February 8, 2024 | 9:00 a.m.

Hybrid Meeting at Camp Hill Presbyterian Church and Zoom

Please scroll down to register!

 

Introductory Documents

Call to the Meeting

Docket

 

Workshops

Please scroll down for full workshop descriptions and to register!

• Forrest Hates Titles by Forrest Claassen (Synod of the Trinity Executive)

  Why Do We Need an Anti-racism Statement Anyways? by Jamie McLeod and Cindy Kohlman (Connectional Presbyter in New Castle Presbytery)

• Congregations as Signposts of the Kingdom: Visions and Resources for Becoming a More Just Church by Byron Borger (Hearts and Minds Bookstore in Dallastown, PA)

• Ruling Elder 101 by Debbie Hough (Certified Christian Educator and RE, Derry)

• Policy Workshop for Clerks (and Others) by Kristal Smith (Presbytery Leader for Governance and Congregational Leadership)
  • Anti-Racism Policy
  • Anti-Harassment Policy

• Ruling Elder 101 by Katy Yates Brungraber (Visitation Pastor for Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church)

 

Nominating Committee Report

 

Coordinating Council

Purpose Statement (for approval)

Honduras Partnership Covenant (for approval)

 

Administration Committee

Year-end Treasurer’s Report 

Year-end Funds Report 

Year-end New Covenant Funds Report

Year-end Performance Trend Report

Market and Economic Outlook by Northern Trust

 

Commission on Ministry Report 

Committee on Preparation for Ministry Report

Stated Clerk Report

226^th General Assembly Amendments for Consideration (full text)

Summary of Amendments

Report from Presbytery Leader for Vision and Transformation

Worship Bulletin – COMING SOON!

 

Registration will be open through Monday, February 3. Please register today:

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Workshops

Breakout Session
Forrest Hates Titles

What does a Synod Executive raised in Southern California by Mennonite parents have to do with Native Alaskans, Korean-speaking Christians, the first female senior pastor of a Vietnamese Presbyterian church, and Kentucky Fried Chicken? And what does all of this have to do with Paul’s call that we exercise hospitality toward one another? And what’s with the workshop title, anyway?

We’re not sure yet either. But it certainly sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? Come hear Forrest Claassen reflect on how thirty years of ministry in very different cultural settings have shaped him, and what his learnings may have to say to us about the challenges of living in a changing American society (and a changing Presbyterian church!) in the twenty-first century.

Rev. Forrest Claassen is the Synod Executive of the Synod of the Trinity, an area which covers all of Pennsylvania, most of West Virginia, and slivers of Ohio, New York and Maryland. He is committed to helping presbyteries, congregations and church leaders use administrative tools to pursue God’s mission in ways that fit their local contexts.

Before the Synod, Forrest served as Co-Executive and Stated Clerk of Los Ranchos Presbytery; as Stated Clerk to the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest and pastor to Clarkston Presbyterian Church in Clarkston, Washington; and as co-pastor to a tri-cultural congregation in Southeast Alaska. He graduated from Stanford University and Princeton Theological Seminary.

Forrest and his wife Karen live in Greentree, just outside of Pittsburgh, where she is pastor of Unity Presbyterian Church. Their daughter Margaret, her husband Dalton, and their two young sons live in Portland, Oregon.

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Breakout Session
Congregations as Signposts of the Kingdom: Visions and Resources for Becoming a More Just Church  

Most congregations are engaged in service to their community, and this is as it should be, but how might we deepen our public theology and live more intentionally into being a faith community that is guided by Godly principles of inclusion and care, graciousness and justice? Might our confessions and worship practices guide us to be more overt in challenging unjust patterns in our world and living out redemptive alternatives? More than just understanding Biblical principles, our view of the church itself should be guided by our Reformed insights about God’s work in the world. Our speaker, a bookseller for over 40 years, will share resources that will help you take steps in your own church to embody Christ’s Kingdom.

Before opening the Hearts & Minds Bookstore, Byron Borger worked in college ministry for the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), working on staff of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in McKeesport, PA, as well as working on various peace and justice issues while being an Associate Director of The Thomas Merton Center in Pittsburgh. In 1982 he and his wife, Beth, opened Hearts & Minds, an independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA.

Besides managing the small town shop, he has served congregations, denominations, and organizations as conference booksellers, has spoken extensively about relating Christian faith to society at clergy convocations, colleges, church retreats, and events such as the Calvin Festival of Faith & Writing. He has worked in social change organizations and has written for several print and on-line journals, including Sojourners, Comment and CPJ’s Capitol Commentary. They have set up large book displays at conferences for CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts), Evangelicals for Social Action, The Redeemer Center for Faith and Work, Q, Bread for the World, The Christian Legal Society, the C.S. Lewis Institute, and the CCOs annual Jubilee Conference, although most days they labor in the world of small businesses.

He has edited a book for college graduates called Serious Dreams: Big Ideas for the Rest of Your Life (Square Halo Books) and has a chapter (about working in retail) in Ordinary Saints: Living Everyday Life to the Glory of God (edited by Ned Bustard, published by Square Halo Books.) Byron reviews books regularly at BookNotes, the almost weekly newsletter of Hearts & Minds. He attends First Presbyterian Church, York, PA.

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Breakout Session
Why Do We Need an Anti-racism Statement Anyways?

