EMerge is a newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Through most of the year it is published weekly and distributed to congregations, teaching elders, ruling elders, church members, committees and friends of the presbytery. Please send submissions and address corrections to [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
 |
U.S. Supreme Court denies
presbytery's petition in EPPC matter
The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area has learned that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of the presbytery in the matter related to Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church, bringing the legal case to a close. In a note this week, executive presbyter Jeff Japinga, writing on behalf of the presbytery's Administrative Commission, wrote, "We are deeply disappointed by the result. The court's decisions run counter to the church's historic and legal right to organize and govern itself free of governmental interference, and to decide how best to resolve intra-denominational disputes such as this one." Japinga's complete note can be found at "Supreme Court Decision."
EMerge notes summer publication plans
 EMerge, this publication of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, will not be published during four weeks this summer. There will be no EMerge on the Fridays of June 22, July 6, July 27 and Aug. 10.
Following the news
of the PC(USA) General Assembly
While there will be no EMerge next week, updates will be coming your way through the presbytery's Facebook page. There will be periodic updates, at least daily, at "The Presbytery on Facebook."
Beyond the presbytery's Facebook presence, there are a number of ways to follow the work, events, worship and more from the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in St. Louis. If you are tracking a particular overture or if you want to get to the details of the committee work at General Assembly, a good place to look is something simply known as "PC Biz." If you're a Facebook user, and you want to stay up to date, you can check out "Spirt of GA," and if you're looking for something more up to the minute -- or breaking news -- you can use Twitter and follow "PresbyGA." The official website of General Assembly is, of course, at "General Assembly."
General Assembly News
will be available free to inbox
This year all Presbyterians (and others) can read the same daily newspaper that is available to those attending the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in St. Louis, June 16-  23. The General Assembly News, a printed newspaper distributed at the biennial gathering, will be available through a free e-mail subscription. E-subscribers will receive the identical electronic version in their e-mail inbox. The newspaper will be published daily from June 16-23. "We hear repeatedly from Presbyterians around the country who cannot attend the General Assembly that they would love to be able to read The General Assembly News," said Jerry Van Marter, interim director of communications for the Office of the General Assembly. The complete announcement, along with a link to subscribe, can be found at "The General Assembly News."
Boundary training offered
in October at Oak Grove
The presbytery's Committee on Ethics will be host to a Level 1 boundaries training Oct. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to  3 p.m. at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. This training is required for all teaching elders in the presbytery, and is also appropriate for youth directors, Christian education staff, music staff, ministry volunteers, and people serving on church personnel committees. The training provides basic foundations and frameworks for healthy and safe Christian communities in terms of ministry relationships, finance, social media and confidentiality. Registration can be completed at "Boundaries Training."
Jeff's Jottings
The classiest of 2018
By Jeff Japinga
Executive Presbyter
It's graduation season. I will be in Santa Clara University's soccer stadium on Saturday morning for the graduation of my daughter Paige. I could not be more proud of her perseverance, her commitment, her beautiful spirit.
Like every parent there, I'll scan the sea of maroon caps and gowns, each one exactly like the other (save for the ones who decorated their caps) looking for Paige. From behind, faces hidden from view, they all look the same, until their name is called, and they walk across that stage, and suddenly that remarkable sameness isn't anymore.
The complete Jottings are at "Classiest of 2018."
|
Women in presbytery
invited to potluck June 26
Women in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area "had a wonderful gathering in April and want to keep the conversation going," according to a note from the Rev. Heidi Bolt. Bolt and the Rev. Dr. Karin Craven are inviting women in the presbytery to a potluck at the Craven home on Tuesday, June 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The address is 1539 Blackhawk Lake Drive, Eagan, Minnesota. RSVPs are requested to Bolt at [email protected]. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to pass.
St. Paul Interfaith Network
notes next sacred-site tour
 The St. Paul Interfaith Network has scheduled another tour of Dakota sacred sites Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tours center around the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, what the Dakota refer to as Bdote, or "meeting place of rivers." The tour stops include Fort Snelling, the site of the Dakota internment camp following the Dakota-U.S. War, and Pilot Knob Hill, a traditional burial ground. The tours provide history from the American Indian perspective. Details can be found at "Sacred Sites."
