Foothills Presbytery
99th Stated Meeting
Supplement
April 24, 2016
Committee on Ministry Supplemental Report
April 24, 2016
The Committee on Ministry reports:
1. That it heard a report of the C.R.E. Subcommittee, and that it approved a new CRE Stated Supply Contract Form and that it approved an extension for Ruling Elder Elizabeth Jones (Mt. Zion) to complete her training. There will be a drop-in for current and perspective students on Sunday, August 28th at 2 p.m. at the Presbytery Office.
2. That it heard a report from the Manual of Operations Subcommittee. COM will present a revised section of their portion of the Manual with specific Commission Powers to the August Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
3. Approved Rev. Michael Sullivan and Rev. Lerone Wilder to be on the Pulpit Supply List and approved them to celebrate the Sacraments at Nicholtown Church where they are the primary Pulpit Supplies. Rev. Sullivan was ordained by the Crosstown Missionary Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan in 1980. He has served pastorates in Michigan and Canada, and has retired to Greenville. Rev. Wilder was ordained by the Mt. Moriah Church in Spartanburg in 2012 and is currently enrolled in PhD Studies. Rev. Beverly Kelly continues to be the Moderator of the Nicholtown Session.
4. Approved the request of the Good Hope Session to close their Installed Pastoral position and to seek a Part-Time Stated Supply.
5. Approved Will Nickles as the Moderator of the Varennes Session.
6. Reviewed the Interim Report of Steve Vance’s service in Greater Atlanta Presbytery.
Faithfully submitted,
Mike Johnston, Chair
Foothills Presbytery
Nominating Committee Report
April 24, 2016
Committee on Preparation
Rev. Terri Price (1) (Providence) Class of 2018
Ms. Judy Pearson (1) (First Greer) Class of 2018
South Carolina Inn at Montreat Board
Ms. Kitty Daniels (1) (First Simpsonville)
Equipping the Saints
To Equip, Nurture and Connect the churches in Foothills Presbytery
Since our last report to Presbytery, the Equipping the Saints team has…
The Leadership Development team successfully facilitated and lead two regional events.
· Foothills Presbytery in partnership with the Anderson School of Theology for Laypersons hosted Diana Butler Bass: Grounded, March 4 & 5 at Central Presbyterian Church in Anderson. An average of 100 people attended one or more of four presentations made throughout the weekend.
· Leader of Leaders (SC 5 Presbyteries) Annual Event was March 8 in Columbia. 50 Ministers, Educators and church leaders cam to hear the Rev. Jan Edmlnston facilitate a conversation around Culture, Strategy and Change in the Church.
In addition the team has been in conversation with Gail Strange (GA Presbyterian Mission Agency office of Communications) to host a workshop/gathering. “Communications Game Plan”. Focus/goal is to help congregations as they create policy, best practices, game plan and strategies to implement/educate.
The Peer Groups/Region groups continue to gather:
· Women Clergy Group – meeting 4x a year
· Children’s Christian Educators in the large church
· Youth Leader Roundtable – monthly check-in and book study (Sustainable Youth Ministry)
· Spartanburg Area Clergy – every 6/8 weeks
· Greenville Area Clergy – every 6/8 weeks
· Lake Cluster/Panera breakfast group every 6/8 weeks
We continue to work with the Presbytery staff on a bi-monthly Joys and Concerns email with prayer needs and celebrations of Ministers, Professional church staff, Elders serving Presbytery, etc.
Our Hospitality & Welcoming team (in co-operation with Exams/COM) has welcomed new Minister members, Educators and Youth Directors into Foothills Presbytery: Leslie Lang, Gordon Turnbull, Jan Culpepper, and Cassie Wolfe.
The Technology & Communication team continues to partner with the Presbytery staff to update our Web Site, facebook pages, twitter account, and ENews newsletter. In addition we hope to work with the Leadership Development team to create/offer another series of PresbyXPress, “What does it mean to be a Connectional Church” in 2016.
Our Curriculum, & Resources team continue to review and evaluate the use of our Presbytery Resource Center. Purchase of material continues to lean toward conservative spending. We were delighted that the Small Church Notebook Brigade had their last meeting in the resource center and were made aware of the wealth of resources available to their churches.
The Shared Mission (once known as the Mission Team) is delighted to report the success of ENGAGE event. The Rev. Ray Jones joined Foothills Presbytery Feb 14-16. He facilitated a luncheon, 2/15 for Presbytery leaders about evangelism and church transformation, preached at the Stated Meeting of Presbytery (on our web site: http://foothillspresbytery.org/engage-ray-jones-mission-event/) led a packed house for an afternoon Workshop and ended the day with a workshop with special focus on evangelism in the Small(er) Church. Every Church in Foothills Presbytery was given a Leaders Guide and Participant book for the ENGAGE Gospel curriculum.
