Presbytery of San Jose

May 29, 2025

A Pastoral Letter to the Presbytery of San Jose


The Rev. Dr. Neal D. Presa, Executive Presbyter

May 29, 2025

Affirming Faith, Affirmative Faith

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Partners of the Presbytery of San José


The Iona Abbey in the Scottish Isles has this as an Affirmation of Faith for worshipping communities:


We believe that God is present in the darkness before dawn; in the waiting and uncertainty where fear and courage join hands, conflict and caring link arms, and the sun rises over barbed wire. We believe in a with-us God who sits down in our midst to share our humanity. We affirm a faith that takes us beyond the safe place: into action, into vulnerability, and into the streets. We commit ourselves to work for change and put ourselves on the line; to bear responsibility, take risks, live powerfully and face humiliation; to stand with those on the edge; to choose life and be used by the Spirit for God’s new community of hope. Amen.


This affirmation of faith reads more like a call to action, an affirming faith. It’s different from statements of faith like the Nicene Creed (btw, this year is the 1700th birthday of the original Nicene Creed! Yay, Nicaea!) or the Scots Confession or my favorite, the Heidelberg Catechism. All these affirmations of faith cogently state what Christians believe, the contents of faith. In Christian theology, this is what’s called fides quae (the faith which). Thus, those creeds, confessions, catechisms, and declarations state what Christians believe about the triune God, the person and work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and all those points of doctrine which guide and connect Christian communities across the ages as we seek to make sense of God’s movement in our lives and what it means to be children of God, loved in Jesus Christ, and called to be a community called “church.”


The Iona Abbey affirmation of faith reads more as an “affirming faith.” It’s less of confessing the contents of faith (fides quae, the faith which) and more along the order of actually believing, fides qua (the faith which believes). It’s the qua believing in the quae. It’s the act of believing in something.


But I’m going to go one step further and share one more Latin phrase just to get you ready for the weekend. Fides ad quo (faith for what, faith towards what). This is about the purpose of faith. The Iona Abbey affirmation speaks about why we believe, why it matters that Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. Fides ad quo is concerned about an affirmative faith. It’s what faith does, it’s the purpose and goal of why faith is gift, and as gift, it is for us to do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10; Micah 6:8). Taken together -- the act of believing (fides qua), the content of faith (fides quae), and the purpose of faith (fides ad quo) – our Christian life and our life together of faith has a subject, verb, object. This full-orbed view of our calling is anchored in the living person of Christ, empowered by the living person of the Holy Spirit, as we care for and love living human beings, as we steward and care for planet Earth, all to the glory of the living God. What we confess, the fact that we can confess, and the purpose of our confessing are what provides the warp-and-woof of our living days.

Here's the Iona Abbey Affirmation of Faith sharing what our faith’s purpose is:


We commit ourselves to work for change and put ourselves on the line; to bear responsibility, take risks, live powerfully and face humiliation; to stand with those on the edge; to choose life and be used by the Spirit for God’s new community of hope.


So the next time you pray, the next time you sing a hymn or a song, the next time you confess the faith (“I believe. . .”, “We believe. . .”), the next time you break bread and drink the Cup (like this coming Sunday), the next time you gather with God’s precious children, the next time you receive and share God’s love, the next time you work for God’s justice in your communities and the world – all these are sacred dimensions of faith. These are points and places of giving flesh and life to what we believe, the act of believing itself, and the purpose of our belief.

 

In Joy and Justice,

 

The Rev. Dr. Neal D. Presa, Executive Presbyter

(408) 763-5004 | Neal@sanjosepby.org

 

 

#CalledToCommunity

#CommittedToJustice

5/16/2025: Rev. Edd Breeden is Temporary Stated Clerk


Presbytery Coordinating Council named our Treasurer, Rev. Edd Breeden, to temporarily hold the position of Stated Clerk effective 5/16/2025, standing in while Rev. Erica Rader is on sabbatical. Please send correspondence to Edd eddbreeden@gmail.com cc: EP Neal Presa Neal@sanjosepby.org.

Sunday, May 25: the Presbytery's Unity Candle will be at Trinity Presbyterian Church and GKI Fellowship in San Jose

We're asking all churches and worshiping communities to pray for the host of the Unity Candle each week, including mention in their worship bulletins and pastoral prayer/congregational prayers.

The Congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Cambrian Park/San Jose

60th Anniversary group photo

Trinity San Jose https://www.sjtrinity.org at 3151 Union Ave, San Jose, was founded in 1957. Read about the local and global ministries they support. Indonesian Christian Church, or Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI), came to Trinity in 2002. For 23 years, the two congregations have grown together in fellowship and collaborated in several ministries, such as relief aid, children's ministries, and the food pantry.


  • Trinity San Jose Worship: 9:30am Sundays
  • Trinity Kidz and Youth Worship: 9:30am Sundays
  • GKI Indonesian-language Worship: 12 pm in the sanctuary
  • GKI English-language Worship: 12 pm in the chapel


Follow the path of the Unity Candle

Nominations sought for GA-227 commissioners

Travel to Milwaukee in 2026!

Two GA Commissioners (one teaching elder, one ruling elder) and a YAAD will be elected at the October 23 Presbytery meeting.

 

Names should be submitted to Nominating Committee chair Rev. Evie Macway, EP Neal Presa, and Stated Clerk Erica Rader. Deadline to apply is Sept 10.

 

Nominees must be available on these dates:

  • June 22-24, 2026 for Assembly committee meetings via Zoom,
  • June 25-26, 2026 for travel to Milwaukee
  • June 28-July 2, 2026 for the plenary business meetings of the 227th General Assembly, including worship and lunch with Milwaukee area congregations.
  • Including, but not required attendance: June 27, 2026 is a Community Day (featuring worship, engagement with local issues, luncheon, welcome reception, connect with PC(USA) agencies and organizations)


Attention, Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders...

