PresbyNews OnLine November-December 2017 Published following meetings of San Diego Presbytery Bob Battenfield, Editor News@PresbyterySD.Org We are spiritual, missional and relational leaders assisting and supporting congregations to become communities of faith, hope, love and witness. --- Mission Statement of the Presbytery To God be the Glory: New Mexico Sunset (Photo by Bob Battenfield) November Presbytery Meeting Report In this issue: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church Elder Sue Skala Elected as 2018 Moderator of Presbytery Presbytery Ratifies Rev. Bob Davis as Acting Stated Clerk Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack to Serve as Vice-Moderator of Presbytery in 2018 Executive Presbyter s Corner Linda Therien is One of a Kind By Rev Michael Mudgett 2018 Corporate Officers Elected
Commissioners to PC(USA) General Assembly Elected 2018 Per Capita Assessment Set BP&F Sends $15K to Puerto Rico Presbyteries Revised Draft Gracious Dismissal Policy Proposal Distributed PHOTO FILE Rev. Megan Cochran Wins Approval to Serve at Westminster San Diego PEOPLE ON THE MOVE How New Worshiping Communities Are Reaching the Nones and Dones (PNS) Upcoming Meetings of Presbytery Elder Sue Skala Elected as 2018 Moderator of Presbytery Elder Sue Skala of Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church was elected as Moderator of Presbytery in 2018. Raised in Oakland, California, Sue has a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, New York. Sue and her husband, Whitney, have three children; JR (29), Teresa (27), and Kirsten (26). Sue has owned and operated Skala Architecture A P.C. since 1987. Prior to this, she was with local firms and international firms in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. She is a board member of the American Institute of Architects, has sat on the County Historic Sites Board, and is a past president of Save Our Heritage 2018 Moderator Sue Skala Organization. Presbytery Ratifies Rev. Bob Davis as Acting Stated Clerk The Presbytery ratified the Executive Committee s action to appoint Rev. Bob Davis, pastor of Chula Vista Presbyterian Church, as Acting Stated Clerk for one year beginning January 1, 2018, pursuant to the Presbytery Manual of Administrative Operations. For Davis bio, see the September-October 2017 issue of the PresbyNews. Linda Therien announced her retirement at the September meeting of Presbytery. Davis had been previously nominated to serve as Vice-Moderator of Presbytery in 2018. With his move to Acting Stated Clerk, the position of Vice-Moderator opened. Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack to Serve as Vice-Moderator of Presbytery in 2018 The Nominating Committee recommended and Presbytery approved Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack, lead pastor of Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church, to serve as the Vice- Moderator of Presbytery in 2018. Prior to serving FHPC, Kevin was Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego. He also served in several other locations directing student ministries. Kevin received his undergraduate degree in Communication from San Diego State University, his Masters of Divinity from Bethel Seminary, and his Doctor of Ministry from Talbot School of Theology. Kevin and his wife, Mandy, have two daughters: Megan and Zoe. In his free time Kevin loves spending time with his family and riding his bike all over San Diego. 2
Executive Presbyter s Corner Linda Therien is One of a Kind By Rev. Michael Mudgett Some things associated with my job as Executive Presbyter are difficult to do. This is one of those things. It is with bittersweet feelings I share with you that the stated clerk of the Presbytery of San Diego, Linda Therien, has decided to retire effective December 31, 2017. After more than 14 years of faithful and excellent service not only to our presbytery, but the denomination at large, Linda became a friend to many. Her service to the church is storied. Not everyone knows that Linda served our Presbytery as vicemoderator, moderator, and chair of the Executive Committee, before coming on staff as the presbytery s office manager (under EP Andy Smith) in 2003. She also served on the COM and as chair, and on the Executive Committee as chair of COM; on the committee on representation and chair; on the Nominating Committee; on the PJC and various administrative commissions; on the Committee of Council to prosecute a case before the GA PJC; and as a Commissioner to General Assembly at Long Beach. Linda and Carole a team! Moderator Liz presented Linda with a box of gifts. Linda began serving our Presbytery as stated clerk in 2004, and has faithfully served in that capacity ever since. Linda served our Synod in various capacities. She served: (1) on the Hanmi AC for about 15 years; (2) on the synod executive search committee that called Doska