Presbytery of Monmouth

Transcription

1 Presbytery of Monmouth equipping ministers and congregations to strengthen God s people for ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ. In order to strengthen ministers and congregations to do the work of Jesus Christ, we are focusing on the following themes during : v Building Trust v Building Community

2 Building Trust and Building Community within the presbytery is the heart of our work together this year. In addition, we have renewed our commitment to help and support the mission of our local congregations. The Mission Council pledges to work on these by focusing on the following goals in : Follow Through on Conversations The Mission Council has had visits with all sessions this winter and spring. The topics and themes of the conversations are being gathered together, and specific issues are being addressed. Gracious Discernment Procedure and Policy In order to build trust and heal past hurts between congregations, pastors, and congregations, the Mission Council is forming a team of presbyters to develop a faithful and gracious procedure for congregations who are considering their future relationship with the PCUSA, particularly in light of the recent constitutional changes. Change the Conversation regarding Per Capita The Mission Council is asking the ADSC and other entities of the presbytery to imagine different ways of funding the work of the presbytery. What would need to happen to make a new way possible and feasible in Monmouth Presbytery? Congregational Grants & Consultants The Presbytery has budgeted money in the 2012 budget for the funding of congregational projects. A procedure for applying for funds is being established and should be publicized in the next few months. Unbinding the Gospel Fifteen congregations in Monmouth Presbytery are considering their study and participation in a program of Real Life Evangelism based on developing prayer, the ability to talk about our faith, and a focus on those God is working to bring into our congregations. Developing Connections/Relationships We will be looking for news ways to connect congregations and pastors in mission and relationships. Presbytery of Monmouth (609) PO Box Front Street New Egypt, NJ

3 Balajied Shankur Khyllep 2) A STATEMENT OF PERSONAL FAITH WHICH INCORPORATES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REFORMED TRADITION; I believe in a triune God, who appears in three persons and has three different roles. The Creator God created everything in this universe including me and declared that it was good. God is the source of all wisdom, power, love and being from eternity to eternity. God is the one who put everything in order and sees the goodness and beauty in all of creation. I believe in a Redeemer God who came into this world to redeem all creation. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God forgave the sins of this world and reconciled himself with humanity. The act of forgiveness and reconciliation has been fulfilled only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ at the cross God entered into and participated in the pain and suffering of humanity. And through Jesus resurrection God brings us hope for the future. It is through the ministry of Jesus within this world that God revealed God s self, God who loves and cares for the needy, poor, marginalized and all of his creatures. I also believe in a Sustainer God who dwells among us, inspiring and empowering us through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It is through the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit that all of God s creation experiences revitalization each day. I believe in this Triune God appearing in three persons having different roles, yet I see them as one God. I believe this because each of them does not contradict one another; instead they agree with one another in every way and share equal power, love and glory. This holy unity in the Trinity reflects the intended unity within the community of believers. I believe in the Universal Church where Christ is its head, God is its source of wisdom, Holy Spirit is its source of strength and power and guided by the authoritative word of Scripture. Therefore the Church with all its flaws has in it the transformative power to change the lives of the people around it. The church brings the community of people with different backgrounds into fellowship together as an act of reconciliation that God has already done through Jesus Christ. I believe that God chooses the Church through which he wants to reconcile himself with this world. So, God calls for the Church not to seclude itself from the world, but rather to reach out to the world. I believe the Church is called to heal the brokenness within this world - to serve the needy, to comfort those who mourn, to bring justice where injustice prevails because of war, racism, gender or religion, and to welcome and provide shelter for strangers. In the knowledge of God s grace, I also believe that humans, as sinners, are required to respond to the initiative God has taken to reconcile God s self to us. Because God showed God s grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers in gratitude respond in faith. Believers are justified in the sight of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not by anything the believer does. Furthermore, out of thanksgiving for

4 all God has done, believers respond to God s grace through their daily devotion and discipleship. This will help them to grow in their relationship with God, through which they will be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore justification and sanctification happen not by our daily works or deeds, but by the grace of God and through faith in Jesus Christ. I also believe that Jesus Christ instituted the two sacraments to help believers grow in their faith. It is through the sacrament of baptism that believers are reminded that they are clothed (made a new creation) in Christ and they have joined and belong to the community of faith. And through the sacrament of the Lord s Supper, believers are reminded of the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus for our sins and the hope we have through his resurrection from death. It is through the Lord s Supper also that believers can sense their community in sharing with one another. As Calvin states, I believe the sacraments are an outward sign of God s inward grace working in the believer and in the world. Finally I believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ as a great ruler where he will finally established his kingdom where justice, love and peace prevails.

5 COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY REPORT March 27, 2012 The Committee recommends the following to Presbytery based on actions taken at COM s stated meeting of March 6, 2012: The Committee recommends that the Presbytery approve the contract for interim pastoral services between the Rev. Barbara Heck and the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, with terms complying with the Presbytery s minimums. The Committee also recommends that Presbytery appoint Rev. Heck to be moderator of session of the First Presbyterian Church, Hightstown for the duration of her service as Interim. The Committee recommends that Presbytery receive Rev. Barbara Heck as a member of the Presbytery upon her transfer from New Brunswick Presbytery. The Committee recommends the following to Presbytery based on evotes taken since COM s stated meeting of March 6, 2012: The Committee recommends that, if the way be clear, Presbytery concur with the Rev. Brian Croak and the congregation of the Lincroft Presbyterian Church in their request to dissolve the pastoral ties between them, effective April 14, Rev. Croak will be leaving Lincroft to serve as designated pastor of The Bloomfield Church on the Green Presbyterian Church, Newark Presbytery, effective April 15, The Committee further recommends that, if the way be clear, Presbytery approve the transfer of Rev. Croak to the Presbytery of Newark upon request from that Presbytery. Note that the Committee on Ministry, acting as the Presbytery, approved the contract between the Rev. Robin E. Lostetter and the the First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown for services as Temporary Supply pastor for the period January 16, 2012 to January 15,2013, and with the financial compensation as detailed in the submitted Terms of Call worksheet. Respectfully submitted, Elder Dan Raisch

