eLink News – EXTRA!

Day 7 of 8 at General Assembly 220                                  July 7, 2012

The plenary is running late was still in progress at 1:20 am. on Sat July 7.  The agenda was about 5 hours behind schedule.    We debated the definition of marriage, whether as written “between a man and woman” or “between two people”.   This debate lasted for several hours.  I estimate that 60 people or more spoke to it.   The assembly hall in the plenary area was sprinkled liberally with rainbow colored neck scarves by delegates trying to send a signal to others.

The outcome upheld the present Book of Order definition:  “marriage is between a man and a woman”.  The vote was 52% for and 48% against and for language “between two persons.”    I feel like this is a wonderful, but “fragile” victory and most likely to be challenged at all future Assemblies until it falls.

Our Shenango delegation (6 of us) met several fine Presbyterians from across the country and the world, many of like mind.  We had a chance to make some Commissioner Resolutions that passed committees and the Assembly.

  • CR 20-08 by David Dobi was to investigate a Board of Pensions Shared Benefits plan with other denominations.  The point was: the more the insureds the lower the risk and the lower the premiums for all insureds.
  • CR 16-08 by Dale Deist was to ask the PC(USA) Office of Evangelism to share success stories (The Great Commission) ie. of spreading Christianity in growing congregations, with the entire denomination in hopes of duplication elsewhere.

This was more political than I envisioned, and less Christian problem solving.

It was an honor representing our Presbytery, getting to know better our other commissioners from Shenango and across the country and serving the denomination.

In His Service,

Dale Deist

eLink News – EXTRA!

Shenango Presbytery’s Commissioners at the 220th General Assembly in Pittsburgh, PA

A note from the Pittsburgh General Assembly by David Dawson (7/5/12)

Pastors, elders and members of the churches of Shenango Presbytery.

Your commissioners and advisory delegates are doing faithful work at the General Assembly meeting in Pittsburgh this week.  You can expect to see a couple notes from them on Friday and Saturday

I will send a brief summary note on Saturday and then write a longer report on eLink on Monday, June 23.

Please continue to pray for your church.

Recommended Reading from Clark Cowden’s Blog

http://clarkcowden.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/a-conversation-with-brian-mclaren/

Note from the Pittsburgh General Assembly Elder Commissioner Dale Deist (7/5/12)

Well we have had a fire cracker of a day at GA.  The outside temperature was hot and so was it on the inside.  In Plenary session 1, after 4 ballots, the commissioners voted in Rev. Neal Presa of New Jersey.  Rev. Presa had designated Tara Spuhler McCabe as his choice of vice moderator.  McCabe was voted in at the next plenary session.  However, it was discovered prior to the vote that McCabe performed a same sex marriage a year or so earlier, which is not permitted in our Book of Order.  This continued to cause increasing controversy among many commissioners.  Our committee discussed the “elephant in the corner” issue at length.  Our informal discussions centered around, “what ‘role model’ message does this send, if our vice moderator breaks the constitution and gets away with it?  Are we to disregard the constitution?  Are we wasting our time being there?”

It is evident that many commissioners and congregations are conflicted over this same sex marriage issue based on “feelings” and not scripture.  Apparently the social network tweets and blogs ran rampant on this, plus one commissioner was rumored to being looking into Presbyterian Judicial legal action against McCabe.

Long story short, at the beginning of today’s plenary session, the Moderator accepted the vice moderators resignation.  Many of the commissioners were relieved that this was the right thing to do, while many others were upset that this should matter at all.  In an attempt to pass a motion which would bring this back up for discussion to further vilify the situation.  The vote taken to allow this was lost by one vote(which was good:  322=yes and 323=no more discussion and 17 abstain.  Wow, Wow,  the Holy Spirit was at work for the moment, was my evaluation.

