Inclusivity welcoming individuals with mental/developmental disabilities

Transcription

1 Our Vision: As members of the body of Christ, Hudson River Presbytery is called to Live resurrection with passion and partnership In a changing world. Inclusivity welcoming individuals with mental/developmental disabilities The Presbytery of Hudson River December 4, Stony Point Center - 10:00AM 3:30PM 9:30 REGISTRATION 10:00 CALL TO GATHER THE PRESBYTERS FOR GOD S BUSINESS Moderator Keith Brokaw DECLARATION OF A QUORUM VOTING THE DOCKET (including the Consent Agenda. If any presbyter wants to remove an item from the consent agenda for discussion and action s/he need only request that it be removed.) THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW ELDER COMMISSIONERS THE SEATING OF CORRESPONDING MEMBERS THE MINUTES Appointment of readers of this meeting s minutes WELCOME FROM STONY POINT CENTER 10:15 WORSHIP Gary Fox, preaching. Today s offering will be split between the Christmas Joy Offering and Emergency Disaster Assistance. 11:20 COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY, PART 1 Erin Moore and Lisa Niven Introduction of Those Serving in New Pastorates: Cliff Acklam (interim- Middletown United) Lynn Brown (interim- Pleasant Valley) Ellen Clemot (interim- Larchmont) Kathleen Genus (Port Chester) Jane Ann Groom (interim-irvington) Matthew Jun (Korean PC of Westchester) 1

2 John Patrick Vaughan (interim- Bedford) 12:30 LUNCH Lunch is offered by Stony Point Center for $10 1:25 60 SECOND ANNOUNCEMENTS 1:35 GENERAL PRESBYTER S REPORT Deb Milcarek 1:40 FAITH AND ORDER COMMITTEE Rob Trawick Vote on overture 18F Welcoming to the Table- On Amending W from 2018 GA The overture can be found at 1:50 MEMORIAL MINUTES for Jim Palm- Rick Ufford-Chase, speaking for Henry Shaw- Angela Maddalone, speaking 1:55 PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Paul Seelman Election of a Stated Clerk 2:10 BUDGET, FINANCE, AND PROPERTY/ TRUSTEES Tom Buchanan First Reading of 2019 Budget 2: 20 STATED CLERK S REPORT Susan De George 2:30 PINE BUSH ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION Bruce Baker 2:40 STONY POINT ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION Rob Trawick 2:55 COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATION AND NOMINATIONS Heather Benedict 3: 00 COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY, PART 2 Erin Moore and Lisa Niven Honorable Retirement of Paul Alcorn -- David and Linda Burpee, speaking Honorable Retirement of Carol Miller -- Monica Cleveland, speaking COLA recommendations 3:15 NEW BUSINESS (150 copies of any new business must be in the hands of the Stated Clerk by 12:30 PM) ATTENDANCE 3:30 ADJOURNMENT *********************************************** The next meeting of Hudson River Presbytery is Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10:00 am at Stony Point Center. Registration will begin at 9:30am. Snowdate will be Wednesday, January 30 th. Those unable to attend shall submit their requests to be excused to Christine Lazarus at christine@hudrivpres.org. 2

3 PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON RIVER Presbytery Meeting September 18, 2018 The Presbytery of Hudson River met in stated meeting on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at Holmes Camp and Conference Center, Holmes, NY, and was convened at 10:00 AM with prayer. Note: MSA = moved, seconded, approved. MA = moved, approved, motions coming from committees, needing no second. MWS=Minister of the Word and Sacrament; RE = Ruling Elder, CRE = Commissioned Ruling Elder. PHR website: with a link to Hudson Happenings. Call to Gather the Presbyters for God s Business Prayer and a moment of silence for Chip Andrus was offered. Declaration of a Quorum Moderator Keith Brokaw declared a quorum was present. Moderator Keith Brokaw Moderator Keith Brokaw Voting on the Docket Motion: to vote on the Docket and Consent Agenda, with two corrections: change the date from April 18 to April 14, in the second action item in the Clerk s Report, and the word Stated to Specially Called. (Attachments I & II). MSA The AA/EEO guidelines were followed during the search process for all of the Teaching Elders and CREs listed in the Committee on Ministry report (Consent Agenda). Introduction of New Ruling Elder Commissioners The Moderator welcomed Ruling Elders who were attending as first-time commissioners. Seating of Corresponding Members MOTION: to seat Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Theoharis, (MWS, Presbytery of New York City) for the meeting, Rev. Dr. Kenneth Ngwa (MWS, Presbyterian Church in Cameroon) for the length of his service as Stated Supply pastor at South Presbyterian Church Yonkers, and Rev. Brian Breault (MWS, United Church of Christ) for the length of time for his service as Executive Director of the Holmes Camp and Conference Center. MSA Minutes Readers MWS Dorinda Violante and RE Kenneth Lott (Mahopac). Welcome from Holmes Camp and Conference Center Brian Breault welcomed presbytery to Holmes. Brian Breault Worship (Attachment III) Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis led worship. The offering was dedicated to and was divided equally between the Peacemaking and Global Witness and the Poor People s Campaign and totaled $