6 COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY REPORT The Committee on Preparation for Ministry has 3 students to present to move to candidacy, namely: 1. Balajiedlang Khyllep, endorsed by the session of United Presbyterian in Millstone 2. Bailey Pruner, endorsed by the session of the Toms River Church 3. Christine Tegeder, endorsed by the session of Toms River Their Statements of Faith have been included in the packet as a way to get to know a bit about their beliefs and calling. Each student moving to candidacy will be introduced one at a time and asked to tell the presbytery something of their faith journey and call to ministry. Questions may be asked about such things as their spiritual disciplines or where they envision God may lead them to serve in the future. This is not an examination for ordination, so they do not present a biographical statement and are not to be asked questions about theology. We'll also then ask them to leave for a brief period for any discussion and a vote per each. Then, once the third has been approved, we'll call all three up together (also inviting members of family and church community) for the Moderator to ask the constitutional questions and the liturgical elements of the charge and prayer.

7 DIRECTIONS First Presbyterian Church 420 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown, NJ Directions from the North. and East (State Route 33 Merges with US 130 in Hightstown) (I-195 take the Bordentown exit 5A just past the Turnpike and merge onto 130 Southbound) (New Jersey Turnpike: take Exit 7A and bear left onto I-195 West bound [Trenton]; follow I-195 to 130) Via US 206 South bound. Come into Bordentown. Routes 206 and 130 merge just past Town Ford. Stay in the right lane. There is a light at the top of the hill next to Hilltop Exxon. You will turn right there onto Crosswicks St. Proceed down Crosswicks to the stop next to the Monument. Turn left onto Farnsworth Ave. The Church is 1½ blocks on the right. Via US 130 South bound. Come into Bordentown. Routes 130 and 206 Merge just past Mastoris Diner. Get into the right hand lane and proceed to cross over to the extreme right hand lane when the roads merge. There is a light at the top of the hill next to Hilltop Exxon. You will turn right onto Crosswicks St. Proceed down Crosswicks to the stop next to the Monument. Turn left onto Farnsworth Ave. The Church is 1½ blocks on the right. From the South; (I 295 Exit at Bordentown follow US 130 directions below) (Route 68 merges into 206 about a mile south of the Turnpike) ( New Jersey Turnpike take exit 7 and bear right onto US 206 Northbound) Via US 206 North bound. You will pass the Ramada Inn just past the Turnpike entrance. You will need to get over into the left hand lane. You will enter the left hand turn lane at the next light just past the Laurel Notch Motel. Turn left onto Farnsworth Ave. Proceed through the light at 130 near McDonalds. The Church is 2½ blocks on the left. Via US 130 North bound. You will pass under I 295. You will need to get over into the left lane to enter the left turn lane at the light near McDonalds. Turn left onto Farnsworth Ave. The Church is 2½ blocks on the left. From the East (Southern Ocean County) Via County Routes 539 and 528. Take route 539 north to the light at the intersection of 539 and 528. The light is about a mile past the New Egypt Speedway and a Wawa is on the right. Turn left onto Rt 528 (Lakewood Road). You will come to a stop sign near the New Egypt Methodist Church. Turn left onto North Main St and follow the street, as it becomes Main St. You will bear right onto Jacobstown Road near the Wawa. You will follow this road through Jacobstown. About 3 miles from Jacobstown you will come to a T intersection and a stop sign. You will turn left and proceed through Chesterfield. About 3 miles after Chesterfield you will cross over the Turnpike. About a mile past this you will turn left following the signs to Bordentown stay to the right on the cloverleaf. You will cross 130 and stay straight to the stop sign. Turn left onto Crosswicks St. Proceed down Crosswicks to the stop next to the Monument. Turn left onto Farnsworth Ave. The Church is 1½ blocks on the right. Parking We will have designated drop off areas in front of the church on both sides of Farnsworth. Someone from Bordentown Church will be at the drop off areas to direct you to areas where you can park. Those with handicap-accessible parking permits may park in the manse driveway. There is no Church parking lot. You can try to park on the street. There may be some lots nearby that we can utilize and for which we will provide van shuttles, but we will not know for sure until the day of the meeting. (The main lot we have used in the past is under construction and new management.)