More to report tomorrow

General Assembly 220  plenary session  day 6
9 pm  Thursday July 5, 2012
A report from Dale Deist, Commissioner 

The plenary is running late and still in progress at 9 pm.  The agenda is about 3 hours behind schedule.    We are debating whether to divest of Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard and Motorola, because their products are being used in the Israeli and Palestine situation in the West Bank.  The total Presbyterian holdings are at most  a 0.00018 fraction of all outstanding shares of stock of that company.  We seem to be discussing whether to, financially, kill a gnat on an elephant.  Currently, 36 people are standing to have a turn to talk for 2 minutes each.

Several voting decisions today were shocking and made me question what Biblical interpretation is being used by the majority decisions.  On several items I was so offended from a values and Biblical interpretation, that I asked to file written dissent votes.

  • Item 11-01 (Occupy Wall Street –my name for this)-which paraphrased says that corporate prosperity is greed and a moral sin causing and undermining the condition of those who have lost their homes, jobs…  [they could give no definition of when does profit equal greed]  (passed 69% to 27% opposed and 4% abstained)
  •  Item 20-02 Provide a Medical Plan that will NOT pay for Abortions, unless the life of the mother is at risk… (Lost by 70% to 28% for)
  • 11-05 Don’t spank children, one swat or at all.  (51% for 47% against and 2% abstain)

I wonder who these people are?  They look like you and I.  I wonder how God is working through this for His good in the world.  I wonder where the Presbyterians live (other than Shenango) who think and believe like me?

eLink News

Coming Events

June 30-July 7 – General Assembly, Pittsburgh
July 4- OFFICE CLOSED, Independence Day

Anniversaries Celebrated

– Calvin Church celebrated David Davis’ 55th ordination anniversary on June 24th.

A note from Dave Dawson at GA
Please see this GA comment from my friend Clark Cowden.

Where Can I Find Out What’s Happening At GA?

  • The latest news updates are posted here on the denomination’s website.  If you aren’t able to attend GA, this is a great way to keep up on what’s happening.
  • Watch streaming video…here.
  • View photos…here.

Note from Bud Green

Bud has many Sundays available this summer for pulpit supply.  He would love the opportunity to preach and would gladly fill the pulpit for anyone going on vacation or study leave.  You can reach Bud at home (724-654-1513) or on his cell (724-714-8645).

Volunteers for General Assembly

There is reimbursement money for your mileage and parking while you are volunteering at General Assembly. To receive the reimbursement, fill out the Expense Voucher from the Presbytery website, and mail it to Teresa Kendall (739 Portersville Rd #D, Ellwood City PA 16117), for authorization. A check will be mailed to you from the Presbytery Office.  (NOTE: Please use .555 cents/mile when figuring your mileage.  The form is outdated as mileage amounts change frequently.)

Ministry and Mission in Shenango Presbytery

Back in June, 25+ pastors from around the presbytery met for lunch to discuss ministry and mission in Shenango for churches who are not planning to leave the PCUSA, or at least not yet.  We are meeting a second time, and anyone is welcome.   Come for lunch at Westminster College on July 19, 11:30am.  We will continue the lively discussion, as well as hear 5 minute reports from those who are fostering creative ideas for presbytery mission in this fluid, messy, post-denominational era.  Note that this is not intended to become club for those who are “loyalists” or always and forever opposed to leaving the denomination; it is simply a forum for a different kind of theological conversation about work and witness within the bounds of Shenango as the PCUSA becomes less relevant.  Questions?  Contact Ralph Hawkins, Bill Crooks, or Glenn Hink.  Please RSVP for lunch at office@nwpresby.org or 724-946-3541.

Mark Your Calendars Now for the 2nd Annual Celebrate Sudan Event!

The 2nd annual “Celebrate Sudan” event will be held on World Communion Sunday, October 7th, 7PM, at East Main Presbyterian Church, Grove City. This will be an exciting time for all the churches in Shenango Presbytery to come together, worship God, and Celebrate our Partnership with the Sudan Presbyterian EvangelicalChurch.

The special offerings collected this year will be used to assist Gereif Bible School in recovering from the destruction experienced on their campus when it was ransacked by Muslim extremists this spring. We encourage churches to take up this offering at their Wrold Communion Sunday worship services.

