General Assembly Leadership Training

I leave on Sunday evening, June 3, for three whirlwind days in Louisville.  After an overnight set of flights from Pasco, trough San Francisco and Washington, DC, I'll get to Louisville at 10:00 in time for training session that start at 1:30 PM.   On Wednesday I'll return, arriving at Pasco at midnight.

The training is for committee leadership and staff for General Assembly that begins June 30.  I will be parliamentarian to committee 20 - Pensions, Foundation, and Presbyterian Publishing.   There had been one controversial matter on the agenda, having to do with medical benefits of Pension Board for same-sex partners.   That item has been withdrawn.   As this is the first time I've had a helping role in committee, I look forward to little to tax my skills.

At the training I will get to meet the committee moderator, vice moderator, and the other support folks.  I We will also have training not only in our own roles, but in what each other team member does. 

As a presbytery clerk, I've been an observer to the action of three past General Assemblies.  I'm looking forward be being able to help in some small way.

I hope to have additional postings during or after the training and during General Assembly.

The next two General Assemblies are in Detroit, MI, in 2014 and Portland, OR, in 2016.  I hope I can attend one or both.

Please pray for the commissioners, delegates, and staff of the General Assembly as they prepare for and attend this bi-annual assembly. 

Blessings of Travel

ElRae and I are in Newport, OR, for a long weekend between a short speaking opportunity to the Oregon City Attorney's Association and some dental work in Portland on Tuesday.

We had the pleasure of worship at the First Presbyterian Church of Newport.   It was an additional pleasure to learn that Rev. Eric Chavis of the Presbyterian Foundation was the guest preacher.  We appreciated his message of stewardship of all our resources.  Seeing Rev. Chavis reminded me to remember to invite him to presbytery meetings in October or April.

Blessings come in many ways, including seeing friends in when each of us is away from home.

Presbytery Newsletter #1

The Stated Clerk has distributed the presbytery's first bi-email monthly newsletter.  This newsletter was distributed to 56 people on the presbytery's mailing list.   Newsletter included information on the March mission trip to Birmingham, Alabama and the April presbytery meeting.

The next newsletter will be distributed in mid-July.  It will include more information about presbytery mission activities and some highlights from the 220th Presbyterian General Assembly held in Pittsburgh, PA, June 30 to July 7.

To be on the mailing list for future newsletters, click on the "subscribe" button in the left column.

Presbytery meeting, April 20-21

At its meeting on Friday and Saturday, the presbytery provided additial grants, to Tutuilla Church for the lost  and found youth ministry, LaGrande First Pesbyterian church for Koininia House, and Lostine First Presbyterian Church.

The presbytery also heard reports from the Birmingham mission team and Shared Ministry director Rona Peterson about communicating with current and prospective members and the public.

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Presentation on Church Communications in 21st Century

Rona Peterson giving good presentation on church communications. Good references to Glo Bible and other resources.

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General Assembly Perspective (4/14)

I have been to three PC(USA) General Assemblies (2003, 2008 & 2010).  I've become somewhat of a junkie.

As an observer, I don't get to engage in committee or plenary debate, but I do observe the policy-setting deliberation as it happens.

This year I have the privilege of observing from a different perspective.  I will be a parliamentarian and recorder for one of the 20 committees. I have been assigned to the committee on the Board of Pensions, Presbyterian Foundation, and Presbyterian Publishing. As the Board of Pensions operates the church's medical insurance program for ministers and others we will be involves in some limited medical insurance concerns.  The broader policies of health insurance will be discussed in other committees.

I look forward go being forced to pay close attention to the minutiae of a narrow part of church policy.

I hope to make regular reports in June and the first week of July.

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Spring Presbytery Meeting, April 20-21, Hermiston

The spring meeting of the Presbytery of Eastern Oregon will be April 20-21 at Faith Presbyterian Church, Hermiston.

For more information go ro

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PPux4nR98lYhIjErQ_i4zek_-SDy_Ya7-H7pnpL6YZc/mobilebasic?pli=1

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