8 General Assembly Commissioners from Monmouth Presbytery For the Last 20 General Assemblies Compiled by Stated Clerk Carl Wilton March 19, 2012 Church Teaching Elders Ruling Elders YADs Allentown 1999 Atlantic Highlands , 1992, 1994, 1996 Barnegat 1999 Bayville 2008 Belmar Bordentown 1999 Brick 1989, Cliffwood Beach 1999 Cranbury 1989, 1992, , , 2008 East Brunswick 1991, , 1995, 1999 Englishtown , 1998 Farmingdale Forked River , 2000 Freehold 1991 Hightstown 1989, , 2003 Jamesburg , 2004 Lakehurst 2001 Lakewood First 1993 Lakewood Hope 1994 Lincroft 1990 Long Branch 1997 Manasquan 1992 Matawan

9 GA Commissioners from Monmouth Presbytery 2 Middletown 1989, 1997 Mount Holly 1992, 1993, Neptune 2001 New Gretna 2003 Ocean Perrineville 2002 Point Pleasant 1998, Principe de Paz 1996 Shrewsbury 1988, , 2010 South Amboy 1995 Sykesville 2000 Red Bank 1993, 2001, 2004, 2008 Rumson 1988, 1996, , 2002 Tinton Falls/Eatontown 1988, , 2001 Toms River 1994, 1997, , 1992, 2002, Yardville 2004 Specialized/At Large 1990, 2002 Totals Churches never having a Ruling Elder, Teaching Elder or YAD attend the General Assembly during this period: Jackson, Jacksonville, New Egypt, Retreat, Sayreville, Tennent, Tuckerton 2010 The Rev. Rosanna Anderson, Cranbury The Rev. Rob Carter, East Brunswick Ruling Elder Joel Davies, Shrewsbury Ruling Elder Sue Ritacco, Matawan Youth Advisory Delegate: Rebecca Crate, Point Pleasant

10 GA Commissioners from Monmouth Presbytery The Rev. Myrlene Hamilton Hess, Bayville The Rev. David McKirachan, Shrewsbury Ruling Elder Charlotte Alderfer, Toms River Ruling Elder William Faust, Red Bank Youth Advisory Delegate: Sarah Gordon, Cranbury 2006 The Rev. Robin Lostetter, Point Pleasant Ruling Elder Sue Smith, Rumson Youth Advisory Delegate: Amy Erickson, Brick (NOTE: Declining numbers of church members in Monmouth Presbytery led to a decline in the number of available Ruling/Teaching Elder slots from 4 to 2 in 2006, but a constitutional amendment led to a return to 4 in subsequent years.) 2004 The Rev. John Milne, Yardville The Rev. Caryle Wilkie, Toms River Ruling Elder Ruth Leaper, Red Bank Ruling Elder Phil Shaak, Belmar YAD: Sarah Filson, Jamesburg 2003 The Rev. Terry Chapman, Forked River The Rev. Doris Cowan, New Gretna Ruling Elder Larry Hriczak, Jamesburg Ruling Elder Margaret Rider, Hightstown YAD: Shannon Nichols, Farmingdale 2002 The Rev. Gregory Pike, Perrineville The Rev. Dierdre Thomson, Chaplain Ruling Elder Lori Evans, Brick Ruling Elder Dan Raisch, Toms River YAD: Deborah Hartman, Rumson 2001 The Rev. David Emery, Lakehurst The Rev. Linda Robinson, Englishtown Ruling Elder Kenneth Albrecht, Red Bank Ruling Elder Ruby Seay, Neptune YAD: Daniel Buckley, Tinton Falls

11 GA Commissioners from Monmouth Presbytery The Rev. Steven Kengeter, Farmingdale The Rev. Lawrence Miller, Mount Holly Ruling Elder Judy Bramble-Walker, Sykesville Ruling Elder Neal Marine, Forked River YAD: Ian Filson, Jamesburg 1999 The Rev. Kimberly Long, Bordentown The Rev. Horace Patton, Cliffwood Beach Ruling Elder Elizabeth Dey, Allentown Ruling Elder Robert Dohrman, Barnegat YAD: Christine McGovern, East Brunswick 1998 The Rev. Donald Knight, Belmar The Rev. Carl Wilton, Point Pleasant Ruling Elder Craig Atwater, Englishtown Ruling Elder Dilys Heninger, Hightstown YAD: Gavin Smith, Cranbury 1997 The Rev. Victoria Pruner, Toms River The Rev. Lynn Wendel, Atlantic Highlands Ruling Elder John Humcke, Middletown Ruling Elder Raymond Stelling, Long Branch YAD: Andrew Buckley, Tinton Falls 1996 The Rev. Carmen Rosario-Reyes, PDP The Rev. Suzanne Schafer-Coates, Hightstown Ruling Elder Frank Hennessey, Forked River Ruling Elder Nikki Sleeth-Samras, Rumson YAD: Richard Abrams, Atlantic Highlands 1995 The Rev. Charles Cureton, Matawan The Rev. James Pruner, Ocean Ruling Elder Elizabeth Atwater, Englishtown Ruling Elder Sue McPherson, South Amboy YAD: Kathleen McGovern, East Brunswick 1994

12 GA Commissioners from Monmouth Presbytery 5 The Rev. Dorothy Ackerman, Toms River The Rev. Robert Bell, Tinton Falls Ruling Elder Morris Foye, Ocean Ruling Elder Patty Williams, Lakewood Hope YAD: Richard Abrams, Atlantic Highlands 1993 The Rev. James Kraft, Mount Holly The Rev. Vance Torbert, Lakewood First Ruling Elder Anne Bell, Red Bank Ruling Elder Gretchen Haverkamp, Cranbury YAD: Sarah Knisbaum, East Brunswick 1992 The Rev. Philip Olson, Mount Holly The Rev. Jean Thies, Cranbury Ruling Elder Margaret Bates, Manasquan Ruling Elder Richard Virkus, Toms River YAD: Patricia Yearance, Atlantic Highlands 1991 The Rev. Kenneth Matthews, Freehold The Rev. Richard Smith, East Brunswick Ruling Elder Suzanne Mahns, Tinton Falls Ruling Elder Robert Owen, Shrewsbury YAD: Peter Braun, Mount Holly 1990 The Rev. Gary Filson, Jamesburg The Rev. Carol Lytch, At Large Ruling Elder Robert Haverkamp, Cranbury Ruling Elder Nancy Rodman, Lincroft YAD: B.J. Jordan, Atlantic Highlands 1989 The Rev. Stephens Lytch, Cranbury The Rev. Suzanne Schafer-Coates, Hightstown Ruling Elder Eleanor Lehnes, Brick Ruling Elder Barbara Washburn, Middletown YAD: Philip Cheney, Rumson 1988 The Rev. David Muyskens, Shrewsbury

