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Table of Contents Revised Docket... 3-4 Gathering Song (CCLI 177305)... 5 Reconvening Song (CCLI 177305)... 6 Ecclesiastical Affairs Equalization Plan Slides (C.2)... 7 Finance Committee Budget Information (C.3)... 8-9 Committee on Ministry (D)... 9-11 Committee on Preparation for Ministry (E)... 11 Congregational Resourcing Team (G.2)... 12-14 Outreach Committee (G.3)... 15-16 Nominating Committee (H)... 17-19 Presbytery Communications Tools... 19 Installation Service for the Clerk and Treasurer... 20-21 Installation Service for a Moderator... 22-23 Informational Flyers... 24-26 From Committee on Ministry Table of Motions from Addendum Report 1. That the examination of Laureen Suba be sustained. Laureen is being called to the position of Executive Director for United Campus Ministry of Greater Houston. 2. That the paragraph found on page 9 of the Addendum Report be offered as an amendment to the revised Gracious Reconciliation and Dismissal Procedure. From the Nominating Committee 1. That the nominees found on pages 17-19 of the Addendum Report be approved to serve on the committees of the presbytery. ~ 2 ~
The Presbytery of New Covenant Growing congregations that passionately engage their community to make disciples. Stated Meeting November 15, 2014 Indian Presbyterian Church, 1072 Colabe Rd., Livingston, TX 77351 936/563-5166 This year s theme Making Disciples Offering: Kid s Free Clothing Exchange 9:00 Registration Opens Lodge Welcome Area 9:15 New Commissioner Orientation Church Sanctuary There will be a place available all day for prayer and meditation. Signs will direct you to this location. For your information, TE means Teaching Elder, and RE means Ruling Elder. THE REVISED DOCKET Please silence all devices! 9:25 am Gathering Song To God Be the Glory 9:30 am Opening Worship Moderator, RE John Jo TE Jeff Smith (Houston, St. Andrew s) preaching Communion Moment for Mission: Kid s Free Clothing Exchange 10:15 am Opening Business Moderator and Stated Clerk Declaration of Quorum and Adoption of the Docket Welcome by Host Church CRE Debbie Battise-Kleinman Welcome of Others (First time Commissioners, Corresponding Members, New Minister Members, Visitors) Omnibus Motion (B.1) Moderator s Remarks and Appointments Tellers: RE Alba Herrera, TE Becky Downs, TE John Wurster Nominations to Nominating Committee 10:25 am Report of the Stated Clerk (B) TE Lynn Hargrove Administrative Commissions for Installations/Ordinations 10:30 am Vote on the Confession of Belhar Moderator John Jo Presentation by TE Greg Han (Member at Large) 11:00 am Celebration of Ministry: Interfaith Ministries TE Greg Han 11:05 am Report of the General Council TE Laurey Murphy First Reading: Proposed Revisions to the Gracious Reconciliation and Dismissal Procedure Action Item: Election and Installation of Treasurer and Stated/Recording Clerk 11:35 am Celebration of Ministry Dick Humphrey Powerful Tools for Pastoral Caregivers 11:40 am Ministries Division Congregational Resourcing Team TE David Leard 11:50 am Celebration of Ministry Sam Locke Presbyterian Mission Agency: Special Offerings ~ 3 ~
11:55 am Blessing before the Meal/Instructions CRE Debbie Battise-Kleinman NOON FELLOWSHIP AT TABLE/OPEN SPACE CONVERSATIONS 12:45 pm Reconvening Hymn Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine 12:50 pm Visioning the Presbytery TE David Sawyer 1:50 pm The WORD Laureen Suba 2:15 pm Committee on Ministry TE John Hirling Committee on Examination RE Greg Feigh Action Items: Teaching Elder Ethics Document; Retirements Ministries Division Outreach Committee Covenant Agreement w/cups; Peru Mission Trips Administrative Division Ecclesiastical Affairs Committee Action Item: Parity Plan RE Jody Harrington TE Mark Downs RE Jane Larkin TE Becky Downs Nominating Committee Committee on Representation PC(U.S.A.) COR Representative TE Hector Rivera-Velez Committee on Preparation for Ministry Celebration of Ministry: Camp Cho-Yeh Installation of the 2015 Moderator, TE Laurey Murphy RE Gayle Smith RE Alba Herrera TE Kevin Boyd Guy Bratton RE John Jo New Business (Only if submitted four days prior to meeting date, so it can be posted online 3 days prior) Closing Prayer Adjournment (By rule of the presbytery, no later than 4:00 pm, unless the assembly votes by a 2/3 majority to extend beyond) Following adjournment, clerks will meet for session records review in Room???. The next Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of New Covenant will be Saturday, March 21, 2015 at St. Philip Presbyterian Church 4807 San Felipe, Houston, TX 77056 713/622-4807 July 18, 2015 Location TBA November 21, 2015 St. John s, Houston ~ 4 ~
