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Our Mission:
To identify and strengthen leaders
so that every congregation
makes new and mature disciples for Jesus Christ.
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Now that our first online presbytery meeting is behind us . . . |
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. . . I've been getting calls about congregational meetings and adapting some of the rules and tools we used to session and other gatherings. |
Zoom meetings are both a lot of the same and almost none of the same of what we’ve come to expect from going to church for worship or a congregational meeting.
On the one hand, everyone can see everyone else who’s there, but they see all of the faces rather than the backs of their heads! On the other hand, while everyone can hear everyone else, everyone can also hear the random background noises at other members’ houses if their microphones are unmuted. I also never imagined having to clean up any room in my house before “going” to a meeting or church service, or that I’d have to consider what people would see over my shoulder while also deciding what to wear!
But, in so many different ways, so many of us have been using Zoom and other platforms for meetings, worship, Bible study, Christian Education, coffee hour, book discussions, and the occasional pop-up group video call with family scattered all over the country or the world!
Did you know that one of the Ruling Elder Commissioners at the August Presbytery meeting connected with us from her summer home in Newfoundland instead of her winter home in Tampa Bay?
After responding to nearly identical questions from two church staffs earlier this week about how to hold congregational meetings online when large group gatherings may not be doable along with several related calls, I took another look at my notes and put some thoughts together that some may find helpful for congregational, session, and other meetings on Zoom (which you can get by clicking here).
In the file, you'll find background info on electronic meetings in general and in the PC(USA), some reminders from the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, and some nuts-and-bolts of setting up and running a formal business meeting on Zoom (complete with links to Zoom's help screens).
These three additional documents may be helpful in refining how to use Zoom for session and congregational meetings in your church:
As always, I'm happy to talk by phone -- or Zoom -- with any pastor, moderator, clerk of session, or other leader about how these resources might be adapted for your use. I'll probably be adding some training videos to our website soon, too.
Blessings,
Bill
Rev. William A. Wildhack III
Stated Clerk and Manager of Communications
(813) 868-4800, opt. 2
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My work---and this newsletter---is supported by per capita funds from congregations in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, which also help unite all Presbyterians in sharing God’s love through mission and ministry. Thank you!
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We are a Matthew 25 Presbytery! |
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Each commission and committee of the Presbytery is being asked to keep these three focus areas in front of them as they do their work. |
You can hear comments made during our August Presbytery meeting in support of taking this action by clicking on this link. Norm Hatter is followed by Mike Loudon and others in supporting making this official --- and following through on it!
This is the motion discussed at that link and approved on August 27:
The Presbytery of Tampa Bay commits itself to being a Matthew 25 Presbytery, putting intentional effort into each of the three focuses of the Matthew 25 Invitation:
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Building congregational vitality by challenging congregations and their members to deepen and energize their faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples actively engaged with their community, seeing new disciples engaged in ministry and longstanding believers develop in faith as the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared in word and deed.
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Dismantling structural racism by fearlessly applying our faith to advocate and break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color.
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Eradicating systemic poverty by acting on our beliefs and working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.
The Commission on Church Vitality is making grants available for congregations to purchase start-up resources as they consider becoming Matthew 25 congregations. Reach out to CCV Chair Andy Walton at andy.trinityclearwater@gmail.com or Assoc. Presbyter Libby Shannon at libby@pbty.com for more info.
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Good Samaritan Church invites you to study and conversation starting this Sunday, 9/20, at 1 p.m. |
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Consider joining this four-week study with materials from two books that get mentioned a lot these days |
Good Samaritan Church (PCUSA/UCC ) in PInellas Park is offering a four-week online discussion of 'How to be an Anti-Racist" as part of their Matthew 25 commitment. The discussion will include material from the books How to be an AntiRacist by Ibram X. Kendi and White Fragility by Robin Diangelo.
Rev. Jean Cooley will be the host for the discussions, focusing on understanding and owning the role of white privilege in creating and sustaining systemic racism and then how we can work to shrink and remove racist policies.
If you wish to participate please register to get the Zoom link by contacting Pastor Jen Daysa at pastor.goodsam@gmail.com or the church pffoce at 727-544-8558.
