During the meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery at the Crestfield Camp and Conference Center on September 8, 2005 the Presbytery's Peacemaking Taskforce reported on its availability to meet with Sessions to talk about peacemaking.
John Helgeson, chair of the Peacemaking Network for the Synod of the Trinity gave a synod award to the Co-Creators Youth Club of the South Side Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh.
Nora Johnson, chair of the Presbytery's Peacemaking Taskforce reminded the Presbytery that the Peacemaking Offering this year would be received in many churches on World Communion Sunday, October 2. This is one of four special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and she left hanging the question whether those present could name all four special offerings. That is an easy one: One Great Hour of Sharing (which, incidentally, earlier in the year raised the first half million dollars that the PCUSA committed to Hurricane Katrina relief before Presbyterians knew about the devastation in the Gulf Coast), Pentecost, Peacemaking, and Christmas Joy.
Here at the Central Presbyterian Church of Tarentum, we are planning to receive the Peacemaking Offering later in October. Twenty-five percent of the offering is kept locally to use in peacemaking work approved by the session of the church. We will be giving our local portion to the Alle-Kiski Hope Center, our local domestic violence agency. Appropriately enough, we'll be receiving the Peacemaking Offering during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We are also planning a domestic violence training event for religious workers, to take place on September 24, 2005.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, peacemaking, Central Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, domestic violence
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Friday, September 09, 2005
Pittsburgh Presbytery meeting at Crestfield: 5. Valley churches recognized for support of mission
There was some good financial news shared at the meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery at the Crestfield Camp and Conference Center on September 8, 2005. At the end of June, fifty-three churches have given more to shared benevolences than at the same time in 2004. The better news is that at the end of June 2005, twenty-seven churches have given more to shared benevolences than in all of 2004. The Presbytery asked representatives of these twenty-seven churches to stand.
Some of the churches were close neighbors to Central Presbyterian Church of Tarentum: First United Presbyterian Church of Tarentum and the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church. Congratulations to both of them for having stepped up!
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, Natrona Heights
Some of the churches were close neighbors to Central Presbyterian Church of Tarentum: First United Presbyterian Church of Tarentum and the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church. Congratulations to both of them for having stepped up!
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, Natrona Heights
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Pittsburgh Presbytery meeting at Crestfield: 4. How the church is not like an assembly line
We Presbyterians pride ourselves on doing things "decently and in order." Sometimes the procedures we develop may seem too rigid, but at other times the underlying orderliness is not immediately apparent.
During the meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery at the Crestfield Camp and Conference Center on September 8, 2005, the Committee on Preparation for Ministry presented five inquirers (who have been exploring their sense of call) to be received as candidates (and continue a more intensive discernment process about their call to ministry).
The Presbytery voted to receive local Pittsburgh blogger John Creasy, a member of Memorial Park Community Presbyterian Church, as a candidate. The Presbytery also voted to receive inquirers Joan Hogge, Shanea Leonard, Robert Sparr and Brian Snyder as candidates. Congratulations to all! This is an important step on your paths toward ordained ministry.
At the conclusion of the committee's report there was a question from the floor from a minister who had concerns about the timing of the process of preparation for ministry. He was noticing that some of the individuals being received as candidates had already graduated from seminary, and would remain in the process for at least another year before they were eligible for ordination. Jim Tinnemeyer, the chair of the committee explained that the committee's process is a discernment process and that the fact that the person's educational timeline was not in synch with the discernment process of the church with the individual should not be a concern.
I agree that it is not in the committee's power to force the two processes to follow the same timeline. Our church's discernment process has some inflexible requirements, but is flexible enough to take into account the fact that the sovereign God calls individuals into ministry on God's schedule not on ours. I have seen seminary graduates, after they have all the academic degrees that are required, enter our discernment process. I have also seen people enter the process before they applied to seminary. Our church has a process that works for all because it accepts the fact that we are each at different stages of spiritual and academic development when we respond to God's call.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, Presbyterian Church, preparation, ministry
During the meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery at the Crestfield Camp and Conference Center on September 8, 2005, the Committee on Preparation for Ministry presented five inquirers (who have been exploring their sense of call) to be received as candidates (and continue a more intensive discernment process about their call to ministry).