A working group to review the work and purpose of the Committee on Representation and Empowerment (CORE) requests your feedback. Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey.

Contact EP Neal Presa and Stated Clerk Rev. Erica Rader with questions.

Teaching Elder Relocating to Bay Area Seeks Help

A teaching elder member of the Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey, who is presently serving in the Caribbean, is relocating for the long-term within the bounds of our Presbytery, together with his spouse and three adult children. They are looking for rental housing in Santa Clara County beginning June 17th in the range of $3800-4300/month, as well as an operating vehicle to buy (or lease for the time being). If you know of any prospective properties/vehicles, please be in touch with EP Neal Presa.


A Thought on Mental Health and Faith, by Pastor Sharon LeClaire


What is OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)?


Unfortunately, there are mental illnesses that are joked about. OCD-Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is often made fun of on TV and just in conversation. (“She’s so OCD”) But obsessive compulsive disorder is a real anxiety disorder that can be debilitating. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts. Compulsions are repetitive actions used to calm the obsessions-like hand washing and lock checking. The problem is that compulsions don’t really stop obsessive thoughts. In fact, both symptoms could get worse.

There are some medications that can help like anti-anxiety medications. But really what can help OCD is what is called “insight.” Insight can be part of any mental illness because it means having understanding of why a person thinks or does what they do.


In OCD for example, there is “Good to fair” insight which means that the person with OCD recognizes that the obsessions and compulsions are not or probably not true. There is also “poor” insight when the person with OCD believes the thoughts and actions are probably true. The most serious is when the person with OCD has no insight and is convinced that their obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions are absolutely true.


It is obvious that the people with the most insight would be more likely to accept help from others. However, in order for the person with OCD to work through the anxiety and eventually stop the thoughts and actions a trained professional is needed.

If you need support, here are some channels:


  • Teaching Elders/Ministers in the Presbytery, can contact Neal Presa, Executive Presbyter and he will connect you to the Pastors Supporting Pastors (PSP) program.
  • As well, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit through the Board of Pensions for six free 1-hour sessions with a licensed therapist and unlimited 24/7 crisis counselor phone calls.
  • For anyone (clergy and anyone) experiencing suicidal ideation, you should immediately contact 988 or 911.


Blessings.

Upcoming events across the Presbytery

Saturday May 29: Encore viewing of "No Other Land"

Westhope Presbyterian Church, Saratoga sold out its first screening of Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land" about life under occupation in Palestine. The film is a firsthand account of a truth that the whole world needs to hear. 6:30-9:30 at Westhope Presbyterian Church, 12850 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga.

 Conversations with Peacemaking Partners from Korea and Ireland, June 20-22 at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

Feeling troubled by the hostile rhetoric of world leaders? Dismayed about all the dehumanization and division? Please join us for an in-person weekend of discussions and learning around peacemaking and community-building.


During his recent sabbatical, Pastor Hardy Kim met with leaders actively engaged in peacemaking in Korea and Ireland — countries that have known deep division. We’ve invited these same leaders to bring their experience and knowledge to Sunnyvale so that we may learn from them and become better equipped to engage in peacemaking efforts locally and globally.


We’ve intentionally carved out opportunities during meal times throughout the weekend for conversations among attendees and speakers, time for you to form connections that might further peacemaking efforts within the community. This event is open to the public, so please invite folks you know who care about justice and peace in the world.


Information and Registration at link

NEAR Gathering II at First Pres. Mountain View, Sept 6 2025

Please add this to your church calendars!

The Rev. Dr. Mark Labberton, President Emeritus of Fuller Theological Seminary will keynote NEAR Gathering II, Saturday, September 6 (8:00am-1:00pm) at First Presbyterian Church, Mountain View. The focus will be on God’s Mission and Character and the Church’s Witness.

Register Now for Clergy Retreats this Fall

All-Clergy Retreat,

Sept 9, 10, 11

St Francis Retreat, San Juan Bautista


Register here.

Open to TE and CRE within the Presbytery of San Jose


Full Stay: $250/two nights single-occupancy plus meals*

Commuter registration: $90


*scholarships available.

Leaders of Color Retreat,

October 13-15

Zephyr Point Conference Center,

Lake Tahoe NV


Register here.

Open to TE and CRE within the Presbytery of San Jose, San Francisco, Redwoods, and North Central CA.


Registration: $200

New and upcoming dates on the

Presbytery Calendar

29 May No Other Land, 2nd Screening, Westhope Presbyterian Church.

1 June Unity Candle is at Trinity San Jose, GKI Fellowship.

3 June 6:30 Taize Service at Stone Church.

8 June Unity Candle is at PCLG.

8 June 7pm Pride Kickoff Concert, Sunnyvale Pres.

15 June Unity Candle is at Westhope Pres., Saratoga.

20-22 June Peacemaking Weekend at Sunnyvale Pres.

22 June Unity Candle is at First Pres Santa Clara

29 June Unity Candle is at Sunnyvale Pres

6 July Unity Candle is at Daesung Pres

13 July Unity Candle is at First Pres Mountain View

20 July Unity Candle is at Covenant Pres Palo Alto

27 July Unity Candle is at First Pres Palo Alto

7-8 August Global Leadership Summit, First Pres Mountain View

6 Sept N.E.A.R. Gathering at First Pres Mountain View.

9-11 Sept Fall 2025 Clergy Retreat for all Teaching Elders.

10 Sept Deadline for nominations: GA 227 Commissioners

25 Sept Coordinating Council Meets

13-15 October Leaders of Color Retreat at Zephyr Point.

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