Ross; (3) and served various terms on the council, PJC and co-chair of personnel. At the General Assembly level, Linda (1) chaired a Committee on the Constitution; (2) served as a member of the stated clerk search committee that called J. Herbert Nelson as Stated Clerk of the PCUSA; and (3) served as a member of the stated clerk review committee of Cliff Kirkpatrick. Wow! is the one word that just about sums it up. Thank you Linda, for your extraordinary service to the church of Jesus Christ. As her church family, we shared our well-wishing and encouragement for a bright and joy-filled future, at our presbytery meeting on November 14, at Mt. Soledad Pres. Linda, we will miss you. You re appreciated. You re one of a kind. Michael 3
2018 Corporate Officers Elected Corporate officers of the Presbytery of San Diego for 2018 were elected at the November Presbytery meeting: President Executive Committee Chair Pastor Elizabeth Wilson Manahan Vice-President Executive Committee Vice-Chair (to be named by the president in 2018) Secretary Stated Clerk of the Presbytery Pastor Bob Davis Liz Manahan Treasurer Chair of the Budget Property & Finance Committee Pastor Greg Bostrom Commissioners to PC(USA) General Assembly Elected Elected to serve as our Presbytery commissioners and our YAAD to the 223 rd General Assembly of the PC(USA), to be held from June 16-23 in St. Louis, were these good folks. Brief bios of each can be found online at the end of the November 14 agenda. As elder commissioners: Bridget Meckley, Fletcher Hills Sue Skala, Point Loma Community As minister commissioners: Parrish Bridges, Mira Mesa Michael Mudgett, Executive Presbyter As Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) Rebecca Matsch, Point Loma Community Rev. Parrish Bridges As alternate YAAD Antonios Daskalakis, Pacific Beach 2018 Per Capita Assessment Set The 2018 per capita assessment was approved, and will be as follows contingent on confirmation by the Synod Assembly: $24.36 Presbytery 7.73 General Assembly 2.85 Synod $34.94 2018 Total BP&F Sends $15K to Puerto Rico Presbyteries Reserved funds collected for disaster relief following the 2007 fires in San Diego County were tapped to send to the Puerto Rico Synod to transfer equally to the three presbyteries on the island, it was reported by the Stated Clerk. 4
Revised Draft of Gracious Dismissal Policy Proposal Distributed The Executive Committee forwarded the Presbytery s latest draft of the Gracious Dismissal Policy Proposal for distribution at the November meeting. Feedback will be received at the February 20 meeting. Opportunity for Q&A discussion will be an hour before at 3 pm. The actual vote on the policy will be taken at the May 15 Presbytery meeting. To download the document, go to www.presbyterysd.org PHOTO FILE Worship Service singing was led by Melissa Stinson and Ryan Woolsey; and the sermon by CRE Sarah Carter and Pastor Paul Cunningham told the story of how La Jolla Presbyterian Church was revitalized by its sponsorship and outreach of Urban Life in City Heights schools and neighborhoods. Communion was led by Mount Soledad Pastor John Moser and Anchor City s Jeya and Daniel So. The church shares space with the new church development. Daniel also updated plans for more new churches through the guidelines of Cyclical San Diego. Chef Yapo prepared a wonderful dinner featuring Asian roast pork. AND A CHANGE OF PACE The Fortunate Sons, a barbershop quartet, offered dinner entertainment at the Presbytery meeting. The foursome is part of Pacific Coast Harmony, a men s choral group that meets to rehearse Tuesday nights at Mount Soledad. PCH s next public performance is Home for the Holidays, 7 pm December 9 at the church. For tickets go to pch-tickets@eventbrite.com 5
Rev. Megan Cochran Wins Approval to Serve at Westminster San Diego She s small in stature but she s spirit-filled to the brim. Rev. Megan Cochran was accepted by vote of the Presbytery to become the new pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Point Loma. On the meeting agenda, Rev. Cochran was Minister X, meaning not all the procedures were complete at the time the docket was prepared. Rev. Cochran comes to San Diego from Lake View Presbyterian Church in Chicago. She steps in as Rev. Deb Mitchell, who was the interim pastor at Westminster, moves on after an outstanding period of service to San Diego Presbytery. Rev. Megan Cochran Rev. Deb Mitchell and Megan Megan with husband Alex and daughter Clarus (Photo by Ed Piper) PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Rev. Jim Rauch, having retired in August, was honored at the November Presbytery meeting for his 21 years of service to the congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Escondido. Previously, he was youth pastor at Chula Vista Presbyterian. Jim Rauch, supported by congregation. Liz and Deb Mitchell Mike Killeen Jack Shelver Carole Ostrander Rev. Deb Mitchell, who has served most recently as interim pastor at Westminster Point Loma, was recognized by Presbytery for her service to not only Westminster but also to Southeast Community Presbyterian and to Presbyterian Urban Ministry (PUM). She is relocating to Indianapolis soon where she has family. 6
