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GOOD NEWS
from the
Presbytery of Great Rivers
We are called to share Christ's love by partnering in service,
uniting in worship, and risking in ministry.
October 13, 2023
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PGR Newsletter
Our newsletters will go out on October 27, November 10, December 1 and December 15 through the Holiday season. Please send any articles by Tuesday at 5 pm of those weeks.
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Acting Stated Clerk Issues Call to Prayer
October 9, 2023
Bloodshed has come once again in the latest clash between Israelis and Palestinians with declarations of war and revenge coming from Israeli leaders. As hundreds lay dead and thousands injured, we grieve. We stand in shock that this long, battle-scarred conflict has taken yet another deadly turn.
We pray for those that have died, are dying, and wounded on both sides. We ask the Holy Spirit to intervene to bring calm and reason when vengeance and hatred now appear to have taken control.
We pray for our mission co-worker who must navigate this ever-changing landscape and for our partners who have placed their own safety on the line, not only seeking solutions to the ongoing crisis in the region, but also those in Gaza, at the hospitals that are overwhelmed with the dead and injured. We pray that leaders on both sides can step back and consider a peaceful and just solution that benefits all.
While these events continue to unfold, we come to you, O Lord, for your calm voice and guiding hand. Even in the midst of fire, destruction, and the cries of pain from both sides of this horrific scene, we know you are in the midst. May your Spirit dwell among them and guide them to a peaceful outcome for all.
The Rev. Bronwen Boswell
Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace
Co-Moderator
225th General Assembly (2022)

The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett
Executive Director/President
Presbyterian Mission Agency
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis
Co-Moderator
225th General Assembly (2022)
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Oasis Grants for Pastors
The Synod of Lincoln Trails announces Oasis grants for pastors. These grants are to be used for something that will restore your soul and regenerate your spirit. Oasis grants offer an opportunity for respite in the wilderness, so ask yourself: what would spark joy in your life this season? Any pastors in active ministry (Ministers of Word and Sacrament, Commissioned Ruling Elders, chaplains, those in validated ministries), either full-time or part-time, are eligible and encouraged to apply by November 15. The grants of up to $1,500 are to be used for activities and purchases that will support wholeness and wellbeing (and not for continuing education or sabbatical funds). Take an art class, buy that bike they’ve been longing for, or get away and do something fun for a couple days. Access the Oasis grant application here: https://lincolntrails.org/oasis-a-stop-in-the-wilderness/
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Addressing Hate Crimes
PC(USA) General Counsel Mike Kirk has provided the following alert and advice in response to the experience of congregations being targeted for harassment.
Recently, two churches were approached by a man who pretended to be a college student engaged in a religion class who was seeking to interview female pastors of open and affirming churches. One pastor participated in an on-camera interview with the alleged student. The phony student asked about the church’s beliefs while “pretending to be LGBTQ” with the goal of "testing" the church's theology.
This phony student posted the video interview on his hate amplifying YouTube channel and called for the death of the pastor and deadly violence to the church. A similar interview was conducted at a Unitarian Universalist church and that church was fire-bombed after a video was posted by the phony student.
If your church is approached by someone who claims to be a college or seminary student who is seeking an interview or to gather information about your congregation and its beliefs, the first step is to verify the identity of this person. Ask for information on their school and a telephone number you can call to verify their identity. Accept the telephone number and then do more research to verify it is for a school they claim to represent. Do an internet search. If you know someone at the school, contact them directly for information and ask if the school is sending students out for interviews.
If you are victimized by someone who falsely represents who they are and the purpose of an interview, notify law enforcement to seek to stop this person from conducting other interviews and falsely using them on a social media platform. If you become aware of a video interview being placed on a social media platform with the interviewer calling upon people to attack you or your church, report it to your local FBI field office as a hate crime.
The FBI has a webpage devoted to protecting houses of worship and a community outreach program that welcomes contact from houses of worship so that they can track incidents and hate crimes involving local houses of worship.
While we try to make our churches a welcoming place for all people, sometimes bad actors take advantage of that welcome. Be alert and seek help if someone takes advantage of that welcome to do harm.
PC(USA) Legal Resources
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Clerk's Corner
Thank you, amazing clerks, for all of your wonderful diligence in completing your Session Record Reviews! If you haven’t had the opportunity to complete your reviews, please contact me via email if possible.