13 GA Commissioners from Monmouth Presbytery 6 The Rev. Alan Schaefer, Eatontown Ruling Elder George Kerr, Toms River Ruling Elder Barbara Wolfson, Rumson YAD: Brent Reinheimer, Toms River METHODOLOGY: This list is based on a study of the Presbytery minutes. When the minutes include the name of a person who reported back to the Presbytery following his/her experience as a Commissioner or YAD, that is the name that was used. In the absence of a name in the minutes on the occasion Commissioners/YADs reported, a prior Nominating Committee report indicating the person s election as a Commissioner/YAD was used. The list as accurate as reasonably possible; however, it is possible that there may have been some years in which an alternate Commissioner/YAD went to the Assembly instead of the person who was elected, and this was either not reported in the Presbytery minutes or reported in a place that is difficult to find without reading every word of the minutes.

14 BIOGRAPHY: Barbara Heck I am a life-long Presbyterian who was born and raised in Marshfield, Wisconsin. I was active in my church s youth group and as a youth elder who, of all things, had an inclination even then to attend presbytery meetings. I went abroad with the International Christian Youth Exchange after high school and lived for one year in Wuppertal, West Germany with the family of Herr Professor Dr. Lothar Schreiner of the Kirchliche Hochschule in Barmen. As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I returned to Germany for my Junior Year Abroad in Freiburg-im-Breisgau where I was active in the Evanglische Studenten Gemeine. I spent enough time with Christians in East Germany to become absolutely curious about being a Christian in a communist country. I wrote my senior honors thesis on the role of the Lutheran Church in the East German peace movement: Grass Grows Beyond the Wall: Witnessing for Peace in GDR Evangelical Churches. I graduated with honors in German. I attended McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, doing field education at inner city church, St. John United Church of Christ, an internship at Westhampton Presbyterian Church, and more field education at Addison Presbyterian Church. I have completed a unit of CPE at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. I served as a student delegate on the PCUSA s first Committee on Theological Education. Following my husband s academic career, I landed in Ithaca, NY. I led and grew The Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell University while a member of Susquehanna Valley Presbytery. I was a Parish Associate at First Presbyterian Church where Rev. G. Daniel Little was pastor. I also served as moderator of Presbyterian Ministers in Higher Education for five years. We moved to Toronto, Canada where I worked at Maple United Church and Teston United Church as New Horizons Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada while a member of York Presbytery. Our first son, Arthur, was born, and he remains our best souvenir from Canada. We moved to Pasadena, California where I served part-time as Interfaith Coordinator at Occidental College while a member of San Gabriel Presbytery. I began my pursuit of becoming an artist at Art Center College of Design at Night. I attended All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. We moved to Princeton, New Jersey where I served as a program associate at the Westminster Foundation at Princeton University, then as Assistant to the President of Fellowship in Prayer. I continued art classes at the School of Visual Art and the Arts Council of Princeton. Our second son, Eric, was born. I became a member of New Brunswick Presbytery. I worship at Nassau Presbyterian Church when I am not interpreting campus ministry on a given Sunday or supply preaching. I row with the Carnegie Lake Rowing Association. In 2001, I was hired to serve part-time as the first campus minister at Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministries in New Brunswick, NJ. Working together with four denominations, now five, I worked to build this campus ministry into a full-time thriving community established on campus and in the heart of some churches mission around the state. I have also served for two years now as moderator of Somerset Presbyterian Church.

15 Extracts from Barbara Heck s PIF (Part II) Step 5 of 6 Please list your work experience: (Please include position title, city, state, church size, community type, and dates from/to or number of years.) Campus Minister, Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministries August 2001 present Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ Moderator, Somerset Presbyterian Church March present Supply Preacher and Pastoral Care, Lebanon Reformed Church January 2006 August 2007 Supervisor of Field Education September - May New Brunswick Theological Seminary , , , New Brunswick, NJ , , Assistant to the President, Fellowship in Prayer September 2000 March 2003 Princeton, NJ Programming Consultant, Westminster Foundation February1999 May 2000 Princeton University, Princeton, NJ Interfaith Coordinator, Herrick Memorial Chapel and Interfaith Center September August 1998 Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA Faculty Facilitator for Theological Reflection Groups Summer 1996, Winter 1997 Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA Ordained Supply/Minister of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care September August 1995 New Horizons Pastoral Charge/United Church of Canada Two small churches yoked into one pastoral charge Maple, Ontario CANADA Chaplain, Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell July 1989-August 1993 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Please list your other services to the Church or denomination for the past 10 years: Chair, Committee on Higher Education, Presbytery of New Brunswick , 2010 to present 4 hours/month Member, Mission Council, Presbytery of New Brunswick hours/month