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Ecclesiastical Affairs Committee Equalization Plan Slides C.2 ~ 7 ~
Finance Committee C.3 ~ 8 ~
COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY ADDENDUM REPORT NOVEMBER 15, 2014 D I. Recommended for Actions A. The committee recommends and moves that the examination of Laureen Suba candidate for ordination be sustained. B. The committee recommends and moves that presbytery adopt the following amendment to the 1 st Reading of the new Gracious Reconciliation and Dismissal Procedure: The Teaching Elder s Role in the Gracious Reconciliation and Dismissal Procedure Of the Presbytery of New Covenant The Gracious Reconciliation and Dismissal Procedure (Procedure) defines a process for congregations considering dismissal from the denomination. The process assumes, and experience has shown that congregations, even families within congregations, entering into the Procedure are divided on the form that reconciliation shall take. Teaching Elders, whether in temporary positions or installed positions, are called to minister to all members of the congregation. Therefore, the appropriate role for teaching elders in the Procedure is to support fairness to all perspectives, balance in any presentations, and accuracy of information. As members of Presbytery and not members of the individual congregations they serve, their voice in meetings of the session and congregation should be limited to their roles as moderator. Because the vote of the congregation affects the terms of call for each teaching elder serving a congregation, it is strongly recommended that they request Presbytery to appoint a moderator for any congregational meeting called by Session pursuant to the Procedure. II. Actions taken on behalf of Presbytery November 4, 2014 A. Validated Ministry 1. Laureen Suba, candidate for ordination, called to serve as Executive Director of United Campus Ministry of Greater Houston, COM approved compensation and validated the Ministry on 9/1/14; sustained the examination of the Committee on Examinations on 10/25/14; COM sustained examination on 11/4/14. (Statement of Faith follows COM Report in the Addendum) Salary/ Housing/Utility Allowance $41,900 Auto Allowance @ IRS Rate Up to 200 per month Board of Pensions Dues 14,655 Study Leave Allowance (cumulative for 3 years) 1,450/250 Clergy Retreat Study Leave (cumulative for 3 years) 2 wks/3 days Clergy Retreat Vacation 4 weeks Annual Review 9/15 Formal Education: 2014 Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, TX MDiv 1981 Thunderbird Graduate School, Glendale, AZ MBA International Management 1978 Hood College, Frederick, MD BA (Political Science / History Double Major), ~ 9 ~
B. Received Report regarding Changes in Terms of Calls 1. Between Pearland, Peace and Scott Cummings - Annual Review 10/26/14 C. Approved Stated Supply Contract 1. Between Troy Jarvis and Eagle Lake, First 1/4time for one year beginning 9/1/14 Salary Auto Allowance @ IRS Rate $1,000/month 200/month 475/year Study Leave Allowance Study Leave Vacation cumulative for 3 years 2 weeks 4 weeks D. Approved Renewal of Commissioned Ruling Elder Contract 1. Between Debbie Battise-Kleinman and Livingston, Indian for one year effective 10/31/14 to 10/31/15; and that she be granted the following functions: Baptism; Lord s Supper; Moderate Session; Voice at Presbytery Meetings; Vote at Presbytery Meetings and Perform Marriages. E. Approved and received Annual Reports/Members at Large/Serving Temporary Positions 1. Isabel Rivera-Velez F. Approved and received Annual Reports/Members at Large/Validated Beyond the Congregation Ministries: 1. Joaquin (Jake) Gonzales 2. Rachel Poysky 3. John Wheeler-Waddell H. Received a signed Declaration of Intent (Separation Ethics) from Christa Brewer I. Approved renewal of Parish Associate Contract 1. Between David Northcutt and Missouri City, Southminster J. Received, reviewed and approved all Annual Reports for Honorably Retired Ministers Robert Kwik Thomas Atkins Harry Slye Wilbur Stambaugh David Abrams Walter Westcott Jim Tom Ainsworth Louise Row John Alexander John William Wade David Barnes Fredric Walls Bryan J. Cannon Bruce Williams Ben A. Carpenter Dean Woodruff Patricia Clark Joseph Daniel Intsiful Shelley Craig Carl Orr Don Davidson Margaret Peg Ferguson Victor Dindot Connie Alexander Robert Ferguson Sharon Gazaway Douglas Finch Clarence O Magee, Jr. Ray Gearing Gayle Grubbs Richard Kleiman Raymond A. Harper Troy Jarvis Linda Herron Robert Rush Warren Johnson Charlotte Kibler Carl Mills Gayle Perkins Suk-In Kim David Northcutt M. Douglas Harper, Jr. Bryan Kile Raymond Feyes K. Approved request to be put on Pulpit Supply List 1. Mirjam Hass-Melchior L. Appointed Helen DeLeon as Moderator of Webster M. FastTrac Workshop will be scheduled at Houston, St. Stephens Mike Marcotte was the liaison. N. Granted Permission to elect a Designated Pastor PNC 1. Needville, St. Paul s ~ 10 ~