What does the coming Realm of God require from those of us who follow in the footsteps of the risen Messiah? What are our communities supposed to look like? How can we be aware of our own perspectives and biases when it comes to viewing other people. In this workshop – hosted by Cindy Kohlmann and Jamie McLeod – attendees will explore these questions as we determine why churches should have anti-racism statements and policies.

If you plan to attend this workshop, the conveners ask that you take a few minutes and take the Project Implicit bias survey on Black and White bias at: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/. This will provide a jumping off point for conversations around race and the church.

Cindy Kohlmann has served two churches as a solo pastor, in Ohio and Massachusetts, and the Presbyteries of Northern New England and Boston as Resource Presbyter. She was elected in June 2018 as Co-Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In January of 2021, she began service as the Connectional Presbyter and Stated Clerk for New Castle Presbytery (Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland). She is married to the Rev. Eric Markman and has two adult step-daughters and one cat. She loves to scuba dive, especially in warm locations, and loves to travel. She’s also slowly learning Spanish (daily Duolingo lessons since December 2015!)

Jamie McLeod is the Presbytery of Carlisle Presbytery Leader for Transformation and Vision. Prior to arriving here, Jamie served churches in Kentucky, Alabama, New York, North Carolina, and Missouri. He holds master’s degrees in divinity and theology from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Philosophy from Garrett-Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Clemson University.

He came to Carlisle Presbytery after serving a congregation in Mid-Kentucky Presbytery while also working as an adjunct professor in theology at Bellarmine University and Louisville Seminary. Jamie is married to his best friend, Dr. Lesley Ann Earles, with whom he has three delightful children. He enjoys a range of outdoor activities from golfing and hiking to scuba diving and fishing. He is a collector of bow ties and old vinyl jazz records, enjoys good coffee, and is on a quest to play the perfect game of chess.

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Breakout Session
Policy Workshop for Clerks (and Others)

Does your church need an Anti-Racism or Anti-Harassment Policy? We will look at policy templates to help you craft policies that fulfill the intentions of the Book of Order and make sense in your church’s context. This workshop replaces the workshop we normally have for Clerks of Session. Clerks, of course, may attend this workshop but it is also open to anyone who may be working on church policies and would find this conversation helpful.

Kristal Smith serves as a Presbytery Co-Leader and Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of Carlisle. She enjoys seeking God in community whether through worship, work, play, or simply an intentional being together. She lives with her husband, Dave, in Lebanon where their grown kids are always welcome!

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Breakout Session
Ruling Elder 101
A Hybrid Workshop for New and Continuing Elders

The congregation has nominated and elected you to be a ruling elder. As you said “yes” to the invitation, did you know what you were getting into? Or, if you have served this congregation or another in the past, do you feel a need for a refresher on this “Ministry of Discernment and Governance” role? Do you feel the need for additional training?

Attendees will explore the fundamental responsibilities of Ruling Elders by looking at the functions of the Session and of Elders in the Book of Order. To prepare, please secure a copy of the 2023-2025 edition of the Book of Order (Part II of the PCUSA Constitution). These can be purchased for $10 from the PCUSA online store at www.pcusastore.com or a PDF version can be viewed online here for free.

Ruling Elders are the backbone of any Presbyterian congregation and it is important that they be as knowledgeable as possible, especially as this office reflects our history and embodies the Reformed Theology that forms our heritage. Your congregation saw in you the gifts necessary to lead and guide them in living out the faith. Being as informed as possible is the key. Come with your questions!

Debbie Hough is a Ruling Elder and a Certified Christian Educator. She is a graduate of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and Princeton Theological Seminary. She is now retired but has served congregations in Mobile, Alabama; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Houston, Texas and, most recently, Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Debbie loves baseball, collecting dolls, gardening, reading, antiquing, and learning about new things. She lives in Palmyra, PA. Her favorite Bible verses are 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

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Breakout Session
Deacons in Action – Living into God’s Call to the Ordained Office of Deacon in the PC(USA)

The work of deacons in each congregation is a ministry of compassion and service – whether the congregation has a board of deacons, individually commissioned deacons, or ruling elders tasked with filling the duties of deacons. As described in our Book of Order, sharing in Christ’s love “for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress” (G-2.0201) is vital ministry – it contributes to the internal health of the congregation and to the congregation’s external witness in Christ’s name beyond the walls of the church building.

When these wide-ranging, life-long responsibilities feel confusing or overwhelming, we go back to basics and remind ourselves that the Lord has given us what we need. This workshop explores specifics and nuances of partnering in Christ’s service with Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders. Special focus goes toward anticipating and responding to pastoral care needs.

Rev. Katy Yates Brungraber, Recording Clerk for Carlisle Presbytery, is a utility player, going where needed. She has completed two terms on Commission on Ministry, led multiple officer trainings, provided pulpit supply in a dozen congregations, moderated three Sessions, served on an Administrative Commission, and helped on discernment / assessment teams. Currently, Pastor Katy is a part-time Visitation Pastor based in Chambersburg; she also travels to lead workshops and retreats.

• Saturday, February 8 – Morning Hybrid Meeting – Camp Hill Presbyterian Church
• Wednesday, April 30 – Evening Hybrid Meeting – Faith Immanuel Presbyterian Church
• Saturday, September 13 – Morning Hybrid Meeting – Harrisburg Korean Presbyterian Church
• Wednesday, November 19 – Evening Hybrid Meeting – First Presbyterian Church in Carlisle