Mark your calendars and join us for a time of music, fellowship, ands authentic Sudanese food.  Rev. Steve and Brenda Stelle from Faith Presbyterian Chuch in Hermitage, recent first time visitors toSudan, will be sharing about their visit and it’s impact on their lives and church.

Pastors and all session moderators, please ask you sessions soon for permission to take up a special “CelebrateSudan” offering.  Over $20,000 was raised in our first two “CelebrateSudan” events.

Opportunity to Assist Gereif Bible School in Khartoum Sudan
We were all moved greatly this late spring by news that Gereif Bible School in Khartoum, Sudan, experienced extensive damage and loss of critical resources when it was ransacked and burned by Muslim extremists.  Communication from our partners at Gereif estimate the value of damaged furniture, equipment, and buildings  at $13,935.00 and stolen cash at $7092.00, for a total of $21027.00   The cost of burned library books is much higher and will need to be addressed over a long period of time.  We hope to help our partners recover from their more pressing needs in light of these losses and have designated our Celebrate Sudan 2012 offering for that purpose.  However, some churches in our presbytery have indicated a desire to respond to this situation now.  We are hoping that Daniel Hamad, principal of the school, will be with us during the time of the New Wilmington Mission Conference.  If he is, we will be able to send any gifts sent in to the presbytery office for Gerief by Tuesday July24th, back with him.  If Daniel is unable to be with us, we will make every effort to send these more timely gifts to Gereif as soon as is practically possible.
A Few Needs for the New Wilmington Mission Conference
  • Life guards for the pool at Westminster during the week of Conference…afternoons July 23rd through the 27th from 2 til 5 PM. Guards need to have current certification. Will be paid throught Westminster College.  Call Dan Forsberg @ 724-971-3448 or NWMC Office at 724-946-9770 for information.
  • Volunteer drivers to go to the Pittsburgh Airport to pick up delegates and speakers.  Drivers will drive one of the College’s mini vans to and from the airport. People are needed the week of the 21st through the 28th. Especially needed during  the first days, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd and then and then the end of Conference the 27th and 28th. Drivers will be on call as needed according to demand.  Maximum one trip per day.  Current drivers license required. A cell phone is not necessary but is a plus!  Call Dan Forsberg at 724-971-3448 or the NWMC Office at 724-946-9770.

News From the Churches

 
Musician Wanted
Faith Presbyterian Church in Hermitage is looking for both an organist and a choir director.  If you are interested or know a musician who might be interested in either of the positions, please contact the church at office@faithpc.net or 724-962-4155.
Cana’s Corner Hosts Terry Leonard and “His Own”
On July 8, from 5-7 PM come and join us as Cana’s Corner hosts Terry Leonard and “His Own”.  Both groups sing a mixture of your favorite oldies as well as the finest gospel music.  You won’t want to miss this concert.  Refreshments are free.  Free will offering will be taken.  The concert will be held in the air-conditioned fellowship hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, 600 East State Street, Sharon, PA.

eLink News – EXTRA!

Carpooling to General Assembly

A number of folks are attending GA throughout the week and may be interested in carpooling.  Contact them directly.

  • Teresa Kendall (724-799-9931) on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning
  • John & Beth Creekpaum (724-421-5677) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
  • Connie MacDonald and Lori Dunham (724-333-3589) on Thursday for the World Mission lunch.

Other possibilities for carpools are Marsha Parrish, Lisa Hickman, Nancy McMillan, and Ray Cornelius.

eLink News

Coming Events

July 4- OFFICE CLOSED, Independence Day

Anniversaries Celebrated

– Ebenezer and Amity Churches celebrated Dave Lingle’s 45th ordination anniversary

– Plain Grove (with representatives from Grove City College) celebrated Stan Keehlwetter’s 30th ordination anniversary

– Shenango Church celebrated Ross Byers’ 60th ordination anniversary

Do You Want to Attend Opening Worship at General Assembly?