III. FOR YOUR INFORMATION 1. Committee on Ministry Retreat January 6, 2015; 2 5 pm FAITH STATEMENT LAUREEN SUBA I believe: In God who created all things out of chaos and called it good; That we, as humans, are meant to live our lives to the fullest through obedience to God. To love God with all our heart, mind, body and soul. Accepting God s grace and using God s good gifts. God loves everyone and every creature. We love God because we are loved. In the goodness of a world reconciled to God. That God will not ravage us and has given us free will to disobey. We set our minds and hearts on things that not only do not contribute to the work of the Kingdom (sin) but work against it (evil). I believe: Humans are sinful and we cannot always do the good we want to do. This is a problem for God and us. God s wrath is real. Our sin is real. In spite of our sin, Christ gives us the power to love God, others and ourselves. God sent us the promise of Christ: fully God, fully human, the fulfillment of the promise and the beginning of the new creation. The world changed forever with the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. We are born into the life and death of Christ through baptism, and we remember this in the sacrament of the Lord s Table. God freely gives grace to us. I believe: In the three persons of the Trinity: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and their power to dwell in us, transform us and change the world. In the power of prayer and my constant need for it. God is revealed through the Word, the prophets, and our experiences here on earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the message of the prophets that we are to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. Scripture is the true, sufficient and reliable Word of God. Where the Scriptures are rightfully preached, and the Sacraments are rightly administered, there is God. We are called to worship God with intention, sincerity, creativity and faithfulness. COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY ADDENDUM REPORT NOVEMBER 15, 2014 E Actions taken on November 8, 2014 1. Approved assessing Josh Silva Noah (Houston, Heritage) as ready to receive a call. 2. Approved enrolling Travis Ziegenbein (Houston, Memorial Drive) as a inquirer. 3. Approved withdrawing Jennifer Lloyd (The Woodlands) from the process. ~ 11 ~
Presbytery of New Covenant Congregational Resourcing Committee Report November 15, 2015 G.2 SAVE THE DATES / Mark you calendar for Event in 2015 Christian Educators / Fresh Elastic Gathering at Presbytery Office / Thursday, January 22 Church Officer Enrichment at Christ Church, Bellaire / Friday & Saturday, January 30-31 The Great APCE Annual Event Share at Presbytery Office / Thursday, February, 19, 2015 PYCC Conclaves at Camp ChoYeh / Friday-Sunday, February, 20-22, PYCC Conclaves at Camp ChoYeh / Friday-Sunday, February, 27-29 Christian Educators / Fresh Elastic at Presbytery Office Thursday, March, 19 Young Adults Retreat at Camp Cho-Yeh / Friday-Sunday, March 27-29 Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering at St Philip / Saturday, April 18 Presbytery Wide-Youth Summer Mission Trip to New Orleans /Week of June 14-20 EQUIP Youth Workers Leadership Event / Watch for details about event in early August Church Officer Enrichment Empowering Leaders for the 21 st Century Church Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January, 31, 2015 A multi-presbytery event for Church Officer Training and Enrichment co-sponsored by Presbytery of New Covenant, Presbytery of South LA, Mission Presbytery and the Synod of the Sun. Our Keynote Speaker is Dr. Cynthia Rigby, W.C. Brown Professor of Theology at Austin Theological Seminary. There are a wide variety of workshops planned. Friday night will be more relationally based with a relaxed, yet focused discussions, during our gathering. Saturday s time will be organized around more formal learning experiences. For more information and registration please visit the presbytery website. Youth Ministry and Young Adults 2013-2014 Presbytery s Youth Council (PYCC) Our 2013-2014 PYCC was comprised of 78 youth and adults representing 23 churches. The 2014-2015 PYCC has 