Kids Camp at Spirit of Life
 scheduled June 25-29
Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church in Apple Valley is planning Kids Camp early in the summer season -- the week of June 25-29. Open to all area children, the week-long day camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children in grades K-5 and from 9 a.m. to noon for preschoolers. Lunch will be provided for full-day participants. Trained summer camp staff from Clearwater Forest Camp and Retreat Center will lead the camp, while local adults and teens will assist. The complete announcement is at "Kids Camp."
Addiction, faith conference planned
in September in Bloomington
 An addiction and faith conference, designed to help congregations, clergy and care givers address the opioid addiction crisis, is planned Sept. 28-30 at the DoubleTree Hilton in Bloomington. The conference features keynoters Nadia Bolz-Weber, Omar Manegwala and Anne Wilson Shaef. Details about the conference can be found at "Addiction and Faith."
|
Resources, conferences ...
|
Wild Goose Festival planned
in July in North Carolina
 The Wild Goose Festival, a music, art and story-driven transformational experience grounded in faith-inspired social justice, is planned July 12-15 in Hot Springs, North Carolina. The festival invites participants to grow together by co-creating art, music, story, theater and spectacle, and by engaging in robust and respectful conversation with each other and with thought leaders and artists. Details can be found at "Wild Goose Festival."
'Friends, Neighbors Day,' 'Lake2Lake
Bike Tour' set at Clearwater
 July 14 will be a busy day at Clearwater Forest. The Presbyterian camp and conference center near Deerwood is celebrating its annual Friends and Neighbors Day and it will also be host to its "Lake2Lake Scenic Bike  Tour" to raise money to benefit Clearwater Forest camper scholarships. The bike tour features 50-, 30- or 8-mile rides. Those who aren't riding can sponsor a rider. Throughout the day Clearwater Forest will be offering tours of the grounds and buildings, games and activities, and even the opportunity to take part in sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, high-ropes, and the "bouldering wall." The complete announcement about Friends and Neighbors Day can be found at "A Day at Clearwater." Details about the bike tour are at "Lake2Lake."
Synod School: Classes, worship,
play, family, friends, a whole lot more
 Those who are thinking about attending Synod School this summer should spend a little time looking through the midsummer ministry's catalog. This year more than 70 classes are offered in a wide variety of subjects. Celebrating its 65th year, Synod School typically draws more than 600 people to the week-long event of learning and personal enrichment on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. This year's event runs Sunday through Friday, July 22-27. The catalog, and a link to online registration, can be found at "Synod School."
Applications accepted for Presbyterian
Women's 2019 USA Mission Experience
 A group of Presbyterian women will travel to the Finger Lakes Region of New York in July 2019 for the fifth USA Mission Experience. They will explore the history that Presbyterian women have in the women's and civil rights movements, and will also have the opportunity to learn more about themselves and about some of the issues that confront the people of the Finger Lakes Region, including migrant workers and Native Americans. Applications to participate are being accepted until Aug. 15. Details are available at "2019 USA Mission Experience."
Applications being accepted for OPSF
Lifelong Learning Program Grants
 The Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation is accepting applications through Aug. 15 for its Lifelong Learning Program Grant. Through the years, the Foundation has provided more than $1 million to support many educational events, workshops and seminars that cover a wide range of topics and serve anywhere from 10 to more than 200 people. Teaching elders, commissioned pastors and lay leaders all benefit from lifelong learning events. Details are available at "Lifelong Learning Events."
Holy Land tour planned
for potential tour leaders
Bright Stars of Bethlehem, an ecumenical non-profit organization that encourages understanding of and support for Palestinian people living in the Holy Land,  is sponsoring a Holy Land discovery tour for group tour leaders in January. This trip is organized by group travel directors, and is designed for pastors or other church group leaders who anticipate leading a first-time tour to the Holy Land. The trip is intended to give a glimpse into the kind of itinerary visits possible for congregational and Christian education groups to witness the historical roots of the Christian faith, and to learn about the work of Christians in Palestine. Details can be found in a brochure at "Holy Land Tour for Tour Leaders."