16 Please describe the characteristics of the church or organization you would like to serve, and the unique gifts, skills and experiences you would bring to the position: I want to serve God with people who know how big the world is and who come together eagerly to be the body of Christ in their local community. These people offer their lives in worship, then live into the love of Jesus throughout the week. They read the community around them and figure out together how to serve as Christ would serve. They are creative and loving, gracious, respectful, honest, open-minded and inclusive. They know that ideas are important, and living into them with integrity is even more important. They trust that God is better understood at the intersection of the arts and theology. They know they can do more together than they can do alone. They are invested in passing on the Christian faith to the next generations and are ready to share power when they arrive. They are fully human, appreciate paradox and grow in faith. They balance work and family, service and Sabbath. They trust that questions of doubt bring deeper conviction born of faith. They embrace suffering and trust the Gospel and its faith community to bring them to that resurrecting joy on the other side of suffering. I am well-educated, creative, and an outstanding communicator. In addition to my regular devotion to prayer and reading the Bible, I row, paint in oils, and attend Twelve Step meetings as my spiritual disciplines. I care for my own wounds so that God may transform them into strength and healing in ministry with others. I have a decided capacity to work effectively with young adults. Please describe your present call and accomplishments: The university is my congregation where we seek to build an effective campus ministry. In this secular place filled with many religions, young Christians cross the threshold of our campus ministry hospitality center at Rutgers University, and Christ comes alive. We welcome students warmly with delicious meals around a table as well as conversation about anything in the world that is important to them. We study the Bible and worship together and sometimes travel near and far to serve. As a mentoring community, we create a safe space where God-given power is awakened, and students claim their authority to step out and use their gifts for God s glory. They integrate their believing with their thinking, their actions with their learning. Supervision of peer ministers and seminarians is a skill I ve acquired and enjoy. I counsel students as needed. This call necessarily includes working with an ecumenical board of established adults who set the course of our ministry. The opportunity and challenge is to think strategically about the confluence of the Gospel, culture, intellect and the generations, then raise money for this mission to share the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministries reaches out to the campus and to area churches to increase our visibility on campus and around the state of New Jersey. Since 2001, the number of giving congregations has doubled. Mission interpretation and fund raising go hand in hand.

17 Please describe your leadership style: Ministry is about team work. My style is collaborative. We are gracious reminders to each other of the confidence that God already gives us. We give faith to each other to follow through on the call that God places on ours heart. I rely on persuasion to lead and value participation which offers freedom, autonomy and initiative to others. A list of qualities attributed to me: gracious compassion, loving warmth, honest reflection, dynamic enthusiasm, approachable, reassuring patience, an open spirit, tough love and some irreverent spunk. Really, on a good day, I rise to my knees in thanksgiving to the God who tells me, Your faith has made you well. I love a good committee meeting. You are soooo funny! writes a colleague after a meeting. Humor is essential. That was a smokin benediction! I m energized now to go out for another week, blinks a congregant as she leaves worship where I have stepped in to supply preach. Can you come back again soon? ask others as they go out the door. Some people tell me I could read the telephone book as my sermon, and you would leave feeling loved and supported. Fortunately, I consult a much more authoritative source. The Bible. Can you sit and chat with me so I can find words to share at my Dad s memorial service? I love to helping people find words to let the light of God s love shine. Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading this eulogy, strengthening it and me, and reminding me that heaven is right here. What are the key theological issues currently facing the church and society, and how do they shape your ministry? The key issue currently facing the church is its lack of identity grounded in Bible, Reformed tradition, and community. The key issue in society is reconciliation. It is important for us to be rooted in the Bible. Through reading Scripture together with care and intention, we encounter God. The Word of God speaks, and we are transformed, especially in small groups. It is important for us to be rooted in the Reformed tradition. We receive salvation as a free gift of God s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ, given by the Holy Spirit. Gratitude for this salvation inspires good works. We do not earn God s love through working harder and believing better. God initiates, we respond. Given faith in Jesus Christ, we are freed to live lives in joyful obedience to God. It is important for us to be rooted in community. We can t be truly Christian for or by ourselves. We are tethered by loving, honest, sturdy relationships to God, self and neighbor. Service reminds us of all that God has done for us, and it connects us to others beyond ourselves through compassion. We care enough to share our faith beyond our own generation. The visible church is rightly part of a larger community. We are called to reconciliation; to serve the public realm; to cross over the inaccurate divisions in the world that threaten our wellbeing and step into a generosity that values life, pays attention to the powerless, and recognizes our unity as human beings living on one earth.