Church vans are going from Shenango Presbytery to the Convention Center in Pittsburgh to attend GA Opening Worship on Saturday, June 30th.  Vans will leave around 11:30 AM from 2 or 3 points in the Presbytery, to arrive for worship at 1:30 PM and stay until 4:30 PM to allow folks to mingle and see the Exhibit Hall.  You will need to bring a brown bag lunch and personal spending money for the Exhibit Hall (fair trade items, books, etc.).  There are a limited number of seats.  Click here to sign up.

Note from Bud Green

Bud has many Sundays available this summer for pulpit supply.  He would love the opportunity to preach and would gladly fill the pulpit for anyone going on vacation or study leave.

News From the Churches
 
Musician Wanted
Faith Presbyterian Church in Hermitage is looking for both an organist and a choir director.  If you are interested or know a musician who might be interested in either of the positions, please contact the church at office@faithpc.net or 724-962-4155.

Official Call to the June 26, 2012 Meeting of Shenango Presbytery

The next stated meeting of Shenango Presbytery will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 in the Anderson Auditorium on the campus of Westminster College, New Wilmington. 

Highlights of the meeting include:

  • Report from the Camps & Conference Committee
  • Installation of the new Moderator and Vice Moderator of Shenango Presbytery
  • Commissioning Service for Commissioned Ruling Elders at Millbrook and Bethlehem
  • Retirement Service for Rev. Jim Cossin

Get the docket and Council minutes at:  http://www.shenango.org/News/meeting.htm

View a map of Westminster’s campus here:
http://www.westminster.edu/about/directions.cfm

eLink News

Coming Events

June 19- 1:30 PM Sub-group of COM, Presbytery Office
7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW
June 20- 1:00 PM Christian Education Committee, Presbytery Office
June 26- 6:30 PM Presbytery Meeting, Anderson Auditorium, Westminster College (watch for the special eLink tomorrow!) 

Prayers

– Paul Votaw (Member at Large) had surgery today on his leg as the result of a fall.

Do You Want to Attend Opening Worship at General Assembly?

Church vans are going from Shenango Presbytery to the Convention Center in Pittsburgh to attend GA Opening Worship on Saturday, June 30th.  Vans will leave around 11:30 AM from 2 or 3 points in the Presbytery, to arrive for worship at 1:30 PM and stay until 4:30 PM to allow folks to mingle and see the Exhibit Hall.  You will need to bring a brown bag lunch and personal spending money for the Exhibit Hall (fair trade items, books, etc.).  There are a limited number of seats.  Click here to sign up.

News From the Churches
 
Musician Wanted
Faith Presbyterian Church in Hermitage is looking for both an organist and a choir director.  If you are interested or know a musician who might be interested in either of the positions, please contact the church at office@faithpc.net or 724-962-4155.

eLink News

Coming Events

June 12- 3:15 PM Nominating Committee, Presbytery Office
June 14- 1:30 PM Evangelism Committee, Presbytery Office
7:00 PM Millenium Team, Presbytery Office
June 15- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry, Presbytery Office
June 18- 1:30 PM Sub-group of MCS, Presbytery Office
June 19- 1:30 PM Sub-group of COM, Presbytery Office
7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW 

Do You Want to Attend Opening Worship at General Assembly?

Church vans are going from Shenango Presbytery to the Convention Center in Pittsburgh to attend GA Opening Worship on Saturday, June 30th.  Vans will leave around 11:30 AM from 2 or 3 points in the Presbytery, to arrive for worship at 1:30 PM and stay until 4:30 PM to allow folks to mingle and see the Exhibit Hall.  You will need to bring a brown bag lunch and personal spending money for the Exhibit Hall (fair trade items, books, etc.).  There are a limited number of seats.  Click here to sign up.

