Proposed Minutes of the February 10, 2015, Stated Meeting

Transcription

Presbytery of New York City
Minutes of the February 10, 2015, Stated Meeting
Teaching Elder Krystin Granberg, Moderator
Ruling Elder Derrick McQueen, Moderator-Elect
Teaching Elder C. Anderson James, Stated Clerk
Bedford Central Presbyterian Church
1200 Dean Street, Brooklyn, New York
Meeting of the Presbytery of New York City Called to Order
At 2:35 P.M., the Presbytery of New York City was called to order by Moderator Teaching Elder Krystin
Granberg and moved into prayer and worship shaped by the Confession of Belhar and led by TE Kellie
Anderson-Picallo, TE Lindsay Borden, TE Krystin Granberg, RE Adolfo Griffith, RE Lloyd Johnson, TE
Rosemarie Napoli, and RE Terri Youn. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was celebrated by Teaching
Elders Agnes Blackmon and Alistair Drummond. The full order of service can be found at Appendix A.
Host’s Words of Welcome
Following worship, Teaching Elder Clive Neil, pastor at Bedford Central Church, Brooklyn, offered
words of welcome to the presbytery. He gave a brief orientation to the space and spoke of the history and
current ministry of the congregation.
Constituting the Meeting: Establishing a Quorum
The Moderator recognized the Stated Clerk to begin constituting the meeting. TE C. Anderson James
reported that registration indicated that a quorum of at least 25 teaching elders and 25 ruling elder
commissioners representing 20 congregations was present.
Constituting the Meeting: Approving the Rescheduled Date
The Stated Clerk noted that the meeting had been postponed from its originally-scheduled date of January
27, 2015, due to inclement weather. M/S/A to ratify the decision of the Moderator, Moderator-Elect,
Chair of General Cabinet, Executive Presbyter, and Stated Clerk to reschedule the January 27,
2015, Stated Meeting to today, February 10, 2015, due to inclement weather.
Constituting the Meeting: Accepting Excused Absences
TE James reported that requests for excused absences had been received from 55 teaching elders and 12
ruling elder commissioners, either electronically or in writing, prior to the meeting. M/S/A to accept the
requests for excused absences received electronically or in writing by the Stated Clerk prior to this
meeting being called to order. The full attendance record can be found in Appendix B.
Constituting the Meeting: Corresponding Members and New Commissioners
The Stated Clerk reported the presence of Teaching Elder Peter Surgenor of Hudson River Presbytery and
Teaching Elder Annette Westermark of Southeastern Illinois Presbytery. M/S/A to seat TE Peter
Surgenor and TE Annette Westermark as corresponding members.
The Moderator recognized RE Sally Howard of the Church of the Master, Manhattan, who was attending
her first meeting of her current term.
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Minutes of the Stated Meeting
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Constituting the Meeting: Adoption of the Docket and Docket Clerks
The Stated Clerk presented the proposed docket for the meeting as distributed in the call packet for the
meeting. It was moved to approve the docket. Moderator-Elect Derrick McQueen rose to move an
amendment to the docket, substituting the docket distributed at registration for the docket included in the
call packet. The amendment was seconded and approved. The docket was approved as amended.
The following persons agreed to serve as docket clerks for the meeting and were approved by
acclamation:
RE Diana Bartlet
TE Agnes Blackmon
TE Grace Bowen
RE Emmanuel Goued-Njayick
RE Lloyd Johnson
The Moderator announced that the Stated Clerk would be taking the minutes of the meeting in the
absence of a journal clerk for the meeting.
Constituting the Meeting: Approval of November 18, 2014, Stated Meeting Minutes
TE James requested that the Minutes of the November 18, 2014, Stated Meeting be approved. The
Minutes were previously posted on the website, and corrections were received and noted by the clerk.
Motion M/S/A to approve the minutes as corrected.
Constituting the Meeting: Consent Agenda
The Stated Clerk reported that the proposed consent agenda for the meeting included the reports of the
Committee on Session Records Review and the Administrative Commission for Zion Church, Brooklyn
(Appendix C). M/S/A to approve the consent agenda.
TE James announced that the meeting was fully constituted.
Executive Presbyter’s Report
The Moderator recognized TE Robert Foltz-Morrison to give his report as Executive Presbyter (Appendix
D).
Stated Clerk’s Report
The Moderator recognized TE C. Anderson James to give his report as Stated Clerk (Appendix E). Under
his report, it was moved and seconded to amend the previously-adopted minutes of the January 31,
2012, stated meeting of the presbytery (p. 9813) to state that the election of Ruling Elder Adolfo
Griffith as commissioner to the Synod of the Northeast was to the class of 2015, ending December
31, 2015. Notice of the intention to bring the motion to amend something previously adopted was
included in the call packet for the meeting. After discussion, the motion was approved.
TE Flora Wilson Bridges moved that the brief, one page communication from the Synod of the
Northeast, dated January 23, 2015, regarding the status of Adelana et al. v. PNYC be read on the
floor in a spirit of transparency in order to fully inform the presbytery of the most recent status of
that case. The motion was seconded, and the Committee of Counsel offered comment as part of broader
discussion on the motion. The motion failed on a show of hands.
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Report of the Committee of Counsel in Adelana et al. v. Presbytery of New York City
The Moderator recognized RE Brunhilda Sanders-Lane to present the report of the presbytery’s
Committee of Counsel in Adelana et al. v. Presbytery of New York City (Appendix F). She gave an update
on the status of the remedial action and the work of the committee. The motion included in the
committee’s report was not made at this meeting due to additional actions of the Synod of the Northeast
Permanent Judicial Commission, but RE Sanders-Lane noted that the committee will be reporting again at
the March stated meeting.
Report of the Special Administrative Review Committee for Church of the Master, Manhattan
The Moderator recognized RE Sharon Davison to bring the report of the Special Administrative Review
Committee for Church of the Master, Manhattan (Appendix G). She described the work of the committee
and presented its findings as found in the report. It was moved and seconded to refer the report to the
Committee on Ministry. Following discussion, the motion to refer was approved.
Moderator’s Report
Moderator TE Granberg turned the chair over to Moderator-Elect RE Derrick McQueen.
The Moderator reported the membership of the Administrative Commission for Central Church,
Manhattan, created by action of the presbytery at the November 2014 Stated Meeting:
TE Moses Biney
TE Luis Espionsa
RE Christopher Mason, Brick
RE Rhonda Sanchez, Crossroads
RE Renee Stout, Duryea
TE Peggy Thomas
TE Perry Wootten
She then reported on the work of the Worship Committee and how she is working with them to embody
her goals for her year as moderator in the worship life of the presbytery. She noted that the committee is
working to bring as many of the languages spoken in worship in the presbytery together into worship for
the March presbytery meeting.
RE Adolfo Griffith moved that the Standing Rules be suspended so that new business could be
considered related to worship plans delayed from the January meeting. The motion was seconded.
Following discussion, the motion was approved by a two-thirds vote. TE Margaret Thomas then moved
that the presbytery move the January worship, including the conversations on race, to the March
meeting. The motion was seconded and discussed, and the motion was approved on a show of hands.
Moderator-Elect RE McQueen then returned the chair to the Moderator.
General Cabinet Report
Moderator TE Granberg recognized Moderator-Elect RE Derrick McQueen to give the report of the
General Cabinet (Appendix H). He noted that the Cabinet had made an error in preparing nominations for
the Personnel Committee and so would not make the nomination indicated in the call packet.
Report of the Committee on Nominations
Moderator TE Granberg recognized RE Brunhilda Sanders-Lane to give the report of the Committee on
Nominations. On behalf of the committee, she moved that Ruling Elder Derrick McQueen be elected
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Moderator for the 2015-2016 term. There were no nominations from the floor. The motion was
approved on a voice vote.
On behalf of the committee, she moved that Ruling Elders David Michel and Donald Velazquez be
elected as representatives of the presbytery to the Board of Directors of the Fort Schuyler House.
There were no nominations from the floor. The motion was approved on a voice vote.
Amending the Book of Confessions to Include the Confession of Belhar
The Moderator recognized TE Grace Bowen, chair of the Committee on Standing Rules and Overtures, to
present the Confession of Belhar in response to the 221st General Assembly’s vote to send the Confession
of Belhar to presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes. The Moderator put the question to the
presbytery: Shall the Confession of Belhar be included in the Book of Confessions? After a brief
presentation, the presbytery voted by ballot by a vote of 67-2 to respond in the affirmative.
The Moderator turned over the chair to the Moderator-Elect.
Report of the Committee on Witness to Society and the World
The Moderator-Elect recognized RE Ronald Fields, chair of the Committee on Witness to Society and the
World, to present the committee’s report. On behalf of the committee, he moved that the presbytery
endorse and follow the recommendations from the Synod of the NE addressing racism and
authority abuse:
The Synod of the Northeast is alarmed by frequent occurrences of police brutality in the
United States that are grounded in historic patterns and structures of racism in which all of
us are complicit. We emphatically denounce this violence and stand in empathetic solidarity
with the families of those who have had their lives harmed or taken by those who have
sworn to protect them. We pray for the officers who are unable to speak out against the
corruption and bigotry among their ranks for fear of retribution. Simultaneously, we call
on not only Presbyterians but all good people of this earth to commit to combating the sin of
racism and authority abuse.
We recommend the following steps:
1. Encourage church leaders in presbyteries and congregations to call for body cameras on
police officers in their community and dash cameras in their vehicles.
2. Encourage church leaders in presbyteries and congregations to meet with leaders of other
religious groups to participate in civilian review boards. For communities without a civilian
review board, we encourage congregations to press for establishing one.
3. Hold meetings in churches between police officers and those who are often victims.
4. Consider what can be done to provide a safe haven for police officers who object to the
harassing actions of their colleagues.
After opportunity for discussion, the motion was approved by a show of hands.
On behalf of the committee, RE Fields moved that the presbytery ask our Legislature (through new
legislation) and our Governor (through existing authority) to appoint special Grand Juries under
the guidance of an independent special prosecutor/jurist to investigate all cases of wrongful death
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and major injury at the hands of agents of the state, as well as others acts of malfeasance,
misfeasance, and nonfeasance as this is part of the Grand Jury’s mandate. Local prosecutors fail to
properly instruct grand juries as to their true role. The legal advisor of the Grand Jury should be
an independent jurist without any conflict of interest with the police or state agencies in order to
insure the proper instruction of the grand jury which, being a fourth branch of government
belonging to the people, is free to indict, exonerate, or write a report as presently its charter under
the law mandates.
After opportunity for discussion, the motion was approved on a voice vote.
RE Fields then moved on behalf of the committee that the presbytery authorize the Executive
Presbyter to appoint persons possessing requisite expertise to speak publicly on behalf of the
presbytery to reflect the social witness policies of the presbytery, Synod of the Northeast, and
General Assembly when the Executive Presbyter is unable to do so.
After discussion, the motion was approved by a show of hands.
On behalf of the committee, RE Fields moved that the presbytery encourage congregations to
distribute resources providing knowledge as to the rights and responsibilities of both civilians and
agents of the state when they interact to insure harmony and lessen violence. [Samples are available
on the NYCLU website.] We will encourage churches to help disseminate responsible information
from multiple sources including church, civil liberties, law enforcement, and will do so via the
forthcoming Presbytery Leadership Workshop, and via the Presbytery website. The focus is to
improve interactions between civilians and police, avoiding violence and focusing on peaceful
resolutions of all incidents.
After opportunity for discussion, the motion was approved by a show of hands.
Report of the Committee on Congregational Ministry and Nurture
The Moderator-Elect recognized RE Ted Hickman to present the report of the Committee on
Congregational Ministry and Nurture. He reported that the committee had approved mission grants for
University Heights Church, Bronx ($500), and Fort Schuyler Church, Bronx ($250). He reminded the
presbytery of Leadership Development Day, scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2015, at the Brick
Presbyterian Church, featuring the Rev. Dr. Stanley Ott, Founder and President of the Vital Church
Institute, as keynote speaker. It will also include training workshops for ruling elders, deacons, clerks of
session, and other church leaders.
On behalf of the committee, RE Hickman moved that the presbytery approve the move of the Korean
United Presbyterian Church, Queens, from First Presbyterian Church of Flushing, 150-20 Barclay
Avenue, Flushing , NY 11355, to 3901 Utopia Parkway, Flushing, NY 11358 under the requirements
of G-3.0303b. After discussion, the presbytery approved the motion by a show of hands.
RE Hickman then moved on behalf of the committee that the presbytery approve the enrollment of the
Arabic Language Reformed Group being led by Rev. Peter Bahig, as a “Worshiping Community.”
Rev. Bahig spoke briefly about the work and worship of the community. After discussion, the presbytery
approved the motion by a show of hands.
Report of the Committee on Mission Finance & Corporate Responsibility/Board of Trustees
The Moderator recognized RE Reade Ryan to give the report of the Committee on Mission Finance and
Corporate Responsibility/Board of Trustees (Appendix I).
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On behalf of the committee, RE Ryan moved that the presbytery approve the First Amendment to
Purchase and Sale Agreement (Appendix J) between the French Evangelical Church of New York
(“Seller”) and 124 West 16 LLC (“Purchaser”) on the condition that during the period of so-called
“tenancy-in-common”, the full insurance to be in effect covering all liabilities are to be paid by the
purchaser. After discussion, the motion was approved by a show of hands.
RE Ryan pointed the presbytery to the information items included in the committee’s report. He further
reported to the presbytery that there are concerns about the safety of the Beck Memorial Church, Bronx,
where the building is owned by the presbytery. Because of the recommendation of an engineer, the
committee has ordered the building closed for safety reasons. Commissioners asked questions of RE
Ryan, and other committee chairs noted that other committees of the presbytery would continue to be
involved in these conversations.
Report of the Martinez Matching Grants Committee
The Moderator again recognized RE Reade Ryan to present the report of the Martinez Matching Grants
Committee, who moved on behalf of the committee that the presbytery approve the revised guidelines
for the Martinez Fund Matching Grant (Appendix K). After discussion, the motion was approved by
a show of hands.
Report of the Loan Processing Group
The Moderator again recognized RE Reade Ryan to give the report of the Loan Processing Group, and he
moved on behalf of the committee that the presbytery approve a grace period of 6 months to the
Tremont Presbyterian Church from making loan payments on their $40,000 loan granted by the
Presbytery on April 27, 2011. After discussion, the motion was approved by a show of hands.
At the conclusion of the report, the Moderator-Elect returned the chair to the Moderator.
Memorial Moment: Teaching Elder Olivia Capers
The Moderator recognized TE Diane Lacey to offer words of remembrance and thanksgiving for the life
of Teaching Elder Olivia Capers, who died on October 29, 2014 (Appendix L).
Recess for Dinner
At 6:06 P.M., the Moderator invited TE Clive Neil to lead the presbytery in prayer before dinner. The
presbytery then recessed to the lower level of the church for a festive meal prepared and served by
members of Bedford Central Church.
The presbytery reconvened to complete its business at 7:05 P.M.
Necrology Report of Ruling and Teaching Elders
The Moderator recognized Stated Clerk TE Andy James to offer the necrology report of ruling and
teaching elders in the presbytery whose deaths were reported in 2014 (Appendix M). He closed with a
prayer of thanksgiving for the faithful service of these women and men in the life of the presbytery, its
congregations, and beyond.
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Report of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry
The Moderator recognized TE Jane Donnelly to give the report of the Committee on Preparation for
Ministry. On behalf of the committee, she moved that the presbytery enroll Inquirer Sunday
Etsekhume of Eastchester Church, Bronx, as a candidate in accordance with G-2.0604 and NYC
Presbytery CPM Handbook §9. After an introduction from the committee, a personal statement, and
words from his pastor TE Carlton Knight, the presbytery arrested the examination. The presbytery then
approved the motion to enroll the candidate on a voice vote, and he was received with scripture,
questions, and prayer.
TE Donnelly then reported the following actions taken by the committee on behalf of the presbytery:
Candidate Grace Lindvall of Brick, Manhattan, has been certified ready to receive a call,
pending her graduation from Princeton Seminary, in accordance with G-2.0607 and CPM
Handbook §12.