4 Discussion Follow up to worship, with Rev. Liz Theoharis. 12:30 PM Blessing for the Meal. Reconvened at 1:30 PM. 60-Second Announcements Moderator Keith Brokaw and Moderator-Elect Lori Knight-Whitehouse assumed the chair at various times throughout the afternoon. Committee on Representation and Nominations Heather Benedict The Committee on Representation and Nominations recommends the following: MSA the following resignations: RESIGN Elizabeth Smith-Bartlett, Committee on Preparation for Ministry MA the following elections, with no nominations from the floor, ELECT Committee on Ministry: RE Lisa Niven 2020 To the class of 2021: Budget, Finance & Property/Trustees: RE John Redman (Goshen) Committee on Ministry: RE Bruce Mather, RE Nancy Miller, RE Susan Varden, MWS Russell Duncan, MWS Laura Spencer Committee on Preparation for Ministry: RE David Burpee, RE Gaye Hartwig Faith and Order Committee: RE Margery Rossi, MWS Tami Seidel Grants Committee: MWS Cathryn Surgenor, RE Janis Upeslacis Personnel Committee: MWS Laurie McNeill, RE Thomas Albert Permanent Judicial Commission-Class of 2022: RE Valerie Daniele, MWS Cari Pattison MA the following elections, with no nominations from the floor, ELECT the following leadership for 2019, with no nominations from the floor: Moderator of the Presbytery MWS Lori Knight-Whitehouse (New Hempstead) Moderator-Elect of the Presbytery RE Connie Knapp (Yorktown Heights) Committee on Ministry Co-chairs MWS Erin Moore (Chester) and RE Lisa Niven (Irvington) Committee on Preparation for Ministry MWS Patricia Calahan (Cornwall) Faith and Order Committee RE Robert Trawick (New City, Germonds) Grants Committee MWS Cathy Surgenor (Honorably Retired) Personnel Committee MWS Paul Seelman (Pelham, Huguenot) 4

5 MA the following elections, with no nominations from the floor, ELECT the following commissioners, with no nominations from the floor: Presbyterian Conference Association Board, Class of 2020: (Board for Holmes Camp and Conference Center) MWS Peter Jones (Scarsdale, Hitchcock), RE Lesley Pella- Woos (Scarsdale, Hitchcock). If you are interested or know of someone who would be good and appropriate for any vacancies, please contact Heather Benedict, at or Council Peter Surgenor Peter spoke about the price increase for lunches to $15. Stephanie Hare, Registrar for Youth Triennium, and Director of Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, spoke about the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, July 16-20, 2019, at Purdue University. She also led an energizer song with the presbyters. Deborah Rundlett announced an event titled, Leading Intentional Change for the Flourishing Community. She will be conducting this workshop on October 27, 2018, at Irvington Presbyterian Church, from 8:30am-12:30pm. What Works for Us, Lori Knight-Whitehouse presented a video titled, What s Working, concerning the Book Group at New Hempstead Presbyterian Church, and their study of Race and White Privilege. Committee on Ministry Erin Moore & Lisa Niven Introduction of new minister members of the presbytery: 1) Russell Duncan, Stated Supply at Thompson Ridge 2) Sandra Larson, Interim at Union, Newburgh 3) Kenneth Ngwa, Stated Supply at Yonkers, South Honorable Retirements: William Crawford-Elizabeth Smith-Bartlett and Daniel Yang spoke (Attachment IV) Peter Johnson-Judy Anderson spoke, It s all a Gift. (Attachment V) A standing ovation ensued! In Memorium: Rev. Dan Fullerton, Jennifer Rodriguez spoke Chip Andrus, Billye Steinnagel spoke Grants Committee Cathryn Surgenor Cathryn announced that Legacy Grants are available for your church to accomplish what you want to do. On November 10, 2018, from 10am-3pm, there will be training for grant application, at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Communications Update Noelle Damico Noelle requested that music connected to meeting themes be sent to her prior to each meeting. Follow Noelle on Spotify to access music playlists. Paul Alcorn has retired from his work on A Curious Faith Blog where writings are posted weekly or so, for presbyter s perusal on the website. 5