During our training sessions, we had a lot of great information, questions, and situations arise that we were able to discuss. A couple of the things that many clerks found helpful to know is the importance of knowing what additional information needs to be put in your minutes. Your session minutes are a permanent record. Therefore, it is important to put items such as your certificate of state incorporation, annual statistical reports, insurance policy certificates, and other items in your permanent minutes. They can be included in your clerk’s report.
Items to consider voting on the first meeting of the year:
Session Clerk: the term for your session clerk is a determinable (and agreed upon) amount of time. The Session elects their own clerk.
Treasurer: like the clerk, the treasurer is also elected for a determinable amount of time and is elected by the Session, not the congregation.
The Session is responsible for authorizing the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Many churches find it helpful to set their communion schedule at the first meeting of the year. You need to specify dates.
Session Quorum: The Book of Order no longer specifies what the quorum is to be for a session. The Session is supposed to determine what its own quorum will be. This means, the quorum can’t be stated in the bylaws because that is something decided upon by the congregation. The Session should declare what the quorum will be for each year. (The minimum is 3 active session members plus a moderator)
Congregational meeting quorum: At the same time the Book of Order changed about Session Quorums, congregational meeting quorums also changed. The bylaws should state what your congregational meeting quorum should be. You can keep it at the standard 10% it used to be, but you don’t have to.

Next newsletter will discuss electronic voting!! Stay tuned!
I will be out of the office and in St. Louis for Poly Con October 9-12.
Rev. Elissa Bailey
Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk
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Welcome, New Pastors, to the Presbytery of Great Rivers | |
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At the August 26 assembly, Rev. Bryan Burris was enrolled as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA) and as a minister member of PGR. He attended Olivet Nazarene University, graduating with degrees in social work and psychology. After graduation, he attended law school at the University of Illinois.
Bryan practiced law for ten years working in both the federal court system and in public interest law. He then attended seminary and earned his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in May of 2016, later serving both as minister of Carlock Christian Church and interim minister at New Covenant Community in Bloomington, a union congregation (PCUSA, United Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ). He lives in Bloomington with his wife Kathy and his 11-year-old son, Pax.
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The Rev. Dr. Scott Carnes was installed as the pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Galesburg on October 1. Scott brings a wealth of experience from years of dedication to congregations both large and small, across rural and suburban settings. His education and experiences have honed his gifts for ministry, particularly in areas like vision and mission development, digital worship innovation, community outreach, and preaching.
In January 2022, Scott began conversations with Presbytery leadership about becoming a Presbyterian pastor. By July, he began a leave of absence from the United Methodist Church. Soon afterward, First Presbyterian Church of Galesburg began seeking a new pastor. He began his ministry in Galesburg in December. Following a year-long process, Scott was installed on October 1 as the Minister of Word and Sacraments of Galesburg First.
Scott and his family have made Galesburg their home. Alongside his wife, Carrie, a pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, and their sons, Henry and Philip, they are an active part of the community. Scott and Carrie are active in Rotary and beekeepers. Scott enjoys cycling and beekeeping. Carrie is a foodie who loves to cook. Henry enjoys participating in youth sports through the YMCA, and the whole family cherishes the Wednesday Night Live at First Presbyterian.
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The Rev. Nicole Wegele (sounds like bagel) is a PCUSA pastor who recently moved to Illinois from Des Moines, Iowa. She is the Associate Pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington.
Nicole earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from West Texas A&M University, a Master of Education degree with Principal certification from the University of Texas, and a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. She worked in a variety of fields prior to her call to vocational ministry. Nicole was ordained by the PCUSA on October 15, 2019, while serving as a Chaplain Resident at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Olympia Washington. Then, in October of 2020, Nicole's call as Pastor and Head of StaÂff First Presbyterian Dallas Center took Nicole and her husband, Ed, also a PCUSA pastor, to Iowa. Â
In addition to parish ministry, Pastor Nicole is a certified Spiritual Director and Enneagram Coach. She works with individuals one-on-one, as well as groups and teams who want to grow in their relationships with God and each other.
Nicole’s husband, Ed Wegele, will be installed this month as Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at First Federated Church in Peoria.
Rev. Ed Wegele was raised in Bondurant, Iowa, a rural town just outside of Des Moines. He attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, graduating in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Five years later, he became a full-time youth director at a Presbyterian Church in Johnston, Iowa. Five years after that, he started his MDiv at Columbia Theological Seminary and was ordained in 2005. He has served as an Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charleston, South Carolina; Solo Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Seminole, Texas; and Senior Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis, Washington, before being called as Senior Pastor to First Federated Church in Peoria.