In accordance with G-2.0609 and CPM Handbook §13, the following persons have been removed
from the rolls of inquirers and candidates for the reasons listed:
Barbara Allyson Felker, at her own request;
Diane Ford, following her ordination on October 12, 2014, by Sacramento Presbytery;
Deborah Mahaney, following her ordination on December 21, 2014, by PNYC;
Beatrice Neil, following her death on December 14, 2014.
Report of the Committee on Ministry
The Moderator recognized RE Adolfo Griffith to give the report of the Committee on Ministry (Appendix
N).
On behalf of the committee, RE Griffith moved the consent agenda from the committee’s report,
consisting of the following action items:
To grant Honorably Retired Status to TE John D. Twiname;
To dismiss TE Meagan Manas to Boston Presbytery;
To receive the annual report of TE Suk Jong Lee and change her status to Member at Large,
effective August 31, 2015, upon her retirement from Army chaplaincy;
To approve the request of the session of First Church, Jamaica, to renew the commission of
Commissioned Ruling Elder Brunhilda Sanders-Lane for an additional three-year term,
effective January 27, 2015, through January 26, 2018.
The consent agenda was approved by a voice vote.
RE Griffith then moved on behalf of the committee that the presbytery approve the revised
installation commission below for Rev. Beverly Dempsey, as well as move the service from
December 7, 2014, at 4:00 P.M., to April 26, 2015, at 3:00 P.M.
Teaching Elders
Krystin Granberg, Moderator
Roles throughout
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Proposed Installation Administrative Commission
Ruling Elders
Lloyd Johnson (The Bronx)
Eastchester Presbyterian Church
Role: Offering block
Kellie AndersonPiccalo
Jim Nedelka (Manhattan)
At large, Serving outside the bounds of the New York
PNC Chair, Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and
City Presbytery as Parish Associate, First Presbyterian
Neighborhood House
Role: Presentation of the pastor and Litany vows of the
Church, Englewood, NJ.
Role: Charge to the newly installed pastor
Congregation
Agnes Blackmon
Nancy Ost (Manhattan)
Pastor, WestminsterBethany Presbyterian Church,
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
Role: Prayer for Illumination and First Testament
Brooklyn
Role: Confession block
reading
David Cockcroft
Brunilda Fernandez (Manhattan)
Honorably Retired, The Bronx
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
Role: Epistle Reading
Role: Prayers for the newly installed
Alice HermanusRampengan
Pastor, Indonesian Presbyterian Church, Manhattan,
Role: Prayer of the People
Doug King
Associate Pastor, Brick Presbyterian Church, Manhattan
Role: Charge to the Congregation
Cynthia Reggio
Pastor, Astoria Presbyterian Church, Queens
Role: Prayers of Intercession
John Russell Stanger
Presbyterian Welcome, At Large
Role: Affirmation of faith
Proposed Corresponding Member of the Commission
Nicole Wilkinson Duran, PhD
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia
Presbytery. Stepsister.
Role: Preaching
The motion to approve the changed commission and date was approved by a voice vote.
On behalf of the committee, RE Griffith moved that the presbytery approve the request of the
congregation of Hollis Presbyterian Church to change the terms of call for the Rev. Mark Chapman
from full time to part time, effective January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. After questions
and discussion, the motion was approved on a voice vote.
RE Griffith moved on behalf of the committee that the presbytery dissolve the pastoral relationship
between Rev. James Belle and The Church of the Master, effective December 31, 2014. The motion
was approved on a voice vote.
RE Griffith then presented Rev. Scott Kenefake, a member of Northern Kansas Presbytery, for
examination for membership in the presbytery. He is serving in a validated ministry in a Formula of
Agreement denomination within the bounds of the Presbytery of New York City. The Moderator invited
Rev. Kenefake to make a brief statement. The Moderator pointed the presbytery to his statement of faith
(found in Appendix P) and recognized questions for him from the floor. After the examination was
arrested, Rev. Kenefake was excused from the room.
RE Griffith then moved on behalf of the committee that the presbytery receive Rev. Scott Kenefake
into the membership of the presbytery upon his transfer from Northern Kansas Presbytery.
Following a brief discussion, the motion was approved on a voice vote. Rev. Kenefake returned to the
room and was congratulated by the presbytery with applause.
Page 8
RE Griffith then presented Rev. Annette Westermark, a teaching elder member of Southeastern Illinois
Presbytery, for examination for service as the full-time Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of
Newtown, Queens, and membership in the Presbytery of New York City. The Moderator invited Rev.
Westermark to make a brief statement, and RE Jacinth Hanson and RE Abraham Osei from the
congregation spoke of the congregation’s excitement at welcoming her to serve as pastor. The Moderator
pointed the presbytery to her statement of faith (found in Appendix O) and recognized several questions
for her from the floor. After the examination was arrested, Rev. Westermark was excused from the room.
RE Griffith moved that the presbytery approve the call of Rev. Annette Westermark to serve as
Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Newtown, Queens, to begin March 1, 2015, and to receive
her into the membership of the presbytery upon her transfer from Southeastern Illinois Presbytery.
Her compensation shall be:
Cash Salary
Housing & Utilities
Subtotal for SS offset
Board of Pensions/Medical/Death (Member & dependents)
Optional dental, supplemental death/life insurance
Social Security Offset (Medicare only)
Car Travel Allowance
*Other Expense Allowances (total from details below)
Study Leave Allowance
Total Minister Compensation
*Other Allowances
Cell phone
Books, professional expenses
Total other expense allowances
$45,000
$24,000
$69,000
$25,185
$3,290
$1,000
$2,300
$2,440*
$1,000
$104,215
$1,440
$1,000
$2,440
After discussion, the presbytery approved the motion on a voice vote. Rev. Westermark returned to the
room and was congratulated by the presbytery with applause.
Announcements, Joys, and Concerns, Intercessory Prayer, and Adjournment
The Moderator invited presbyters to share announcements, joys, and concerns. It was noted by several
presbyters that RE Myrtle Smith of Eastchester Church, Bronx, a longtime member of several presbytery
committees and active presbyter, had died recently, and prayers were requested for her family, friends,
and church. RE Felipe Rodriguez offered an intercessory prayer for the work of the presbytery and
especially presbyters as they headed home. Seeing that there was no other docketed business, the
Moderator declared the meeting adjourned following the prayer at 8:15 P.M.
C. Anderson James
Stated Clerk
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APPENDIX A
Presbytery@Worship
February 10, 2015
Prelude:
“Let it Go”
Adolfo Griffith
Call to Worship
One: God of the past, who created and nurtured us.
All: We thank you for the life we share in the Presbytery of New York City.
One: God of the future, who is always ahead of us.
All: We thank you for the possibilities before us here at Presbytery of New
York City.
One: God of the present, who is here in the midst of us.
All: We thank you for your presence with us these days;
One: God of life, who is beyond us and within us,
All: We rejoice in your glorious love that we know in you and in one another.
Together we worship God!
Hymn
“The Church’s One Foundation”
Time of Confession and Reconciliation
(Confession of Belhar)
We believe
that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and
through Jesus Christ; that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and
the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a
peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new
heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells.
We believe
that God’s life giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and
death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and
enmity, that God’s life giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live
in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and
the world;
Page 10
We believe
that the credibility of this message is seriously affected and its beneficial
work obstructed when it is proclaimed in a land which professes to be
Christian, but in which the enforced separation of people on a racial basis
promotes and perpetuates alienation, hatred and enmity;
We believe
that any teaching which attempts to legitimate such forced separation by
appeal to the gospel, and is not prepared to venture on the road of
obedience and reconciliation, but rather, out of prejudice, fear, selfishness
and unbelief, denies in advance the reconciling power of the gospel, must be
considered ideology and false doctrine.
Scripture
Time of Reflection
Offering & Hymn
“When We Are Living”
Service of Holy Communion
Invitation
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Words of Institution
Distribution
“Jesus, Remember Me” (when you come into your kingdom)
“We Are One in the Spirit”
Prayer after Communion
Passing of the Peace
All music is reproduced with permission under OneLicense.net #A-722626.
Page 11
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œ œ œ œ
This hymn was one of twelve written by an English curate to affirm the articles of the Apostles’ Creed with
biblical allusions such as 1 Corinthians 3:11 here. Though not created for this text, the tune was joined to it in
1868, and the two have been inseparable ever since.
12
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, February 10,AURELIA
2015
TEXT: Samuel John Stone, 1866, alt.
MUSIC: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864
7.6.7.6.D
Presbytery of New York
City
4/10/13
822-when we are-346.mus, Page 1
LIVING AND DYING IN CHRIST
822
When We Are Living
# # 4 DŒ
& 4 œ
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
Pues
En
En
En
and
Good
when
those
&
y
y
en
gen
œ œ
˙ ˙
are liv our liv of
sor this wide
j
œ ˙
Em
œ.
when we’re dy
works of ser
sens - ing beau
are cry
who
mo si
bue - nas
be la
que
- te
œ œ
our
are
we
we
ri
o
lle
llo
-
˙
ing,
vice
ty
ing
liv - ing
giv - ing,
suf - fer,
them,
help
-
j
œ w
pa fru y
por
God;
we be - long
to
so - mos del
Se - ñor,
Él
ra
tos hay
el
en
do - quier
vi - vi - mos,
que dar
do - lor,
ha - brá
j
œ œ œ œ. œ ˙
A7
D
it
are
or
with
in the Lord.
is
for of - fer - ing.
in love’s embrace,
no peace of mind,
mo - ri pa - ra Él
he - mos de o - fren - dar.
a - mor,
el
y en
y sin con - so - lar.
œ œ œ œ œ
#
A
and
or
or
or
in
when
sing
when
our
re re we
A7
œ
˙
mos.
˙
˙
ra ba ce te -
mos,
mos,
mos,
mos,
F m
dy - ing,
ceiv - ing,
joic - ing,
them,
feed
que mu o
o que re - ci que go o
o que a - li - men -
mos
mos
mos
mos
Em
D
in Christ Je - sus,
is
it
we our fruits must give.
and in times of pain,
we shall al - ways find
mos
bras
za
ra
˙
G
que vi - va
ya que
de
que su - fra
que a - yu - de
# # B m7
& œ œ œ œ.
-
˙
j
œ œ œ œ. œ ˙ ˙
A7
ing,
ing,
row
world,
vi - vi - mos,
si
es - ta
vi - da
la tris - te - za
es - te mun - do
in
Both
When we
wheth - er
but when
Sea
Sea
sea
Sea
Em
œ œ
When
we
Through all
times
’Mid
A - cross
## Bm
& œ œ
##
Pues si vivimos
j
œ œ œ. œ w
D
we be - long
to
God.
so - mos del
Se - ñor.
This hymn began as an orally transmitted stanza reflecting on Romans 14:7–8 and was expanded by a
Spanish-language hymnal committee to offer additional examples of the many dimensions of life, thereby
strengthening the recurring affirmation that we belong to God through them all.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SOMOS DEL SEÑOR
TEXT: Stanza 1, anon.; English trans. Elise S. Eslinger, 1983;
10.10.10.10
stanzas 2–4, Roberto Escamilla, 1983; English trans. George Lockwood, 1987
MUSIC: Spanish melody; arr. Barbara C. Mink, 1988
Page
13Trans. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House (admin. The Copyright Company)
English
Spanish Text Sts. 2–4 © 1983 Abingdon Press (admin. The Copyright Company)
Music Arr. © 1988 Barbara C. Mink (admin. Community of Christ)
6/22/13
226-there 227-jesus.mus, Page 2
& b ˙ œ ˙œ œ
œ
pas self stroyed
sor -
sion,
hood
it
row;
? b œ̇ œ ˙˙
JESUS CHRIST: PASSION AND DEATH
˙œ œ œœ œœ wœ ˙
tree
feed
nor
I
all
of
beau
on its
life
fire con - sumed
will give bless
-
œ œ œœ˙
œ
œ̇ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
5 This is my ending;
this, my resurrection;
into your hands,
Lord, I commit my spirit.
This have I searched for;
now I can possess it.
This ground is holy.
œ
-
ww
ty.
blood.
it.
ing.”
ww
w
6 All heaven is singing,
“Thanks to Christ whose passion
offers in mercy
healing, strength, and pardon.
Peoples and nations,
take it; take it freely!”
Amen! My Master!
Jesus, Remember Me
227
b
j
& b b 43 œœ œœ ‰ œœ œœ œœ œœ Œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
œ
œ
? b b 43 œœ œœ ‰ œœ œ œœ œ Œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
b
J
Je - sus,
re - mem - ber me
˙
˙
when you come in - to your king - dom.
b
& b b œœ œœ ‰ œœj œœ œœ œœ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
˙˙
? b b œœ œœ ‰ œœ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ ˙˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ
b
J œ œ œ
Je - sus,
re - mem - ber me
when you come in - to your king - dom.
This chant-like setting, intended for repeated singing, comes from the ecumenical monastic community in
Taizé, France. Based on the prayer of the penitent thief crucified with Jesus (Luke 23:42), this text is a
poignant expression of the desire to be present with Christ in glory.
Page
14
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REMEMBER ME
TEXT: Taizé Community, 1981
Tuesday, February 10,Irregular
2015
MUSIC: Jacques Berthier, 1981
Text and Music © 1981 Les Presses de Taizé (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.)
300-we are one-557.mus, Page 1
THE CHURCH
We Are One in the Spirit
They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love
Capo 1: ( Em )
Fm
b
& b b b 22 œ œ
1
2
3
4
(Bm )
Cm
œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
˙
in the
We are one
We will walk with each
We will work with each
All
praise to the
b
& b bb œ œ
( Am )
Bbm
b
& b bb œ œ
( Am )
Bbm
we
we
we
and
˙
( Em )
Fm
œ œ œ œ
( Em )
Fm
œ œ ˙
œ œ ˙
( Em )
Fm
˙ œ œ
œ
(C )
Db
˙
And they’ll know
b
& b bb ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
( Em )
Fm
œ œ
we
are
œ
( Em )
Fm
œ œ œ ˙
Chris - tians by
( Am )
Bbm
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
(Bm )
Cm
˙
be re - stored:
in our land:
hu - man pride:
us
one:
our love,
œ œ
by
our
( Em ) (Am/E ) ( Em )
Fm B b m/F Fm
œ œ œ w
love; yes, they’ll know we are Chris - tians by our love.
Page
Lord;
hand;
side;
come,
we are one
are one
in the Spir - it;
in the Lord,
will walk with each oth - er; we will walk hand in hand,
will work with each oth - er; we will work side by side,
all praise to Christ Je - sus, God’s
on - ly
Son,
Refrain
( Am )
Bbm
œ œ ˙
in the
Spir - it; we are one
oth - er; we will walk hand in
oth - er; we will work side by
Fa - ther, from
whom all things
and we pray that all
u - ni - ty may one day
and to - geth - er we’ll spread the news that God is
and we’ll guard hu - man dig - ni - ty and save
and all praise to the Spir - it, who
makes
b
& b bb œ
300
˙
A parish priest at St. Brendan’s on the South Side of Chicago in the 1960s was very involved in the local Civil
Rights movement and needed something for his youth choir to sing at ecumenical, interracial events. Finding
nothing, he wrote this song in a single day.
15
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday,
February
10, 2015
TEXT and MUSIC: Peter Scholtes, 1966
THEY’LL KNOW
WE ARE CHRISTIANS
Text and Music © 1966 F.E.L. Publications, assigned 1991 to The Lorenz Corp.
with refrain
Presbytery of 7.6.7.6.8.6
New York
City
4/10/13
APPENDIX B
Teaching Elder Attendance - January 27, 2015
Name
Status
1
Abazia, Kwong Larissa
Active
EXCUSED
2
Acevedo, Luis A.
Active
EXCUSED
3
Ahearne, Moira
Active
ABSENT
4
Ahn, Chang Eui
Active
ABSENT
5
Aja-Sigmon, David
Active
EXCUSED
6
Alexander, Elizabeth
Active
ABSENT
7
Alexander, Susan
At-Large
ABSENT
8
Amoah-Kuma, Kwame
Active
ABSENT
9
Amstein, Charles A.
Active
ABSENT
10
Anderson, Fred R.
Active
EXCUSED
11
Anderson, Herbert
Active
ABSENT
12
Anderson-Picallo, Kellie
Active
ABSENT
13
Ankele, John
Acive
ABSENT
14
Arkema, Carroll E.