6 Stated Clerk s Report (Attachment VI) Susan De George o The minutes of the April 10, 2018 stated meeting of the Presbytery were read by Rev. Richard Spierling and RE Sheila O Donnell (Union, Newburgh). They recommend approval. o The minutes of the April 14, 2018 specially called meeting of the Presbytery were read by Rev. Richard Spierling and RE Betsy Bostwick (New City, Germonds). They recommend approval. o Recommend that the minutes of the Bedford Presbyterian Church be approved with exceptions. o Council approved two new Administrative Commissions on the presbytery s behalf. o The Clerk s Annual Questionnaire deadline is November 15, 2018, and can be filled out on line. Susan for the link if you haven t received it. o December 7, 2018 is the start date for the Statistical Report submission. End date is February 14, It must be approved by session. o The Hudson River University training videos from March 17, 2018, are posted on the HRP website. Personnel Paul Seelman Paul reported that the presbytery s Personnel Manual is being revised by the committee. An updated job description for the Stated Clerk has been approved. Temporary Interim General Presbyter Report Peter Surgenor Peter thanked Paul Alcorn for his work with the presbytery s, A Curious Faith Blog. Also mentioned, we will hear Chip Andrus s music at the end of the meeting. General Presbyter Nominating Committee Laurie McNeill Committee members were introduced, and a candidate was described. The candidate was introduced and shared a key idea from her faith statement and something that excited her about working with the presbytery. The candidate left the room. (Attachment VII) Motion: to approve RE Deborah L. Milcarek as General Presbyter for HRP. There were no nominations from the floor. MA Unanimous Motion: to approve Deborah Milcarek s terms of call. MA Motion: with gratitude, to dismiss the GPNC. MA Deborah spoke to the presbytery. Prayer was offered. New Business No new business. Attendance Proclamation 70 Teaching Elders and CREs 36 Ruling Elder Commissioners 22 Visitors, officers & staff 8 Other voters TOTAL 136 Motion: to adjourn at 3:37. MSA 6

7 With no further business before the body, the meeting was adjourned with prayer at 3:37PM. The next stated meeting will convene on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at the Stony Point Conference Center, Stony Point, NY, at 10:00AM, with registration at 9:30 AM. Minister of the Word and Sacrament Susan De George Stated Clerk Ruling Elder Wendy Spierling Journal Clerk 7

8 COMMITTEE on MINISTRY PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON RIVER 4 DECEMBER 2018, STONY POINT CENTER The Committee on Ministry met on 2 October, 6 and 27 November 2018 and recommends the following: FOR ACTION: the Committee on Ministry 1. recommends approval of the proposed sale of the Marlboro manse. Following the sale, for one year a special consideration will be granted, allowing the church to include in use of the proceeds the funding of the pastor s pension as well as housing allowance and costs that may be incurred for a mission study. During that year, the church must complete a Mission Study preapproved by COM, and work with a financial representative from the Presbytery to complete a financial viability assessment. At the end of that year, as Presbytery policy requires, the net proceeds of the sale will be set aside in a restricted account for exclusive use of clergy housing. FOR INFORMATION 2. Approve John Redman for Pulpit Supply list if the way be clear. 3. Approve Peter Johnson for Pulpit Supply list. 4. Approve Honorable Retirement for Rose Chan effective 28 February Approve Honorable Retirement for Carol Miller effective 30 November Approve the following terms for Deborah Rundlett at Ridgebury Congregational Church, Ridgefield CT, 24 hours per week, effective 1 October 2018: Salary 21000; Housing Allowance 6300; Pension and Medical 14276; Supplemental Death and Disability ; Dental 1166; Social Security Allowance ; Professional Expense , by voucher; Presbytery Group Life 201; one month vacation, 10 Sundays and 2 weeks Study Leave. 7. Approve that the Committee on Ministry be the accountability entity for Spirit Talk, a Peekskill Church ministry for young adults. Spirit Talk is grant funded thru the Presbytery Legacy Fund and the Synod and is now applying for GA funds. As part of that GA process accountability to Presbytery is needed. 8. Approve Lynn Brown as Interim Pastor at Pleasant Valley effective 1 October October 2019 with the following terms: Salary 33000; Housing Allowance 22000; Pension and Benefits 20350; Social Security Allowance ; Travel 2000, by voucher; Study Leave 2 weeks and 1000, by voucher; Professional Expense, 200, by voucher; Presbytery Group Life 201; 31 days vacation. 8