Opportunity to Visit an Emerging Church in Southeast Asia

Several persons in Shenango Presbytery have made this trip before with World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Seminary.  If you are interested, please click here for more details.  The deadline is June 30th.  For more details, contact the Presbytery Office for names of those who have been there.



eLink News

Coming Events

June 12- 3:15 PM Nominating Committee, Presbytery Office

Preliminary Announcement for GA Bus Trips

  • Saturday, June 30: Opening Worship, Exhibit Hall, Moderator Election
  • Wednesday, July 4: Seminary Lunches, Exhibit Hall, Plenary Sessions, Fireworks
Meet the Shenango Presbytery GA Delegates
Pictured L-R: (Top Row) Elder Dale Deist (1st Greenville) and Rev. David Dobi (1st Greenville); (Bottom Row) Elder Karen Hudson (Unity), Elder Judy Riethmiller (Unity) representing Pittsburgh Seminary, and YAD Caitlin Moss (New Wilmington); not pictured Rev. Amy Na.

Lunch Conversations for Pastors

What’s going on in Shenango Presbytery these days?  Why stay in the PC(USA) at this point in time?  What does my congregation need from the Presbytery in this strange new season?  If these or related questions resonate with you, you are invited to join three pastors in the Presbytery for lunch and conversation on Thursday, June 7, 11:30 AM at New Wilmington Presbyterian Church.  Food will be provided.  Hosted by Bill Crooks, Ralph Hawkins, and Glenn Hink.  RSVP tooffice@nwpresby.org.  Questions to ralph@nwpresby.org or 724-946-3541.

We have Presbyterian Planning Calendars available for $9.00 each!

Engage Resource Books

If you attended the recent Engage Worship hosted by the Evangelism Committee, the resource books that were mentioned are now available at the Presbytery Office.  They are also available online for download athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/evangelism/engage/.

Warning to Church Treasurers

The IRS disallowed a  charitable contribution deduction made by a couple to their local church. The taxpayers took the case to Tax Court who sided with the IRS. Here are the facts. All churches and nonprofit organizations must provide a properly completed contemporaneous written acknowledge for aggregate annual receipts in excess of $250. In this case, the taxpayers were provided with a receipt by the church. The issue at hand was that the receipt was deficient in that it did not include any indication, as required, that no goods or services were provided in consideration of the donation. The church reissued a new receipt stating that no goods or services were provided, which was rejected by the IRS and the Tax Court. According to the Tax Code the receipt must be contemporaneous. The only acceptable contemporaneous receipt under the Tax Code is the receipt the taxpayer has when the return is filed.  If your church’s annual contribution report to your members does not include this statement or similar wording:

In order to comply with the substantiation requirements of IRS Code Sec. 170(f)(8)(B), no goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution.

…then you are in jeopardy of causing a member’s tax deductible contribution to be disallowed!  [Thanks Bill McKnight, CPA at Trinity Church, Mercer]

What Led to the Sudan Partnership?

The following articlehttp://www.pcusa.org/media/uploads/today/pdfs/junjul12_intoalltheworld.pdf by Michael Parker, director of international Evangelism for PC(USA) World Mission and former teacher at Nile Theological College, will appear in Presbyterians Today for the upcoming General Assembly in Pittsburgh.  It explains the deep commitment to world mission among western Pennsylvania Presbyterians.

Opportunity to Visit an Emerging Church in Southeast Asia

Several persons in Shenango Presbytery have made this trip before with World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Seminary.  If you are interested, please click here for more details.  The deadline is June 30th.  For more details, contact the Presbytery Office for names of those who have been there.


News From the Churches

It’s Summerfest Time at Cana’s Corner!  June 10, from 3-8 PM

Plan on coming to Summerfest, sponsored by Cana’s Corner!  We will have 6 musical groups, lots of picnic foods at old-fashioned prices, activities for children, and a nursery for infants-4 years old.  The event will be held in our air-conditioned Fellowship Hall.   Music includes David and Karen Brickley (Christian opera); Dave Buchanan (praise and worship); “Divine Delay” (men’s gospel trio); Deborah Lewis-Sanders (gospel); Bill & Katie Guthrie (country gospel); and Terry Leonard (folk and Christian).   We are located at the First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, 600 East State Street, Sharon, PA.  Hope to see you there!