50 high school youth and 16 adult mentors representing 28 churches. Conclaves 2014 Our Presbyterian Youth Council, comprised of 60 high school youth and 18 adults, led two weekend retreats for the youth groups of our presbytery (Feb 21-23, and Feb28-Mar2). There were 450 junior and senior high youth and adults in attendance from 35 congregations. Three of these churches were new to the Conclaves experience: Pathways PC, Iglesia Latina PC, San Pablo + Trinity PC. Participants at Conclaves engaged in a mission project in conjunction with Kids Against Hunger. Between the two weekends, the participants packaged 55,080 meals to be sent to children in Livingston, TX, and Guatemala. PYCC raised the $10,000, needed to fund this project. 2015 Conclaves Dates: February 20-22, and February 27-March 1. ~ 12 ~
Youth Worker Gatherings Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Southminister, Missouri City Saturday, May 3, 2014 EQUIP at Atascocita EQUIP Youth Worker Leadership Event, Saturday, August 16, 2014 at St. Philip 25 people gathered for this NEW Youth Ministry Leadership Event. The day began with get-to-know activities, music and worship. Rev. John Leedy gave an excellent keynote presentation on Believing, Belonging, & Behaving and its relation to youth ministry. One youth worker said, I left EQUIP feeling very filled up and encouraged. It was great to connect with other youth workers. We have some awesome people working with students in our Presbytery. We are already planning another EQUIP event for August of 2015. A colleague group for paid Youth Workers has been established. There is a core group of 10 youth workers invested and attendance has averaged 6. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Youth Rally Sunday, October 19 at Northwoods PYCC lead the congregation of Northwoods and the youth groups of our presbytery in Sunday morning worship youth-style at the 11:00am service followed by lunch, games, and a hands-on mission project. There were 265 in attendance for worship, 197 of those being youth groups and PYCC leadership from churches across the Presbytery. Participants made kits for school-aged children at Smart Steps of Houston and baby kits for homeless families through Montrose Street Reach of Houston. Young Adults A mission day is being planned for a Saturday in January 2015. A Retreat for Young Adults is in the works for March 27-29 th at Camp Cho-Yeh. Caressa is composing a registration form for participants to complete and the event is being publicized. The Young Adult ministry team will help lead the retreat activities. Weekday Ministries Conference This event for Preschool, Day Care and Mother s Day Out teachers and directors was held July 30 August 1, at Marriott Westchase Hotel at 2900 Briarpark. Presbyterian Women s Presbytery Coordinating Team (PWPCT) Spring Gathering was held at Spring Branch Presbyterian on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Teaching Elder Ann Marie Quigley Swanson, Associate Pastor at Northwoods Presbyterian will be preaching. Our featured speaker is Anne Wilson, Retired Christian Educator and President elect of APCE. The New Covenant PWPCT hosted the triennial Synod Women s Gathering at Grace Presbyterian Church on July 18-21. Regional training for Horizons Bible study leaders was offered in July and August. There were 35 churches represented and 151 attended the training events. Training Locations: Saint Andrews, Beaumont July 27 Spring Branch Presbyterian August 8 First Pres., Angleton August 9 Faith, Baytown August 10 New Hope, Katy August 16 Westminster, Nacogdoches August 17 ~ 13 ~
Participating Churches: Westminster, Nacogdoches FPC / Livingston FPC / Jasper FPC / Lufkin Indian / Livingston New Hope FPC / Bryan Advent Pres. Atascocita FPC / Houston Spring Branch Southminster / Missouri City Grace / Houston St. Philip / Houston Christ Church / Bellaire FPC / Pasadena St. Paul s / Houston Northwoods / Houston Webster Pres Pinecrest / Houston Faith Pres / Baytown Faith Pres / Pasadena St. John s / Houston Juan Marcos FPC / Angleton FPC / Lake Jackson FPC / Alvin St. Stephen s / Houston Gulf Prairie / Jones Creek FPC / Galveston FPC / Brazoria St. Andrew s / Beaumont Providence / Nederland Westminster / Galveston The members of the Congregational Resourcing Team are: 2014 Chair, TE David Leard 2014 Vice Chair, TE David Green 2014: TE Jack Barden, TE David Green, TE David Leard, RE Terry Slattery 2015: RE Jan Kelly, RE Jessica Kuehner, RE Debbie Waller, TE Leigh Wisner-Hargis 2016: CRE Debbie Battise-Kleinman, RE Christy Callahan, RE Gary Denmon, RE Linda Smith-Gregory ~ 14 ~