18 STATEMENT OF FAITH: Barbara Heck I am a beloved creature of God, a sinner saved by Jesus Christ, and a moral agent moved by the Holy Spirit. I believe God is love: creating the universe and calling it good, bringing order out of chaos, imprinting God s image upon every soul. God is the One whom Jesus called Father. Like a father greeting his lost child, God embraces us with mercy and compassion. Like a mother carrying a child in her arms, God never forgets the baby nursing at her breast. Creating us with mind and volition, God intends for us to live fully, glorifying and enjoying God forever. We are created for relationship with God and one another. We are created to make choices and be responsible for their consequences. We sin when we choose chaos and death over life with God. Separated from God we lack confidence, courage and clarity. We find ourselves divided from self and neighbor. We wreck havoc wherever we have influence. We live in need of heaven s help and mercy. God promises to be with us in all times and in every place and to work for good in every situation. God holds onto us with gracious tenacity. The power of God is known in tender strength and fierce gentleness, calling into judgment those who abuse power, calling forth the frail and the powerless even in the midst of their fear and despair. I believe Jesus Christ is our freedom. Jesus is the One whom God called Son, the Word made flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. He saves the universe through his gracious forgiveness. Fully human and fully divine, he teaches us to love not just our allies but also our enemies. His way, his truth brings new life to creation: emptying the pockets and warehouses of the rich and filling the hearts and hands of the poor, befriending those whose company would discredit him, pardoning those who deserve to be condemned, healing those who were injured, listening to the ignored, offering hope to those in despair, and speaking the deepest truths of God in language common to all people. This way of living among us, this truth, this life challenges and defies the powerful as it seeks to free and inspire the powerless. A few decided to kill Jesus, others allowed him to be killed. Jesus, a healer who let himself be wounded, loves us even to the end. He forgave us and triumphed over our hatred and apathy. Resurrected by God s love, he lives beyond death and gives us hope. He gives us life beyond the forces of death. We are invited continually to new ways of living and being in this world. Christ frees those whose minds are shackled by fear, whose hearts are crushed by shame, whose voices are silence by despair and whose strength is broken by guilt. I believe the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters of creation and is at work with us still to shape and mold and renew us. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God coming as the wind to cleanse, the fire to burn, the light to illumine. The Holy Spirit leads us to break that which divides us from ourselves, one another, and God. The Holy Spirit helps us to part and be part of the Body of Christ in the world, speaking in every tongue, making us drunk with grace, and showing us how love makes all things new. The Bible is the inspired and authoritative written Word of God which reveals the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. Through reading the Word of God together with care and intention, we encounter God, and we are transformed to live fully into the gift of each new day with gratitude. The church listens to, proclaims, and obeys the Word of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Following Christ, we are forgiving and including, loving and honoring, comforting and challenging, releasing and giving as Jesus would have done. We live as if already living in the Reign of God. We join in community with other Christians to discern God s will for our lives. As Christ serves, so we serve others. As Christ forgives, so we forgive others. As Christ is our peace and reconciliation, so we are peace for others bringing justice and right-relationship wherever we find ourselves. In our life together we share the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist as visible signs of God s invisible grace. We are baptized once into Christ s death and resurrection and welcomed into Christian community. We are nourished over and over at the Lord s Table, strengthened each time to be witnesses of God s mercy and grace. Our hope is in God. Jesus Christ calls us into the future, assuring us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, sustaining us with Christ s victory over death, and revealing to us that it is continually worth the risk to entrust ourselves to God who raises the dead.

19 Presbytery of Monmouth Proposed Equipping the Saints Grant Program Proposal: That Presbytery establish a grant program that funds projects or consultants designed or engaged to further the ministry and mission of the Presbytery of Monmouth at a Presbytery-wide and/or cluster-wide basis which promote healthy churches and enrich our congregations so that they may engage the communities in which we live and serve with God s love. For this purpose, the Presbytery (through the Ministries Division Steering Committee) will establish a program and designated fund for matching grants. The designated fund will be funded and replenished through the annual budget process.

20 DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MISSION COUNCIL OF THE PRESBYTERY OF MONMOUTH The meeting of the Mission Council of the Presbytery of Monmouth was called to order on March 8, 2012at 7:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, Hightstown, New Jersey, with Moderator the Rev. Rob Carter presiding. The Moderator opened the meeting with prayer. ROLL OF ATTENDANCE Moderator The Rev. Rob Carter P Vice Moderator Ruling Elder Thelma Sessions P Past Moderator Ruling Elder Sue McPherson P The Rev. Michael Hoffarth P The Rev. Rob Morrison E The Rev. Jean Pinto E Ruling Elder William McFarland P Ruling Elder Sue Warren P Ruling Elder Bill Faust P The Rev. Stephen Heinzel-Nelson P Administrative Division Steering Committee (vacancy) Ministries Division Steering Committee The Rev. Myrlene Hamilton Hess P Committee on Ministry Ruling Elder Dan Raisch P Committee on Preparation for Ministry Ruling Elder George Gill E Communications Team The Rev. Phyllis Zoon P Regional Presbyter The Rev. Wendy Bailey (without vote) P Stated Clerk The Rev. Carl Wilton (without vote) P Guests: Ruling Elder Diana Noble, Matawan, The Rev. Suzanne Schafer-Coates (P=Present; A=Absent; E=Excused) The Moderator led the Mission Council in an opening prayer. It was moved and carried to excuse Ruling Elder George Gill, the Rev. Rob Morrison and the Rev. Jean Pinto. It was moved and carried to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2012 Mission Council meeting. CLERK S REPORT The Rev. Carl Wilton, Stated Clerk, reported on the list of Session visits for which reports have been received. Mr. Wilton shared an from Ruling Elder Ron Niebo, Clerk of Session of First Presbyterian, Hightstown, advising the Presbytery of the Session s determination, in 2012, to again send their mission giving directly to mission agencies, rather than through the Presbytery. RETREAT RECAP Members of the Mission Council continued to reflect on insights gathered during their February 11, 2012 retreat at Point Pleasant. Regional Presbyter Wendy Bailey reflected that building trust and building community are two deeply felt needs of the Presbytery, in order that the congregations may be empowered in their service to Jesus Christ. Specific goals that the Mission Council is committed to facilitating include:: Developing a team to review and possibly update the Presbytery s policy on gracious discernment for congregations struggling to accommodate to recent denominational changes In the event of any conversations about separation, to be prepared with recommendations of thirdparty negotiator/facilitators Communicate to the churches, collectively responding to joys and concerns raised in Mission Council

