| | Dear Peacemakers,
I am taking a moment away from a wonderful conference called CREDO in rolling hills of upstate NY, to write this email to you. Thirty-two Presbyterian ministers between ages 40-55, following a pattern started by the Episcopalians, are taking an eight-day break from ministry for guided reflection on our spiritual, vocational, financial, and emotional health. It has been a very meaningful time of study, worship, refreshment, and discernment. There are six of these conferences per year, significantly funded by the Presbyterian Board of Pensions.
Sunday is Pentecost, and Pastor Tricia will be preaching. She will be assisted by our friend, retired minister and presbytery executive, Rev. Grant Lowe. Director Gia will begin rehearsal for the summer musical at 11:30, and all who have nurtured the faith of children, youth, or adults will be thanked for their teaching with a fire-red “Pentecost” plant. Don’t forget to wear red for Pentecost, as we celebrate the fire of the Spirit!
I am seeing your email nearly every day, though I do not have time to respond. Know that you are in my prayers while I am away, and that I am grateful for the ministry we share. So many of my new friends have been pleased and inspired to hear about you and the progress of Peace Presbyterian Church!
Some of you may have heard that the new Form of Government of the PC(USA) has been passed by a majority of the presbyteries, and will go into effect in July. Most of you will notice little or no difference in the way Peace is run. Proponents of the six-chapter nFOG (Your pastors are among them) say it is designed to be flexible and recognizes the changing nature of the church. The current 18-chapter Form of Government was adopted in 1983 and has been amended hundreds of times.
The major difference between the proposed nFOG and the current Form of Government is not in what governing bodies are expected to do, but in how and who does it, said the Rev. Dan Williams, co-moderator of the nFOG task force. If you want to read more, see this website link: http://oga.pcusa.org/formofgovernment/
Peace,
Elizabeth |