Outreach Committee 2014 Overview G.3 In 2014 the Outreach Committee has focused on how to encourage and resource our congregations in the outreach efforts. Most of this has occurred through our established ministry partners. CEDEPCA: $6,000 (Central American Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies) Groups from New Covenant travel to Latin America with the support of CEDEPCA s ministry to share in God s work there. Participants discover the connections between the Latin American Biblical University (UBL), our PC(USA) church and missionaries, and CEDEPCA. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Connie Brakebill. CUPS: $0 This is a program on the Mexico boarder that cares for people who live in the valley and across the border. Led by a vibrant leader who makes the personal connection with the people in the needs in a very real and meaningful way. They are very good stewards of resources shared with them. They also view part of their ministry as inviting groups to experience ministry on the boarder and are very affordable. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Chris Friedersdorf. Hope International Center: $0 Led by Ruling Elder Eid Abdelmassih and reaches out to Arabic speakers, many of whom are seekers. It continues to nest at Grace Presbyterian Church, but self identifies with the PC(USA). It is receiving an exploratory seed grant from 1001 and we have been told by national staff that this could be considered an ecumenical partnership. At the beginning of the year the regular attendance was 20 adults and six children. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Sara Jean Jackson. Houston Jewish/Presbyterian Dialog: $0 This dialog group came together in 2004 for the purpose of greater understanding. Through the dialog came a desire to work on a practical program together. A program called, Hand In Hand was discovered. This is a school in Jerusalem in which Jewish and Arab students are able to study together with a faculty comprised of Jews and Arabs. This year funds were raised to send a Peacemaking Ministry Associate to work with the school and help us learn from this program. Committee liaison is Teaching Elder Mark Downs. International Seafarers: $6,000 This ministry provides pastoral care to seafarers from across the globe. At 2 Seafarers Centers in the presbytery, seafarers have access to counseling, telephones, recreation, and worship services. New Covenant chaplains who work in this ministry are Ben Stewart and David Wells. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Forbes Baker. Peru Mission Challenge: $6,000 Groups from New Covenant travel to Peru as part of the Covenant Agreement for International Partnership between the Presbytery of Juan Calvino and the Presbytery of New Covenant. This partnership furthers the mission of each partner through prayer, dialogue, and partner visits. Committee liaison is Teaching Elder Mike Cole. Pinemont Apartments: $0 The mission of The Pinemont Apartments has been to provide superior affordable housing for low-income seniors and disabled persons that enhances the resident's quality of life, allowing each person to live gracefully in his or her own home, confidently and comfortably, for as long as possible. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Sue Crawford. POP Ministry: $6,000 The POP ministry expresses Christ s love to hospitalized patients, their families, and caregivers by bringing hope and comfort through presence, prayer, and service as they receive treatment at the Texas Medical Center. POP recruits and trains lay ministers from congregations in New Covenant Presbytery. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Karen Persely. ~ 15 ~
Presbyterian Service Center: $6,000 The Presbyterian Service Center provides low cost housing for elderly persons and people with physical disabilities. PSC owns and operates a residential facility in southeast Houston. Members of Presbyterian congregations have served on the PSC Board of Directors since its inception in 1958. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Melba Nixon. UCM Aggieland: $6,000 In its ministry that includes community, pastoral care, leadership development, Bible study, vocational formation, and social justice, United Campus Ministry-Aggieland offers students a home away from home for their spiritual nourishment and community needs. With new leadership this year there is a new vitality and excitement in this ministry. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Sue Crawford. UCM Greater Houston: $6,000 A variety of programs are offered to meet the needs of individual campuses in the Houston area: Bible Studies, Evangelism, Table Fellowship, Service Learning Program, Monthly Mission Projects, Pastoral care and Counseling, Worship Services, Prayer, Christian Community. Committee liaison is Ruling Elder Cathy Moore. We tend to think that our most valuable role with these ministries is our limited financial support, but much to our surprise it has been our personal support, prayer, and networking that has proven truly valuable to many of them. We have also be able to provide small grants to various programs from our congregations that have needed a little support or encouragement: These have ranged from helping congregations use their music program to reach out to the community, to helping congregation with local and foreign outreach projects. These funds came from the Peacemaking Offering Funds collected as well as the presbytery s budget. I would like to note that each project we support has to be signed off on by the session of one of our congregations, so the outreach efforts are those of the congregation with Presbytery providing support and encouragement. If your congregation has a good outreach vision and some funding will help get if off the ground, let us know. My vision for next year (even though I will no longer be chair, sing the Doxology here), will be to tighten up the vision, mission, and goals so that they are aligned with those of the Presbytery and provide the team clear actions they need to focus on. Presbytery Outreach can no longer be about handing funds to good programs (unless you want to make a large financial gift) but to encourage and assist our congregations in their outreach efforts. I believe we can have a larger impact working together than the simple sum of our individual efforts. In Christ, Mark Downs The members of the Outreach Committee are: 2014 Chair, TE Mark Downs 2014 Vice Chair, RE Karen Perseley 2014: RE Connie Brakebill, TE Mark Downs, RE Laurie Kluth, RE George Puig 2015: RE Sue Crawford, RE Sara Jean Jackson, TE Katrina Pennington, RE Karen Perseley 2016: RE Nathaniel Breaker, RE Cathy Moore, RE Melba Nixon, TE Honorio Theodoro Nieto ~ 16 ~
NOMINATING COMMITTEE November 15, 2014 H The Nominating Committee offers the following people to serve on the committees of the Presbytery of New Covenant. 2015 Moderator of the Presbytery TE Laurey Murphy (Houston, Spring Branch) 2015 Moderator Elect of the Presbytery RE Shelley Hernandez (Houston, Pathways) Administrative Division Steering Committee 2015 Chair, RE Jane Larkin (Houston, St. Philip) 2015 Vice-Chair, RE Jim Hegenbarth (Houston, Memorial Drive) Administrative Division/Center Operations 2015 Chair, RE Gail Northern (Houston, Pathways) 2017 RE Gary Akin (Houston, Northwoods) Administrative Division/Ecclesiastical Affairs 2015 Chair, TE John Wurster (Houston, St. Philip) 2017 RE Janet Rainey (Katy, New Hope) Administrative Division/Finance 2015 Chair, RE Dave Johnson (Houston, Clear Lake) 2015 Vice Chair, RE Cathy Bliton (Katy, New Hope) 2017 RE Sue Maple (Houston, St. Thomas) 2017 RE Jerry Blurton (Houston, Memorial Drive) Administrative Division/Personnel 2015 Chair, TE Fred Seay (Sugar Land, First) 2017 RE Dick Meyer (Houston, St. Thomas) Committee on Ministry (COM) 2015 Chair, TE John Hirling (Houston, Westminster) 2015 Vice-Chair, RE Dick Black (Galveston, First) COM/Calls and Contracts 2015 Chair, RE Bob Patterson (Houston, St. Andrew s) 2015 Vice-Chair, TE Ted Foote (Bryan, First) 2016 RE Jason Reed (Pasadena, First) 2017 TE Kathleen Davies (Houston, Community of the Servant Savior) 2017 RE Barbara Brisch (Houston, St. John s) 2017 RE Mike Marcotte (Houston, Pines) COM/Congregational Life 2015 Chair, RE Chuck Johnson (Houston, St. Philip) 2015 Vice Chair, TE Helen Rose Moore (Galveston, First Lutheran, Interim) 2017 RE Chuck Johnson (Houston, St. Philip) ~ 17 ~
2017 TE Helen Rose Moore (Galveston, First Lutheran, Interim) 2017 RE Jim Glenney (Houston, Memorial Drive) 2017 RE Don Barber (Houston, First) COM/Examinations 2015 Chair, RE Greg Feigh (Houston, Pathways) 2015 Vice-Chair, TE Jim Currie (Pasadena, First) 2017 RE Jeanie Flowers (Houston, St. Philip) 2017 RE Andrie Chen (Houston, Formosan) 2017 RE Dave Coles (Houston, Pines) 2017 TE Deborah Cooper (Houston, Memorial Drive) COM/Professional Life 2015 Chair, TE Helen DeLeon (Webster, Webster) 2016 TE David Leard (Houston, Northwoods) 2017 TE Helen DeLeon (Webster, Webster) 2017 TE Mark Downs (At Large) Committee on Representation 2015 Chair, RE Alba Herrera (Houston, St. Stephen) 2017 RE Alba Herrera (Houston, St. Stephen) Committee on Preparation