The Presbytery voted to receive local Pittsburgh blogger John Creasy, a member of Memorial Park Community Presbyterian Church, as a candidate. The Presbytery also voted to receive inquirers Joan Hogge, Shanea Leonard, Robert Sparr and Brian Snyder as candidates. Congratulations to all! This is an important step on your paths toward ordained ministry.
At the conclusion of the committee's report there was a question from the floor from a minister who had concerns about the timing of the process of preparation for ministry. He was noticing that some of the individuals being received as candidates had already graduated from seminary, and would remain in the process for at least another year before they were eligible for ordination. Jim Tinnemeyer, the chair of the committee explained that the committee's process is a discernment process and that the fact that the person's educational timeline was not in synch with the discernment process of the church with the individual should not be a concern.
I agree that it is not in the committee's power to force the two processes to follow the same timeline. Our church's discernment process has some inflexible requirements, but is flexible enough to take into account the fact that the sovereign God calls individuals into ministry on God's schedule not on ours. I have seen seminary graduates, after they have all the academic degrees that are required, enter our discernment process. I have also seen people enter the process before they applied to seminary. Our church has a process that works for all because it accepts the fact that we are each at different stages of spiritual and academic development when we respond to God's call.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, Presbyterian Church, preparation, ministry
Pittsburgh Presbytery meeting at Crestfield: 3: At worship
Worship is an integral part of church meetings. I've been in a number of meetings where efforts to fit items of business into an order of worship format have felt contrived. At the meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery at Crestfield Camp and Conference Center on September 8, 2005 I felt that Moderator David Carver did a good job of making sure that our business was done in a worshipful atmosphere. The flow seemed very natural.
Early in the meeting there was a service of the Word at which Dan Merry, Pastor to the Presbytery for medium-sized churches, preached. Dan has been in Africa for a year, "on loan" to the Blantyre Synod of the CCAP in Malawi. His presence there was an expression of Pittsburgh Presbytery's mission partnership with the Blantyre Synod. Dan spoke to us about the serious famine facing Malawi.
Dan preached to the Presbytery on the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. WIth the assistance of the Presbytery he did some very rough math to estimate the full size of the crowd, given that the writer was only counting the men who were present. His rule of thumb total was that the crowd may have been twenty thousand people. Dan explained that when Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd, the disciples reacted with puzzlement because they had forgotten two things: their own resources and the power of God.
During this part of the meeting the Presbytery learned and sang a song called "Praise Together" by James D. Lueers. Rob of Unspace is probably already familiar with this song, as it is sung frequently at PHCPC.
During this part of the meeting the Presbytery received an offering that is to be split evenly between Hurricane Katrina relief and Malawi famine relief. Later in the meeting it was announced that the total offering was $3400. It's a start toward the million.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, worship, Presbyterian Church, Malawi, famine, hurricane Katrina
Early in the meeting there was a service of the Word at which Dan Merry, Pastor to the Presbytery for medium-sized churches, preached. Dan has been in Africa for a year, "on loan" to the Blantyre Synod of the CCAP in Malawi. His presence there was an expression of Pittsburgh Presbytery's mission partnership with the Blantyre Synod. Dan spoke to us about the serious famine facing Malawi.Dan preached to the Presbytery on the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. WIth the assistance of the Presbytery he did some very rough math to estimate the full size of the crowd, given that the writer was only counting the men who were present. His rule of thumb total was that the crowd may have been twenty thousand people. Dan explained that when Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd, the disciples reacted with puzzlement because they had forgotten two things: their own resources and the power of God.
During this part of the meeting the Presbytery learned and sang a song called "Praise Together" by James D. Lueers. Rob of Unspace is probably already familiar with this song, as it is sung frequently at PHCPC.
During this part of the meeting the Presbytery received an offering that is to be split evenly between Hurricane Katrina relief and Malawi famine relief. Later in the meeting it was announced that the total offering was $3400. It's a start toward the million.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, worship, Presbyterian Church, Malawi, famine, hurricane Katrina
Pittsburgh Presbytery meeting at Crestfield: 2. Churches challenged to raise $1 million
At the beginning of the meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery at the Crestfield Camp and Conference Center on September 8, 2005 there were two items of new business brought by members of the Presbytery, each related to Hurricane Katrina relief.
