As members of the Body of Christ
Hudson River Presbytery
is called to live resurrection
with passion and partnership
in a changing world. (2007)
The above “calling statement” emerged out of a presbytery wide conversation in 2006 and 2007. I wonder – how are we, with God’s Spirit, allowing these words to become flesh in our life together?
AS MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST...
Hudson River Presbytery is one of 173 presbyteries in the PCUSA, and one of 22 presbyteries in the Synod of the Northeast;
Our 2009 Mission Pledges from 61 of our 90 congregations total $484, 099 - of which 2% goes to the Synod, 30% goes to the General Assembly, and 68% stays with us. (for salaries and initiatives supporting ministries of compassion, mission interpretation, education, congregational health, pastoral support and training, etc.)
Our 90 congregations gave generously to special offerings in 2008 – $80,947 to One Great Hour of sharing (56 congregations), $8,023 to Peacemaking (27 congregations), $20, 319 to Christmas Unified (29 congregations, and $4, 583 to Pentecost (18 congregations).
Our per capita giving for 2008 was $400,088 - of which $56,935 was sent to Synod, $89, 096 to GA, and $254,055 stayed here for our own administrative ministries (rent, office supplies, postage, support salaries, communication and technology, etc..
Many in our presbytery family serve on national denominational and affinity group entities – as examples, Ken Godshall and John Temple are members of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Board, Allen and Debbie Kemp are involved in Wee Kirk Conference leadership and Presbyterian Reformed Ministry International (a global charismatic prayer and mission group), Chris Shelton and Laura Cunningham are elected leaders of Presbyterian Welcome (NYC area advocacy group for full inclusion of GLBT folk), and I serve on the General Assembly Middle East Policy Task Force and the G A Council/Middle Governing Body Advisory Group.
The Rev. Jed Koball is a newly commissioned PCUSA Mission Co-Worker in Peru.
...HRP IS CALLED TO “LIVE RESURRECTION”...
On April 26th, the Amity Presbyterian Church liturgically “died to the old, and rose to the new” as the congregation was dissolved and the building was leased to the Vision Community Church – a vital and growing congregation committed to passionate discipleship and justice ministry. The Amity saints distributed their remaining funds to a variety of community ministry causes – including Rural Migrant Ministry camp scholarships. Eventual building proceeds will provide fresh resources for resurrection ministries in HRP.
At the May 19th Presbytery Meeting, we are receiving the generous gift of $430. 000 from the Poughkeepsie congregation – part of the proceeds of the sale of their building – a legacy offered to HRP to imagine and create new ministry visions for the 21st century. (June 23rd at Stony Point – 10 to 3 – join us as we begin to discern the use of this money)
The Korean Church of Westchester, now worshiping and serving in the New Rochelle Presbyterian building, have assumed primary financial responsibility for maintaining and repairing the building, even as the New Rochelle Church continues to worship in the space.
The Bethlehem, New Windsor congregation is turning outward, as they plan their first intergenerational mission trip for this summer.
The Calvary, Newburgh congregation will be turning toward their immediate neighborhood, as they take a walking tour of the streets of Newburgh – the mission filed God is calling them to serve.
The United Church in Middletown is discerning the resurrection purpose of two buildings – as they live into their 2008 merger.
The old Tri-annual Visit process has been transformed from a regulatory, reporting process to an appreciative inquiry, story telling process (Cooperative Leadership Gatherings) to celebrate strength and resurrection possibility in each congregation.
...WITH PASSION AND PARTNERSHIP...
As General Presbyter, building relationships with clergy and lay leaders – and with Sessions – is central to my job. In the past 12 months, I have preached and/or participated in worship in 40 of our congregations, enjoyed meals and/or pastoral conversations with 69 pastors, and in partnership with Committee on Ministry members, have engaged with 21 Sessions (End of First Year Reviews, PNC and Mission Study conversations, Cooperative Leadership Gatherings (formerly known as Tri-Annual visits, conflict mediation, etc.).
The Presbytery Prison Partnership, under the leadership of Ricardo “Shepp” Sheppard and funded by he synod, the presbytery and 8 congregations, has engaged 45 congregations and 10 correctional institutions through worship, Christmas and Mother’s Day cards to inmates, Bible donation and distribution, education about the criminal justice system, and advocacy efforts to support criminal justice reform in Albany.
The Stewardship Team, chaired by Elder Bob Black (Bedford), has trained over 55 of our congregations through workshops and individual Session visits – and is now focusing on planned giving ( Call them!)
The Presbytery Personnel Committee offered a “how to” workshop attended by 21 people, representing 11 congregations.
The Second Annual Clergy Retreat gathered over 30 men and women for spiritual renewal and colleague support.
A new South Westchester Clergy Support Group was birthed this year – adding to three other ongoing groups across the presbytery, and the Region 1 Pastors have started regular lunch gatherings. The Stony Point Lectionary Study Group - open to all – continues to gather twice a month to chew on God’s Word.
The 10 members of the Conflict Mediation Team, trained for 5 days last summer, have been invited to mediate tension in three of our congregations, and sponsored the Healthy Congregations Workshop – attended by 60 folks representing four presbyteries and 21 congregations.
Harriet Sandmeier has offered regional officer training and Clerk of Session training, Bruce Tischler has consulted with a dozen or more congregations around issues of adaptive change, Chris Shelton has convened regional gatherings to network around issues of education and mission outreach, and I coordinated a New Pastor Orientation gathering and convened a Westchester County conversation focused on storytelling and colleague support for congregations hit by the Wall Street meltdown.
Presbybuild (a coalition of 12 congregations in Rockland, Orange, Ulster, and Duchess County) dedicated their third home in Newburgh.
Eighteen faithful HRP clergy and elders – representing 9 congregations travelled, to Galveston Texas to spend an intense, engaged week repairing homes and churches after the 2008 devastation of Hurricane Ike.
15 of the HRP saints have formed a Jubilee Team – to plan themes, events, and celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of HRP in 2010.
Initial conversations have been launched to explore a Peru/Presbytery Partnership, working in collaboration with Mission Co-Worker and HRP member Jed Koball.= - as well as folk in Giddings/Lovejoy Presbytery
The Yonkers Initiative continues to coordinate the mission outreach of the three Presbyterian congregations in Yonkers.
The Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center at Holmes continues to build partnerships among congregations in three presbyteries ( HRP, New York City, and Long Island) through confirmation retreats, summer camp, and outdoor ministries.
The Misconduct Response Coordinating Team has completed mandatory workshops for all clergy, emphasizing Misconduct Prevention, and is now focusing on boundary training.
...IN A CHANGING WORLD...
The Vision Ministry Team sponsored a provocative day with emerging church thinker Len Sweet, where 90 plus participants traveled a Gutenberg to Google road.
Six congregations and 8 clergy have formed The Clearing – a collaborative learning community that will engage in Missional Transformation under the webinar leadership of Alan Roxburgh – an 18 month process of nurturing passionate discipleship, that turns outward to serve the missional needs of their immediate communities.
The Vision and Transformation Teams have covenanted to collaborate together, hoping to offer coaching, resources and various transformation paradigms for individual congregations who are ready and wiling to enter the changing challenges of a changing world.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, God is at work in HRP inviting us to practice resurrection – to live resurrection - and to become resurrection for a world hungry for Good News. Thank for your partnership in this exciting, difficult, and challenging Resurrection Work.