21 members meetings with sessions, once that process is finished Revisit concerns raised at the open-space Presbytery meeting at Hightstown Facilitate the sharing of ministries Make one-on-one missional connections Create a clearinghouse of particular ministers/mission work Seek to change the conversation about per capita in ways that increase mutual understanding Make Unbinding the Gospel evangelism coaching available to churches Develop a small-group support network for ministers DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Ruling Elder Diana Noble, Matawan and the Rev. Suzanne Schafer-Coates reported on their experience attending the Synod s disaster-preparedness training event led by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. The Rev. Scott Cupp, interim pastor at Matawan, also attended the training. PDA recommends that each Presbytery have: A disaster-preparedness team A disaster-preparedness plan A disaster-preparedness fund It was moved and carried to appoint the Rev. Scott Cupp, Ruling Elder Diana Noble, Matawan, the Rev. Suzanne Schafer-Coates and the Rev. Bill Walker as a working group to investigate steps to pursue to achieve the above goals. REGIONAL PRESBYTER S REPORT The Rev. Wendy Bailey expressed thanks for support and prayers received for both her parents during their recent serious medical problems. There have been two telephone conference-call conversations about the possibility of implementing Unbinding the Gospel evangelism training in churches of the Presbytery. Interested pastors are being sought to lead small, 8-week discussion groups on an experimental basis, to see if this is a model that will benefit their churches. REGIONAL PRESBYTER COMMITTEE The Rev. Myrlene Hamilton reported on the work of this committee, which completed a 90-day review in January of the work of the Rev. Wendy Bailey. The committee is very pleased with how the transition has been going, and to see that their expectations with respect to the positive impact of Wendy s ministry are being fulfilled. COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY Moderator Carter reported that the CPM is planning to bring three Inquirers to the floor in March, recommending that they be enrolled as Candidates. The Mission Council is recommending that, should the Presbytery s action on the recommendation be positive, the ceremony of reception be conducted jointly for all three individuals. MISSION WORKING GROUP The Rev. Phyllis Zoon presented a report on the Presbytery s announced goal of 100% of the Presbytery s congregations being in relationship with a PC(USA) mission worker. Currently about 20 congregations are in such relationships. It was moved and carried to reaffirm the goal of having 100% of the congregations of the Presbytery of

22 Monmouth be in relationship with at least one PC(USA) mission worker. COM The committee will be bringing to the Presbytery the name of a person to serve as interim pastor at First Presbyterian, Hightstown. COMMUNICATION TEAM A successful transition has been made to the new website. Further tweaks and adjustments are still being made, and suggestions are very welcome. OLD BUSINESS It was moved and carried to recommend a new standing rule as follows: Ruling elders who have held the position of Moderator of the Presbytery of Monmouth, who continue to be members of a congregation of the Presbytery, shall be enrolled as affiliate members with vote. NEW BUSINESS Vice-Moderator Thelma Sessions recommended that, in September, Mission Council stated meetings be moved to a more central location. She will be asking First Presbyterian, Freehold if they would be willing to make a room available. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. with prayer by the Rev. Wendy Bailey. The Mission Council will meet on Thursday, April 12 at 7:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, Hightstown. ATTEST: The Rev. Carl Wilton, Stated Clerk

23 Nominating Committee Report Monmouth Presbytery March 2012 Nominations: Bills and Overtures Rev. Theresa Swenson, Red Bank GA COM Elder Jim McGuire, Point Pleasant Class of 15-2 Elder John Pillarella, Middletown Class of 15-2 Rev. Mary-Lynn Morrison Class of 15-1 Communications Rob Rauffer, Point Pleasant Class of 15-1 Sherri Martin-Hutchins, New Egypt Class of 15-1 Jim Powers-Hill, Shrewsburgy Class of 15-1 Cuba Working Group Elder Jim Kirchhof, Bayville Chair, Class of 15-2 MDSC Rev. Myrlene Hamilton Hess, Bayville Chair, Class of 15-2 Mission Council Rev. Cynthia Ritter Parker, Englishtown At- large, Class of 15-1 Elder Sue Warren, Shrewsbury Class of 15-2 Trustees Elder Eric Hess, Bayville Chair (already in Class of 13-2) Elder Gary Weiss, Old Tennant Class of 15-1 Resignations: Elder Sue Smith from Communications Respectfully submitted, Judy Kipp, Nominating Chair

24 Presbytery of Monmouth Docket Tuesday, March 27, 2012 The First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown 7:00 Worship 7:30 Presbytery Convenes with Prayer Rev. Rob Carter 7:35 Opening Items of Business Formation of the Roll & Brief Announcements Approval of the Docket Report on Arrangements Report of the Stated Clerk & Correspondence Rev. Carl Wilton 7:45 Mission Council Elder Thelma Sessions 7:55 Regional Presbyter Rev. Wendy Bailey 8:10 Committee on Preparation for Ministry Rev. Rosanna Anderson 8:35 Committee On Ministry Elder Dan Raisch 8:45 Nominating Committee Elder Judy Kipp 8:55 Ministerial Division Steering Committee (MDSC) Rev. Myrlene Hamilton Hess 9:05 Educational Ministries (MDSC) Elder Joyce Davies 9: 20 Presbyterian Women (MDSC) Elder Lori Evans 9:25 Hunger Action Enabler (MDSC) Rev. Phyllis Zoon 9:30 Miscellaneous, Un-docketed & Unfinished Business Thanks Extended to Host Church Adjournment 9:35 Closing Prayer Elder Thelma Sessions

