Meet the New Synod Moderator and Vice Moderator
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During worship on the final day of the synod meeting Ruling Elder John McKay, Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys and Teaching Elder Janice Palmer, Presbytery of South Dakota were installed as synod moderator and vice moderator respectively.
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John McKay is a member of Union Presbyterian Church, St. Peter, Minnesota in the
Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys. Currently he serves on his church's "Love God Committee", which oversees worship and adult education.
John has been a synod commissioner for three years and has served on the Ecclesiastical Relations Committee. At synod meetings he can often be found at the piano during worship.
"For the presbytery, I have been vice-moderator in 2013 and moderator in 2014. I served on the 'Next Pres Team', when the presbytery was undergoing a complete change of its structure."
In 2004 John retired from the Music Department at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, where he primarily taught piano and music history for 28 years. He also founded and ran the "Minnesota Valley Sommarfest" held every July for 17 years at Gustavus.
A special note: on November 1st John and Sara, his late wife, will be inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Sara was a
soloist with The Festival Singers of Canada and l’Ensemble Vocal de Bruxelles. In 1979 she co-founded the St. Peter Choral Society.
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Janice Palmer is a member of the
Presbytery of South Dakota. "I am from Miller, South Dakota, where we live again after twenty years of ventures in other climes."
Janice has been a commissioner to the synod for two years serving on the Program Coordination Committee and Nominating Committee.
"My service to the Presbytery of South Dakota has included leading the presbytery as moderator and sitting on council. I also serve as an instructor in our presbytery's Commissioned Ruling Elder program and on the Coaching and Visioning Team. I am a member of the task force that undertook the restructuring and revitalization of the presbytery."
Janice is a graduate of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and served Presbyterian churches at Bonilla and Wolsey, South Dakota. In retirement, Janice is the director of music at First Presbyterian Church in Miller. She also fills pulpits in the area when invited.
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Ruling Elder Angela Oglesby was presented with a certificate of appreciation for serving as moderator of the synod.
Angela continues as a synod commissioner from the
Presbytery of Milwaukee and chair of the synod's Strategic Service and Witness Committee.
Angela Oglesby with stated clerk Pam Prouty
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Synod commissioners, whose terms had ended, were thanked for their service including: Rev. Paul Burgess, Presbytery of The John Knox, Rev. Tom Willadsen, Presbytery of Winnebago, Ruling Elder Elaine Doorenbos, Presbytery of Prospect Hill, Rev. Ian McMullen, Presbytery of North Central Iowa, Rev. Annika Lister Stroope, Presbytery of Homestead, Ruling Elder Lisa Tarbell, Presbytery of Twin Cities Area and Rev. Linda O’Connell, Presbytery of Des Moines.
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Pictured from left to right:
Elaine Doorenbos, Ian McMullen, Lisa Tarbell, Paul Burgess, Linda O’Connell, Tom Willadsen
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Sacred Pilgrimage of Healing and Reconciliation
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by Rev. Dean J. Seal
The Anti-Racism Task Force of the
Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
is proposing a series of events to broaden our communal sense of spiritual experience. One topic will focus on Indigenous history and current efforts to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and heal the trauma of colonization.
The task force will examine particular relations with Dakota people in Minnesota highlighting the 1862 conflict leading to
Dec. 26, 1862 at 10:00 a.m., when the United States Army hung 38 Dakota leaders, prisoners of war and captives from the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862. It is the largest mass execution in United States history.
A few years ago, Jim Miller, Dakota leader and Viet Nam War Vet, had a vision. He did not know about the Dakota 38, but he had a vision where his mother said he had to make peace with the 38 guys he killed in the war. Shortly after he organized the first horse ride from Crow Creek, South Dakota to Mankato, Minnesota, commemorating that time and honoring those who work for peace and reconciliation.
We recommend watching the Movie “Dakota 38.” If you watch that, we believe you will have a profound sense of connection to the people and to their experience. W
atch the film together, in small groups or in bigger groups at churches. This is an especially good activity for youth groups or an adult education event. The movie soundtrack was worked on by Robbie Robertson of The Band, whose mother was Mohawk and Cayuga Indian, and whose father was Jewish. Clips of the movie “The Emigrants” by Jan Troell are also included, specifically a re-creation of the hanging.