9 9. Receive Lynn Brown from Albany Presbytery effective 1 October Approve Kathleen Genus as Pastor, All Souls Parish, Port Chester, effective 1 December 2018 with the following Terms of Call: Salary 51000; Manse and Utilities, value: 21000; Pension and Benefits 26640; Social Security Allowance 5508; Study Leave 2 weeks and 1000, by voucher; Travel allowance 2250, by voucher; Professional Expense 750, by voucher; Presbytery Group Life 201; 31 days vacation. Moving expense 4000, by voucher.. Jane Anne Groom moderated the Congregational Meeting held 14 October Receive Kathleen Genus from Elizabeth Presbytery effective 12/1/ Approve the following Terms for Ellen Clemot as Interim at Larchmont effective 1 November 2018: Salary 77000; Housing Allowance 24,500; Pension and Medical 38072; Dental 1700; Longterm Care 2400; Social Security Allowance 8078; Presbytery Group Life 201; Administration 5500, by voucher. 4 weeks Study Leave. 31 days vacation. Moving 5000, by voucher upon arrival and 5000, by voucher, as needed, upon departure. Upon moving into the manse, housing value will be designated. 13. Receive Ellen Clemot from the Presbytery of Elizabeth, effective 1 November Approve Betsy Bostwick to serve communion at Newburgh, Union 7 October Approve Betsy Bostwick to moderate a congregational meeting at Mahopac 21 October Approve a mandated 2.7% COLA increase to the minimum effective salary for pastoral positions for Approve a recommended 2.7% COLA increase for all other pastoral positions in Presbytery congregations for Approve a recommended 2.7% COLA increase for all church positions in Presbytery congregations for Appoint Edd Carlson Moderator at Milton effective 6 November Approve the following Interim Contract for John Patrick Vaughn at Bedford effective 1 December December 2019: Salary 83000; Manse, Pension and Benefits 40,700; Social Security Allowance 8415; Study Leave 2 weeks and 1000, by voucher; Car allowance 2000, by voucher; Presbytery Group Life 201; 31 days vacation. 21. Receive John Patrick Vaughn from New Castle Presbytery effective 1 Dec 2018, if the way be clear. 22. Approve the following Terms of Call for Matthew Jun as Pastor, Korean Presbyterian Church of Westchester, New Rochelle effective 1 December 2018: Salary 40000; Housing Allowance 35000; 9

10 Pension and Benefits 27750; Social Security Allowance Presbytery Group Life 201; Study Leave 2 weeks and 1000, by voucher; Car allowance 2000, by voucher; 31 days vacation. 23. Receive Matthew Jun from the Presbytery of Southern New England effective 1 December Appoint Peter Surgenor as Moderator, Pearl River, Nauraushaun effective 1 December Appoint Judith Anderson as Moderator, New Hampton, Denton for 18 November 2018 Annual Meeting. 26. Appoint Jan Brooks as Moderator at Ancramdale and Pine Plains effective 1 December Appoint Bruce Baker as Moderator for Pine Bush's congregational meeting 4 November Approve Leslie Mott as Temporary Bridge Pastor at Mahopac effective 2 December 2018 thru 2 March 2019 with the following contract: 25 hours per week (½ time), Session Moderator, Guide and assist at Deacon s Meetings, Attend Nursery School Meetings (electronically at times), Preach three Sundays per month (including Children s sermon), Lead special services, Provide pastoral care; Pension & Benefits ameliorated to the part time status, Head of Staff. Access to stay at the manse on an as needed basis. Terms, if the way be clear: Salary 20,251; Housing allowance ; Pension and Benefits ; Social Security Allowance ; Study Leave 2 weeks and 1000, by voucher; Car allowance 2000, by voucher; Presbytery Group Life 201; 4 weeks vacation. 29. Approve the following Installation Administrative Commission for Kathleen Genus at Larchmont, 13 January 2019, 3 PM: Moderator, Elder Keith Brokaw; Elder Deborah Pfau, Port Chester; Elder Billye Zoa Steinnagel, South Salem; Teaching Elder, Rev. Dorothy Muller; Teaching Elder Rev. Bruce Baker; Teaching Elder Rev. Dr. Susan De George, Stated Clerk. 30. Approve an Associate Pastor position at Scarsdale, Hitchcock, if the way be clear. 31. Approve that the COM affirm existing policy that: CRE s should be compensated proportionately to hours of full-time worked (HRP defines full-time as 50 hrs./week) at a minimum of 75% of minimum compensation of Installed Clergy unless COM approves otherwise. This applies to new positions and is not retroactive. 32. Approve that the COM memorialize its current practice into policy, requiring churches contracting Interim Pastors to offer them enrollment in the Board of Pensions Pastors Participation Plan or equivalent value of benefits (or in cases of Calls to clergy from other denominations the equivalent benefits within their denomination s plan). This is not retroactive. 10

11 Clifford Acklam Statement of Faith I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and Maker of all, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, as my Savior and Lord. I believe in the Holy Spirit, who binds us together in unity, sustains and empowers us to be Christ s followers, called to serve, wherever that may be. The hallmark of my ministry is to lead by example with passion, enthusiasm, commitment and sensitivity in all that I do as a Minister of the Gospel and as a Disciple of Christ Jesus. At all times I aim to remain approachable, joyful, positive and encouraging; to inspire, enable, initiate and support the work and ministry of the whole people of God so that we work together in unity as the Body of Christ. In the face of dramatic change in church and society, we are called to find new ways to touch the hearts of all people through service, work and worship. I believe that Christ s welcome is extended to all people, regardless of ability, race, class, gender or sexual orientation. 11