Active
ABSENT
15
Atiemo, Samuel
Active
ABSENT
16
Atkins, Charles
Active
PRESENT
18
Austin, John Charles
Active
PRESENT
19
Aybar, Eliezar
At-Large
ABSENT
20
Baldwin, Kenneth
Active
ABSENT
21
Barlett, Beverly Ann
Active
PRESENT
22
Baugh, Constance M.
Active
ABSENT
23
Bekaert, Guy
Active
ABSENT
24
Bell, Donald C.
Active
ABSENT
25
Belle, James
Active
ABSENT
26
Belonni-Rosario, Ruth Aimee
At-Large
ABSENT
27
Berry, Brenda R.
Active
ABSENT
28
Biney, Moses
Active
ABSENT
29
Blackmon, Agnes
Active
PRESENT
30
Borden, Lindsay
Active
PRESENT
31
Botarri, Melodee
Active
ABSENT
32
Bowen, Grace
At-Large
PRESENT
33
Bowers, John Carl
Active
ABSENT
34
Browne, Carmen Mason
Active
PRESENT
35
Bradley, Clark J.
Active
PRESENT
36
Brashear, Robert L.
Active
EXCUSED
37
Brettell, S. David
Active
ABSENT
Page 16
38
Brown, Deswick, H.
Active
ABSENT
39
Bryant, Lonnie
Active
ABSENT
40
Cameron, Josephine
Active
EXCUSED
41
Cato, John D.
Active
ABSENT
42
Chang, Yoon-Jae
Active
ABSENT
43
Chapman, Mark
Active
ABSENT
44
Cho, Eun Sik
Active
ABSENT
45
Cho, Philip
Active
ABSENT
46
Cho, Tae Won
Active
ABSENT
47
Choi, Jee Ho
Active
ABSENT
48
Clement, Stephen
At-Large
ABSENT
49
Cockcroft, David D.
Active
ABSENT
50
Collazo, Joseph
Active
ABSENT
51
Conroy, Anne
Active
ABSENT
52
Crump, Bradley
Active
ABSENT
53
Damiani, Daniel A.
Active
PRESENT
54
Davie, Fred
At-Large
ABSENT
55
Davies, Christine
Active
EXCUSED
56
Davis, Edward
Active
PRESENT
57
Dempsey, Beverly
Active
PRESENT
58
Diaz, Ricardo
Active
ABSENT
59
DiSalvo, Charles
Active
ABSENT
60
Donnelly, Jane
Active
EXCUSED
61
Drummond, Alistair J.
Active
PRESENT
62
Dunn, Katherine C.
Active
EXCUSED
63
Dyson, David W.
Active
ABSENT
64
Edmonds, Cornell A.
Active
PRESENT
65
Eichenberger-Gerken, Dorothy
Active
EXCUSED
66
Espinosa-Batista, Luis
Active
ABSENT
67
Felix, Maria
Active
ABSENT
68
Ferraras, Alfredo
At-Large
ABSENT
69
Friedl, Susan
Active
ABSENT
70
Foltz-Morrison, Leslie
Active
PRESENT
71
Foltz-Morrison, Robert
Active
PRESENT
72
Frimpong-Manso, Yaw
Active
EXCUSED
73
Fury, Henry
Active
PRESENT
74
Gibbs, Spencer C.
Active
ABSENT
Page 17
75
Gilmore, Charles
At-Large
EXCUSED
76
Giraldo, Gustavo
At-Large
ABSENT
77
Gonzalez-Rivera, Edgardo
Active
ABSENT
78
Gorman, Adam
Active
EXCUSED
79
Granberg, Krystin S.
Active
PRESENT
80
Hafele, Michael
Active
EXCUSED
81
Hamil, Bertha Van Der Bent
Active
ABSENT
82
Han-Powell, Charlene
Active
ABSENT
83
Harper, Charles C.
Active
ABSENT
84
Henderson, Charles
Active
ABSENT
85
Henderson, Katherine R.
Active
ABSENT
86
Hermanus-Rampengan, Alice
Active
EXCUSED
87
Herr, Ernest C.
Active
ABSENT
88
Hill, Lisa
At-Large
ABSENT
89
Hostetter, Mark David
Active
ABSENT
90
Huffman, M. Jean
Active
ABSENT
91
Hundertmark, Nadine
Active
PRESENT
92
Hutto, Rebekah
Active
ABSENT
93
Jackson, Helen E.
At-Large
EXCUSED
94
James, Clayton Anderson
Active
PRESENT
95
Jeong, Gyoung-Ho
At-Large
ABSENT
96
Jervis, Laura
Active
ABSENT
97
Jimenez, Linda
Active
EXCUSED
98
Johnston, Scott Black
Active
EXCUSED
99
Kadisha, Leonard Ilunga
Active
ABSENT
100
Kay, James F.
At-Large
ABSENT
101
Kim, Dong Succ
Active
ABSENT
102
Kim, Eun Joo
Active
EXCUSED
103
Kim, Kum Ock
At-Large
ABSENT
104
King, Douglas
Active
EXCUSED
105
Kiskaddon, Jean
Active
ABSENT
106
Kissoon, Girdharry E.
Active
ABSENT
107
Knight, Carlton
Active
PRESENT
108
Knowles, Louis L.
Active
PRESENT
109
Koenig, Wm. Mark
Active
ABSENT
110
Kopeke, Steven
At-Large
ABSENT
111
Kusterbeck, Richard
Active
ABSENT
Page 18
112
Kwak, Jai Hyuck
Active
ABSENT
113
Kwon, Dae Junn
At-Large
ABSENT
114
Lacey, Diane
Active
PRESENT
115
Lawrence, Thomas L.
At-Large
ABSENT
116
Ledger, Nancy R.
Active
ABSENT
117
Lee, Hyoung Seek
At-Large
ABSENT
118
Lee, Seung Ik
Active
ABSENT
119
Lee, Suk Jong
Active
ABSENT
120
Lee, Yong
At-Large
ABSENT
121
Ligonde, Aqueelah
Active
ABSENT
122
Lim, Nathan
Active
PRESENT
123
Lindvall, Michael L.
Active
PRESENT
124
Loftis, Meredith
Active
ABSENT
125
Louer, Robert C. III
Active
PRESENT
126
Lowry, Boyd B.
Active
EXCUSED
127
Lui, Matthew C.S.
Active
ABSENT
128
MacCallum, C. Lee
Active
ABSENT
129
McCaslin, Sarah
Active
EXCUSED
130
Manas, Megan
Active
EXCUSED
131
Mason-Browne, Carmen
Active
PRESENT
132
Masih, Mukhtiar
Active
ABSENT
133
Matos-Garcia, Gilberto
Active
ABSENT
134
May, Grace
Active
PRESENT
135
Mayhew, Bernard S.
At-Large
ABSENT
136
McCloud, J. Oscar
Active
ABSENT
137
McLeod, Rebecca
Active
ABSENT
138
Meeuswsen, James W.
Active
ABSENT
139
Merlin, Leslie
Active
ABSENT
140
Merryman, William E.
Active
ABSENT
141
Mitchell, Charles B.
Active
ABSENT
142
Moss, Victoria
Active
EXCUSED
143
Neil, Clive E.
Active
PRESENT
144
Nelson, Carl B.
Active
ABSENT
145
Newell, Philip R
Active
EXCUSED
146
Noble, David
Active
ABSENT
147
O'Connor, Patrick H.
Active
PRESENT
148
Oliver, C. Herbert
Active
EXCUSED
Page 19
149
Orr-Harter, Jan
At-Large
ABSENT
150
Pang, Joseph
Active
ABSENT
151
Park, Samuel
Active
EXCUSED
152
Park, Young Yin
Active
PRESENT
153
Parker, Janet
At-Large
ABSENT
154
Patterson, Benjamin
Active
ABSENT
155
Pease, Richard F.
Active
ABSENT
156
Pettis, Jeffrey
Active
EXCUSED
157
Phelps, Stephen
Active
PRESENT
158
Phillips, Donald G.
Active
ABSENT
159
Picon, Victor
At-Large
ABSENT
160
Pindar, William
Active
ABSENT
161
Reed, Roland
At-Large
ABSENT
162
Reese, James F.
Active
EXCUSED
163
Reggio, Cynthia Thia
Active
PRESENT
164
Rheem, In Wham
Active
ABSENT
165
Rhei, Samuel C.K.
At-Large
PRESENT
166
Richardson, James O.
At-Large
EXCUSED
167
Rivera, Daniel
Active
ABSENT
168
Robertson, Cleotha
Active
ABSENT
169
Rosario, Carmen
Active
PRESENT
170
Rosenblum, Carl. D.
Active
ABSENT
171
Rudden, Alyce T.
Active
ABSENT
172
Ruth, Andrew
Active
ABSENT
173
Sandoval, Armando
Active
ABSENT
174
Sanford, Warner
At-Large
ABSENT
175
Santos, Noreen
Active
PRESENT
176
Schult, David
Active
ABSENT
177
Seaman, Carol N.
At-Large
ABSENT
178
Schaeffer, Jill
Active
EXCUSED
179
Shelton, Chris
Active
EXCUSED
180
Shelton, Miriam
At-Large
ABSENT
181
Shoup, Richard W.
Active
ABSENT
182
Shriver, Donald W.
Active
ABSENT
183
Simpson, Douglas
At-Large
ABSENT
184
Sisley, John R.
Active
ABSENT
185
Smith, Christopher
Active
ABSENT
Page 20
186
Smith, Paul
Active
ABSENT
187
Smothers, Andrew
Active
EXCUSED
188
Sobrepena, David
At-Large
ABSENT
189
Sorg, Charles L.
Active
ABSENT
190
Speer, James G.
Active
EXCUSED
191
Stanger, John Russell
Active
EXCUSED
192
Stehlik, Ondrej
Active
EXCUSED
193
Stilwell, Cathy
Active
ABSENT
194
Talbot, Maurena R.
At-Large
ABSENT
195
Talbot, Nancy
Active
EXCUSED
196
Tanios, Sabry
Active
ABSENT
197
Terino, Takako
Active
ABSENT
198
Theoharris, Liz
Active
EXCUSED
199
Thomas, Kenneth J.
Active
PRESENT
200
Thomas, Margaret Orr
Active
PRESENT
201
Tisdale, Nora Tubbs
At-Large
ABSENT
202
Todd, George E.
Active
EXCUSED
203
Tse, Eson
Active
ABSENT
204
Tso, Samson
Active
EXCUSED
205
Twiname, John D.
Active
ABSENT
206
Van Buren, Philip
At-Large
ABSENT
207
Vandersall, Mieke
Active
PRESENT
208
Voelker, Theodore S.
Active
ABSENT
209
Wahlig, Donald
Active
ABSENT
210
Waldron, Lancelot
At-Large
ABSENT
211
Walker, Sylvia T.
Active
ABSENT
212
Walton, Jon M.
Active
EXCUSED
213
Warren, John David
Active
ABSENT
214
Weber, Randolph L.
Active
ABSENT
215
Webster, Douglas
Active
ABSENT
216
Welsh, Denise
Active
PRESENT
217
Welty, Marcel A.
Active
EXCUSED
218
West, Lynne
Active
EXCUSED
219
Wieser, Thomas
Active
ABSENT
220
Williams, Euton E.
Active
PRESENT
221
Williams, G.E.
Active
EXCUSED
222
Wilson Bridges, Flora
Active
PRESENT
Page 21
223
Winbush, Robina
Active
EXCUSED
224
Woodbury, Waldo B.
Active
ABSENT
225
Wootten, J. Perry
Active
EXCUSED
226
Yang, Hi Chul
Active
ABSENT
227
Yang, Samuel
At-Large
EXCUSED
228
Yarru, Errol
Active
ABSENT
229
Yoo, Jesun
At-Large
ABSENT
230
Yoo, Tai Young
Active
ABSENT
231
Zarou, Andrea
Active
ABSENT
Page 22
Ruling Elder Commissioner Attendance - January 27, 2015
BRONX
CHURCH
NAME
STATUS
Hazel Williams
CE
PRESENT
Flourine Ray
CE-ALT
ABSENT
2 Bedford Park
Terri Youn
CE
ABSENT
3 Eastchester
Fredericka Bell-Berti
CE
PRESENT
Dora Johnson
CE-ALT
ABSENT
3 El Buen Pastor
Nydia Murphy
CE
ABSENT
4 Emmanuel Presb/Reform
David Ofori
EE-Chair
EXCUSED
Gifty Addar Yeboah
CE
ABSENT
Samuel Carr
CE
ABSENT
Nana Osei-Nayarko
PE
PRESENT
Rosalie Purvis
CE
ABSENT
Marion Wood
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Mildred McGee
PE
ABSENT
Florence Criscuolo
CE
ABSENT
Joan Garcia
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Daphne Patterson
CE
ABSENT
Daphne Reid
CE-ALT
ABSENT
8 Fort Schuyler
Millicent Stone
CE
PRESENT
9 Fourth
Gloria Vidal
CE
PRESENT
10 Laconia Community
Dorette Winslow
CE
EXCUSED
Beverly Smith
CE-ALT
ABSENT
11 Riverdale
Frances Coppin-Thom
CE
ABSENT
12 San Andres
Celia Robateau
CE
ABSENT
13 Sound View
Amy Beaton
CE
ABSENT
14 St. Augustine
Delores Nelson
CE
ABSENT
Ena Taylor
CE-ALT
ABSENT
1 Beck Memorial
5 Featherbed Lane
6 First of Throggs Neck
7 First of Williamsbridge
Page 23
SIGNATURE
1
15 Tremont
Godfried Oppomg
CE
ABSENT
16 University Heights
Norma McKayle
CE
ABSENT
17 Bay Ridge United Church
Janet Adamski
CE
ABSENT
18 Bedford Central
Wilfred James
CE
PRESENT
19 Bethel Presby Reformed
Raymond Yang
CE
ABSENT
20 Beverly
Geraldine Herrin
CE
ABSENT
21 Church of the Living Christ
Michael Nieves
CE
ABSENT
Osiris Frias
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Chibueze Okorie
CE
ABSENT
Sandra Blue
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Raquel Vidal
CE
PRESENT
Paula Damiani
EE-GC
EXCUSED
Renee Stout
CE
PRESENT
Ted Hickman
EE-Chair
PRESENT
Uda Bradford
CE
PRESENT
Linda Kolts
PE
EXCUSED
26 Flatbush Redeemer
Erlene Wiltshire
CE
ABSENT
27 Fourth Avenue
Rosemarie Napoli
CE
PRESENT
28 Glenmore Avenue
Desiree Pierre
CE
ABSENT
29 Homecrest
Ray Blossom
CE
ABSENT
30 Kingslawn
Vivienne Hobson
CE
ABSENT
Peter Parris
CE
PRESENT
Cecil Holland
CE
PRESENT
Selma Jackson
CE-ALT
PRESENT
32 Memorial
Luis Lugo
CE
ABSENT
33 Redeemer of E. Bklyn
Felipe Rodriquez
CE
PRESENT
34 Siloam
Teresa Snyder
CE
PRESENT
BROOKLYN
22 Church of Gethsemane
23 Church of the Crossroads
24 Duryea
25 First Brooklyn
31 Lafayette
Page 24
2
35 Spanish, First
Anna Ledee
CE
ABSENT
Carlos Ledee
PE
ABSENT
Nelry DeLos Santos
CE
ABSENT
Lillian Rivera
CE
ABSENT
Eneida Ramo
CE-ALT
ABSENT
37 Union Church of Bay Ridge
Carmelo DiBartolo
CE
ABSENT
38 Westminister Bethany
Grace Johnson
CE
ABSENT
39 Zion
Richardo Estrada
CE
ABSENT
Orlando Mario Arias
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Ellsworth Stanton III
CE
PRESENT
Kent McKamy
CE
ABSENT
Christopher M. Mason
CE
ABSENT
Hilda Koehler
CE
EXCUSED
Nancy Hughes
CE-ALT
EXCUSED
James Johnson
CE
ABSENT
Roy Johnston
CE-ALT
ABSENT
CE
PRESENT
Judith Ortiz-Velazquez
CE
ABSENT
Jonathan Chui
CE
ABSENT
San Leong
CE-ALT
PRESENT
Don Jang
EE-CHAIR
PRESENT
Melanie Squillante
CE
PRESENT
April Sandermeyer
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Griffith, Adolfo
EE-CHAIR
PRESENT
Sally Howard
CE
PRESENT
Sibyl Randolph
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Noel Ellison
CMF-PRES
PRESENT
36 Trinity United
MANHATTAN
40 Brick
42 Broadway
43 Central
44 Church of the Good Neighbor Donald Velazquez
45 Chinese, First
46 Church of the Covenant
47 Church of the Master
Page 25
3
Effie Bynum
EE-CHAIR
PRESENT
48 Emmanuel
Laverne Cummings
CE
ABSENT
49 Fifth Avenue
Loretta Azzarone
CE
PRESENT
Lowell Lamb
CE
PRESENT
Brunilda Fernandez
CE
PRESENT
Ena Malone
CE
EXCUSED
Jacky Radifera
CE
PRESENT
Jacquelyn Sapiire
CE
PRESENT
Betty Jones
CE
PRESENT
Reade Ryan
CE
PRESENT
Ryan Tirre
PE
EXCUSED
Glendaly Santos
CE
ABSENT
Lus Orlanda Feliz-Cruz
PE
ABSENT
Emmanuel Goued-Nyayick
EE-GC
PRESENT
Daniel Amoit-Priso
CE
ABSENT
Luis Aguas
CE
ABSENT
Frank Acosta
CE-ALT
ABSENT
William Rodriquez
PE
ABSENT
54 Good Shepherd Faith
John Gingrich
CE
PRESENT
55 Indonesian
Marvela Hermanus
CE
EXCUSED
56 Jan Hus
Jim Nedelka
CE
PRESENT
Gary Ireland
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Josephine McFadden
CE
PRESENT
Sharon Davison
CE
PRESENT
Ronald Fields
EE-Chair
ABSENT
58 Manhattan Cornerstone
Kim Konrad
CE
ABSENT
59 Mt. Morris Ascension
Donald Hinson
CE
ABSENT
William McKensie
CE-ALT
ABSENT
50 First, New York
51 Fort George
52 French Evangelical
53 Ft. Washington Heights
57 Madison
Page 26
4
60 Mt. Washington
Isaac Lester
CE
ABSENT
61 North
Dee Matthews
CE
ABSENT
62 Rendall Memorial
Lisa Borge
CE
PRESENT
63 Rutgers
Bill Falk
CE
PRESENT
Lynn Morris
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Estella Taylor
CE
PRESENT
Derrick McQueen
Mod-Elect
PRESENT
66 Trinity
Cudjoe Segbefia
CE
ABSENT
67 West End
Justina Serlin
CE
ABSENT
68 West Park
Hope DeRogatis
CE
ABSENT
Marsha Flowers
CE-Alt
ABSENT
69 Astoria
Jane Burgess
CE
ABSENT
70 Christ By the Sea
Joyce Adamiszyn
CE
ABSENT
71 Dunton
Janet Pearson
CE
ABSENT
Annie Miller
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Jong Min Lee
CE
ABSENT
Jong Koo Lee
PE
ABSENT
73 First, Queens Village
Phyllis Satchwell
CE
ABSENT
74 First, Far Rockaway
Kenneth Johnson
CE
PRESENT
Diane Hewitt
PE
ABSENT
75 First, Forest Hills
Ian Amritt
CE
ABSENT
76 First, Springfield Gardens
Charles Simeon
CE
ABSENT
77 First in Jamaica
Masih Bhagwan
CE
PRESENT
Dora Grizell
CE-ALT
PRESENT
Alpha Brown
EE-PW
ABSENT
Brunnilda Sanders-Lane
EE-Chair
PRESENT
64 Second
65 St. James
QUEENS
72 Faith
Page 27
5
78 First in Newtown
79 First PC of Flushing
80 Glen Morris
81 Hollis
Ann Redican
CE
ABSENT
Dolores Joseph
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Eleanor Doye
CE
ABSENT
Joseph Karyla
CE-ALT
ABSENT
Rebecca Rudall
CE
PRESENT
Amy Bisnauth
CE
PRESENT
Diana Bartelt
CE
PRESENT
Karla Gittens
CE-ALT
ABSENT
CE
ABSENT
82 House of Hope
83 Korean Central
James Yoo
CE
ABSENT
84 Korean United
Rye Hyun Yung
CE
ABSENT
85 North
Chris Enriquez
CE
ABSENT
Felipe Rodriquez
CE-ALT
ABSENT
86 Ozone Park United
Hilda Ragvir
CE
ABSENT
87 Queens Chinese
James Tse
CE
ABSENT
88 Ridgewood
Arlene Hoffman
CE
EXCUSED
89 St. Albans
James Lawrie
CE
ABSENT
Charles Hendricks
CE
ABSENT
Beatrice Neil
CE-ALT
ABSENT
90 St. Lukes
Jorse Angulo
CE
ABSENT
91 Throop Memorial
Monica Daniels-Osuch
CE
ABSENT
92 United PC of Ridgewood
Mary McGuckin
CE
ABSENT
Linda Simm-Chin
CE-ALT
ABSENT
93 Westminster-Cedar Manor
Robert Ruffin
CE
ABSENT
94 Whitestone First
Laurie Jean Ankersen
CE
EXCUSED
95 Calvary
Dawn Discala
CE
ABSENT
96 Olivet
Chris Peet
CE
ABSENT
STATEN ISLAND
Page 28
6
VISITORS - JANUARY
NAME
CHURCH
Tee Gee Wilson
Rendall Memorial PC
Lloyd Johnson
Mary Riley
Church of the Master