We continue to get reports and updates from Thornwell Home for Children. In addition, we are exploring ways to make sure updated information and resources about Presbyterian Disaster Relief (PDA) are available to our Congregations. Special thanks to the Rev. Matt Matthews for writing the annual article for the Presbyterian Mission Yearkbook: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/yearbook/april-4/
Outdoor Ministry continues to be a focus of ministry and education in Foothills. The 2016 Summer Camp Program Committee reported in late February the hire of our Summer Camp Program Director Jordan Meggs. The committee has met twice a month since the new year to create a working budget, focus on safe practices, schedule the summer camp schedule, recruit and hire staff, coordinate with site manager/team (preparation for summer), develop staff training, schedule camp job fairs, craft a game plan for communications, recruit Chaplains, write curriculum plan and schedule two Camp Fairs and more. In addition, the team is working on alternative locations to host Outdoor Ministry events such as week long day camp or daily events at churches in our Presbytery. For more about Summer Camp 2016 http://bucoutdoorcenter.org/summer-camp/
Members of Equipping the Saints continue to partner with the Small(er) Church leadership team to host presbytery-wide gatherings: January 19th, February 16 (Ray Jones), February 20th
(Notebook Brigade) and April 14th. Our next gathering is scheduled for Tuesday July 19th, 6.30 at the Piedmont Church.
Connections Report:
§ Susan Tompkins (Educator First Greer) continues her work toward becoming a Certified Christian Educator. In partnership with the COM, the EtS team looks forward to celebrating with Susan, her reference group, First Greer and the Presbytery the culmination of her work.
§ In partnership with the COM need to develop a game plan for two things:
o Boundaries/Ethics Training
o Create/Update Foothills Presbytery’s Child Protection Policy
o It was reported that the Foothills Moderator of Presbyterian Women met with our Presbytery Pastor and Associate Pastor to discuss ways to better communicate and connect the resource and work of PW in Foothills Presbytery.
There are no needed actions or recommendations for Presbytery at this time.
Equipping the Saints Committee
Class 2016 / Class 2017 / Class 2018David Howell TE (1) / Pressley Cox TE (2) CHAIR / TJ Ramaley, TE (1)
Allyson Helvie TE (1) / Beth Neidenbach RE (2) / Deborah Broadwell TE (2)
Jennifer Walker, Educator (1) / Pat Shufeldt, Resource Center / Matt Matthews TE (1)
Ginna Lister, Educator
(filling vacancy) / Ken Schafer, RE (1) / Whitney Moss, Educator (1)
The Revs Mashoon/Rose Nance
Pulpit Supply Salem (1) / Ann Coleman RE (1) / Julie Meredith TE (1)
Ex. officio: Presbytery Staff, Debbie Foster and Aaron Ochart TE
2016 Summer Camp Program Committee
The Summer Camp Program Committee is currently meeting on a weekly basis to prepare for the upcoming summer.
· The theme for the summer is “Heroes of the Faith” focusing on how God uses ordinary people in the Bible to do extraordinary things for our faith.
o The summer curriculum is being written by Ginna Lister and Jennifer Walker.
· Staff: The committee has held several interview days and looks forward to hiring a full staff. Male counselor applicants are still needed. Cook and Assistant Cook have been hired.
· Chaplains for the summer include Pressley Cox, Ginna Lister, Stephanie Norton, and Jennifer Walker.
· New this summer
o Middle School Mission Week- June 19
§ This summer we are designing an amazing week just for Middle School students. Get ready for a week of service that is meaningful, memorable and fun. Our counselors and staff will guide the group as they build friendships with other participants and work with skilled technical staff to oversee the projects done on site and in the local community. Each participant will have a chance to explore the underlying lessons of what it means to serve and love others as Christ has loved us.
o Pick-a-day option for individuals or groups (groups contact LeAnne White to register
§ A one day camp experience (Complete 5K-4th grade) 9:30am-4pm at Buc Outdoor Center. Includes: Hiking, low-ropes, swimming, lunch, games, craft, Bible Study and a $75.00 discount coupon(per camper) for a week at camp later in the summer. June 21, June 23, June 28, July 12, July 19, July 26
· The committee is organizing a Sunday afternoon Camp Fair, 3.30-5pm at Central Presbyterian in Anderson on May 1. They hope to organize one at a Greenville area church also. The Camp Fair will be an opportunity for elementary age kids and their parents to get a taste of the camp experience. The event(s) will include games, crafts, snacks, camp songs and a question/answer session with Summer Camp Director Jordan Meggs.
Pressley Cox – Chair, Justin Cazel, Jennifer G. Walker, Diane Durham
Jordon Meggs – Camp Director LeAnne White – Camp Registrar
Debbie Foster – Presbytery Staff Ginna Lister (ex. officio)
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