12 Lynn Kostecki Brown Statement of Faith August 28, 2018 I believe that before space, before time, before even before, God was one God, three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And God created and called it good. But the creation is broken and sin is real and we turn away, fall away, fall out of relationship with God. But God is loving and God is merciful. And God in God s own self is in relationship and God seeks to be in relationship with us. With amazing and nearly incomprehensible grace, God never stops reaching, seeking, loving and reconciling. I believe that in God s own time, God took on flesh and was born into the crucible of Israel and Jesus Christ walked the earth among us, fully human, fully God. In the Incarnation, Jesus unites humanity and God, thereby actualizing reconciliation in his very self. In his life and his death, God in Christ takes our broken, sinful humanity to the cross, down into judgment, suffering, and death and redeems and transforms it in the resurrection. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and is God. The Spirit was at work in creation and continues to work to sustain and preserve the world and all that is in it. The Spirit is at work always to unite us with Christ, mediate God s revelation to us and help us grow into our transformed life of discipleship. The Spirit undergirds the church and enables ministry. I believe that the Word of God is most faithfully spoken of in a multi-faceted way. The Word of God is first and foremost the Word incarnate, the sufficient self-revelation of God in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God, inspired and authoritative witness to the triune God and the truth by which God wishes us to live. The preaching of the Word is also the Word of God, as it is heard, received, illuminated and made effective for us by the Holy Spirit. I believe that we are saved by grace alone and justified by grace through faith. Though we remain sinners, we are made right with God, forgiven, and restored to relationship. Out of this amazing grace, we are called into community, into ministry, vocation and mission. I believe that Christian life is to be life in community and the church is the body of Christ in the world, called and gathered by the Holy Spirit for worship and service. Christian life and faith in gathered community is nourished and fed by Word and Sacrament. In baptism, we are enfolded and engrafted into the promises of God, dying to sin and rising to new life. In the Lord s Supper, we eat and drink, in communion with Christ and each other, and are refreshed and restored for the journey. My hope is in the realization of God s promises, that death is not the last word, Christ will return and there will be a new heaven and a new earth, a transformed creation. But we live between the times, between the Already, the Even Now and the Not Yet, and it is here that we work and minister, live and breathe, even as we pray Come, Lord Jesus! 12

13 Statement of Faith of Rev. Ellen Clark Clémot I believe that God the Creator brought Life out of nothingness through Love. That God made humanity in God s image of Love. That we reflect God s image through our capacity to love. That we respond to God irresistibly by loving God and God s creation with overwhelming joy. As a gift. We cannot then help but to love one another with the joy that overflows from our hearts, with the love that God gave us first. I believe that God creates, sustains, rules, and redeems the world in the freedom of sovereign righteousness and love made present to us through our Lord, Jesus Christ: God incarnate. Fully human, fully divine, Christ died for us. Christ rose for us. Christ prays for us. And Christ rules in power over us. I believe that everyone in Christ is a new creation. The old life ends with our baptism; a new life in Christ begins, and is offered again and again. Second chances to begin afresh. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the power of Love, the inspiration of God, the energy that moves us, the enthusiasm that stirs us, and the courage that moves us. The Spirit is what fills us with joy in singing a gospel song, in our witness of a baptism, in a sermon of grace and forgiveness. The Spirit gives us ability to forgive, the humility to confess, the trust to believe, the grace to let go. Even as we struggle to live lives worthy of God s image, to be loveable and loving, acknowledging our own sinfulness and brokenness to accept God s love, we are challenged by God s Word in scripture to turn our lives around, admit our dependence on God s grace, and seek to follow Christ s example and command. To remember him worshipfully. To love one another with forgiveness. To make disciples of all nations by modelling our faith. We are loved by the Creator God, led by Jesus Christ, and transformed by the Spirit thanks be to our Triune God from whom all blessings flow. I pray for the reconciliation and reunion of one holy catholic and apostolic church - the community of believers who gather to hear the proclamation of the Word through preaching and to receive the right administration of the Sacraments: Baptism and the Lord s Supper where no one is turned away from the table, and all are forgiven and welcomed at the font. I am thankful that Christ sits at the right hand of God to be our judge, so we do not have to judge others. I believe in tolerance towards other religious faiths, mutual forbearance among other Christian traditions, and that ultimately, our salvation, and that of others, is up to God alone. I trust that the Presbyterian Church (USA), obedient to Christ, is ever open to reform as to its standards of doctrine and governance, according to the Word of God and the calling of the Holy Spirit and that it hold itself to the highest standards of ethics and self-assessment in order to serve in the building of God s Kingdom and be relevant in our world. We live our lives in Christ as disciples. In practicing our faith, we flourish it takes a lifetime. It s hard. But in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be transformed. October

