your ministry work. Through readings, discussion, and self-reflective exercises, you will:
- Increase your understanding of the essence of pastoral care.
- Identify theological, scientific and awareness resources for future use in pastoral care
- Deepen self-reflection awareness and skills needed to provide thoughtful pastoral care. There will be one book to read in advance and two instruments to take prior to the class.
The class runs asynchronously, meaning, you will participate in weekly activities at your own pace, based on your schedule. Each week, you will be expected to complete an assigned reading, participate in a discussion, respond to two of your classmates’ discussion posts, and complete an assignment. We estimate that you will spend about two hours weekly on coursework. There will be two Zoom meetings with the instructor: February 15 and March 1 from 7-8 p.m.
What is the cost?
- $125 for those whose presbyteries support The Academy $150 for those whose presbytery is not a partner. For those interested in the whole series of 11 classes in the Academy, there is an additional discount.
Who is sponsoring this?
- This is a class offered through The Academy, a series of classes for church members designed to deepen faith as participants encounter Christ in a new way. For those who are called or are exploring a call to become a Commissioned Pastor, this is a program that can help that happen. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the Presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, North Central Iowa, Northern Waters and Prospect Hill are the current sponsors of the Academy.
How do I register or find additional information?
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Next Church National Gathering |
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BREAKING, BLESSING, BUILDING
A Call For The Common Good
A FREE Live-Streamed Gathering for ALL Church Leaders
March 5-7, 2021
COVID-19, a pandemic of racism in the United States, economic distress. Our reality right now helps us know that things need to change for the good of us all.
What if people like you and me could gather together from all over the world, from all kinds of different churches and denominations, from all different walks of life?
What if church leaders (YOU, not just your pastor) could connect with other church leaders to learn together, be inspired by one another, and be challenged to grow?
What if we gathered together in such a way that inspired us to act so the Church and the world were never the same again?
Despite the physical space that separates us these days, we believe our virtual togetherness can make all the difference. Will you join us March 5-7 for the 2021 NEXT Church National Gathering as we Break, Bless, and Build: A Call for the Common Good?
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Formation for Mission: Dipping into the Well of PC(USA) Resources |
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A Spring Learning Opportunity for Presbyterians
March 13-14
This weekend class offers participants the opportunity to learn more about the breadth and depth of resources available for Presbyterian church leaders. This course provides the opportunity to interact with a number of national staff people for the PC(USA) and to become acquainted with the resources their offices offer to aid and further the ministry of local congregations.
Who should consider taking this class?
- Anyone who wants to grow in their faith and understanding of being Presbyterian
- Session members and Deacons
- Committee chairs
- Commissioned Pastors seeking a helpful continuing education opportunity
- Those who might be called to be commissioned pastors
What will this class involve?
- Through a series of interactive panel discussions with national staff for the PCUSA, participants will dip deep into the well of resources for:
- Understanding and engaging the Matthew 25 initiative of the denomination and its focus on building congregational vitality, eradicating system poverty and dismantling structural racism.
- Forming lifelong disciples who are grounded in the reformed tradition and equipped for evangelism, equipped to be peacemakers and witnesses to the world, and who engage the reformed tradition to work towards justice and equity for all God's people.
- The Presbyterian Publishing House will share new resources for faith formation of all ages and participants will explore a variety of resources and how they can be used in local congregations.
- This class will meet by Zoom on Saturday 9:00-5:00 and Sunday 9:00-3:00 CT.
What is the cost?
- $125 for participants from partner presbyteries. $150 for participants from non-partner presbyteries. For those interested in the whole series of 11 classes in the Academy, there is a discount.
Who is sponsoring this?
- This is a class offered through The Academy, a series of classes for church members designed to deepen faith as participants encounter Christ in a new way. For those who are called or are exploring a call to become a Commissioned Pastor, this is a program that can help that happen. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the Presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, North Central Iowa, Northern Waters and Prospect Hill are the current sponsors of the Academy.
How do I register or find more information?
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Compassion, Peace & Justice Training Days 2021 |
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Three-day virtual event will focus on equipping people to advocate for environmental justice
by Rich Copley | Presbyterian News Service
LEXINGTON, Kentucky — Compassion, Peace & Justice Training Day will be virtual again in 2021, and it will be plural.
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Deadline to order Eco-Palms is March 5 |
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Project has economic and environmental benefits
by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — With Palm Sunday just nine weeks away, churches are encouraged to turn their thoughts to Eco-Palms by March 5, the deadline to order fronds.
Many Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) churches found creative
ways to use Eco-Palms last year. (Contributed photos)
In 2020, more than 1,000 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations ordered Eco-Palms, an environmentally friendly product that benefits communities in Guatemala. The Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) hopes demand will be strong this year, too.
“We believe in the empowering work that it (the Eco-Palms project) does, allowing people who work the hardest to provide for themselves to reap the benefit from that,” said Jessica Maudlin Phelps, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns for PHP. “This project allows the harvesters, as well as the congregations that are participating in Eco-Palms, to protect the health of the forest, local jobs and sustainable livelihoods in those harvesting communities. All of those things are ways that we address the root causes of hunger.”
Eco-Palms are a project of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management (CINRAM), which works with the Rainforest Alliance TREES program and SmartWood to certify palms for sale to Christian congregations in the United States.
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New online and printable Lenten devotional for 2021 from
Presbyterians Today
The Way to Shalom
A Lenten Journey to Peace and Wholeness
Lent is all about spiritual renewal. It is a sacred time of preparation for Easter and a time to reflect on what God has done to redeem us and how we can live a whole and full life as a child of God.