Rev. Mike Killeen, who was approved last March to serve as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside, has completed his relocation. He attended his first San Diego Presbytery meeting. Executive Committee Chair Elder Jack Shelver was honored for completing his second cycle of executive management of the Presbytery going through the chairs for the second time: Vice-Moderator, Moderator, and chair of the Executive Committee. He was City Manager of Coronado and Lemon Grove during his long career in public service. The Presbytery concurred in the joint recommendation between the 2017 Stated Clerk and the 2018 Stated Clerk that Elder Carole Ostrander be continued as the Presbytery Minute Clerk in 2018. Thank you Carole! Rev. Dr. Chris Lenocker was authorized to be a Parish Associate at the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church. Rev. Ed Piper was appointed to serve as the temporary moderator of the Westmorland Presbyterian Church Session. Rev. Scott Mitchell s call to be Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at the La Jolla Presbyterian Church was approved. The request of Rev. Tom Straeter and the Mission Presbytery of the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO) that he be transferred to them retroactive to August 28, 2017 was approved. Straeter had been pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church of Vista. The Growing Edges of Evangelism How New Worshiping Communities Are Reaching the Nones and Dones by Melody K. Smith / Presbyterian News Service LOUISVILLE New worshiping communities are successfully reaching people who have never attended church and those who had previously given up on the church. About half of new worshiping community participants were not churchgoers before participating in their new worshiping community. In fact, for 12 percent of participants, this community is their first foray into any sort of religious gathering. What are these communities doing to attract these nones and dones? Research recently presented by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Research Services at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and Religious Research Association meeting in Washington, D.C., indicates that the answer could partially lie in the fact that, although new worshiping communities are just as likely as congregations to engage in evangelism, the emphasis differs. 7
God is up to something brand new in the church today. -- Vera White, coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities Only 31 percent of congregations make frequent use of relational evangelism, compared to 77 percent of new worshiping communities. There is also a large gap between new worshiping communities and congregations in the use of testimonial evangelism, said Deb Coe, coordinator for Research Services. This is particularly interesting, given that sharing the Good News and telling your God story is a more traditional style of evangelism, but is used by over half of the more nontraditional new worshiping communities. Given that new worshiping communities are reaching people who have never attended church and those who had previously given up on the church, it appears that these two methods of evangelism are working. And yet, fewer than one-half of congregations are using these methods. In fact, new worshiping communities are more likely than congregations to frequently engage in all five styles of evangelism. Quite simply, new worshiping communities report doing more evangelism, and in more ways, than congregations do. It is exciting to see the changing face of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as Presbyterians of different races, languages and cultural backgrounds leave the church buildings and step out into their communities to build relationships, meet needs and make disciples, said Vera White, coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities. God is up to something brand new in the church today. When we look around at our over 400 new worshiping communities we see new energy and enthusiasm. For the complete article, go to https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/growing-edges-evangelism/?utm Upcoming Meetings of Presbytery The Executive Committee has set the following dates for Presbytery Meetings in 2018. Please contact the Stated Clerk to schedule a meeting at your church. Tuesday February 20 at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church 4 pm Tuesday May 15 Location TBD 4 pm Tuesday September 18 Location TBD 4 pm Tuesday November 13 Location TBD 4 pm 8