14 Rev. Kathy Genus - Statement of Faith I believe in a triune God who out of God s own expansive love created all that is. I believe that God is a mystery and beyond human comprehension, yet God reveals Godself to us in intimate ways. Out of God s overflowing love for creation, God sent Jesus to save us from ourselves. Jesus being fully human and fully divine walked and lived and breathed, laughed and loved with and alongside humanity. Jesus was and continues to be teacher, a friend, an advocate and a savior. Jesus embodied the love of God in every interaction he had with human beings, the righteous, the sinner, the outcast and the stranger, calling us to do likewise. On our behalf Jesus willingly suffered and died a horrible death at the hands of human beings; he rose again and ascended into heaven. As a result of his death and resurrection and through his extravagant love and grace we have been redeemed; our sins are forgiven, and we will live with Jesus eternally. I believe that the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is a gift from God and lives with us. The Holy Spirit connects us to the triune God in every breath we take, supporting and empowering humanity in our love of God and discipleship here on earth. Holy Scripture is a gift from God and stands as an eternal witness to the triune God. It reflects the love, promises and grace that God has poured out upon all of creation. Through the Holy Spirit as scripture is read we see the love that God has for us and how we are to respond to that love. The scriptures show us a God who is faithful and call us to embrace the Christian life through the welcome of strangers those who live life and worship differently than we do and the importance of standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, feeding the hungry, and loving those who feel unlovable. The church is a gift from God where humanity can gather in community to be nurtured in the faith, witness faith lived out on earth and be empowered to serve as disciples in the world. The church is to exemplify the life of Christ in all it does and says. The sacraments are physical signs of what we cannot humanly see. We are invited and welcomed by Christ at the table of the Lord s Supper. Through the Holy Spirit, each time we share the bread and the cup we are renewed by God s grace, filled with God s Spirit, and called to a new life of hope. In baptism we receive the sign and seal of God s love, forgiveness and grace poured out upon us through the Jesus Christ. Through our baptism we are welcomed into the family of faith and nurtured to live out our lives as faithful disciples. God gifts us with the church and sacraments as tangible practices to encourage us on our daily journey and to renew us regularly in our faith. Through our regular participation we become refocused and strengthened to stand firm in our faith in the triune God and to live as disciples here in the place where we reside until we are drawn to God s very self forever. 14

15 STATEMENT OF FAITH from the Rev. Dr. Jane Ann Groom (10/16) I believe in God, Eternal Mystery intuited by mystics of many traditions through the ages in the immediacy and intimacy of numinous encounter. God was first introduced to me through Church and its Bible. God who creates and loves creation; who forms humanity in imago Dei and seeks our friendship; who hallows time; who offers insight of sacred naming to Moses ( I will be Who I will be ); God who calls, liberates, accompanies, disappears, builds up and destroys; God who speaks through prophets urging mortals to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly..., is the God I came to know in story, song, and community. As a child, I met this fearful, loving, longing, faithful God who learned on the job how to be God. From God came Jesus who persevered. He learned, too. Awesome. I trust Jesus, the Human One who is for Church the definitive revelation of God s heart, God s Incarnate Word spoken to humanity in time and, as Cosmic Christ, beyond time. Rabbi Jesus radical table fellowship provides metaphor for inclusive Church. When Jesus, in kinship, ate with the unrighteous, he revealed God s grace. When Jesus blessed children, healed the sick, raised the dead, touched the untouchable, embraced the outcast, befriended the friendless, loved the unlovely, spoke truth to power, and preached Good News, he proclaimed the Realm of God present right now. To say, Jesus is Lord, is to trust the prodigal God of grace revealed through Jesus. To say, Jesus is Lord, is to live the Jesus-way as child-of- God, called, not aimless. I pray for Holy Spirit who animated Jesus life to quicken my own in community with others so we may bear the fruit of Spirit. Only Spirit will equip Church to engage the world with grace. Only Spirit prompts us to live transformed lives free from the power of sin. Sin is acronym: Souls In Need; sin is a condition of the heart that results in fractured lives and wrong relationship revealed through greed, injustice, cruelty, oppression, envy, lack of compassion, and blights to kinship and creation. Abundant life, not sin, is God s way for humanity. Jesus said so. I believe in God who still speaks, shedding more light and truth in the world through human experience: changing (questioning, learning) minds, open (empathic) hearts, political struggles, science, and the arts. For Church it is the Bible that remains the sacred text that need be wisely held in tension with God s still speaking voice. The Bible, like a pilgrim wandering through history, carries communal memories of those who lived lives comforted by experience of God s presence & challenged by anguish of God s perceived absence. As vessel for God s Living Word, the Bible needs Spirit-imbued, attentive, prayerful reading by the inclusive Church (and listening). Otherwise the Bible may devolve to a weapon of mass destruction (oppressive, condemning), a text rendered rigidly authoritative with nothing of Spirit s seal, love. Anyway, Jesus trumps the Bible as God s Living Word. Jesus, Incarnate Word, teaches us to forgive, to suffer, to struggle, to celebrate, to bless, to love and, first of all, to show up, to persevere, and to be fully human (as children can be: vulnerable, playful, curious, learning, joining hands, falling down, getting up, starting again). Jesus' words on the cross, Forgive them, for they know not what they do, hold. To say, Jesus is Lord, is to accept those words for oneself as God s grace revealed. Church approaches God in Jesus name. Church loves God by following Jesus ways. Church experiences God by Holy Spirit s indwelling. I trust that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. To say, Jesus is Lord, is to affirm this hope and to live in this truth, for our own sakes and for the sake of others. To say, Jesus is Lord, is to serve God in the world, choosing to love Christ who is found right here and now in unexpected, disconcerting places and in surprising, unforeseen, helpless persons, animals, our earth and our world. For God so loved the world... Love wins. To say, Jesus is Lord, is to finally recognize, beyond all boundaries, barriers, dogmas, creeds, purity codes, and religious systems, even our own, that love wins. That s all. Love wins. // 1 15