Many of us see Lent as a season of penitence, fasting, service and contemplation — but at the top of our list should be a prayer for the acquisition of peace. In our devotional this year, we invite you to reflect upon the gift of shalom, the Hebrew word with a host of meanings: peace, security, well-being, health, completeness. Our spiritual goal: exploring how can we receive this gift of shalom and, in turn, bestow it upon the world.
Now, more than ever, we deeply crave shalom. Our world is in desperate need of peace. The United States has just come out of a contentious election, a struggle with a global pandemic, and painful racial violence. Poverty, misery and despair fill many corners of the world. Yes, we desire peace. We need peace.
Every week from Ash Wednesday (February 17) through Easter (April 4), this year’s devotional focuses on shalom — and what it can mean in our lives and how we can bring it to the world. We explore themes of justice, peace, healing, hope, repairing and reconciliation. You’ll find Scripture readings along with beautiful meditations and prayers written by the director and staff of the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness in Washington: the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Catherine Gordon and Christian Brooks. You’ll be challenged and moved — and hopefully, spiritually enriched.
The Way to Shalom is online and free for download or printing. You’re invited to use it, share it, excerpt from it and make it your spiritual companion this Lent.
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Clearwater Forest Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Work Trip
March 7-13 and March 14-20, 2021
Why Volunteer?: In a typical year, we’d be heading somewhere South in February or March to work on storm damage. This isn’t a typical year. With COVID-19 not yet under control, and vaccines just starting to be rolled out, long drives across state lines with people packed tight in vehicles and sleeping dorm style once we get there seems unwise. BUT. We have a safer alternative plan. Clearwater Forest, our camp in Deerwood, MN, is doing a major renovation project right now during the downtime, and can use our help. This will help provide a great camping experience for our kids - and us - into the future.
The registration deadline is January 29.
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Position Available
Gap Executive Presbyter
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: The Gap Executive Presbyter will serve as the presbytery leader and head of staff for the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys during the search process for the permanent Executive Presbyter. The Gap Executive Presbyter will work with the leadership of the presbytery, holding the presbytery’s vision before the collective body, and providing the coordination, nurture, and encouragement necessary to promote the ministry and mission of the presbytery through its officers, committees, congregations and members.
TYPE OF POSITION: This is a half-time, exempt position appointed by the Commission on Presbytery Operations for a one-year term or until permanent Executive Presbyter position is filled, reviewed at 6 month intervals or at intervals deemed appropriate.
Letters of application due to LeRoy Ennenga by February 5, 2021.
Contact LeRoy Ennenga for detailed position description or questions.
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Beware of Fraudulent Emails |
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Many pastors, churches, presbytery and synod personnel continue to be victims of fake/fraudulent email requests.
Email Spoofing is a technique used to trick us into thinking a message came from a person or entity we know or can trust. Scammers know we are more likely to open these emails.
The emails may say:
- the person is on a trip and has had their money and documents stolen and ask you for help
- the person is soliciting money or gift cards for a good cause (and you cannot reach them because they are in a meeting).
Steps to follow:
- Never send anything of value in response to an email or text request for money or gift cards.
- If the person mentioned is ever in trouble, they will directly contact someone for assistance, not send a general email.
- Let the person know you've received the email or text.
Also do NOT:
- directly transfer money to an account
- click on a link to authenticate your information
Instead:
- Be suspicious of emails that have a spelling mistake in the sender's address.
- Call your bank or credit card company and report the email.
- Be suspicious of emails that create a sense of urgency or danger.
- Emails promising something that sounds too good to be true - are likely a scam.
Synod of Lakes and Prairies staff will never email or text asking you to send money or purchase gift cards for an emergency need.
Thank you to the Presbytery of Donegal for sharing this information.
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Church Safety/Security Resources |
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PDA Resource Guide for Human Caused Disasters
Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide: A Department of Homeland Security Guidebook for both thinking about the security of Houses of Worship and achieving a security plan best suited to the unique circumstances of every community.
Houses of Worship Security Self Assessment: A Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency developed baseline security self assessment tool designed for a person with little to no security
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Serve Your Community
Americans are uniting to help each other during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Be sure to follow CDC guidelines for how to slow the spread of the disease and consider these simple ways every American can help their neighbors, friends, and families.
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APOLLOS SCHOLARSHIPS
Accepting Apollos Applications, Transcripts and References
January 15 through April 15, 2021
Apollos Scholarship applications are accepted from students who are members of a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation, under the care of a Presbytery as a Candidate or Inquirer, and are enrolled full-time in one of the ten theological institutions of PC(USA).
The Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary Board of Trustees began the Apollos Program in 1954. The first scholarship was awarded directly to seminarian James H. Costen. The mission of the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation is to seek, develop, and support excellence in Christian leadership through the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Foundation’s Apollos Program promotes this important task by providing opportunities for financial support to selected students, who are under the care of their presbyteries so that the Church might more effectively carry out its mission.
The Apollos Scholarship program has undergone changes for the 2020 awards. To be more effective with financial assistance in this ever-changing atmosphere, the five Named Scholarship awards have increased from $3,000 per semester to $4,000 and the lesser scholarships have been eliminated.
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We highly recommend this series - produced and facilitated by MN clergy and leaders - as powerful tools to utilize throughout Black History Month (February) and/or Lent to either introduce folks to anti-racism work or re-energize and expand diversity conversations.
For further information and links to the videos, please see our full post.
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Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
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Are you doing something in your presbytery or synod from which others might learn? You have a standing invitation to send Tricia Dykers-Koenig articles to share.
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To subscribe email: office@lakesandprairies.org
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