He and Nicole have three dogs—Angus, a puggle (pug-beagle mix); Izzy, a pug; and Oliver, a JaPug (Japanese Shin and Pug mix). Ed and Nicole are big Green Bay Packers fans and enjoy hosting family and friends at their home. In addition, they like watching movies, playing all sorts of games, traveling, taking day trips to surrounding communities, trying local restaurants, and participating in community events.
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Prayers of the Presbytery
Please pray for:
Bobbie Furr (wife of Pastor Wayne Furr, Aledo, College Avenue PC)
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Not Your Average Boundary Training
The Presbyteries of Great Rivers and Southeastern Illinois are offering joint annual training on misconduct on Zoom on:
Tuesday, October 31-Wednesday, November 1—3:00-5:30 each day
We’ve been asked to clarify these requirements for you. All Ministers, candidates and elders serving as Commissioned Pastors in PGR are required to have annual boundaries training. The term “ministers” also includes pastors from other denominations who are serving in PGR churches as Temporary Members (we have ministers from the UCC, DOC, ABC and UMC who are Temporary Members of PGR. Such persons are also required to show current certification.) If you just attended the LeaderWise Boundaries training held 8/29 & 8/30, please forward the certificate you received to the Stated Clerk, Elissa Bailey pastorebailey@gmail.com In addition to the LeaderWise training provided in August and the one scheduled for October 31 and November 1, other workshops can be attended instead such as training hosted within the PCUSA or another denomination or approved agency. Please check with Rev. Bailey if you have any questions about whether other training you have received meets the requirements.
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Church Leadership Connection (CLC)
We continue to receive regular updates from CLC Staff about the transition to the current CLC system (sometimes called CLC.2). While we have put some of the basic forms on the COM portion of the PGR website for you, please go right to oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/clc/ for all the most up to date CLC resources. Guides and videos continue to be developed and added on a routine basis there. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at greatriverscom@gmail.com or to the CLC Staff with questions. We are glad to support churches and pastors with this major transition.
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Pastors should wear their red stoles. RSVP by 10.10.23 by e-mail info@ffcpeoria.com or by phone (309)685-5258. Please indicate names and number of guests attending.
Event at: First Federated Church, 3601 N. Sheridan Rd, Peoria, IL 61604.
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From Your Finance Team
Churches,
We now have 41 of our 85 churches who have paid their 2023 Per Capita dues in full. Thank you to all those who have paid!
Always remember to submit a fully completed remittance form with any check you send to the presbytery. In just the last two months we've received a dozen checks with no remittance form. The completed form helps ensure that we apply your payment as you intend.
If sending from your bank online, you can email your remittance form to smcgrath@greatriverspby.org
2024 Per Capita will be $37.25, an increase of $1. The annual Per Capita mailing should arrive at your church in the next week's mail. This will be mailed to the attention of your clerk of session. Please watch for this. If for some reason you don't receive it, please let us know.
Thanks,
Sabrina McGrath - Bookkeeper
Bill Strawbridge - Treasurer
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Please click on the blocks below to follow the links: | |
Information for Retired Pastors from the Board of Pensions | |
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Supporting Ministers’ Wholeness
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministers need the opportunity to step away from the demands of ministry and practice self-care so that they might experience the flourishing of life. That’s why the Board of Pensions provides programs that cultivate wholeness and nurture ministries, like Clergy Wellness Support.
This grant is offered to ministers in partnership with programs that address vocational, spiritual, mental, and physical wellness.
The Board of Pensions has approved the following programs for the grant: · Center for Pastoral Excellence – Clergy Renewal Programs · Horizon Hope Counseling · LeaderWise · MoSeGol · Pilgrim House · The Clergy Program – Davidson Centre for the Professions · The Kineo Center.
Ministers may also submit for consideration programs they would like to attend that are not included on this list. Proposed programs must address vocational, spiritual, mental, and/or physical wellness. Grants are up to $5,000, for program and travel fees, once every six years.
To qualify, you must be a PC(USA) minister enrolled in Pastor’s Participation or Minister’s Choice; and have an effective salary that does not exceed $80,000 (excluding manse value).
To apply: · Complete the Clergy Wellness Support application. · Email the application and required documentation to memberservices@pensions.org for review and decision.