Presbyterian Women plan
national gathering in August
 The church-wide gathering of Presbyterian Women is planned Aug. 2-5 in Louisville,
Kentucky, with the theme "Arise, shine, your light has come!" Participants will engage in workshops, tours, forums and resource gathering, plenary sessions, worship and more. Information about the gathering can be found at "National Gathering."
Stewardship Kaleidoscope planned
in St. Louis in September
 This year's Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual conference offering speakers, workshops and networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity, is planned Sept. 24-26 in St. Louis. Diana Butler Bass, an award-winning author and internationally known public speaker, and Chick Lane, pastor for stewardship and generosity at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, Minnesota, will be the keynote speakers. Details about the conference can be found at "Stewardship Kaleidoscope."
Loan assistance program is available to help those with educational debt
Fi
nancial Aid for Service is partnering with other Presbyterian Mission Agency offices to provide debt assistance to members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) serving Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)  organizations. The assistance program is available to lay members, commissioned ruling elders/commissioned pastors seeking credentials for ordered ministry, and candidates certified ready to receive a call. Participants may receive up to $250 of assistance with student loan payments for up to 12 months while the applicant is in service. Commissioned ruling elders seeking credentials for ordered ministry and candidates certified ready to receive a call will have the opportunity to reapply up to two times. Complete details are at "Loan Assistance Program."
|
Service opportunities ...
|
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church
in Bloomington is seeking a second child care professional to work in its nursery on Sunday mornings. This is a paid position. The nursery is a vital part of the church's ministry and hospitality during worship. Those interested are invited to contact Mary Kook at [email protected] or 952.888.4621, or Iris Karow at
[email protected] by June 24. Additional details are at "
Child Care Professional."
|
Jimmie Hawkins arrested in Poor
People's Campaign demonstration
Police in Washington, D.C., took the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins and other faith leaders into custody on  Monday afternoon during a demonstration outside the U.S. Supreme Court building. Hawkins, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Public Witness, was taking part in the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival. Standing under a banner that read "Everybody's Got a Right to Live," the group joined participants in nonviolent demonstrations in 40 state capitals around the country. The 40-day campaign focuses on a different topic each week. This week's focus is on living wages, jobs, income and housing. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rick Jones can be found at "Hawkins Arrested."
Mid Councils committee will consider request for administrative commission
A request to establish an administrative commission "to address disorder in the Synod of the Covenant" is one of the items that will be on the agenda of  Assembly Committee 5 (Mid Councils) when the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meets next week in St. Louis. That request, from the Presbytery of Cincinnati, has been met with a response from the Synod of the Covenant (item 05-06) that calls on the General Assembly to reject the Cincinnati overture "because the synod can demonstrate that it asserts false claims and misleading conclusions based on misinformation." The presbytery's overture (05-03) alleges the following synod failures: to "determine a satisfactory method to fulfill the principles of participation and representation ... in proposed amendments to the bylaws of the synod"; to "adequately support the ministry and mission of its presbyteries"; to "adequately facilitate communication with and among its presbyteries"; and to "adequately exercise pastoral care among its presbyteries." The complete story by Duane Sweep for the General Assembly News can be found at "Mid Councils."
PC(USA) walkers for 'fossil free
world' heading to St. Louis
Despite some heat, a few blisters and at least one case of poison ivy, participants in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Walk for a Fossil Free World are encouraged as they enter the final days of their trek to St. Louis.  The walk, a joint project of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and Fossil Free PCUSA, began June 1 at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville. It ends June 16 at the start of the 223rd General Assembly."It's been really good. We reached the 100-mile mark last Friday and we're feeling it in our bodies, but we are also feeling it in our hearts," said the Rev. Abby Mohaupt, moderator of Fossil Free PCUSA. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rick Jones can be found at "Fossil Free World."
PC(USA) will commemorate
World Refugee Day next week
As the United States debates the moral and legal ramifications of federal raids on illegal immigrants, the United Nations Refugee Agency will  commemorate World Refugee Day on Wednesday, June 20. The event began in 2000 to raise awareness on the global responsibility for refugees. While the global recognition is less than 20 years old, the integration of immigrants and refugees into U.S. society has been a part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) platform for decades. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rick Jones can be found at "World Refugee Day."
|
|
|
|
|