Abbey Adelana
St. James Presbyterian Church
Rhonda Sanchez
Crossroads Presbyterian Church
B.D. John
St. Albans Presbyterian Church
Terri J. Youn
Bedford Park Presbyterian Church
Sevilla Hughes
St. James Presbyterian Church
Christopher Dela Cruz
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
Warner T. Brown
Marcia Hall
Rendall Memorial PC
Kate Monroe
Rendall Memorial PC
Janie Johnson
Rendall Memorial PC
Naomi Koeger
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
Abena Yeboa Djan
Emmanuel Reformed Presbyterian Church
Lydia Tembo
Forest Hills Presbyterian Church
Peter Surgenor
Holmes Camp
Annette Westermark
Newtown Presbyterian Church
Eric C. Toodles
St. Albans Presbyterian Church
Carolyon Terrell
Magadelene Lewis
First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica
Stanley Charles
Joan Corbett
Siloam Presbyterian Church
Peng Leong
First Chinese Presbyterian Church
Susan Fair
Linda Beth Lawson
Emma Weissenstein
Victoria Bulagay
Abraham Ose
Daniel Nicolas
Yiannes Einhuan
Sunday Etsekhaume
Page 29
APPENDIX C
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SESSION RECORDS REVIEW
PRESBYTERY OF NEW YORK CITY
January 27, 2015
For information
The Committee on Session Records Review requests that Clerks of Session present their records
for review, at the latest, by the date of the Presbytery meeting preceding the meeting at which the
committee is mandated by the Standing Rules to report on congregations in their borough. They
may either be sent to the Stated Clerk at the Presbytery office or brought to the Presbytery
meeting. If minutes cannot be submitted on time, the Committee requests a report be sent to our
chair on the problems which need to be resolved before a review can be made; it will attempt to
be helpful in response.
Copies of instructions and the checklist that is to be submitted with Session records have been
distributed. If you do not have them on file, you may request that they be sent by e-mail; contact
the Committee chair. Please note that the original minutes are to be submitted on archival paper,
but it is no longer necessary to submit an additional copy for retention in the office.
Borough
Brooklyn, Staten Island
Queens
Manhattan
Bronx
Date of report
to the Presbytery
May 19, 2015
September 26, 2015
November 17, 2015
March 19, 2016?
Final due date
to the Committee
March 21, 2015
July 25, 2015
September 26, 2015
January 24, 2016?
G-3.0108 of the Book of Order assigns the Presbytery the responsibility to review the procedures
of Sessions to “determine whether the proceedings have been correctly recorded, have been in
accordance with this [PC(USA)] Constitution, have been prudent and equitable, and have been
faithful to the mission of the whole church. It shall also determine whether lawful injunctions of
a higher body have been obeyed.”
For action
The Committee on Session Records Review recommends that:
The minutes of Brick Presbyterian Church be approved without exception (submitted as
pages 1377─2268, September 2010─May 2014).
The minutes of First Presbyterian Church/Manhattan be approved without exception
The minutes of Homecrest Presbyterian Church be approved without exception, with the
requirement that the Clerk of Session certify that they have been preserved on archival paper
(submitted as pages 2293─2068, April 2002─April 2007).
Page 30
The minutes of Laconia Community Presbyterian Church be approved with exception
(submitted as pages 312─361, January 2013─November 2013). The Clerk is asked to provide
full information about each person baptized. There is no indication that public notice of the
congregational meeting was issued in advance, that the budget was approved by the Session
before being reported to the congregational meeting, or that newly elected officers were
appropriately ordained and/or installed.
The minutes of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church be approved with exception. The
committee asks if details of all baptisms, all reception of new members, and all marriages have
been recorded in the minutes and if the Session formally met with the Deacons at least once in
the course of the year.
Margaret Orr Thomas, chair
E-mail to [email protected]
Page 31
AC of Presbytery for Zion PC – Interim Report to Presbytery
January 8, 2015
The Charge to the Administrative Commission for Zion Presbyterian Church is as follows:
To visit the Session of Zion Presbyterian Church on behalf of the Presbytery of New
York City to discuss their stated theological differences with the Presbyterian Church
(USA) and their request to be dismissed to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The
AC, session, and congregation are urged to take advantage of the gifts of individuals
in the presbytery with training in mediation skills as they approach these
conversations.
The AC shall then bring any appropriate recommendations to the presbytery
regarding the congregation’s relationship with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the
records of the session, the real and personal property of the congregation, the
relationship of any teaching elder members of the Presbytery of New York City to the
congregation, and any other matters relevant to the connectional relationship
between the Presbytery of New York City and Zion Presbyterian Church. Membership
of the administrative commission shall be appointed in accordance with Standing
Rule III.I.3.f.
The AC has met six times including once with the Session of Zion PC and once with the
Congregation of Zion PC in a congregational meeting. The AC will hold two hearings in
January at Zion PC on the subject of the Session’s petition to be dismissed from the
PCUSA to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church together with all the properties of the
church. This will be followed by a congregational meeting in February at which a straw
poll on the Session’s petition will be taken. All members of the congregation have been
invited to attend the hearings and ask questions and express their opinions with
provision for members to express their opinions privately to the AC if so desired.
Alistair Drummond (Moderator)
Page 32
APPENDIX D
Executive Presbyter Report to the Presbytery
January 27, 2015
YOUND ADULTS MATTER
The Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program of the PCUSA has approved the action the presbytery took
in September to become a New York City YAV site for four young adults (19-30) for 1 year, beginning in
the fall of 2015. Applications by young adults are due in by February 1,
2015. http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/yav/
THE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED WITH SEVERAL GOALS IN MIND:
• To experience living in intentional Christian community — Whether or not the young adults live
under the same roof, they explore what it means to be a Christian community.
• To focus on spiritual formation — Through the mentorship of site coordinators and fellow
interns, young adults reflect on their experiences and explore their relationship to the church and
their ministry in a broken world.
• To engage young adults in the church’s mission — The church seeks to provide opportunities for
young adults to serve the church and their communities. Young adults experience and develop
leadership within communities of faith. With training and support, they can provide leadership in
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in the ecumenical church.
• To assist YAVs in vocational discernment.
• To be present in communities of need and to facilitate young adults’ engagement in communities
of need.
Thank you for your vision. Pray and support the Administrative Commission, chaired by the Rev. David
Aja-Sigmon, as they prepare the way for these young adults to live and serve among us in NYC.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
Today’s service of worship reminds us of a dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks still
deferred. A year before Dr. King’s death, Presbyterians affirmed these words in the Confession of 1967:
God has created the peoples of the earth to be one universal family. In God’s reconciling love, God
overcomes the barriers between brothers and sisters and breaks down every form of discrimination based
on racial or ethnic difference, real or imaginary. The church is called to bring all people to receive and
uphold one another as persons in all relationships of life: in employment, housing, education, leisure,
marriage, family, church, and the exercise of political rights. Therefore, the church labors for the
abolition of all racial discrimination and ministers to those injured by it. Congregations, individuals, or
groups of Christians who exclude, dominate, or patronize others, however subtly, resist the Spirit of God
and bring contempt on the faith which they profess. (PCUSA, Book of Confessions, 9.44)
More than a movement in the 1960’s, another movement--growing out of the discontent that Black lives
don’t really matter to all Americans, to those who police us, and to the judicial system to which we turn
for equitable justice--has emerged to address this dream deferred and the work we have yet to do as
Presbyterians in our congregations, our city, and our nation. The Committee on Witness for Society and
the World will be bringing to us actions they have taken and ask us to take as well.
I thank all of you who live our Presbytery vision “to promote God’s justice”-- as you took to the streets
and pulpits, wrote letters and had discussions with police and congregants, and wrestled within yourself
and your communities how to pursue God’s beloved community on earth that Jesus proclaimed.
Page 33
In a broken and fearful world
The Spirit gives us courage
to pray without ceasing,
to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,
to unmask idolatries in Church and culture,
to hear the voices of peoples long silenced,
and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
From “A Brief Statement of Faith” (PCUSA, Book of Confessions,10.4)
CONGREGATIONS MATTER
In the former polity there was a wonderful phrase that stated, “Congregations are the missional arms of
the presbytery” - leading people to worship God, to find in Christ grace and redemption, to be empowered
by the Holy Spirit to be ambassadors of reconciliation in homes and communities, the nation and world.
You help people at the door who come to you and help those in countries some of you will never visit. It
is my hope that at some stated meeting of the Presbytery of New York City we can learn the reach of our
96 congregations and 9 fellowships as the missional arms of this presbytery. Maybe May? July?
Toward the end of valuing our relationships and mission, the General Cabinet met December 6, 2014 for
a day-long retreat with the Rev. Dr. Steve Yamaguchi at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. We have a
written presbytery Strategic Plan still to be implemented. We have some affirmations of the Lombard
Mennonite Mediation process working their way out among us and others yet to be fully affirmed. We
have other proposals to help us be a body of Christ that desires to work with all its members. These were
shared by the planning team with Dr. Yamaguchi. Dr. Yamaguchi shared with us a history of presbyteries
being confederacies, corporations, and regulatory agencies that have run their course. Working with Los
Ranchos presbytery he helped “flip the presbytery” so that when it gathered it was more about
relationships and mission and less about business and control. He modeled for us that leadership is about
listening well and that we still have wounds unhealed in our presbytery. I would like to set up some
listening sessions in our boroughs (soon!) to hear from congregational leaders what matters to you that
you want to address in fulfilling God’s hope for you, your community, and the world. I will work with
General Cabinet to see how the year before us might truly be one where our congregations matter.
Toward the end of valuing some things that matter to congregations, mark two dates on your calendars:
February 28: Leadership Development Day, Brick Presbyterian Church
April 10-11: Conversations with SanDawna Ashley, Vocations Office of the General Assembly.
The Committee on Ministry and Nurture will be providing more details about how the Leadership
Development Day can equip church members and officers to lead their churches and serve their
communities. Leadership is more than knowing the Book of Order; it is about listening for God’s longing
for your church and the ministry that Christ makes possible. Leadership is about sustaining our
communities by how we live together as brothers and sisters with those in church and neighborhood alike.
Leadership is building new communities of faith whether they be more traditional models of church,
alternative models, immigrant fellowships, or multicultural congregations. Leadership is knowing how to
hold on to what we believe in the face of false ideologies and horrendous evils.
The Rev. Dr. E. Stanley Ott, will be our keynote speaker for Leadership Resource Day. Stan has
worked with clusters of congregations in many presbyteries to help them over a three-year period with
their witness, worship, fellowship, discipleship, leadership, ministry mobilization, and generosity. He has
helped pastors become better leaders of their congregations. It is possible, if this presbytery has the will
and the generosity of giving, to invite Dr. Ott to undertake a three-year commitment with us. It is also
possible to draw upon Teaching Elders and Commissioned Ruling Elders among us to assist us.
Page 34
Last February, due to illness, the Rev. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley, was unable to be our keynote
speaker at the Leadership Development Day. She is coming back: Coming to talk with committees of the
presbytery (as CPLM, CPM, COM, CMN), candidates, commissioned ruling elders, search committees,
churches without pastoral leaders, and teaching elders about congregational leadership and leadership
models to serve congregations for which she has denominational leadership oversight. We will provide
more details about the locations and times of schedules events for the weekend of April 10 and 11.