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17 Statement of Faith Michael Jun I believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation and God s Love to man. God is the author, Its purpose is salvation for the humankind, and the truth is revealed to God s people beyond the culture and races. It will remain to the end of the world, and is the true core of Christian community. It is the rules by which all believers conduct and confess. It connects God with His creations. I believe that there is only one living and true God. God is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being. Our God is triune God who reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division. God the Father: God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God reigns as the loving Creator over the universe and the human history according to the purposes of God s nature. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. God the Son: Christ is the only begotten Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is completely human yet without sin. He lived obediently and died for us on the cross for the Sin. He was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will return in glory to judge the world. God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit enables us to understand truth, and calls us to the Saviour, helps us to be born again, and unites us to be one with Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual gifts by which we serve God through God s church. God s presence seals us be the Children of God and sanctifies us into the fullness of the Christ. He comforts and empowers us and the church. I believe that man is the special creation of God in God s image. However, man sinned against God through the temptation of Satan. As the result of disobedience, pain, despair, and death came into our world and existence, and we lost the perfect communion with God. We have the desire to long for this perfect communion with God, which can only be achieved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, the Savior. Every person of every race and culture is given God s grace equally without discrimination. Therefore, everyone possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect. I believe that the Church is the body of Christ. This community of faith is united by the faith in Christ and the gospel. It is established by God s desire to serve the surrounding community through Jesus Christ and to seek and to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. We, Korean immigrant churches, are especially called to serve the community for immigrants and their 17

18 descendants. The church is to listen to them, to encourage and comfort them in foreign lands, and to share and cultivate the culture and traditions in Christian traditions. However, we must also intend to be open minded and embracing of other traditions and cultures. I believe that God has ordained the family as the basic institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. The Biblical marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in love and commitment for a lifetime. The marriage relationship also models the way God relates to God s people and how we will be unioned with Christ in the future. 18

19 John Patrick Vaughn - Statement of Faith. Throughout my ministry, I have preached the Gospel, visited the sick and moderated meetings of session. I have conducted funerals, led capital and stewardship campaigns, facilitated vision journeys, and taught confirmation classes. I often wonder, What is the common thread that runs through these varied activities? What is unique about the church of Jesus Christ? These questions have moved me to develop a critical conversation between the teachings of our faith tradition on the one hand and my experiences of ministry and life on the other. Through this dialogue I have come to believe that the cross is the decisive revelation of who God is and what God is about in the world. The cross reveals that ours is a God of suffering love, a God who will not abandon us but is everpresent working to bring us into a relationship with God and save us from our sin. Through the cross we can see that God is redemptively involved in the pain and brokenness of the world: the couple who silently struggle with financial crisis, the mentally ill young man who leaves home and spends fifteen years wandering around the country, the elderly woman who sits in loneliness, the refugee who flees genocidal conflict. Incredibly, the cross also reveals to us that God is a Triune God. This is an essential and exciting dimension of my faith perspective. Our God is known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the cross the Son suffers death, the Father suffers the loss of the Beloved and the Spirit brings the hope of a renewing and deepening relationship. God is indeed one but not in a homogenized, monolithic, inaccessible, uniform, unvaried manner. God is one in a dynamic, passionate, relational, mutual indwelling of persons in love. Accordingly, I understand the church to be the community of the cross. It is not organized primarily by common interests, shared social status, family relations or national concerns. The church as the Body of Christ is gathered by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through its organic interdependence, mutual love, faithful witness, and commitment to the marginalized it reflects the suffering love and communal nature of God. I believe that there are two sacraments. I understand baptism to be a celebration of God s acceptance of sinful humanity. God does not stand on the banks of our lives but through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit immerses himself into the chaos and murky waters of human existence. In our baptisms we respond to God s sovereign grace and celebrate our relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. I understand the Lord s Supper to be God s gift of presence and nurture. Through the breaking of bread and pouring of wine, we remember Christ s brokenness on our behalf and joyfully anticipate his ultimate victory over the powers of sin and death. In this journey we call faith, I strive to see life from the perspective of the cross. It is an adventure I look forward to sharing with you. 19