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There's a NEW edition of Robert's Rules |
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Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) gets revised about every 10 years -- and 2020 is one of those years! |
The brand new 12th Edition of RONR hit bookstores on September 1, 2020 --- and that makes it the "most recent edition" referred to in the Book of Order and required for use in session, presbytery, synod, and general assembly meetings -- and probably in your bylaws for congregational meetings, too.
You can read more about the 12th Edition and order a copy (hardback, paperback, or searchable eBook for Kindle at the official Robert's Rules website. You should also be able to get it at your favorite local brick-and-mortar book store now, too! There is a list of major changes, key section changes, and a PDF to download of all significant changes on the Newly Revised 12th Edition webpage.
Even if you're comfortable and confident with parliamentary procedure, downloading the PDF of significant changes is a great refresher and reminder that not everything in the 11th Edition may be quite how you remember it --- and the 12th Edition might have changed it, too!
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Check out our new COVID-19 resources webpage |
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Ministry Connections Consultant John Reiter went back over issues of the eNews since mid-March and put together a webpage to help our congregations and ministries find in one place many of the things we've mentioned here and on our Facebook page.
We also post updates from time to time on our Facebook page -- and you don't even need a Facebook account to view it (though Facebook will nag you to create one, it's not necessary to see our posts).
When your church or ministry changes --- or If it has already changed --- your in-person and online worship and other plans, please send a note to info@pbty.com so we can update our list of online worship opportunities on the Presbytery's webpage and on Facebook.
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New Resource on Mental Wellbeing During a Pandemic |
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The Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) that brought us some of the most well-written resources on biblical and public health considerations in planning for and deciding when and how to return to in-person worship and fellowship in this time of pandemic has a new resource for resiliency and wellbeing as COVID-19 continues to impact day-to-day life.
For more on HDI's resources for churches planing for re-entry or expansion of in-person offerings, check out their "Reopening the Church: The church never actually closed -- just the doors to our buildings" website at https://www.reopeningthechurch.com/. |
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COVID19 Mental Health Manual - Spiritual Aid
Our new Mental Health Handbook covers a range of topics that live at the intersection of COVID-19 and mental health. This resource brings to attention the myriad mental health needs COVID-19 has brought to the surface while also suggesting ways...
Read more
www.spiritualfirstaidhub.com
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It's still hurricane season |
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Hurricane Preparedness During a Pandemic |
From the link: Preparing for a hurricane can be a stressful time in any year. But add to that the pandemic environment we are currently in and stress can go through the roof! As we try to keep our roofs intact (both literally and figuratively) let’s look at some of the ways the pandemic will make this hurricane season more challenging and what we can do now to prepare.
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Your browser may not automatically show you the whole newsletter.
If the eNews seems to end abruptly, look for something like this right below that:
[Message clipped] View entire message
If you see that in a browser, please scroll back to the top and click on "Click here view this email as a Webpage."
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This blog entry by clergy and congregational coach Lara Stephens-Reed has been showing up in different church and circles on Facebook for a couple of weeks now. Rev. Stephens-Reed is a member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (who we partnered with in creating the Beacon Hill Fellowship as a joint congregational witness of our two denominations), and you can read more about her at https://www.laurastephensreed.com/about.
This piece was written primarily for churchgoers and members, not for clergy. You can help your minister and your church by taking a look and considering how you might help your minister and church leadership in what continues to be a very challenging season in all our lives.
From the link:
In return for all the extra effort, many pastors have received mostly anxiety and negativity in return. Part of this is because everyone is struggling, and church is an easy place for people to project discontent. (What’s your pastor going to do if you get mad? She can’t fire you, refuse to work with you, or give you a bad grade.) Part of this is the polarization in our culture, which has morphed public health measures like closing buildings and wearing masks into political landmines during a presidential election cycle. And part is simply that church members simply don’t know all that their leaders are doing since everyone is isolated in their homes.
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The coming tidal wave of pastoral departures - Laura...
There are many ways I could describe the past six months, but I'm going with "revealing." The pandemic has clarified systemic issues related to a broken healthcare system, racial inequities, lack of leadership at almost every level (governmental...
Read more
www.laurastephensreed.com
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And a thought-provoking webinar from the Board of Pensions |
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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
When *Dennis (pictured above) received his brand-new backpack and sneakers, saying thank you once was not enough. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" is what he repeatedly said with joy. The return to school is very different this year for all the ...