New Ministries in the Mainline
A two-year study of 260 new ministries in six mainline denominations (including PCUSA) has been
completed and the study identified three major types of ministries: traditional, alternative, and immigrant.
From a trove of wisdom unearthed, eight insights can prove useful for new ministries and existing ones.
See the report:
http://progressiverenewal.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/New-Congregations-Narrow-casting_Final.pdf
TEACHING AND RULING ELDER PRAYER CONCERNS
Continue to uphold Teaching Elder Kate Dunn whose father-in-law died before Christmas and Teaching
Elder Kellie Anderson-Picallo whose mother-in-law died before Christmas. Ruling Elder and Candidate
Beatrice Neil also died before Christmas, and Ruling Elder Sally Howard’s husband died at Christmas
time. Prayer concerns are put on my prayer board at the office.
Some of you may not have learned that Teaching Elder James Belle resigned his position at Church of the
Master and concluded service there December 31, 2014 and resigned as Committee on Ministry chair
January 6, 2015. He has since relocated to North Carolina. A new chair will be elected according to the
new changes in the presbytery’s standing rules.
GOD MATTERS (A Prayer for Epiphany--for some, a season between Christmas and Lent)
God of gold, we seek your glory:
The richness the transforms our drabness into color,
and brightens our dullness with vibrant light;
your wonder and joy at the heart of all life.
God of incense, we offer you our prayer:
Our spoken and unspeakable longings, our questioning of truth,
our searching for your mystery deep within.
God of myrrh, we cry out to you in our suffering:
The pain of all our rejections and bereavements,
our baffled despair at underserved suffering,
our rage at continuing injustice.
And we embrace you, God-with-us,
in our wealth, in our yearning, in our anger and loss.
Jan Berry, Bread of Tomorrow: Prayers for the Church Year, ed. Janet Morley (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis
Books, 1992). 51.
Page 35
APPENDIX E
Report of the Stated Clerk
January 27, 2015, Stated Meeting
One of the more important elements of the updates to the Standing Rules approved by the presbytery
last fall is a section on “Provisions for Electronic Meetings.” In this day and age when conference
calls, videoconferencing, and other such technologies can be engaged at limited cost on a handheld
device that is nearly ubiquitous, the guidelines we set up for how to do our work electronically are
extremely important. These provisions help to ensure that all voices are heard and that no one is left
out because s/he is unable to access the necessary technology. Ultimately, they help us to fulfill the
discussion and discernment that we as Presbyterians believe guides us as we “seek together to find
and represent the will of Christ” (F-3.0204).
I encourage everyone to read these provisions for electronic meetings in our Standing Rules carefully,
and I have attached them to the end of my report for your reference. They give some very specific
rules for how we gather when we work together electronically that help to ensure that everyone
involved in the process is given time to prepare for the meeting, equal voice during the meeting, and
proper documentation of the actions taken along the way.
Beyond these specific rules laid out in the Standing Rules, I want to suggest three other important
guidelines for electronic meetings. First, especially in a presbytery with geographic proximity such as
ours, electronic meetings should not be the only way we work together. As much of a techie as I am, I believe
there is something lost in our relationships when those we work with are nothing more than
disembodied voices on a phone or even moving faces on a screen. The actions we take in the
presbytery and in our churches are about more than just getting business done—they are about seeing
Christ in one another as we discern the will of God for the mission of the church, and that is best done
when we see each other face to face.
Second, as we adjust to having some conversations electronically, we may need to do a bit of selfexamination to be aware of our tendencies in these gatherings. Although we may be on a phone for a
conference call in the same way that we might catch up with distant family and friends, a working
conversation with more than one other person requires us to think differently about our interactions.
Call participants and especially leaders should be aware of moments when some seem to be speaking
too much or not at all so as to ensure that all have equal opportunity to speak.
Finally, electronic meetings are still time set apart. All electronic meetings of presbytery entities must
open and close with prayer, and I encourage you to use this as a reminder to step out of the other
distractions of life and into a meeting mindset. Move to a quiet place (the others on the call will
appreciate this, too!) and put away materials that are not needed for the meeting. Try to stay focused
on the discussion on the call in the same way you would in an in-person meeting.
As electronic meetings take a more formal role in our life together, I hope and pray that they will
embody the spirit of deliberation and discernment that are so important in our Presbyterian heritage
while also making it easier for us to work together in our busy lives. May the Spirit connect us to one
another, whether we are in the same room or find ourselves linked across many miles of wire and
fiber!
Page 36
Office Matters
Office Hours
I am now in the presbytery office on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you prefer to contact me by phone, you
may reach me at (212) 870-2221 ext. 2 and leave a message if I am not in the office. I do my best to
check and respond to messages at least once daily Monday through Thursday. However, the fastest
and most reliable way to reach me and receive a response is often via email to [email protected], as I
read and respond to email several times a day. I try to keep Fridays free of church and presbytery
work, so I appreciate your understanding if you contact me on Friday and do not receive a response
from me until Monday.
Statistics and Recordkeeping Matters
Statistical Reporting
Clerks of session are reminded to submit their annual statistical reports by the deadlines below.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Necrology Report Due (no extensions!!)
Annual Statistical Report Deadline
Pastoral Terms of Call Deadline
Clerk’s Annual Questionnaire Deadline
The handbook for completing these statistical reports is now available online in English, Spanish, and
Korean. Paper copies will not be sent from the presbytery office. If you need any assistance with
completing these reports, please be in touch with me well before the deadline.
Presbytery Directory
Paper copies of the new presbytery directory will be available at registration at the meeting on
January 27. Thanks to all of you for your patience as we moved to a new database system in the office
that has been used to generate the directory! If you see any errors, please send them to me via email to
[email protected] or submit them through the online system at www.directory.nycpresbytery.org. An
updated directory reflecting these changes and newly-elected committee membership will be
published in July 2015.
The electronic version of the directory, with the most current contact information on all persons listed
in our database system, is always available at www.directory.nycpresbytery.org. Since this online
edition is open to all presbyters, a PDF version will not be made available at this time.
Judicial Matters
Adelana et al. v. Presbytery of New York City
On December 1, 2014, I received a remedial complaint filed against the Presbytery of New York City
with the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Northeast by several ruling and teaching
elders, alleging irregularities in actions taken by the presbytery at its November 18, 2014, meeting.
Following D-6.0302 and the Standing Rules of the presbytery, the Moderator, Moderator-Elect, and
Chair of the General Council have selected a committee of counsel to represent the presbytery in this
Page 37
matter: Teaching Elder Susan Friedl, Teaching Elder Stephen Phelps, and Ruling Elder Brunhilda
Sanders-Lane. This committee will represent the presbytery in this matter and has filed the
presbytery’s initial response with the synod. They have also prepared a report with a
recommendation for action that is included in this call packet.
Presbytery Meetings and Entities
Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines
Please note the following dates of stated meetings of the presbytery through 2016 and associated
material submission deadlines (recently updated!). Any church interested in hosting a presbytery
meeting should be in touch with me. We need invitations for all the meetings shown below!
Stated Meeting
Location
Materials Due by 5 P.M. on:
Saturday, March 21, 2015*
Madison Avenue, Manhattan
Friday, March 6, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
St. James, Manhattan
Friday, May 1, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
invitation needed!
Friday, July 10, 2015
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Holmes Camp
Friday, September 11, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
invitation needed!
Friday, October 30, 2015
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
invitation needed!
Friday, January 8, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016**
invitation needed!
Friday, March 25, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
invitation needed!
Friday, April 29, 2016
Saturday, July 23, 2016
invitation needed!
Friday, July 8, 2016
Saturday, September 24, 2016
invitation needed!
Friday, September 9, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
invitation needed!
Friday, October 28, 2016
* This meeting date was adjusted from the usual last Saturday in March date by action of presbytery on
January 28, 2014.
** This meeting date is adjusted under the Standing Rule VI.B.1. due to the date of Easter.
Presbytery Meeting Pre-Registration
We are migrating to a new online preregistration system for this meeting that is linked to our online
directory/database system. Due to this transition, we will no longer be accepting online payments by
credit card. However, we continue to request that presbyters preregister online so that we can give
our host congregations a more accurate number of persons to expect for meals, speed the on-site
registration process by having pre-printed nametags for those who preregister, and make the process
of requesting an excused absence easier. If you have questions or comments about this preregistration
process, please be in touch with me.
Meeting Packet Mailing
The call packet for this meeting is being made available to presbyters on the presbytery website and
mailed to those teaching elders and ruling elder commissioners who requested a paper copy from the
Stated Clerk. A limited number of paper copies of the packet will be available at the meeting, so if
possible please bring a paper or electronic copy of the packet to the meeting. We hope to improve our
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stewardship of our limited financial and environmental resources by phasing out all remaining
mailings of the call packet by the end of 2015.
Presbytery Committees and Entities
Administrative Commission Report
The Administrative Commission to ordain Deborah Mahaney as a Teaching Elder led the service of
ordination on Sunday, December 21, 2014, at Broadway Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.
Committee Vacancies
Teaching Elders Edgardo Gonzalez and John Russell Stanger have submitted their resignations from
the Committee on Congregational Ministry and Nurture.
Teaching Elders James Belle and Samuel Park have submitted their resignations from the Committee
on Ministry.
The chair of the Committee on Standing Rules and Overtures has informed the Stated Clerk that the
following persons have missed two consecutive meetings of the committee without excuse and so are
presumed to have resigned (Standing Rule VI.A.12.): Teaching Elders Brad Crump, Peter Newell, and
David Schult and Ruling Elder Gladys Ortiz.
These committee vacancies have been also reported to the Committee on Nominations so that they
might bring nominees to fill these positions.
Synod Commissioner Term Adjustment/Correction
It has come to the attention of the Stated Clerk and the Committee on Nominations that Ruling Elder
Adolfo Griffith’s term as commissioner to the Synod of the Northeast was improperly calculated. In
2009, he was elected to a three-year term as a commissioner to the synod in the class of 2012, as is the
usual practice of the presbytery. The minutes of the January 31, 2012, meeting of the presbytery that
record his reelection indicate that he was elected to a two-year term and give no explanation for the
different length of this term. The Stated Clerk and Committee on Nominations believe that this is an
error. Therefore, it would be appropriate for the presbytery to consider the following motion to
correct this situation:
to amend the minutes of the January 31, 2012, stated meeting of the presbytery (p. 9813) to
state that the election of Ruling Elder Adolfo Griffith as commissioner to the Synod of the
Northeast was to the class of 2015, ending December 31, 2015.
Rev. C. Anderson James
Stated Clerk
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Provisions for Electronic Meetings
from the PNYC Standing Rules, as amended September 27, 2014
1) Electronic meetings may be held when the General Cabinet or other entity acting on
behalf of the Presbytery must conduct business that is time sensitive and in need of
action before the next traditional meeting, or when the cost of a traditional meeting is
not justified for the business at hand when electronic alternatives are available.
2) Electronic meetings are permissible only if every member of the General Cabinet,
committee or other Presbytery entity has access to the technology that allows
participation in the meeting.
3) Electronic meetings must provide for simultaneous audio communication among all
participants in order to allow for discussion of the issue being considered.
Collaborative technologies such as web-based Go To Meeting and Skype,
conference calls, and interactive video teleconferences fit the necessary
requirements for maintaining the deliberative character of meetings held in
accordance with the most recent edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
4) Only the chairperson or moderator of the General Cabinet, committee, or other
Presbytery entity may call an electronic meeting and may do so upon the request of
three members.
5) Notice of an electronic meeting shall be given by the chair or moderator of the
General Cabinet, committee, or other Presbytery entity at least 3 days before the
meeting and shall include the purpose of the meeting. Instructions on how to
participate technologically shall accompany the call for the meeting.
6) A quorum for an electronic meeting shall be a majority of members of the General
Cabinet, committee, or entity of the Presbytery and shall be declared at the
beginning of the meeting.
7) Just as in a traditional meeting, electronic meetings shall begin and close with
prayer.
8) The same rules regarding participation apply in electronic meetings as in traditional
ones: the body may but is not obligated to grant the privilege of the floor to a guest,
who may not vote or speak to an issue once debate closes. A guest in an electronic
meeting is someone who is not a member of the General Cabinet or committee.
9) Minutes of the proceedings shall be recorded and added to the minutes record.
10) Motions shall be processed in the same manner as in a traditional meeting. The
chair shall also give careful consideration to technological issues that might impact a
person’s ability to participate fully and give opportunity for adjustments before
business is taken up. Before a vote is taken or consent measured, the chair will also
determine whether any members are no longer present due to a technological
disruption.
11) The chair shall give attention to ensuring that all persons are included in the
discussion and have the capability of hearing and participating fully in the meeting.
12) When e-mail is used for sharing information and coming to consensus on a matter,
the resulting decision shall be confirmed or rejected by vote at the next meeting of
any entity of the presbytery.
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APPENDIX F
Report of the Committee of Counsel in Adelana et al. v. PNYC
January 27, 2015
On December 1, 2014, the Stated Clerk received a remedial action filed with the
Synod of the Northeast Permanent Judicial Commission alleging irregularities in the
actions of the Presbytery of New York City at its November 18, 2014, stated meeting
in the dissolution of the former Administrative Commission for Central Presbyterian
Church and the appointment of a new Administrative Commission. This Committee
of Counsel was appointed under the process of Standing Rule IV.I.3.e. and consists of
Ruling Elder Brunhilda Sanders-Lane and Teaching Elders Susan Friedl and Stephen
Phelps.
The Committee of Counsel has reviewed the complaint, the accompanying request
for a stay of enforcement of this action, and the initial findings of the moderator,
vice-moderator, and clerk of the Synod PJC regarding the preliminary questions
found at D-6.0305. On January 12, 2015, we filed the required response on behalf of
the presbytery with the Stated Clerk of the Synod of the Northeast.
The initial findings of the Synod PJC leadership indicate that they believe that this
matter can be resolved without a full trial if the presbytery makes modifications to
the charge of the Administrative Commission. After review and discussion, the
Committee of Counsel brings the following motion for the presbytery’s
consideration in hopes of resolving this matter.
The Committee of Counsel recommends that Presbytery amend the charge of
the Administrative Commission for Central Presbyterian Church adopted at
the November 18, 2014, stated meeting by inserting the following at the
beginning of that which was previously adopted:
To fulfill the Presbytery’s responsibilities under G-4.0207 to determine
if there is a schism within the congregation of Central Presbyterian
Church by reviewing the records of previous conversations with
representatives of the congregation by entities of the Presbytery and
engaging in any other conversations it deems appropriate, then
reporting its decision to the Presbytery.
If the commission finds that there is schism within the congregation of
Central Presbyterian Church, it shall determine if sufficient efforts have
been made on behalf of the Presbytery to seek reconciliation within the
congregation or division into separate congregations of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) under the provisions of G-4.0207. If such
efforts are deemed unsuccessful, it shall determine on behalf of the
Presbytery if one of the factions is entitled to the property of the
congregation because it is the true church within the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.).
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If the commission determines that there is not a schism within the
congregation of Central Presbyterian Church, it has the authority, if
appropriate, to proceed with the charge approved by the Presbytery on
November 18, 2014, specifically “To negotiate, finalize and execute on
behalf of the Presbytery an equitable settlement agreement to allow for
the dismissal of Central Presbyterian Church to the Evangelical
Presbyterian Church. Such agreement shall address disposition of the
assets, receivables, records, real and personal property, intangible
property, and name of the congregation.”
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APPENDIX G
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COMMISSION
FOR
THE CHURCH OF THE MASTER
The members of the commission were appointed by the Moderator and Vice
Moderator after March 2014 Presbytery meeting.
The members of the SARC are Ruling Elder Sharon M. Davison, Chair, Teaching Elder
Clark Bradley, and Ruling Elder Charles Ojerholm. Elder Ojerholm resigned from the
SARC as it was finishing its work for personal reasons.
The SARC was charged with reviewing the finances of The Church of the Master in
an effort to determine why the church was having difficulties paying its bills
including the Pastor’s salary and the Board of Pension fees.
Additionally, the SARC was charged with releasing a portion of a grant which the
Committee on Ministry had authorized for help with the payment of Board of
Pension fees.