Dakota 38 is available for free on You Tube.
or type Dakota 38 in the You Tube search
On December 26 we plan to join in witnessing the annual Horse and Rider pilgrimage from Crow Creek, South Dakota, to Mankato, Minnesota. The horse ride is 330 miles across the prairie, in the dead of winter. They arrive at 10:00 a.m., the same hour as the hanging. Our pilgrimage is a silent tribute of apology and peacemaking. We will gather off to the side of where they enter town, and without talking, take a knee.
We also want to do something tangible. We ask anyone who watches the film to contribute to a cause that is close to Jim Miller, the man with the dream, and Alberta Iron Cloud Miller, his wife. Alberta responded to my request for an idea of who we should address our gifts to, “We have recently become familiar with the amazing work of the Indian Child and Family Resource Center (ICFRC), a non-profit organization based in Helena, MT…. ICFRC collaborates with other tribal agencies and grassroots resources in northeast Montana to strengthen tribal efforts to rebuild families. We were very moved by their efforts to create initiatives that focus on healing and building relationships with the horse nation.”
We hope each congregation will send representatives to the pilgrimage to learn about how Minnesota dealt with those who were here first. And take up a collection, to try and make a difference in the effort to heal the sorrow that lives on in Indian Country, and to express with our very selves, our physical bodies, a commitment to give a silent act of humility and respect.
Again, see the film. Your pilgrimage begins here; then decide what you will do with what you have learned.
For information about the Dec. 26th recognition of honor and repentance and the collection for ICFRC, please contact
Rev. Dean J. Seal
of Shepherd of the Hill Church of Chaska, or
Rev. Greg Bolt
of First Presbyterian, Red Wing.
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Mental Health Ministry Opportunities for October—A message from Donna Miller, PMA Associate for Mental Health Ministries
Corner, Mid Councils, Seminaries, All PC(USA) Ministers]
are available, so if you haven’t already taken the survey please take it now. Called for by the last General Assembly (GA), this study looks at what is currently happening in mental health ministry across the PC(USA)—identifying good models and ideas for sharing along with areas of need for more attention and resources. Results will be posted online when available and reported back at the next GA.
The synod is pleased to announce that our proposal "Pathways to Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Support" was approved.
Excellent Mental Health Resources for Sharing
(Please help get the word out to church leaders in your mid council through your newsletter/social media.)
- Being a Stigma Free Faith Community—produced by National Alliance on Mental Illness Faith Network
- Mental Health Guide for Faith Leaders—produced by the American Psychiatric Association
- Mental Health First Aid—Information about an eight-hour course providing an excellent basic level of instruction in understanding mental illness and recognizing and responding to signs that someone may be considering taking their own life. Mid councils or congregations might consider sponsoring a course.
- Improving Cultural Competence - treatment improvement protocols produced by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration
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At LeaderWise, we hear anecdotally about loneliness every day in our meetings with clergy, and we want to learn more about the prevalence and impact of loneliness in a systematic way. By having accurate information, we can document the experience of loneliness among clergy to advocate for resources and support, as well as to focus our LeaderWise services to better serve clergy and their loved ones.
Can you help? We’d appreciate if you’d take 5 to 10 minutes to complete the
UCLA Loneliness Survey.
Your responses will be kept confidential.
And, if you’d lik
e to share your story of loneliness as a spiritual leader, I’d love to hear from you.
Contact me
, and let’s talk.
The Health Toll of Loneliness
Social scientists are only now beginning to understand the full cost of loneliness. In the general population, for instance, loneliness is a stronger predictor of premature death than air pollution, obesity, or alcohol abuse. Depending on the study, people who are lonely have about a 1.5 to 3 times greater chance of dying in the next five years than those who are less lonely. We further know that loneliness correlates with significant increases in sleep disturbances, headaches, backaches, blood pressure, poor appetite, and depression. Because loneliness heightens the cortisol levels, a stress hormone, it also weakens our immune system, which makes us more susceptible to illnesses.