25 Faith Statement Bailey Pruner I believe in the one God, creator and father of the world. I believe in Jesus Christ, whose sacrificed and grace has given me the gift of life everlasting. I believe in the Holy Spirit, which moves through the world connecting and inspiring believers. It is this trinity whom I worship and serve in my ministry. Jesus Christ came into this world by the birth of a virgin and so was fully human and yet remained fully divine. I trust in the ministry of Christ and it is to that ministry, found within the Scriptures, that I am called. Through Christ, I know that God understands the limitations of my humanity; that I will sin and fall short of his mission on earth. It is also through Christ, that I find the mercy and grace of God who forgives my sins and encourages me in my Christian walk, so that I receive new life through Christ s sacrifice. I believe that I have been called to a life of ministry and believe that God will use me to grow his church. I have been welcomed into communion with Christ and his church through my baptism. Through participation in the Lord s Supper I am reminded of the sacrifice Christ made for me and for humanity and through this participation I renew my commitment and connection to my family of faith. The Church, the body of Christ, is my family of faith. The Church is called to do the work of God in the world; to care for those who have been forgotten, to lift each other up and encourage each other in faith. I trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to bless my life and ministry. The Holy Spirit continues to pull on my heart and call me to follow the way of Jesus Christ has laid before all those who wish to follow. I know that it is only through the grace of God, the mercy of his Son and the power of the Holy Spirit that I will be able to do God s work.

26 COMMISSIONERS TO MONMOUTH PRESBYTERY March 22, 2012 In order to assure parity between ruling elders and teaching elders at Presbytery meetings, each year the Presbytery votes to assign a number of additional ruling-elder slots to the churches, to account for the effect of the specialized, at-large and honorably retired teaching elders who are members of the Presbytery. This calculation takes into effect the numbers of ruling elders who serve as officers of the Presbytery or who serve on one of the following groups: Mission Council Administrative Division Steering Committee Ministries Division Steering Committee Board of Trustees Sessions are advised not to elect such individuals as commissioners, because they already have the privilege of voice and vote that could be utilized by another ruling elder. In 2012, the number of ruling elders in the above-mentioned categories is sufficient to offset the numbers of specialized, at-large and honorably retired teaching elders. This means there are no additional ruling elder slots assigned to the churches. Because the Presbytery is still functioning under provisions of the Form of Government that have not been superseded by the new Form of Government, this means each church of under 500 members is entitled to send one ruling-elder commissioner to Presbytery. Churches whose membership was reported as over 500 as of December 31, 2011 are entitled to send additional ruling-elder commissioners according to the following formula: members 2 elders members 3 elders members 4 elders members 5 elders

27 Christine Myers-Tegeder, 2012 STATEMENT OF FAITH I believe in God the creator, redeemer, and sustainer. God is one all-powerful God, completed by the three equal natures of God the father, God the Son (realized incarnate as Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. God created us and loved us by choice and gave us the free will to love Him back and have a relationship with Him. Scripture is the inspired word of God, written down and collected by human hands. Scripture is intended to teach us the history of God s relationship with us, the fulfillment of the promises in prophecy, and account for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scripture should be read and studied as a whole in order to better understand God s intention for humanity and its relationship with God. Jesus Christ was God incarnate. By living among us in a human body, God shared in our challenges and exemplified how we are to live with one another and how we are to serve God. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the coming messiah in every detail. In order for death to be overcome, no mere human could be sacrificed. The one and only perfect being had to be sacrificed to accomplish this. Jesus did so willingly for us at great cost. Because God s power cannot be equaled, Jesus Christ was resurrected and now reigns in heaven until the time is right to return to our world and complete His kingdom. God s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is present in our world. The Holy Spirit as part of God has every freedom of God and can move, instruct, influence, change, and empathize with all human beings. With the aid of the Holy Spirit we can better understand scripture, have more effective communication through prayer, and discern God s will. We have the free will to listen to the Holy Spirit or not, just as we have the free will to chose God or believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ or not. Jesus Christ left His disciples with several instructions. One was to remember Him through the practice of the Lord s Supper. By participating in the Lord s Supper we remember and proclaim what Christ did for us on the cross and three days later in His resurrection. The bread and wine represent the very real body and blood of Christ that had to be sacrificed to bridge the sinful gap between us and God. Another instruction to the disciples was to baptize others. Baptism is both a personal and public affirmation of our intention to let God direct our lives and hearts. Even Jesus Christ was baptized. Although He was God incarnate, He was in human form and our humanity should always submit to God s will. Jesus was obedient to God in His baptism. The last instruction to the disciples was to go and make disciples of all nations. Discipleship is more than preaching the good news. It is a lifelong process by which we strive to become more Christ like as well as assist others to do the same. Since human beings are relational and intended to live in community, the church as a body of believers is expected to carry out God s instructions and live as Christ like examples in our world. In both the Old Testament and New Testament God calls us to love one another, care for those less fortunate, and build the kingdom of God. Thus the church has a responsibility to not only make disciples of all nations, but to be loving and compassionate to others and to stand for social justice. Everyone, regardless of gender, race, status, wealth, or intelligence has the right to the opportunity to be loved, be treated kindly, and to know God. Since we cannot earn salvation, it is not in our power to decide who may or may not enter the kingdom of God. We are called to preach and serve faithfully and God provides the salvation.