· Eligible ministers may apply for support between sabbaticals.
· Call the Board of Pensions with questions at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).
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From The Nominating Committee | |
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It is that time of year again when the Nominating Committee (NC) is at work seeking nominations for the next class of officers. We are requesting again your recommendations for Admin Team, Committee on Ministry, Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Personnel Committee, Permanent Judicial Commission, Synod Commissioners, Visioning Team, and General Assembly Commissioners.
To help us with our work we are asking again for clerks or pastors or administrative assistants to fill out the form with contact information for ruling elders able to serve. Thank you to First Presbyterian of Milan, United Church of Woodhull, First Presbyterian of Lincoln, and Hope Presbyterian of Springfield for submitting your forms already.
The form can be found at this link. It is a fillable pdf that can be emailed to either Gary Terpstra at g.terpstra@comcast.net or Cheyanna Losey at cheyannalosey@gmail.com. Or you can print the paper and mail a hard copy to either Gary Terpstra c/o Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave, Springfield, IL 62704; or Cheyanna Losey c/o First Presbyterian Church, 110 East Third St, Dixon, IL 61021.
We are requesting that the form be returned to us by October 1, 2023 so we can finish our work. Thank you for your help; we appreciate it.
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Advent and Christmas Resources for Pastors and Worship Committees
Advent 4 and Christmas Eve are both on Sunday this year, and Christmas 1 is New Year’s Eve. The Rev. Brad Munroe, Pastor to the Presbytery, Grand Canyon and de Cristo presbyteries, has crafted two liturgies that can be adapted by pastors trying to scramble to write multiple sermons and liturgies in a compressed time. Click on the image below to read the liturgies.
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Click the button below for the entire October 2023 issue. | |
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Final 2023 Assembly Date
November 11 at Faith United, Monmouth
In-person and Virtual
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Grants from your Visioning Team
Grant applications are open now! Check out our Mission page (http://www.greatriverspby.org/mission.html) for information about the Visioning grant to support programming and projects in churches and partner organizations, as well as grants for sabbatical assistance and funding while clergy are on paid family leave. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and the Visioning Team is ready to answer your questions. Contact us at PGRVisioning@greatriverspby.org to learn more!
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Job Posting
The Presbytery of Carlisle is searching for a Presbytery Leader for Vision and Transformation (formerly the Executive Presbyter position). As a spiritual and relational leader grounded in God, this person, with the Presbytery Leader of Governance and Congregational Leadership (formerly the Stated Clerk), will seek together to find and represent the will of Christ as they work alongside committees, pastors, and Sessions, in fulfillment of the shared mission and common purpose of the presbytery. This position is not only one of collaboration working as a co-leader with the Presbyter Leader of Governance and Congregational Leadership it is also one of leadership serving as the Head of Staff supervising and coordinating the resources of people, property, and finances of the presbytery.
For a full description of the position and to review the Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP) please use the link: Presbytery Leader Search Team - Presbytery of Carlisle (carlislepby.org)
To inquire about the position and/or to submit a Personal Discernment Profile or resume please e-mail Wendell D. Jordan, Chair of the Presbytery Leader Search Team at carpresbysearch@gmail.com by November 15, 2023.
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Presbytery of Great Rivers Virtual Office
Virtual Office Assistant Crystal Goforth 309-683-6980 Email: office@greatriverspby.org
Crystal works remotely from South Carolina (Eastern Time) and is available until 4 pm CST Monday thru Wednesday and Friday, and 1:45 pm EST on Thursdays. Please leave her a message & she will return your call.
Bookkeeper Sabrina McGrath 309-683-6981 Email: smcgrath@greatriverspby.org
Sabrina works from Peoria IL.
Her regular schedule is Tues & Thurs between 8am-3pm (Central Time)
Lead Presbyter Ann Schwartz 309-683-6983 Email: aschwartz@greatriverspby.org
Ann's Sabbath Day is Friday.
Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey 309-371-2511 Email: pastorebailey@gmail.com
My regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am - 3 pm.(Central Time) If you have an emergency, please call or text me at 309-371-2511.
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Get Connected!
Be sure to encourage your congregations, sessions, and even your church newsletter editorial staff and volunteers to be sure to sign up for our presbytery newsletter and follow our Facebook page so you don't miss out on what is going on in our community of churches!
Have you liked our "Presbytery of Great Rivers" Facebook page?
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