(Cacioppo and Caciopo, 2012
2
; Cacioppo, Hawkley, and Berston, 2003
3
; Masi, Chen, Hawkley, and Cacioppo, 2011
4
)
.
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The Johnson Symposium on Faith & Society
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"The Spiritual Price of the Doctrine of Discovery"
featuring
Mark Charles
Saturday, November 16, 2019
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Mark Charles is a dynamic and thought-provoking public speaker, writer, and consultant. The son of an American woman (of Dutch heritage) and a Navajo man, he speaks with insight into the complexities of American history regarding race, culture, and faith in order to help forge a path of healing and conciliation for the nation. Mark is a regular columnist for Native News Online and the author of the popular blog “Reflections from the Hogan.” He served on the board of the Christian Community Development Association and is a former Board of Trustees member of the Christian Reformed Church of North America. Mark also consults with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, has served as the pastor of the Christian Indian Center in Denver, CO, and is a founding partner of a national conference for Native students called “Would Jesus Eat Frybread?” Mark’s forthcoming book entitled Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery is scheduled to be released from Intervarsity Press on November 5, 2019.
Other presenters will include local leaders from the Native Community, including Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs (serves on the synod's Committee on Racial Ethnic Ministry), Brenda Blackhawk, Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein, Thorne LaPointe, and Wakinyan LaPointe. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has also been invited, but her schedule does not allow her to confirm participation until closer to the event.
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GA Nominations Portal for On-going General Assembly Level Entities is Open—A message from Valerie Izumi
The General Assembly Nominating Committee will bring to the 224th General Assembly nominations for nearly thirty entities—boards, committees, and commissions. The Committee’s process of discernment and nomination is dependent upon a diverse and deep pool of persons who are willing to share their gifts, talents, expertise, and time in service to the larger church.
Your assistance in the nominations process is valuable. Please share with those in your synods, with members of your presbyteries, and with members of the congregations within your presbyteries that they have the opportunity to be considered for service on a General Assembly level entity.
Please assist further by encouraging individuals across the church whom you believe would serve well on a General Assembly level board, commission, or committee to prayerfully consider the possibility of elected service. Please consider whether God may be calling you to service on a General Assembly level entity.
The GA nominations portal is now open. Interested persons can
file an online application
—a list of entities for the 2020 nominations cycle is available there.
The deadline for applications is December 6, 2019.
Additional information can be found online or by contacting
Valerie Izumi
or the member of the General Assembly Nominating Committee from your synod.
Please continue to pray for the work of the GA Nominating Committee and for the work of the various boards, commission, and committees of the General Assembly. Thank you for your partnership in this important ministry.
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Homestead Presbytery Disaster Response Team Update
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-Sue Babovec, Co-Lead, Homestead Disaster Response Team
Following the floods of March, 2019 - 86% of the counties in Nebraska were declared to be disaster areas - including many within the border of
Homestead Presbytery
.
Schuyler, Columbus, North Bend, Fremont, Nebraska City, Walthill, Niobrara and Norfolk were especially hit hard.
Homestead Presbytery immediately applied for a $7500 grant from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - which was used in the above named areas for immediate needs as well as to host three FEMA meetings for help groups in Fremont, Columbus and Nebraska City at the Presbyterian Church in each community.
We have had three teams from PDA personnel over the months, assessing the initial damage; visiting to give us guidance for setting up possible host sites in churches (Fremont and Columbus) and to offer Resiliency Training for those helping directly with the disaster victims.
It has been hard for PDA to wrap their head around the damage - it covers such a wide area and damage is not as visible as with a tornado or earthquake. Building are still standing - they are just ruined internally.
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Nineteen New Worshiping Communities Awarded
Mission Program Grants
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Thirteen get $7,500 to help get them started, while six receive $25K to help them grow
by Paul Seebeck | Presbyterian News Service
On behalf of Presbyterian Mission Agency, during its latest grant cycle the Mission Development Resources Committee (MDRC) recently approved 19
Mission Program Grants
to worshiping communities.