for Ministry (CPM) 2015 Chair, TE Kevin Boyd (Houston, St. Paul) 2015 Vice-Chair, RE Bill Hargrove (Houston, First) 2015 TE Laura Grice (Woodlands, Woodlands Community) 2017 TE Ryan Kim (Houston, Korean Central) 2017 TE Kevin Boyd (Houston, St. Paul) CPM/Commissioned Ruling Elders 2015 Chair, TE Barbara Retzloff (Houston, Pines) 2015 Vice-Chair, TE Mary Currie (At large) 2017 TE Brent Hampton (Brenham, Brenham) 2017 TE Sharon Gazaway (HR) General Council 2015 Chair, RE Shelley Hernandez (Houston, Pathways) 2015 RE Joe Snyder (Houston, St. Stephen) 2017 TE Joe MacDonald (Livingston, First) 2017 RE Eugene McKelvey (Houston, St. Philip) Ministries Division Steering Committee 2015 Chair, RE Carlton Currie (Houston, First) 2015 Vice Chair, TE Anne Marie Quigley-Swanson (Houston, Northwoods) Ministries Division/Congregational Resourcing Team 2015 Vice-Chair, RE Debbye Waller (Baytown, Faith) 2017 RE Leah McFadden (Houston, Northwoods) 2017 RE Mary Sterner (Houston, Pines) ~ 18 ~
- Ministries Division/Evangelism and Church Growth 2015 Chair, TE Mike O'Neil (Angleton, First) 2015 Vice-Chair, TE Andrew Adair (At Large) 2017 TE Wayne Eberly (Houston, Pines) 2017 TE Viet Ho (Houston, Thien An) Ministries Division/Outreach 2017 RE Laurie Kluth (Houston, St. Stephen) 2017 TE Kristi Click (Houston, Spring Branch) THE FOLLOWING ARE FOR INFORMATION ONLY NOT FOR PRESBYTERY APPROVAL Seafarer's Board 2016 Nancy Crabb (Kingwood, First) 2016 William A. (Bill) Duval (Woodlands, Alden Bridge) 2017 Ray E. Peregoy (Atascocita, Atascocita) United Campus Ministries of Greater Houston 2016 RE Dorothy Blackwell (Houston, First) 2016 Florence McKelvey Bunch (Houston, St. Philip) 2017 Lynne Quinn (Houston, First) 2017 Carla Burns (Houston, St. Philip) The members of the Nominating Committee are: 2014 Chair, RE Gayle Smith 2014: RE Tony Billingsley, TE Noelie Day, RE Beverly Houston, RE Gayle Smith 2015: RE Elizabeth Duerr, RE John Hartman, TE Paul Hoang, TE Belinda Koenig 2016: RE David Bell, RE John Cronk, RE Sabrina Hergert, TE Robert Murphy Postlude is the publication that highlights the events and business conducted at presbytery meetings. It will be posted on the presbytery s website: www.pbyofnewcovenant.org Commissioners will receive an email notification when Postlude is available. Please share it with your sessions. Comments and suggestion should be directed to Helen Wolf at hwolf@pbyofnewcovenant.org Do you receive Tuesday Connect, our weekly email newsletter? Contact Patricia Brantley to subscribe: pbrantley@pbyofnewcovenant.org ~ 19 ~
Opening Prayer INSTALLATION OF THE STATED and RECORDING CLERK and TREASURER Questions to the Candidates Lynn Hargrove and Pete Koester, God has called you, by the voice of the Presbytery, to serve Jesus Christ in a special way. You know who we are and what we believe and you understand the work for which you have been chosen. Show your purpose by responding to the following questions: 1. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? 2. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God s Word to you? 3. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith, as expressed in the confessions of our Church, as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God? 4. Lynn, will you be the Stated and Recording Clerk, and Pete, will you be the Treasurer, in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and continually guided by our confessions? 5. Will you be governed by our Church s polity and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry working with them, subject to the ordering of God s Word and Spirit? 6. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world? 7. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the Church? 8. Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? 9. Will you be faithful in your duties, proclaiming the good news, teaching faith, and caring for people? Will you be active in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the Church; and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? ~ 20 ~
Questions to Presbytery Will the Presbytery please stand? 1. Do we, the members of the Presbytery accept Lynn Hargrove as our Stated and Recording Clerk, and Pete Koester as our Treasurer, chosen by God through the voice of this Presbytery, to guide us in the way of Jesus Christ? 2. Do we agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? 3. Do we promise to provide for their welfare as they work among us; to stand by them in trouble and share their joys? Will we listen to their wisdom, welcome their care, and honor their authority as they seeks to honor and obey Jesus Christ our Lord? Prayer of Installation Declaration of Installation Lynn Hargrove, you are now installed as Stated and Recording Clerk of the Presbytery of New Covenant. Pete Koester, you are now installed as Treasurer of the Presbytery of New Covenant Whatever you do, in work or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him. Amen ~ 21 ~
