A letter from our Executive Presbyter, Hilary Shuford

Dear Saints in Mission Presbytery,

As I travel to the Synod of the Sun Assembly, I want to share with you my overwhelming sense of the graciousness flowing throughout our meeting last Friday and Saturday in Victoria, Texas. We shared laughs, hugs, fears and singing; we prayed, heard the Word proclaimed and struggled through difficult feelings by navigating together our discerned path, decently and in order. We celebrated the wonderful work and leadership of our outgoing Moderator, Rob Mueller, and our retiring Stated Clerk, Miles White. Thank you both!

Mission Presbytery will have a new "face" next year Sandy Pinaire, our new Moderator, Karen Stocks, our new Stated Clerk, and Dick Kreutzer (Vice Moderator) will join some new faces on General Council: Judy Skaggs (Chair of Council), James Lee (CDE), Bette Burris (CPM), Carla Matthews (COM), Bob Dymond (YCC), Vi Lee (ECN), Dave Diercksen (MOJC), and Clarice Amann (NOM) along with the Region representatives Peter Haas (Austin), Liz Anzaldua (CC), Nancy Willet (Hill Country), Jimmy Downing (RGV), Saundra Davis (S.A.), and John Brantley (Victoria) with Eldon Sheffer (SFOC) and Allen Mosiman (Personnel). I am humbled to serve you, Mission Presbytery, with this group of elected leaders.

I encourage you all patiently to live into and put your energies toward our proposed vision of building healthy congregations and trusting relationships, partnering with one another in what we do better together, and sending disciples in witness and service. If we focus on this missional identity to become more of who God is calling us to be in Mission Presbytery, we will move away from fear and from judging each other on issues we disagree about. I recall hearing the words "move forward" several times during our meeting. I hope this becomes a call for us.

The General Council will meet on Saturday November 12, 2011. Please contact your Regional Representative with your questions, comments, concerns and suggested changes to the proposed revisions to Mission Presbytery’s by-laws which reflect the way we have been operating since last fall.
We are next scheduled to be together at our Winter Retreat on Compassionate Evangelism at Mo Ranch, February 19-21, 2012 brought to us by ECN and CD&E. If we don’t see you then, you will be missed! We look forward to hosting Cynthia Bolbach, the Moderator of the 219th the Moderator of the 219th General Assembly, at our Stated Meeting, March 2-3, 2012 at Northminster PC, San Antonio.

We stand together; divided, we fall. I pray for God’s peace to be with you


Blessings,
Hilary Shuford

My Reactions to the Presbytery Meeting

This past weekend I attended the previously mentioned Presbytery meeting as one of three of MSqPC's delegates.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss possible reactions to 10-A, the recent General Assembly resolution that changed the ordination standards.  For those of you that don't know what that change is, here's the new wording:
Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G‐1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G‐ 14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W‐4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.

The Basics
The meeting lasted from 10am-3pm with no scheduled breaks; we ate boxed lunches that we brought when we wanted.  The meeting began with singing and a scripture reflection then got down to business.  The first presentation was on conflict resolution.  We learned how to talk to one another and how to ensure peaceful discussions.  We then moved into presentations on four different ways to react to 10-A.  We were sent eleven different options to read over, but the Presbytery chose to present on only four.  Each option was presented in fifteen-minute presentations with 15 minutes of small group discussion following.  Here are the four options as we were presented:

• Option 1 was to do nothing.  
• Option 2 was for churches to declare their wishes on ordination through their CIF (church information form, used when calling a pastor) and for the Presbytery's Committee on Ministry to commit to respect each individual church's wishes.
• Option 3 was to create an overlay Presbytery for churches that feel that the PC(USA) has strayed too far away from its reformed tenants.  (The current Book of Order doesn't allow for Overlay Presbyteries, so this option would mean sending an Overture to General Assembly, amending the BoO to allow this.)
• Option 4 was a process by which a church can leave the denomination.

Personal Reflections
I guess I should be 100% upfront.  I went into this meeting wondering why we were meeting.  I am of the camp that has been wanting more inclusive ordination standards and was overjoyed a the passage of 10-A.  I was honestly annoyed that we would have an extra Presbytery meeting solely to hear options from churches that were upset that they didn't get their way.  I know, ridiculously childish of me, but sometimes I just can't help it!

When I got to the meeting, I started out upset that the facilitators/mediators of the meeting were from a church that opposes 10-A.  I felt an immediate bias.  However, the discussion was set up in such a way that the bias wasn't felt.  Some table groups had people on completely different sides of the issue and other table groups, like mine, had people that were all in agreement.  We were able to discuss each option frankly and submit questions to be answered by each presenter at the end of the day.  I don't think anyone changed their minds, but I think many people appreciated the time to talk about how they feel.