20 Faith and Order Committee Presbytery of Hudson River 4 December 2018 The Faith and Order Committee of the Hudson River Presbytery met on October 30, 2018 to consider proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The committee will be bringing recommendations on the proposed amendments to the next three presbytery meetings. For the December meeting, the Faith and Order Committee recommends that Hudson River Presbytery approve amending W (item 14-03), regarding welcoming to the table. You will find all the proposed amendments in this document. This particular proposed amendment can be found on page

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24 Stated Clerk s Report December FOR ACTION -C- The minutes of the September 18, 2018 stated meeting of the Presbytery were read by MWS Dorinda Violante and RE Kenneth Lott (Mahopac). They recommend approval. -C- Recommend that the minutes of the Harrison Presbyterian Church be approved with exceptions. FOR INFORMATION The 2018 statistical report for each congregation can be filed in the denominational database as early as Friday December 7 th, 2018 but must be filled out by Thursday, February 14, To do so go to and enter the same church user name and password as in past years. Please note that this year along with the statistics traditionally reported there are a series of new supplemental questions that must be answered. Plan ahead and remember that the Session (not the congregation) must approve the report before you file it so plan ahead and get it on your session docket now. The written 2018 necrology report will be presented during worship at the January 29, 2019 presbytery meeting. By January 15 please the names of any of your congregation s Ruling Elders (those who have served on your session at any point during their lives) who had died in Make sure you that you include 1) the name and location of the congregation; 2) the Ruling Elder s name; and 3) the date of death to Jean Kaiser (jean@hudrivpres.org). Save the date: the annual Clerk of Session workshop and minute reading will be on Sunday, April 28 th 2019 beginning 2 pm at the Stony Point Center. Session records for 2018 will be examined at that gathering. More information about the gathering, as well as the checklist to be completed by each Clerk of Session, will be ed out in early We recognize and celebrate the following Ordination anniversaries in 2018: 70 years William James 60 years Margaret Howland; Richard Thompson 55 years Ralph Lamar III; Richard Snyder 50 years Donald Poole, Jr.; William Saum II; Bruce Tischler 45 years James Walkup Jr. 40 years Zora Ficarra-Cheatham; David Kingsley; Bruce Page 35 years Gary Fox; Paul Milz; Lee Sullivan 30 years Gail Burger 24

25 25 years Debra Bronkema; Susan Lunning 20 years Heather Brown-Huston; Stephany Graham; Thomas Unkenholz 15 years Peter Johnson 10 years Alexander Lever 5 years Debra Northern Susan G. De George 25

26 Administrative Commission - Pine Bush Presbytery of Hudson River 4 December 2018 The AC moves that the Grahams Presbyterian Church of Pine Bush, NY be dissolved as of 12/31/18 and that the closing service of the church be held on 12/30/18 at their regular worship service at 10:00, and that the members of the Grahams church be transferred as of 12/31/18 to the Hudson River Presbytery (where they will be without vote) for one year or until such earlier time as they request a transfer to another church. 26

27 COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATION AND NOMINATIONS Hudson River Presbytery Heather Benedict, Chair The Committee on Representation and Nominations recommends the following: 1. Receive the following RESIGNATIONS: none 2. ELECT the following to fill vacancies: 3. ELECT the following to the Class of 2021: Committee on Preparation for Ministry MWS Stephany Graham 4. ELECT the following leadership for 2019: Budget, Finance and Property Committee/Trustees MWS Peter Surgenor If you are interested or know of someone who would be good and appropriate for any of these vacancies, please contact me, Heather Benedict, at or

28 Committee on Preparation for Ministry Presbytery of Hudson River December 4, 2018 Stony Point Center The Committee on Preparation for Ministry met on November 27, 2018 and acted on the following: 1. To enroll William Cosnett, Mt. Kisco, as an Inquirer for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. 2. To enroll Erik Simon, Palisades, as an Inquirer for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. Patricia Calahan, Chair 28