One of the new items was brought by Rev. Lee Clark of the Bethesda United Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth. He reported that last Sunday he challenged the congregation (that had not made budget for the last four years) to raise $10,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief. As he stood before the Presbytery, he held up the check for $10,000 made out to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and raised by the congregation between Sunday and the Presbytery meeting.
He then challenged the churches of the Presbytery to raise $1,000,000 over the next 15 days for Hurricane Katrina relief. The challenge was well-received. Moderator David Carver encouraged all elders present to interrupt the announcements in worship this Sunday (except at the Crafton Heights church) if the pastor should neglect to pass this challenge along to the congregation.
The other item of new business concerning Hurricane Katrina Relief was a motion that the Presbytery establish a mission partnership with a presbytery in the Gulf Coast region. Presbytery leadership have already begun a process that could lead to such a partnership. Following the Presbytery's practices with new business, this motion was referred to the Presbytery Council.
At the end of the meeting, Pastor to the Presbytery Jim Mead drew attention to handouts and numerous ways in which churches can respond to the need for hurricane relief.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, Presbyterian Church, hurricane Katrina, disaster assistance
One of the new items was brought by Rev. Lee Clark of the Bethesda United Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth. He reported that last Sunday he challenged the congregation (that had not made budget for the last four years) to raise $10,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief. As he stood before the Presbytery, he held up the check for $10,000 made out to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and raised by the congregation between Sunday and the Presbytery meeting.
He then challenged the churches of the Presbytery to raise $1,000,000 over the next 15 days for Hurricane Katrina relief. The challenge was well-received. Moderator David Carver encouraged all elders present to interrupt the announcements in worship this Sunday (except at the Crafton Heights church) if the pastor should neglect to pass this challenge along to the congregation.
The other item of new business concerning Hurricane Katrina Relief was a motion that the Presbytery establish a mission partnership with a presbytery in the Gulf Coast region. Presbytery leadership have already begun a process that could lead to such a partnership. Following the Presbytery's practices with new business, this motion was referred to the Presbytery Council.
At the end of the meeting, Pastor to the Presbytery Jim Mead drew attention to handouts and numerous ways in which churches can respond to the need for hurricane relief.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, Presbyterian Church, hurricane Katrina, disaster assistance
Pittsburgh Presbytery meeting at Crestfield: 1. The things that won't be in the minutes
Today I attended a day-long meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery at the Crestfield Camp and Conference Center. I have decided that in blogging this meeting, I will borrow the example of my West Coast colleague Mark Roberts, who serializes his articles. So this will be the first of a series of reports and comments on things that happened at today's meeting.
When the ministers and elders arrive there is always a docket full of important business concerning how the work of the church in the region is progressing, but there are also important things that happen at these meetings that don't appear on the docket and never get recorded in the minutes.
Some of the very important things that happen are in the side conversations with colleagues in ministry. We know something about the struggles of our friends and acquaintances, and may not be geographically close enough to see each other outside of these meetings. The things we talked about, the support given and received, are an important part of the meeting even if it is not the "official" business.
Before the meeting, and over lunch, I had a number of conversations with people about the domestic violence training event that will take place at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum on September 24. More information about the event can be found here and here. Over lunch someone asked me how it came about that Central was holding this event; readers of this blog may remember reading it first here.
One of the conversations I had was with Anne Keller, a second career candidate for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary graduate, and member of the Glenshaw Presbyterian Church. She has a strong sense of call to a ministry with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and trauma. She is seeking a call, and would be a blessing to to an organization or church that wanted to develop such a ministry.
I also saw my friend Henk Bossers, pastor of the Cheswick Presbyterian Church. As he usually does at the meetings at Crestfield, he had his tents set up to describe the canoe trips and camping ministry he does during the summer. Over lunch he was having a good conversation about the Canadian canoe trip with a number of folks.