The SARC began its work by requesting the financial records for The Church of the
Master and any affiliated entities. The SARC was aware that The Church of the
Master had entered into a real estate transaction that resulted in the building of a
co-operative apartment on the church’s property and the renovation of the
sanctuary.
While the SARC was conducting its review the Executive Presbyter contacted us on
several occasions requesting the SARC authorize the release of the grant approved
for the assistance in the payment of the Board of Pension. The SARC agreed to the
release of the funds after the Pastor announced his resignation but requested that
the Session make a contribution to the Presbytery’s fund from which the grant was
made.
The documents were received over the course of the Summer and early Fall. The
SARC reviewed the documents and made determinations based upon this review. A
list of questions was created and the Session was contacted with a request to meet
with four groups within the church: i) the Facilities and Development Council, ii) the
Budget Committee, iii) the Board of Trustees and iv) the Session. These meetings
took place on December 18, 2014.
As a result of our review and meetings the SARC found the following:
1. The Church of the Master granted a 99 year land lease to the co-operative
apartment on its property. Based upon this lease the church receives four payments
a year. The amount escalates each year and presently is $200,151 for 2014. These
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funds are placed in the James Robinson Foundation and are designated for the
renovation of the church property.
2. The Facilities and Development Committee oversees the funds in the James
Robinson Foundation.
3. The Church budget is set each year by the Budget Committee. The budget is
submitted to the Session for approval. However, there is not a fully functioning
stewardship program. In fact much of the money comes from the various
committees within the church, who raise money from their constituencies. Of the
money given to the church a small percentage is actually given for the day to day
expenses.
4. The Board of Trustees oversee the payment of bills.
5. The Session has no authority over the monies from the ground lease.
After reviewing the documents and meeting the groups in December the SARC has
the following recommendations:
1) That the Session develops a process for the handling of the funds from the ground
lease that provides for the ongoing operation of the church and the development
of the facilities. Once that process is developed hold a congregational meeting to
inform the congregation.
2) Delay the implementation of the final Phase of the construction project until the
Session has developed the process for handling the monies from the ground lease
and divert the “Ground Lease” payments to the “Current Giving” account (general
operating fund) of COTM until the following three objectives have been met: a)
Rev. Belle’s salary, pension and legitimate expenses (“reimbursables”) have been
fully remunerated; b) all church bills are current; and c) the church’s “reserve”
fund reaches $100,000.
We also recommend that the Presbytery authorize the SARC to meet with the
Committee on Ministry (or its representatives) to discuss some of the documents
and comments that we have considered in preparing this report. We would ask that
the SARC be dismissed after its meeting with the Committee on Ministry.
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APPENDIX H
Report of the General Cabinet
Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of New York City
January 27, 2015
The General Cabinet convened for its monthly meeting on January 13, 2014 and approved
the following action.
For Action by the Presbytery
I. T h e General Cabinet Subcommittee on Nominations places in nomination Ruling Elder
Terri Youn for the Committee On Nominations.
The following are Information to the Presbytery:
I. A P P R O V E D MOTIONS
• A motion was made, seconded and it was voted to approve St. James Presbyterian Church as
the location for the May 19, 2015, stated meeting of the presbytery.
The General Cabinet monthly meeting to be held on December 9, 2014 was cancelled due to
inclement weather.
The General Cabinet convened for its monthly meeting on November 11, 2014 and submits
the the following for Information to the Presbytery:
I. G U E S T INTRODUCTION
There was an introduction to of guest, Abusa (pastor)Tibias Boloma, the General Secretary
of the Synod of Harare CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian). Ron Fields Chair of
CWSW made the introduction and Abusa Boloma spoke to the General Cabinet about the
Synod of Harare CCAP.
RETREAT PLANNING
The Executive Presbyter updated the General Cabinet about its upcoming retreat
planned for Saturday, December 6, 2014 at John Jay College.
APPROVED MOTIONS
• A motion was made, seconded and it was voted to approve the following motion:
The General Cabinet requests the Board of Trustees finds sufficient funds for the
General Cabinet Retreat to take place on December 6, 2014.
The General Cabinet requests the Board of Trustees finds sufficient funds for the
General Cabinet Retreat to take place on December 6, 2014.
• A motion was made, seconded and it was voted to approve the invitation from
Holmes Presbyterian Camp to host the September 26, 2015 Presbytery meeting.
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That Ronald Fields, chair of CWSW be asked to take on the task of gathering
people to discuss how we can develop a missional relationship with the church in
Madagascar, and that he include not only CWSW but also the planning group of
Rev. Lala's visit in his deliberations.
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GENERAL CABINET RETREAT
HAND OUT
Date: Saturday, December 6 9:30 am 5 : 0 0 pm (at latest) l u n c h will be included
Place: John Jay College of Criminal Justice [conference room]
(enter on 524 West 59th St, a few blocks west of Columbus Circle)
Facilitator: The Rev. Dr. Steve Yamaguchi, former Presbytery leader from Los Ranchos
Presbytery ( s e e handout)
Invited:
2 reps from every entity represented on Cabinet, all at-large members,
Elected officers on Cabinet, ex officio staff (EP, SC, Treasurer),
Synod moderator (Thia Reggio) and GA vice-moderator(Larissa Kwong-Abazia),
Two Young Adults: Frances Thom (former synod YAAD, now Synod commissioner)
(one pending), + Youth Coordinator (Lydia Tembo)
Focus:
I f the Presbytery of NYC were to transform into a more missional and relational
body,can we imagine together what it might look like? What next steps would be ahead of
us?
Homework:
Two Readings written by our Facilitator
1. Historical summary of how presbyteries have shaped themselves and what Los Ranchos
Presbytery chose to do
2. Presentation this year at the GA Moderator's Conference: " From the Palace to the
Street"
Background Preparation:
The planning team o f Grace Bowen, Tina Serlin, Derrick McQueen, David Ofori, Krystin
Granberg and I have met twice to discuss what our focus, facilitator, location, possible flow of
the day, and what could go wrong. We chose an outside facilitator who is Presbyterian, knows
presbytery level work in a racially diverse context, and has put riFOG into practice at the
presbytery level. We have one more conference call with our facilitator, with whom we spoke
briefly yesterday. We will need to do some introductions at this retreat and model being
relational as we have a wider number of persons invited—up to 44.
Among the things that could go wrong are: a paralysis of analysis that keeps us stuck in the past,
getting caught up in "our problems" without being willing to transform who we are, letting a
particular view or voice or report dominate and/or divide but not collectively motivate us, not
modeling in the flow o f the day being relational and missional, attendees not doing their
homework readings or showing up, and no follow up to this retreat.
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Presbytery of New York City — General Cabinet Retreat
December 6, 2014
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City
Notes from Facilitator—Steve Yamaguchi,
Dean of Students at Fuller Theological Seminary,
Former Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Los Ranchos
Leadership Begins with Listening
What do leaders do? Some young people said, "they tell people what to do"
Leaders must speak, but first, they must listen_
Dr. Scott Cormode, Academic Dean, Fuller Seminary: "Leadership Begins with Listening"
Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles, Ch. IV, "Turning Eyes into Ears"
When Reading, I am in control. When Listening, I must submit to the reading.
Listen to Scripture. Hear all of Philippians. Read the entire letter at one sitting.
Pray with Psalm 90
Sing: Holy, Holy, Holy.
Read all of Philippians.
Just listen. Not to discuss or analyze. Listen.
Let the Psalms pray for us. Use Psalm 23
Listening requires practice.
Peterson: we have fallen out of practice since Print Culture has taken over (Gutenberg)
We need training in listening. Practice, practice, practice.
We'll talk about training.
First I want to listen before a s s u m e anything about you as PNYC.
I have been listening to many people, and you are interesting! People have many opinions about
you. But I want to listen to you.
When we don't listen, we fill in the gaps on our own.
We ATTRIBUTE things rather than learn them.
Misattribution is the primary impediment in cross-cultural interaction. - Duane Elmer
e.g. 1983, post-Vincent Chinn for me. Driving through Detroit. Flurry of Anti-Asian violence that
year. Others misattributed things to Asian faces. I misattributed things to white faces.
It was painful, and terrifying, and anxious.
So, let's listen.
What in the papers prompted questions for you?
Training: W e default to our training.
YouTube: Default to our Training: hftps://www.youtube.comlwatch?v=XiovOzJGHXU
These girls were trained to read scripture well so it could be heard well.
(see Powerpoint; watch Micah 6 video)
YouTube: Girls reading Micah 6: https://www‘youtube.comiwatch?v=9TrTUdaaFs
Polity Training - like Ballet - (cf PowerPoint)
Beginners stay in the center of stage;
Experts learn to dance to the edge without fear or danger. (Fools fall off the edge.)
Steve Yamaguchi - Notes, Dec. 6, 2014
Retreat for the General Cabinet, Presbytery of New York City
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2
Mentor & Hero James Foster Reese, told us at the Racial Ethnic Seminarians Consultation at
Pawling, NY, in 1983: "Learn your polity." You have to be an expert if you want to make a
difference.
If you are not an expert, the loudest voices and the ignorant bullies will have their way.
You have to counter their bluster with the rule, with fact and truth.
You must know the rules expertly to know where you can stretch them.
e.g. Grace Presbyterian Church, Paramount: I was new pastor. Session needed training.
I told them of my dad embarrassed at Denver U
He vowed to train us at table manners so we could avoid embarrassment.
I told them that they should be the best trained elders in the PC(USA). There was no excuse not
to be. And so we worked on it. They became empowered to lead. (They even got a resolution
passed by the General Assembly.) They were trained to make a difference.
e.g. Keith Geckeler, new Stated Clerk, dance to the edge of the stage
Knowing the rules. Stretching the rules.
You have to know them expertly in order to stretch them to the edge without breaking them.
The "Flipping the Presbytery" video: https://www.youtube.corn/watch?v=lewiBMzpN8E
• More Videos about the Flipping: https://www.youtube.comiuser/LRPtvOdyssey
• About the overall Presbytery Change Process: http://www.losranchos.orgiabout3/odyssey/the-odvssepadventure/
How does your presbytery use Presbyterian Polity? Like the beginning dancer, or the
expert ballerina?
What did you think of the Book of Order citations about:
mission
conectedness
openness?
Where DO they characterize PNYC and/or your congregation?
Where would you like them MORE to characterize you?
To get there, you have hurdles & Challenges.
What kind of training does PNYC need?
You have strengths and strong characteristics which you describe as both Good and Bad.
e.g. Many different kinds of people: Good: Diversity. Bad: Division.
Stories of Good and Bad Neighbors:
• Bob Fletcher, htto://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/usibob-fletcher-dies-at-101-savedfarms-of-interned-japanese-americans.html?
• my Ojichan's family, giving the farm to Pidoro
• Kimi Kawai's neighbors in Pasadena—watched their house for them during the war.
Lunch break
Need for Listening
The most important training needed is not polity for the sake of being polity experts.
The most important training is for listening.
This does not necessarily require outside paid trainers.
Some coaching can help, but it is a discipline we need to learn for ourselves., like a
physical trainer cannot do the exercise for you, but they can point you in the right direction,
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keep you from hurting yourself by overexertion or bad technique, and can keep you from
wasting your time on fruitless, old-fashioned exercises that don't really work.
Training in Listening is one of the most important skills I think PNYC needs.
• Listening to God
• Listening to One Another, and
• Listening to the City.
Need for Healing.
Story of learning to Depend on God.
This Pastor finds his way to 12 Step Recovery.
Healing Begins with Surrender.
Your leaders asked for my outside perspective.
You look like gifted, but wounded people.
You look like proud, but shamed people.
You look like you need deep healing,
healing that is more than human doing.
You need supernatural healing, like our nation, like our world.
Where do you see the need for healing in PNYC?
What resources do you have for helping to get healed?
What is MISSIONAL?
Missions! - a church that exists as part of God's mission into the world, not existing primarily to
support it's internal programs and budgets.
It's being the presence of Christ in a not-Christian world.
It is post-establishment.
Our old training is establishment.
We need new training for the streets.
Stories:
God Blesses as Presbytery Takes Some Risks:
"Not Church" w/ Erin Dunigan
(Ask the Not Church people "What do you think of Presbyterians?" Answer: creative,
flexible, open-minded, spiritual)
YouTube of Not Church https://www.youtube.corn/watch?v=134tquWdk iw
"Not Church" website http://not-church.org/
TIME cover story: http://www.losranchos.orgANp-content/uploads/Time-March-122012-10-Ideas-4-The-Nones-Erin-Dunigan.pdf
Erin Dunigan's website: http://www.edunny.com/
News story: http://www.onethousandone.org/News/1001-News/A-different-kind-ofdiscipleshipaspx
RV Park Ministry w/ Tamara John
Website: http://www.tamarajohn.comiTamaraJohn/Bio.html
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RVRevIamaraJohn
1001 website video: http://www.onethousandone.org/Insoire/Stories/Hope-for-LifeChapelaspx
New Hope Presbyterian Church w/Chineta Goodjoin
Website: http://www.mynewhooepres.orgi
1001 website video: http://www.onethousandone.org/Inspire/Stories/New-Hope.aspx
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News Story: http://www.onethousandone.orgiNewsil 001-News/A-song-of-New-Hope.aspx
(What is Presbyterian Worship? - spontaneity!)
I have Presbyterian Worship Credentials, e.g. 1990-93 Editorial Consultant to Book of Common
Worship, 1998-2000 Designer of exemplary General Assembly worship (2000, Long Beach, cf
Office of Theology & Worship), 2013 consulting group for current proposed redesign of the
"Directory for Worship" in the Book of Order.
AND I love spontaneity within the framework of Reformed, Presbyterian Worship.
I can dance to the edge of the stage because I know the rules.
New Hope's worship is very Presbyterian.
But to the untrained eye, to the ritual and rule bully with a simplistic understanding and formulaic
application of the rules, New Hope does NOT look Presbyterian — it looks wild and undisciplined.
New Hope Worship is both wild and free, as is the Holy Spirit, and it is also very Presbyterian.
RESOURCES FOR STARTING NEW THINGS: 1001 WORSHIPPING COMMUNITIES
Website: http://www.onethousandone.omi
Excellent Staff:
Vera White, Associate for 1001 New Worshipping Communities„ Vera.Whiteg pcusa.orq,
(502) 569-5261
Shannon Kiser, Mission Catalyst for the East, 1001:
http:/Mww.presbyinnovate.comittleasticl rbf, (703) 444-3528
would love for everyone of your churches to engage the world and your neighborhoods in
creative, wild and free ways.
My thinking shaped by explorations into the Fresh Expressions movement which began with the
Church of England but was from the beginning an ecumenical movement that is now
international, including our Presbyterian relatives in the Church of Scotland.
This also helped shape the PC(USA)'s 1001 New Worshipping Communities movement.
What will you do going forward to be better trained in:
• Listening
• Healing
• Missionai, outward directedness
Do you want to do this?
If you are going to be leaders, it must start with you.
And you can't just tell people what to do.
Leadership Begins with Listening.
CLOSING:
Read: Psalm 127
Sing: Spirit of the Living God
(individuals can offer prayers of: Thanks, Confession)
[HEAR a PARDON]
Petition/Intercession
Sing to close: Spirit of the Living God
Benediction
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"LEADERSHIP BEGINS W I T H LISTENING"
A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE CHAIR
(A F O R M OF MISSIONAL, RELATIONAL & POLYCENTRIC JOURNEY)
On December 6,2014, the General Cabinet was honored with the presence of the Rev.
Dr. Steve Yamaguchi, Dean of Students at Fuller Theological Seminary. He lead the
General Cabinet and representatives of the various committees of the Presbytery, during
our retreat. This event was hosted at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, in New York
City.
The Retreat facilitator's theme" Leadership Begins with Listening" echoed well with the art
of creating a missional culture which is more than just adding some outward programs to
the church's structure. I n this article, I wish to share my perspective on the art of
integrating missional and relational strategies in a polycentric (Libutu concept) leadership.
Creating a missional culture goes to the heart and identity of God, to who we are, and to
who we are becoming.