THE INSTALLATION OF A MODERATOR The Presbytery of New Covenant November 15, 2014 OPENING SENTENCES As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. (Gal. 3:27-28) There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1-6) There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to the one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. We are called by God to be the Church of Jesus Christ, a sign in the world today of what God intends for all humankind. The Great Ends of the Church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. THE INSTALLATION Laurey Hartwell Murphy, the grace bestowed upon you in baptism is sufficient for your calling because it is God s grace. By God s grace we are saved, and enabled to grow in the faith and to commit our lives in ways which serve Christ. God has called you to particular service. Now show your purpose by answering these questions. Who is your Lord and Savior? Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Will you be Christ s faithful disciple, obeying his Word and showing his love? I will, with God s help. Will you be the Moderator, in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and continually guided by our confessions? I will, with God s help. Do you welcome the responsibility of this service because you are determined to follow the Lord Jesus, to love neighbors, and to work for the reconciling of the world? I do. Will you serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love, relying on God s mercy and rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit? I will, with God s help. ~ 22 ~
Will the Presbytery please stand. Do we, the members of the Presbytery, accept Laurey Hartwell Murphy as our Moderator, chosen by God through the voice of this Presbytery to guide us in the way of Jesus Christ? We do. Do we agree to encourage her, to respect her decisions, and to follow as she guides us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do. INSTALLATION PRAYER O God, You claim us in baptism, and by Your Spirit You work in our lives, empowering us for the service to which You call us. We thank You for leading Laurey to this time and place. Strengthen her for this work, and guide her by Your Spirit, that in Your service she may grow in faith, hope, and love, and be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, to whom be all honor and glory, now and forever. Almighty God, in Jesus Christ You called disciples and, by the Holy Spirit, made them one Church to serve You. Let Your Spirit rule Your Church, so that we may be joined in love and service to Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. CHARGE & BLESSING Laurey Hartwell Murphy, you are installed to service as Moderator of the Presbytery of New Covenant for 2015. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him. And may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and keep your whole being, spirit, soul, and body, free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. ~ 23 ~
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Montrose Street Reach meets on Wednesday evenings on the parking lot at the Presbytery Center, 1110 Lovett Blvd. They seek assistance providing and serving snack items on the fourth Wednesday evening of each month. Available dates are: November 26 January 28 February 25 March 25 April 22 May 27 June 24 July 22 August 26 September 23 October 28 November 25 Please contact Patricia Brantley at the Presbytery Center to sign up. pbrantley@pbyofnewcovenant.org Montrose Street Reach meets rain or shine. They serve about 150 people each week, with worship and a meal. Snack items are an extra gift to help feed hungry people in Houston. Montrose Street Reach provides food (physical and spiritual) and a real sense of community. They also provide practical assistance through the Wednesday night outreach job search information, referrals to drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, help in obtaining IDs, blankets and clothing distribution, and even help with family reconciliation. Montrose Street Reach meets every Wednesday of the year, except for the week of Christmas. Montrose Street Reach is well organized, orderly, and full of happiness! ~ 25 ~
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