Near the end of the meeting we talked a little bit about how churches are responding to Hurricane Katrina. He mentioned the kids who ran a lemonade stand in front of the church through the Labor Day weekend. I discovered that he did not know that the lemonade stand had been reported in the Valley News Dispatch on Tuesday, in a nice article by Wynne Everett. Now he has something to look up.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, domestic violence, Central Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, hurricane Katrina
When the ministers and elders arrive there is always a docket full of important business concerning how the work of the church in the region is progressing, but there are also important things that happen at these meetings that don't appear on the docket and never get recorded in the minutes.
Some of the very important things that happen are in the side conversations with colleagues in ministry. We know something about the struggles of our friends and acquaintances, and may not be geographically close enough to see each other outside of these meetings. The things we talked about, the support given and received, are an important part of the meeting even if it is not the "official" business.
Before the meeting, and over lunch, I had a number of conversations with people about the domestic violence training event that will take place at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum on September 24. More information about the event can be found here and here. Over lunch someone asked me how it came about that Central was holding this event; readers of this blog may remember reading it first here.
One of the conversations I had was with Anne Keller, a second career candidate for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary graduate, and member of the Glenshaw Presbyterian Church. She has a strong sense of call to a ministry with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and trauma. She is seeking a call, and would be a blessing to to an organization or church that wanted to develop such a ministry.
I also saw my friend Henk Bossers, pastor of the Cheswick Presbyterian Church. As he usually does at the meetings at Crestfield, he had his tents set up to describe the canoe trips and camping ministry he does during the summer. Over lunch he was having a good conversation about the Canadian canoe trip with a number of folks.Near the end of the meeting we talked a little bit about how churches are responding to Hurricane Katrina. He mentioned the kids who ran a lemonade stand in front of the church through the Labor Day weekend. I discovered that he did not know that the lemonade stand had been reported in the Valley News Dispatch on Tuesday, in a nice article by Wynne Everett. Now he has something to look up.
My articles about this Presbytery meeting are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
File under: Pittsburgh Presbytery, Crestfield, domestic violence, Central Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, hurricane Katrina
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water ...
Today's Valley News Dispatch has a story (text here, minus the wonderful picture in the print edition which was on sale for 50 cents at the news stand) by Liz Hayes about an alligator found in the Allegheny River in Tarentum on Monday evening; when it was caught it was only blocks away from Central Park. The virtual park bench is still safe. But I'd look underneath before sitting down if I were you. I did.
Before you start worrying about the prevalence of alligators in Tarentum, please note that this alligator had escaped from its home a mile away in Brackenridge. It wasn't a Tarentum alligator. It was a Brackenridge alligator. What a relief.
After the local Crocodile Hunter, Nicki Hilliard, captured the alligator, the Tarentum police took it into custody. According to the newspaper, "Sgt. Jim Newcomer said he didn't believe it was the first alligator to inhabit the department's holding cells." He didn't believe it was the first? I hope that was a typo or that Sgt. Newcomer misspoke. Moral of the story: Don't get into trouble with the police in Tarentum. There's no telling who - or what - will share the holding cell with you.
If you hear any rumors that the alligator was after some of the ham loaf at Central Presbyterian Church, they have no basis in fact. The next ham loaf dinner at Central Presbyterian Church will not be until October 15. And we'll check under the tables for alligators before opening our doors.
File under: wierd, Tarentum, ham loaf, blatant_promotion_of_fundraiser
Before you start worrying about the prevalence of alligators in Tarentum, please note that this alligator had escaped from its home a mile away in Brackenridge. It wasn't a Tarentum alligator. It was a Brackenridge alligator. What a relief.
After the local Crocodile Hunter, Nicki Hilliard, captured the alligator, the Tarentum police took it into custody. According to the newspaper, "Sgt. Jim Newcomer said he didn't believe it was the first alligator to inhabit the department's holding cells." He didn't believe it was the first? I hope that was a typo or that Sgt. Newcomer misspoke. Moral of the story: Don't get into trouble with the police in Tarentum. There's no telling who - or what - will share the holding cell with you.
If you hear any rumors that the alligator was after some of the ham loaf at Central Presbyterian Church, they have no basis in fact. The next ham loaf dinner at Central Presbyterian Church will not be until October 15. And we'll check under the tables for alligators before opening our doors.
File under: wierd, Tarentum, ham loaf, blatant_promotion_of_fundraiser
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