Sparks from the Flint - June Presbytery Meeting

Special Edition SPARKS

June 2018 Presbytery Meeting in Donalsonville

Heartfelt thanks to the Donalsonville saints

for their gracious hosting!

Your care and preparation were so deeply appreciated!

Many thanks to Helen Bartos and Dan Ponder

who provided the music for the day!

Mr. Hubert of Elmodel with his grandsons

Moderator Marilyn Tucker-Marek closes the meeting with prayer.

EVERYTHING I EVER LEARNED:

Reflections from a Former Campus Minister

Amy Maley of Northminster with our Executive Presbyter, Stated Clerk, and Staff Associate for CME

Having served as a campus minister for 12 years, it is clear that “everything I learned about serving the presbytery, I learned first as a campus minister!”

What did I learn then that applies now ?

Pay attention to those on the edges and love them to life.
Sometimes the hardest conversations we have are the most transformative: conflicting views can lead to clarity of purpose and mission
An invitation to shared life is utterly irreplaceable.
Unity is not the same as uniformity.
Experimentation is an essential spiritual practice involving courage, trust, and release.
Technology is a crucial tool in mission outreach.
Change is not an enemy to be fought but a friend needing attention.
Everyone loves a story and we have amazing stories to tell!

KEY ACTIONS TAKEN at this MEETING

1.) Recommended that our presbytery, partnering with its two sister presbyteries (Cherokee and NE GA), request funding from the Synod of the South Atlantic t o be used to establish a social media presence with congregations by contracting with a consultant who would provide group workshops and consulting with individual congregations, thus creating connections not only between our congregations but between our presbyteries.

A free event to assist our congregations with their online presence will be held at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta on Friday, October 12- Saturday, October 13 . Please click here for more information and a registration form for this event, entitled “Digital Disciples ."

For eye-catching publicity about this event, please click here and

here .

2.) Recommended that the presbytery set aside September 30, 2018 to recognize those who have worked beyond the local congregation, volunteering on a presbytery level and on a denominational level as a way to celebrate the reality that WE are the presbytery and that we are blessed with many remarkable volunteers.

3.) Received Sam Shields of All Saints as a candidate for ministry.

Sam Shields, celebrating his new candidacy with his parents, Rita and Mark Montgomery of All Saints

Committee on Preparation Moderator Sommer Bower and Recorder Karen Gatewood (both of Americus) delight in Sam’s good work.

4.) Unanimously recommended that the presbytery move forward with the Campus Ministry Major Gifts Campaign for raising one million dollars to be added to the Campus Ministry Endowment Fund. For more information about how you can be a part of this transformative initiative, please contact Richard Hart at [email protected]

It's More than JUST a Meeting!

Our 15 minute hospitality break, the “Amazing Graze”,

gave presbytery commissioners the opportunity to prepare gift bags

for our youth who were headed to Montreat the next day!

Like these Presbyterian blue bags which are perfect for shopping and toting? We have PLENTY for sale for a mere $2.50 each. All proceeds will go into our Hunger Fund to help assist with our Rise Against Hunger Event on Sunday, October 7.

We Laugh A LOT!

Laughter can be a way to address difficult truths.

Approximately 50% of our congregations have no online presence.

If we are committed to being witnesses to Jesus Christ in the 21 ^st century, this reality will have to change.

A humorous performance written by

our resident playwright Andy Moye (from All Saints)

provided a way to inform and challenge us in our daily discipleship.

Don West of Boston demonstrating his theatrical prowess.

Lauren Spooner doing the same!

A copy of the play is here for easy access – consider using it during Sunday School or on Wednesday evening as a way to encourage individuals to attend the “Digital Disciples” event in October.

We WORSHIP with Incredible Hope

Joshua Bower, pastor at First (Albany) and a D.Min (Doctor of Ministry) student at Columbia Theological Seminary ,

offered a stirring

sermon called, “Who Moved My Neighborhood?”

To see how Josh connected Gospel truth with cultural need,

click here for a full manuscript of his sermon.

Communion

Two of our newer pastors, Glenda Hollingshead of First (Valdosta)

and Danny Dieth of First (Columbus), officiated at the table with joy!

General Assembly Commissioners

GA Commissioners being charged to serve with intelligence and love.

Rosa Stewart stood in for her pastor

Virgil Marshall of Carver Heights together with

Sherrida Crawford of First (Valdosta)

and Lily Ingle of First (Americus)

Serving Jesus with Joy – that’s Flint River Presbytery!

Flint River Presbytery

826 Liberty Expressway SE

Albany, Georgia 31705

229-435-9726