When we read the Scriptures, we learn that it is God's mission to set things right in a
broken world and restore them to their intended purpose. The church exists to fulfill God's
mission, and when we participate in God's mission we become living signs of God's
intended future for the world, bringing glory to God. In other words, missions exist because
God is a missionary God. And a church that is not on a mission is either
Not yet or no longer a church, or it is only a dead church itself in need of renewal. Creating
a missional culture helps the church live out her calling to be a sign of the Kingdom,
pointing people to the reality beyond what they can see, a foretaste of the kingdom where
they grow to love one another as Christ loves them, and an instrument In the hands of God
to bring more of heaven to earth in concrete ways. For the church to be a credible sign,
foretaste, and instrument, it needs to be a community rich with the fruit of the Spirit. In
our quest to witness transformation, we need to develop a culture in the congregation that
encourages people to live in the world for the sake of the world without being of the world.
Leaders of God's people should uniquely contribute to the cultivation of a culture distinct
and different from the dominant culture. It is the role of Spirit-filled leaders to create a
missional and relational culture within our congregations.
Ref: Creating Missional Culture in Congregations -Woodland*
*Behavioral Covenant in Congregations: A Hand Book for Honoring Differences.-Gil Rendle(Alban, 1999)
Page 52
As we read from the New Testament, the Apostle Paul does not propose a centralized
leadership structure or a flat leadership structure. Rather he reveals to us a polycentric
shared responsibility structure, where leaders interrelate and incarnate the various purposes
of Christ so that the entire body is activated to service and matures in love.
In the polycentric model, people with equal authority and revolving leadership, similar to
the members of the Cabinet, lead as a community and continually pursue wholeness
together, thus serving as an example for the entire community of faith.
The Apostle Paul describes how Christ has given the church five different equippers—
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—who embody their gifts in such a way
that the entire body of Christ is awakened and moving toward the full stature of Christ in
both character and mission (Eph 4:7-16).
As I understand this passage, Paul sees each of these five equippers and the ministries they
represent as the very mechanisms for achieving mission and ministry effectiveness as well as
Christian maturity. Paul seems to say that, without a fivefold ministry pattern, we cannot
mature and become the masterpieces that God intended.
In the United States it is common for churches to have a hierarchical corporate leadership
structure with a senior or lead pastor, then associate pastors, other staff, and finally those
who give of their time freely known as the at large community. Yet how does this structure
speak to people skeptical of power, like our millennial youth who are being left out of the
church's integration and growth? And how does this kind of structure take seriously what
we are learning in the sciences? One of the reasons the church is losing the digital generation
is that we have failed to incarnate an approach to leadership that takes seriously the major
shifts our culture is experiencing.
Looking at our present day Christian movements, it appears the Apostle Paul was ahead of
his time for he does not propose a centralized leadership structure or a flat leadership
structure. Rather he reveals to us a polycentric structure, where leaders interrelate and
incarnate the various purposes of Christ in such a way that the entire body is activated to
serve and matures in love.
Our attempts to embrace the New Form of Government (nFog), we need to transition
through creating a Missional and relational Culture to help the congregations move toward
*Behavioral Covenant in Congregations: A Hand Book for Honoring Differences.-Gil Rendle(Alloan, 1999)
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maturity in Christ and to see the reality of God's kingdom, which is both here and coming.
If we are to cultivate mature communities of faith, we need missional equippers who live as
cultural architects with a heightened sense of contextual awareness and the ability to shape
and cultivate and integrate multiculturalism within the congregation in order to reach the
diverse communities surrounding our churches.
Until the congregations we serve recognize that all believers are priests who have the Holy
Spirit and the ability to equip others, the church will never reach her sacred potential in
Christ. We should understand the fivefold gifting as calling (everyone may have a gifting),
ministry (everyone ministers through at least one of the five ministry paths), and leadership
(not everyone will be an equipper, equipping others). In other words, some may be
recognized as apostles, but the whole community is to be apostolic. Some will be called
evangelists, but the whole community is to be evangelistic.
This is where polycentric leadership comes into play. It is important to remember that
leadership is not limited to the recognized equippers; leadership is unlimited in the Holy
Spirit. So while the church ought to appreciate and respect the role of formal leadership and
move toward a concrete (annual) vision, the church also ought to make space where "new
things can happen". Thus, there is an appreciation of the role of the Spirit in the informal or
the not-yet-recognized leadership of the church, as we search for our identity. In this way,
Christ and the Spirit are honored in the church.
When leadership is shared among the equippers, it evokes the spirit of Ubutu, within the
community, each member related and depending on each other in pursuit of the kingdom
together, i t provides a positive model of polycentric leadership to the entire congregation.
In this way, they are like "a flock of geese, where one goose takes the lead doing most of the
work for a while, and then moves to the side so another goose can take the lead and share
the load. Polycentric leadership gives an opportunity to demonstrate reliance on the Holy
Spirit and gives leaders needed rest.
Our approach to creating a Missional Culture expresses the leadership philosophy of the
Ecclesia Network, "a relational network of churches, leaders, and movements that seek to
equip, partner, and multiply missional churches and movements."
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In order for a cabinet of intellectually and spiritually gifted leaders to be effective, the team
has to adhere to a uniformed leadership behavioral covenant that becomes an agreement
between the members outlining the expectations , conducts, and how the group live out its
faith in loving ways. I n this way, mutuality is the key, where members of the group support
and lift one another up with the covenant while keeping one another accountable for living
in the covenant. This will help the group discern and discuss difficult matters in a civil
manner without the win or lose model mentality.
When it becomes a shared responsibility, the team is responsible for the behavior of the
group. This , inevitably, will lead to the modeling o f healthy of relating to one another
.Also, in this Umbutu model of leadership, and creation of a covenant, the members
experience fruitful discussions and agreements on who they are as leaders or God's people
as well as what is acceptable behavior and acceptable style of communication. In this way,
trust and confidence are built around shared core values and ethical conducts are practiced
globally within the organization and in our congregational leaderships. I really liked and
agreed with the overall emphasis on culture and the fact that training in listening to God, to
one another , to our congregation , and to our embedded communities , is one of the most
important skills our leaders must embrace I have long believed that "culture trumps
strategy," and that creating a Missional and Relational Culture we spend way too little time
focusing on the culture of our churches or organizations, as opposed to our strategies.
Likewise, the recognition that the way we approach leadership significantly shapes our
organizational culture is key. Just as Christ is the head of the church and the Holy Spirit
anoints our pastors, elders , prophets, teachers, evangelists and leaders from inside out,
the Spiritual life in the church flows like a river, from the top down. It would be prudent,
as leaders, to recognize the desire that the church community would become a network of
peaceful Christians , connected in our faith in Christ, and cultural values , that is able to
help us incarnate with love , respecting the gifts and fruits of the Spirits.
Respectfully, presented,
Ruling Elder David Ofori,
Chair- General Cabinet
Ref: Creating Missional Culture in Congregations -Woodland
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Presbytery of New York City Meeting
January 27, 2015
Report of the Board of Trustees
Committee on Corporate Responsibilities, Mission and Finance
APPENDIX I
FOR ACTION:
The Trustees / CMF recommend the Presbytery approves the First Amendment to Purchase and Sale
Agreement between the French Evangelical Church of New York (“Seller”) and 124 West 16 LLC (“Purchaser”)
on the condition that during the period of so-called “tenancy-in-common”, the full insurance to be in effect
covering all liabilities are to be paid by the purchaser. (Attachment A)
FOR INFORMATION:
1. The Trustees / CMF reminds the Presbytery that the Trustees should be consulted if a congregation is
considering the sale, purchase, lease and/or construction relating to their church property.
2. The Trustees / CMF is aware of and concerned about Conflicts of Interest within our Presbytery and
reminds the Presbytery to remember the responsibilities and trust that has been placed on us as leaders in
the church. The Trustees / CMF has signed their Conflicts of Interest forms for 2015.
3. The Trustees / CMF has engaged the accounting firm of Grassi & Co. to perform the 2014 audit.
4. The Presbytery has been named in a Summons & Complaint regarding a civil matter pertaining to an
alleged incident which occurred on January 6, 2012 at Emmanuel Presbyterian Reformed Church.
5. The Presbytery has been named in a Summons & Complaint regarding a civil matter pertaining to an
alleged incident which occurred on February 7, 2014 at Tremont Presbyterian Church.
6. The Trustees / CMF will present an update on various churches they have been working with.
FOR THE MARTINEZ MATCHING GRANTS COMMITTEE:
FOR ACTION: The Martinez Matching Grants Committee recommends the Presbytery approves the revised
guidelines for the Martinez Fund Matching Grant. (Attachment B)
FOR THE LOAN COMMITTEE:
FOR ACTION: The Trustees / CMF acting as administrator of church loans recommends, on behalf of the Loan
Committee, the Presbytery approves a grace period of 6 months to the Tremont Presbyterian Church from
making loan payments on their $40,000 loan granted by the Presbytery on April 27, 2011.
FOR INFORMATION: Interest will continue to be accrued during this 6 month grace period.
Ruler Elder Noel A. Ellison
President, Board of Trustees / CMF
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APPENDIX J
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APPENDIX K
MARTINEZ FUND MATCHING GRANT
A matching‐grant fund for PNYC congregations 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1600 New York, N.Y. 10015 (212) 870‐2221 Previous version of this application was approved by the Presbytery of NYC on November 15, 2011 This Revision is submitted in recommendation for Presbytery consideration, January 2015 GUIDELINES
AMOUNT OF GRANT: Grants are for a Minimum of $5,000.00; Maximum of $20,000.00. APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS: •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A member Congregation of the Presbytery of New York City can receive only one
Martinez grant in any three year period.
Applicant Congregation's annual operating income cannot exceed $275,000.00/year.
The Martinez grant can fund no more than 2/3 of the project cost, up to a limit of
$20,000.00. (Due to limited funding and high demand, a grant at limit is rarely granted.)
The applying Congregation must show as part of its application that it can provide 1/3 of
the total project cost in matching funds.
Application for Martinez funds must be authorized by a recorded vote of the
Session/Church Council.
Application must include evidence of a bidding process where at least three bids for the
same work are considered by the Session/Church Council. Session/Council Minutes must
reflect consideration of the competing bids including a recorded vote of the Session's
final choice from among the bids.
Work must be done by a qualified, licensed, fully insured entity. Evidence of insurance
and license is required with the grant application. Both the Congregation and
Presbytery must be named in the insurance certificate as additionally insured.
Completed application must be signed by both the Moderator and Clerk of Session.
Incomplete applications may be delayed and/or rejected.
GRANTS CAN BE GIVEN FOR: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Emergency Repairs, particularly for safety (Roof, Boiler, Sidewalk, Gas/water, etc.)
Deferred Maintenance (Interior & Exterior Renovation, Landscaping, etc.)
Capital Improvements to the Congregation's property (Energy Savings, Accessibility, etc.)
Mission (Improvement of building resources to improve or expand ministry).
Other property and building‐related repairs or improvements.
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http://www.nycpresbytery.org/congregations/property‐support/ Minutes of the Stated Meeting
MEMBERS OF THE MARTINEZ MATCHING GRANTS COMMITTEE: •
•
•
•
Two members from the Committee on Mission, Finance & Corporate Responsibility;
One member each from the Committee on Congregational Ministry and Nurture
(CM&N), and Committee on Ministry (COM);
The Executive Presbyter or Designee (ex‐oficio without vote)
Property Consultant (provides technical and administrative support without vote)
GRANT PAYMENTS: Martinez Grant payments will be disbursed to grantees according to this procedure: o At the time the first payment is made by the congregation to the contractor, the
Clerk of Council/Session should submit a cancelled check or receipt with a letter
informing Presbytery that the church has made at least 1/3 initial payment for
the work to be done.
o The Presbytery will disburse 50% of the granted amount upon receipt of a notice
of initial payment to contractor.
o After the contracted work is completed, the Clerk must inform Presbytery by
email or letter that the work has been completed.
o At discretion, the Presbytery may schedule an opportunity to inspect the
completed work.
o Following inspection by the Presbytery's Property Consultant, the second 50% of
the granted amount will be disbursed.
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APPLICATION CHECKLIST The following documents must be submitted with the grant application: ◊ Bids. Provide one proposal each from at least three qualified
contractors/specialty tradespersons or vendors who are qualified to
do the work. The bids must be for the same work (apples‐to‐apples).
◊ License and Warranty. Bids should be from entities properly licensed
by the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. The bids should include
DCA license numbers and provide any information about any
applicable warranty and/or guaranty in writing.
◊ Workman's Insurance. Provide a Certificate of Workmen's
Compensation Insurance from your chosen contractor.
◊ Liability Insurance. Provide a Certificate of Comprehensive Liability
Insurance from your chosen contractor that names your Congregation
and The Presbytery of New York City as additionally insureds (payee).
◊ Insurance throughout term of Project. All insurance must be in effect
at the time of application for the grant, and provide coverage
throughout the duration of the work.
◊ Congregation's Funding. Provide verification that congregation's
share of the matching funds is in hand to begin the project.
◊ Minutes. Provide a copy of relevant Session/Council minutes regarding
the consideration/discussion and votes regarding project.
◊ Income. Provide the last two years Statement of Congregation's
Income and Expenditures, or annual reports.
◊ Membership. Provide membership figures
◊ Balance Sheet. Provide the Congregation's most current church
balance sheet (Statement of Financial & Investment Accounts.)
◊ Denominational linkages. Provide a statement detailing current status
of payments for Presbytery per‐capita, pastor's pension/pulpit vacancy
dues, Session Records Review results, and/or outstanding loans.
◊ Contact Information. Provide the name of person selected by
Session/Council to be the Contact Person with regard to this grant
proposal. (In case there is are additional questions.)
◊ Submit. Submit complete package to Presbytery Offices, c/o Martinez
Grant Application; keep a copy of package for the church's records.
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APPLICATION FOR MARTINEZ MATCHING GRANT AWARD Church Name: Church Address: Borough: ____________________ Block# _________ Lot# ___________ Average number at Worship on Sundays ____________________________ Nature of the project (describe in detail on separate page): Is your session current with: •
•
•
Loans? _________ if not, please explain on separate page
Per Capita? _________ if not, please explain on separate page
Session Records Review? _________ if not, please explain on separate
page
Total Cost of Project (based on selected proposal): $ Amount requested from Martinez Fund: $ Date Application was Approved by Council/Session: Name, Phone & Email of Session/Council‐Designated Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Moderator (name): Clerk (name): ____________________________ Moderator's Signature (and Date): ____________________________ Page 4 of 4
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______________________________ Clerk's Signature (and Date): ______________________________ http://www.nycpresbytery.org/congregations/property‐support/ Minutes of the Stated Meeting
APPENDIX L
Memorial Moment for Teaching Elder Olivia Capers
Rev Olivia Capers went to be with the Lord on October 30, 2014. She was 69 years
old. She began her career as a social worker with an MSW from Fordham University.
After receiving a call to ministry, she graduated from the New York Theological
Seminary with an M.Div.
She has been described as a Renaissance woman, in that she created new and
innovative means of serving the Lord. She helped to start an organization called Project
Send which fund-raised and mentored missionaries who served around the world. She
founded “In My Father’s House,” a consortium of Christian therapists utilized by
churches and individuals. Olivia was a leader in an international ministry organization
called Women Aglow.
Among her personal friends she practiced her Christian faith by discipling them, which
many testified to at the Memorial service we held for her at The Church of Gethsemane.
In 1999, she became a minister member of our Presbytery and served as Temporary
Supply Pastor at North Church until 2001, when she left under unhappy
circumstances. Nonetheless she continued to serve as pulpit supply in a few of our
Brooklyn Churches and attended Presbytery meetings. Rev. Capers lived in Park Slope,
Brooklyn, where she often played the piano or organ for neighborhood Churches.
She had a beautiful smile at all times. She was a strong Christian woman, beloved by
friends and family, and respected by all.