Read more
us11.campaign-archive.com
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Online education opportunities |
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Board University webinars, presented live, are available at no cost to members and employers who participate in the Benefits Plan. |
Upcoming topics:
- Just Compensation: Closing the Gender Gap, Thursday, September 24, 2020, 2–3 p.m. ET
- The Power of Story: Using Story as the Basis for Aging Well, Tuesday, October 13, 2020
- College Funding, Tuesday, October 27, 2020
- Having the Talk with Your Parents: Addressing Changes to Health and Care Needs, Tuesday, November 10, 2020
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October 12–14, 2020
This three-day virtual event will be designed for church leaders and congregational members to reconsider what effective evangelism might look like in their particular neighborhoods and communities. We will intentionally seek the wisdom of 1,001 New Worshiping Communities as well as congregations working in the Vital Congregations initiative as we create an interactive platform for sharing the practices and lifestyles, individual and corporate, that allow people to effectively share the good news.
- Program in partnership with Theology, Formation & Evangelism ministries in the Presbyterian Mission Agency
NEW: There are a limited number of subsidized registrations (made possible by the Presbyterian Mission Agency) of $70 for individual registrations, and $60 per person for each subsequent registration for groups of two or more. Participants who register after the subsidized threshold will pay the full rate of $100 per person.
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October 23–25, 2020
What’s Essential: Discerning the Church’s Work Amid the Twin Pandemics of Structural Racism & COVID-19
Our goal is to provide participants with capacity-building tools and resources to work for antiracist transformation in their churches and institutions. Participants will finish this antiracism training with concrete action steps for their congregations and local communities.
This Crossroads antiracism training will specifically address the political challenges facing the church in light of how the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the acute structural inequities of the USA and their impact on communities of color, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. Given the coronavirus pandemic and its disproportionate impact, our antiracism training will also address how the church is called to be a political actor. What and where is the Church being called to do and be?
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The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been welcoming people to Ghost Ranch since 1955 when Arthur Pack gifted this space to the church for the spiritual health and well being of all. Today it remains an Education and Retreat Center of the Presbyterian Church and is open to all to gather around spiritual discipleship, theological discussions and discernment, cultivation of Christian community and the exploration of God’s call to mission in the world.
Now, more can visit this unique place through online offerings like this one --- and, with a negative COVID test within 72 hours before arrival, an in-person visitor is exempt from New Mexico's current (as of 9/17) 14-day quarantine rules!
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VIRTUAL - The Restoration of Joy - Ghost Ranch
"Let your joy be in your journey, not in some distant goal." - Tim Cook We are living in exceptional times. With all that is happening, how can we remember the restorative joy we knew as children? How can awaken to the spaciousness of...
Read more
www.ghostranch.org
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Lombard Mennonite Peace Center courses online |
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Registration is now open for both sessions of Mediation Skills Training Institute scheduled for this fall: October 5-9 and November 16-20, 2020.
This event is designed for clergy and other church leaders seeking to learn skills that will help them deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. Registrants will attend remotely, and will need a device with both a camera and microphone in order to participate fully.
In addition to this 5-day event, the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering a variety of 90-minute webinars designed to help people cope with the unique challenges that arise from the current pandemic. Discounts of up to $200 are available! For more information, please consult this MSTI Brochure or this LMPC Events Calendar.
Learn more about the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center and all their programs on their website. Questions? Call the LMPC office at 630-627-0507, or email Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org.
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Other events and resources |
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Stewardship Kaleidoscope starts next week!
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn with Rev. Dr. Eric Barreto, Bonnie Ives-Marden, and Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow.
A link to participate in the weekly events will be emailed to registrants a few days prior to each program.
Scholarships may be available for PC(USA) members - learn more here.
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Stewardship Kaleidoscope - Real Tools for Real Ministry
Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and...
Read more
stewardshipkaleidoscope.org
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Have you found, "liked," and "followed" the Presbytery of Tampa Bay on Facebook yet? We post informational, inspirational, and sometimes thought-provoking items there fairly often --- and offer a Small Church Network Facebook Group linked from that page. Click the button below to visit our Facebook page and be sure to click on "like" or "follow" to be notified of updates! |
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Remember, there's always something new to see on our Facebook page and more at the Presbytery of Tampa Bay website. Click the buttons below to start exploring! |
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Our next regular issue of the eNews should come out during the week of September 28, so please send input and ideas to me before then, please!
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! -- Bill
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