News for the Notetakers

A Newsletter for the Clerks of Session

of Highlands Presbytery

June 2023

From the Stated Clerk

~ Rev. Dr. Steven Shussett

It's here! The 2023-2025 Book of Order!

With presbytery votes tallied, the new Book of Order goes into effect on July 9!

A free PDF is now available, and can be downloaded.

Hard copies are not yet ready for shipping, but you can put in an order with the Presbytery office.

Mark Your Calendars!

Clerk of Session Workshop

October 7, 2023 at 9am

With those new Books of Order come new responsibilities for all councils, including sessions. During this workshop we will go over the policies that your session must now enact, most of which are intended to keep our faith communities and all individuals safe from harm.

The deadline to submit your 2022 minutes has come, but not all hope is gone.

If you have yet to submit your minutes, we will still accept them, and we’ll provide a partner for you to share in the reviewing process. Send a PDF copy of your minutes and completed review form to the Presbytery office at [email protected] as soon as possible.

2024 General Assembly

Salt Lake City, Utah

Perhaps you’ve thought about it yourself, as intimately involved in your congregation as you are. Or maybe there is an elder (sitting or resting) in your church that you think has “the right stuff” for service to the General Assembly.

Highlands Presbytery will be unfolding its nomination process at the appropriate time, but for now, make note of the following dates:

June 25–27, 2024 All commissioners and advisory delegates attend their assigned committees online. No travel is required.

June 29–July 4, 2024 All commissioners and advisory delegates must be in person in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Do You Have an Appointed Moderator?

It is not uncommon for there to be pastoral changes over the summer, as parents time their transitions to be ready for the new school year. If your church is appointed a moderator, there is a worksheet to fill out, which includes how much to pay them.

Your Appointed Moderator Resource Sheet

A Newsletter for the Clerks of Session of Highlands Presbytery

will come out quarterly, in March, June, September, and December. If you have something to share or a question for the community of clerks, please send it to [email protected] by the last week of the month before.

Presbytery of the Highlands of NJ

390 Route 10 West, Randolph, NJ 07869

973-361-0084

[email protected]

www.hihglandspresbyterynj.org