I don't think the meeting will result in less discussion at the October Presbytery meeting, where an overture asking to create an overlay Presbytery is expected to be presented.  I do think, though, that delegates to the October meeting will feel better informed on the situation and feel better able to vote.  I think some churches will still leave, so matter what we decide.  I think people will be upset whether we approve the overture for Overlay Presbyteries or not.  And I know some people will be upset if we choose option 1 or 2 and essentially do nothing.

Fifty years ago when the denomination voted to ordain women as Ministers, people were upset.  Those people and churches left and created a new denomination.  This may happen again.  It is a time of change in our denomination.  We are part of history.  As a More Light church, we can say that we fought for and won the inclusion of ALL people to be eligible for ordination in the PC(USA).  I will be sorry to see some churches go, but think the denomination made the right decision.

--Micaela

called meeting of Mission Presbytery on Saturday, Sept. 17th

Dear Members of Mission Presbytery,
After two conversations with members of the New Presbytery Working Group, the Denominational Relations Committee of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, Mission Presbytery Trustees, and other parties on July 30
th and August 20th, the General Council believes that it is in the best interest of the presbytery to call a meeting of our entire body to discuss with one another the important implications for our life together that surround an effort to form a separate overlay presbytery and to consider possible options for remaining together.Though the overture is not yet in hand, it is our understanding that there will be a formal overture on or before Sept. 15th to form an ‘overlay presbytery’ by about a dozen congregations of our presbytery. There may be other overtures as well considering other forms of separation and/or remaining together. The churches choosing this path of separation are doing so to address their concerns in response to the recent changes in the Book of Order regarding gifts and qualifications for ordination to the various offices and because of changes in the Form of Government. The detailed discussion required to fairly assess such overtures and to consider and identify options for remaining together will require far more time than our regular business docket in October will allow.
Therefore, I call the members of Mission Presbytery to convene on Saturday, September 17th from 10 am to 3pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 211 Roleto Dr., San Antonio, TX 78213. 210-342-4253The stated purpose of this meeting will be to discuss but not vote upon the request to form a separate overlay presbyteryand to determine and define the options for responding to such a request that are available to us as a presbytery.A team of presbyters (elders and clergy) under the supervision of the Pastoral Care Division and the General Council are crafting the process for these conversations and discussion.Lunch will not be provided, so please bring your own.My earnest hope is that through this process and these conversations we may be prepared for whatever happens when we vote in October, and in all things evidence the best in Christian civility and love for one another, no matter our position.
In that hope I anticipate the grace of your presence and engagement with us on Sept. 17th.In Jesus,RobRev. Rob Mueller
Moderator, Mission Presbytery

Changes to the PCUSA Constitution

You are invited to a conversation regarding recent changes to our constitution following a presentation by our Executive Presbyter Hilary Shuford

Sunday, September 11, 2011
From 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
John Calvin Presbyterian Church
8102 Midcrown, San Antonio, TX 78239

Please share this information with your congregation. Always remember in your constant prayers your sisters and brothers in Mission Presbytery as we seek to discover God’s plan, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and enjoying the wholeness that comes from knowing Jesus Christ.

The recently passed Form of Government (FOG)

You can download the  recently passed Form of Government (FOG) from our webpage:
http://www.msqpc.org/ourmission.html

Overview of Corporate Bylaws for Madison Square Presbyterian Church Presented For Adoption August, 2011

The Session has approved the attached corporate bylaws for presentation to the congregation to be voted on for adoption.  The church has no working bylaws to compare with this proposed set. The following table highlights important procedures and practices in the bylaws and compares these with our current practices.  

On July 10, 2011 the Presbyterian Church replaced the long used “Book of Order: Form of Government” (BoO) with a new “Form of Government” as the constitution for the church and its congregations. These new bylaws make all references to this new, much shorter, “Form of Government” (FOG). Some of the changes in the bylaws from our current practices are the result of more flexible or changed constitutional requirements.

The “Preliminary Principles” of the old Book of Order  have largely been retained and are referred to as “Foundations of Presbyterian Polity” (FPP). 

Our church is incorporated in the state of Texas and abides by the proper rules for such corporations. The bylaws are written so that issues for both the church (ecclesiastical) and state (corporate) are addressed. Hence, the language equates the church and corporation; elders as trustees, and the session as the board of directors. When we act, we act as both church and corporation as the rules apply.

Read more:http://www.msqpc.org/ourmission.html