Thirteen $7,500 seed grants were awarded to help a diverse number of
1001 New Worshiping Communities
get started in various presbyteries across the country. In addition, two existing worshiping communities will receive $25,000 investment grants to help them live into their mission and ministry. Four will receive $25,000 growth grants as they work toward becoming viable Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) communities.
The worshiping community grant recipients are listed below, followed by their presbytery and synod:
Seed Grants
Agape is Love
(Minnesota Valleys, Lakes and Prairies)
provides spiritual guidance and faith formation to the LGBTQ+ community in Marshall, Minnesota and the surrounding area.
Athlete Life/Vida Atletica
(Riverside, Southern California & Hawaii) is led by Lazaro Silva, who’s from Brazil. He has led sports-based children’s outreach ministries around the world, introducing children and their families in the greater Los Angeles area to Jesus Christ.
Be Well
(San Francisco, Pacific) began when Clementica Chacón-Garcia found work transporting people as a driver for a ride-hailing company. During those rides, she began having spiritual and therapeutic conversations with strangers. This new worshiping community provides a safe space where people share their trauma, receive healing and experience God together through spiritual practices.
Contemplate Lincoln
(Homestead, Lakes and Prairies)
is a new worshiping community focused on experiential worship and Christian learning for Millennials and others in Lincoln, Nebraska, who are spiritual but not religious.
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Helping Churches Talk About Racism
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"If you are in one of the many predominantly-white Presbyterian congregations across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), chances are that racism isn’t a topic that gets addressed from the pulpit unless there’s a major news event of a hate crime. Many people avoid talking about racism for a number of reasons: worry that they will say the wrong thing, the belief that avoiding the subject will make race less significant or the fear of creating conflict in the church."
By the Presbyterian Outlook
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT
(with on-demand video replay available after the live event)
Presented by Carolyn B. Helsel
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You are invited to Marnita's Table
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Marnita's Table is bridging gaps in society, welcoming everyone to the conversation and helping us to see our connections.
"We bring people together across race, class, culture, and other means of self-identity to find common ground on important public policy issues. We create spaces for the unheard to find voice and foster connections across systems to better respond to inequities across healthcare, education, and social justice by providing the tools and environment for people to connect and collaborate more effectively across difference. Importantly, this means that we seek to ensure that ALL stakeholders are included in the conversations that affect them. There’s always room for another seat at the table."
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11th Annual Start the Conversation Fundraiser in support of
Marnita's Table
Come learn about the fantastic work Marnita’s Table has been up to for the past year and what we are planning for the years to come.
Enjoy an abundant feast appropriate from vegan to carnivore and from demon to deity!
Children of all ages are welcome!
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Not about the canned product by Hormel Foods Corporation or the comedic sketch by Monty Python. This is about the other type of spam.
Recently the synod office was hit by spammers/scammers/hackers manipulating emails and trying to get someone to respond. Jeff Japinga, executive presbyter of the Twin Cities Area Presbytery, addressed the topic in the September issue of EMerge we have reprinted his article, which you may
read by clicking here.
The synod's IT technicians recommend doing the following to help keep your information safe:
- Change your computer password every three months, at least.
- Shut down your computer at the end of the day or lock it How do I lock my PC? How do I lock my Mac?
- In an office setting lock your computer when you are away from it.
- Do not use the same password for everything.
- Make passwords for your banking and other financial sites complex and don't use them for other sites.
- Don't click on attachments in emails.
The last point seems impossible, but, maybe you could just start with this. Many of us receive credit card payment reminders from our bank or credit card company with a link to the payment portal (another way of saying, clicking on the link will take you to the page where you can log in and make a payment). Instead of clicking on the link go to the institution's website to make your payment. If the email happened to be spam you just avoided giving out your log in and password.
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As people of faith, we believe that God created this world, called it good and told humans to care for it. We are blessed to have this sacred task.
PC(USA)
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We are looking for volunteers to help with outdoor chores at the synod office. We have gutters that need to be cleaned out, branches trimmed from trees and doors in need of weather stripping. If you are interested contact
Gretchen.
We'll provide lunch.
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