Rev. Diane Lacey
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APPENDIX M
2014 Necrology Report Presbytery of New York City Name Congregation Date of Death Years as Ruling Elder Alexander, Paule North, Queens March 28, 2014 55 Atkinson, James Bedford Central September 19, 2014 20 Broadnax, Audrey C. Rendall Memorial February 13, 2014 27 Danas, Jacqueline First, Whitestone August 23, 2014 25 Faust, Eunice North, Manhattan February 26, 2014 11 France, Rachel Good Shepherd-‐‑Faith October 10, 2014 42 Garcia, Alberto Fort Washington Heights November 30, 2014 6 Graham, Margaret A. Rendall Memorial July 23, 2014 15 Hill, Francena Taylor St. Albans May 22, 2014 18 Hutchins, Myra First, Springfield Gardens January 13, 2014 14 Jenoure, F. Everett Brick April 7, 2014 27 Jensen, Charlotte Glen Morris September 19, 2014 40 Lawley-‐‑Copel, Lattie Emmanuel October 14, 2014 50 Lehman, Ruby Ann Fifth Avenue July 7, 2014 6 Markosky, Cordelia Seesahai Church of the Covenant November 17, 2013 13 Mays, Luberta St. Albans April 6, 2014 29 Neil, Beatrice St. Albans December 14, 2014 13 Palmer, Edna Dunn Madison Avenue November 8, 2014 49 Richards, Douglas First, Manhattan November 16, 2013 27 Ross, Micheal Christ by the Sea November 1, 2014 15 Ruml, Barbara Howe Madison Avenue September 8, 2014 53 Scarborough, WillieMae North, Manhattan January 18, 2014 41 Stalzer, Doris Ridgewood November 13, 2014 11 Stephenson, Kenneth St. Augustine March 25, 2014 42 Thompson, Leonardo First, Far Rockaway October 25, 2014 40 Wheeler, Wesley Fifth Avenue April 18, 2014 3 Williams, Douglas Madison Avenue October 1, 2014 23 Teaching Elder Date of Death Years as Teaching Elder October 29, 2014 12 Chevalier, Roger April 24, 2001 57 Entenza, Antonio April 26, 2014 57 Eversley, Walter Lloyd January 11, 2014 27 Haynes, Pauline February 11, 2014 25 August 7, 2013 53 July 6, 1997 60 October 22, 2010 57 May 16, 2006 56 Capers, Olivia Herr, Ernest C. Maguire, Bruce B. Reed, Roland R. Woodbury, Waldo B. Page 68
715 Years of Ruling Elder Service 404 Years of Teaching Elder Service 1,119 Total Years of Service in Ordered Ministry Minutes of the Stated Meeting
APPENDIX N
COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY Report to the Presbytery of New York City – January 27, 2015 Stated Meeting The Committee on Ministry, having met on December 2, 2014 and January 6, 2015 respectfully provides the following report. I. For Information of the Presbytery A. Election of Chair Pro-Tem: Due to the resignation of both the Vice Chair and the Chair of COM, a Chair Pro-Tem was elected. As a necessary consequence, the Chair Pro-Tem is moderating the business of the committee until the start of the February 3, 2015 COM meeting. In February, we will work to elect a new Chair to complete the term ending at the conclusion of the May 2015 PNYC Stated Meeting. Motion: To elect RE Adolfo Griffith Chair ProTem for the Committee on Ministry with the following duties: 1. Chairing the January 6, 2015 meeting of the Committee,
2. Compiling and presenting the CoM Report to the January 27, 2015
Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of New York City.
3. *Chair the Committee until the convening of the February 3, 2015 CoM meeting of the Committee.
Motion was M/S/P. B. Appointed liaisons and moderators to the following churches (Understanding that until a liaison is chosen Elder Adolfo Griffith and Elder Melanie Squillante will serve as the liaisons to each of these congregations): Liaisons appointed to the following churches: 1.
First Astoria
Rev. Michael Hafele 2.
Fourth (Bronx)
Good ShepherdFaith Elder Melba Torres
4.
Redeemer
Elder Celia Sanchez 5.
Riverdale
Elder Sharon Davison 6.
Siloam
Elder Claudette Bravo HoSang 7.
Soundview
Elder Melba Torres 8.
St. Luke’s
Elder Adolfo Griffith 9.
West Park
Williamsbridge
Rev. Michael Hafele Moderators appointed to the following churches: 1. Church of the Master
Rev. Laura Jervis 2. Zion
Rev. Carmen Rosario 3. Bedford Park
Rev. Young Jin Park (Temporary) 1 Page 69
C. Received the following Liaison Reports 1. North (Manhattan)
Received with thanks 2. Trinity
Received with thanks D. Other Matters 1. Candidate Sarah Godbehere, to be ordained Saturday, January 17,
2015, at 3:00 P.M. at Broadway Presbyterian Church. Sarah is a
candidate under care of the Presbytery of New York City who has been
certified to seek a call and received a call in and been approved for
ordination by Detroit Presbytery. H
M/S/P as per consent agenda 2. COM Manual As we work to revise and update the COM Manual of
Operations, we decided to recommend the following: Mission Review Compilation – To recommend that all churches in consultation with COM may begin data collection for a Mission Study Review once a pastor has notified COM and the congregation of the dissolution of the relationship. M/S/P. 3. Developing Policy regarding Commissioned Ruling Elders
Motion: The Committee on Ministry affirms the direction of the Joint Initiative of CPLM and COM to develop a detailed proposal to the presbytery for the validation of ministries and the commissioning of CREs to serve in those ministries and to commit to developing the proposal in collaboration with CPLM. M/S/P II. Recommended for Action by the Presbytery of New York.
A. Consent Agenda: 1. To recommend that the Presbytery grant Honorably Retired status to
the following individual(s):
a. Rev. John D. Twiname, who had been serving outside the
Presbytery’s bounds. M/S/P as per consent agenda 2. To recommend that the Presbytery dismiss the following minister
member to another Presbytery effective on their receipt into
membership of the other Presbytery, as no impediment to the
dismissal exists.
2 Page 70
a. To dismiss the Rev. Meagan Manas to the Boston Presbytery. Rev.
Manas was been received into their Presbytery at their September
2014 meeting. M/S/P as per consent agenda.
b. Receiving the Validated Ministry Report from US Army Chaplain
Rev. Suk Jong Lee Motion: To receive the annual report of Rev. Suk Jong Lee and change her status to member at large effective August 31, 2015, upon her retirement from Army chaplaincy. M/S/P as per consent agenda d. Request to renew/extend the commission of a CRE
(Commissioned Ruling Elder) Motion: To approve the request of the session of the First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica to renew the commission of Commissioned Ruling Elder Brunhilda SandersLane for an additional three year term (from January 27, 2015 through January 26, 2018). M/S/P B. Action Items 1. To appoint the following Ordination/Installation Administrative
Commission and to approve the related plans.
a. Request from Rev. Beverly Dempsey to approve her revised Installation
AC as well as the date for the service from December 7, 2014 at 4:00 PM
to April 26, 2015 at 3:00 PM.
Proposed Installation Administrative Commission Teaching elders Krystin Granberg, Moderator Roles throughout Kellie AndersonPiccalo, At large, Serving outside the bounds of the New York City Presbytery as Parish Associate, First Presbyterian Church, Englewood, NJ. Ruling elders Lloyd Johnson (The Bronx) Eastchester Presbyterian Church, Role: Offering block Jim Nedelka (Manhattan) PNC Chair, Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and Neighborhood House, Role: Presentation of the pastor and Litany vows of the Congregation 3 Page 71
Role: Charge to the newly installed pastor Agnes Blackmon, Pastor, WestminsterBethany Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn Role: Confession block David Cockcroft, Honorably Retired, The Bronx Role: Epistle Reading Alice HermanusRampengan, Pastor, Indonesian Presbyterian Church, Manhattan, Role: Prayer of the People Doug King, Associate Pastor, Brick Presbyterian Church, Manhattan Role: Charge to the Congregation Cynthia Reggio, Pastor, Astoria Presbyterian Church, Queens Role: Prayers of Intercession John Russell Stanger, Presbyterian Welcome, At Large Role: Affirmation of faith Nancy Ost (Manhattan) Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, Role: Prayer for Illumination and First Testament reading Brunilda Fernandez (Manhattan) Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Role: Prayers for the newly installed Proposed Corresponding Member of the Commission Name Responsibility Nicole Wilkinson Duran, PhD Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Preaching Philadelphia Presbytery. Stepsister. Discussion: There was discussion about the reason for the request to change the date of the installation from December 7, 2014 at 4:00 PM to April 26, 2015 at 3:00 PM. The committee also raised concerns about needing to assign a moderator. It was learned that the church is beginning to undergo some construction and the April date would be better for Rev. Dempsey’s family. Motion: To approve Rev. Dempsey’s request to change the date of the installation from December 7, 2014 at 4:00 PM to April 26, 2015 at 3:00 PM. M/S/P 4 Page 72
2. Consideration of Calls, Examinations for Ordination & Membership:
a. Request that the presbytery examine Rev. Anette Westermark so that she may
serve as the fulltime Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Newtown, at the
salary outlined, effective March 1, 2015. As a necessary consequence if the way
be clear to transfer her membership from the Southeastern Illinois Presbytery to
the New York City Presbytery. (M/S/P)
Cash Salary
Housing & Utilities
Subtotal for SS offset
Board of Pensions/Medical/Death (Member & dependents)
Optional dental, supplemental death/life insurance
Social Security Offset (Medicare only)
Car Travel Allowance
*Other Expense Allowances (total from details below)
Study Leave Allowance
Total Minister Compensation
*Other Allowances
Cell phone
Books, professional expenses
Total other expense allowances
$45,000 $24,000 $69,000 $25,185 $3,290 $1,000 $2,300 $2,440* $1,000 $104,215 $1,440 $1,000 $2,440 The results of Newtown Presbyterian Church’s November 9, 2014 congregational meeting are as follows: The purpose of the meeting was to call Rev. Anette Westermark to serve as their pastor, effective February 1, 2015 and to approve her terms of call. Rev. Lou Knowles moderated the meeting the vote was as follows: To Call Rev. Westermark
71
Yes 1
No *Terms of Call
66
Yes 0
No *some member left after the first vote
Elder Wilfred James, Liaison
3. Receiving a Teaching Elder for Validated Ministry
Motion: To recommend that the Rev. Scott Kenefake be received as a teaching elder member of the Presbytery of New York City in a validated ministry in a formula of agreement denomination and to present TE Kenefake to the January 27, 2015 Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of New York City. M/S/P 4. Request to change a Pastor’s Terms of Call
a. To approve the request of the congregation of Hollis Presbyterian Church to
change the terms of call for the Rev. Mark Chapman from full time to part
time, effective January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 with the
compensation described in the request. M/S/P.
5 Page 73
5. Request to dissolve a Pastoral Relationship
a. Request that the Presbytery of New York City vote to dissolve the pastoral
relationship dissolve the pastoral relationship between Rev. James Belle
and The Church of the Master, effective December 31, 2014.
Motion: If the way be clear, after the Church of the Master holds its congregation meeting on December 21, 2014 to request that the Presbytery, at its January 27, 2015 Stated Meeting, dissolve the pastoral relationship between Rev. James Belle and The Church of the Master, effective December 31, 2014. Rev. Laura Jervis will moderate that congregational meeting. The Church of the Master held its congregation meeting on December 21, 2014 to request that the Presbytery, at its January 27, 2015 meeting, dissolve the pastoral relationship between Rev. James Belle and The Church of the Master, effective December 31, 2014. Rev. Laura Jervis moderated the meeting. The vote was as follows: 45 Yes, 3 No, 1 Abstension. COM Deadline for Materials and Meeting Dates prior to March Stated Meeting 1. January 19, 2015 deadline for February 3, 2015 COM Meeting
2. February 16, 2015 deadline for March 3, 2015 COM Meeting
Prayers for our Presbytery: Borough to Pray for:
Queens Presbyterian Churches to pray for: Laconia PC
Lafayette Avenue
Madison Avenue
Memorial
Mount Washington
North (Manhattan)
Olivet
Crossroads
Queens Chinese
Rendall Memorial
Rutgers
San Andres
Korean Forest Hills Living Christ Mount Morris Ascension
North (Queens)
Redeemer
Riverdale
Second 6 Page 74
APPENDIX O
Statement of Faith - Rev. Dr. Anette Westermark
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I believe in God, the Creator, God the giver of life. God, being one and the same though in one
substance, is significant in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible is a
place in which we encounter God through the written word and in the Gospels we encounter Jesus
Christ the Word.
I believe that confessing God the Creator implies that God’s creativity is an ongoing process. God
provides for new beginnings, where doors are open for new possibilities, and where new events
are coming into perspective.
I believe that God created the human being. Seen as the creatures in God’s image, the key to our
humanity is the incarnation through Jesus Christ.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the chosen Word of God and born by the Virgin
Mary. I also believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, fully human and fully divine.
I believe that I cannot earn my salvation, God’s merciful love and grace can never be achieved,
only received. I also believe in justification by grace. God’s gift to me is a free a gift.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the one who prepares and brings new life, and new beginnings. There
are many gifts of the Spirit that enable us to adapt to the presence and work of the living God (in
the here and now) within our individual lives. The Spirit of God is a very personal Spirit.
I believe that the Church is the community of faith in which we are called to as ambassadors, and
as the priesthood of all believers. To be the people of God means to be chosen and called.
I believe this about the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper; being part of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A) makes me proud to share the Lord’s Supper with other brothers and sisters in Christ.
Having said this; it is not a “Presbyterian table” but the Lord’s Table to which all Christians are
welcome! God welcomes us all, not because of whom we are but whose we are.
I believe furthermore that by sharing the bread and wine, I do not only partake of these elements
of bread and wine as a symbolic rite; I also celebrate in the joy of reconciling with God and with
one another. We receive the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection; hence this holy meal is a
foretaste of the heavenly banquet that awaits us.
I believe this about the Sacrament of Baptism; Baptism happens once. It is a visible act of an
invisible grace, i.e., God’s merciful and loving forgiveness upon us. In Baptism, we are washed by
God’s Word and anointed by the Spirit. We are named as God’s beloved children – heirs of God’s
kingdom. As baptized, we have entered into Christ’s community and mission.
I live out my baptism daily. When I wash my face, I am reminded of God’s grace for me; the
washing away of my sins. My prayerful hope every day is that I strive to live my life according to
God’s will; discerning where I am being called and led to be.
Page 75
APPENDIX P
Statement of Faith:
I am the physical, mental, and spiritual product of an ELCA Lutheran mother and a Disciples of Christ father from
Ohio who joined a Presbyterian Church USA congregation after our family moved to a suburb of Kansas City in the
mid-1960s.
The church where I grew up was a progressive congregation that encouraged critical thinking and fostered an active
engagement with the world through practical service to others, particularly the least of these. In this congregation I
both caught and was taught the Christian faith. I caught the faith by interacting with people whose empathy and
compassion for others was rooted in their love of God and neighbor. I was taught the faith by teachers and pastors
who loved working with children and insisted learning and doubt are contributors to the development of faith, not their
enemy.
I began to sense a call to ministry when I was at the University of Kansas. This call was nurtured through a number of
elective classes I took in the Religion Department–classes on Old and New Testament that introduced me to modern
biblical scholarship, Church History, and Ethics.
After 27 years of ordained ministry, I am still curious about the Christian faith and I’m still learning.
With all Christians (Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox), I affirm the mystery of the triune God—Creator,
Reconciler, and Sustainer. I also affirm Jesus to be the Incarnate Word of God, Emmanuel; God with us! With other
Protestants, I affirm that we are justified by grace through faith (we all fall short of the ideal of loving God and
neighbor), but God’s love for us in Jesus Christ saves us and draws us back to God. I also affirm the authority of
Scripture—it is the lens (when read in its historical context and its metaphorical language recognized) through which
we come to know God, ourselves, and how we are to live.
With other Reformed Christians, I affirm God’s Sovereignty as being the source and power of all that is, the Election
of God’s People for service and salvation (grace comes before the law!), God’s Covenant with God’s Chosen People
(we are all chosen!), the Faithful Stewardship of God’s Creation (we are called to care for each other as well as God’s
good Creation), our Human Tendency toward Idolatry and Tyranny (we all believe in something!), and that God’s
people are called to work for the Transformation of Society by seeking justice and living in obedience to the Word of
God (we may not always be successful in this effort, but we are called to try!).
I affirm two Sacraments: Baptism, an initiation by water into Christ’s body, the Church, and the symbolic washing
away of sin that makes us new. It is the tangible symbol of the invisible power of God’s forgiveness and
acceptance. And the Lord’s Supper, a meal of bread and wine that is about food, shared food, and inclusivity; it’s
about becoming one with Christ; it’s about spiritual food for the journey; and it’s about participating in Jesus’ passion
for a different kind of world.
Rev. Dr. Scott M. Kenefake
Page 76

Proposed Minutes of the February 10, 2015, Stated Meeting

Transcription

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