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The 317th Stated Meeting of the Albany Presbytery was held on April 21, 2018 at the United Presbyterian Church of Cambridge. Below are a few snippets/reflections offered from some of the shared business. Official minutes will be offered at the next Presbytery meeting.
Major agenda items from the April 21st meeting listed below include the following reports. See below for more details.
- Committee on Leadership Development Report – Stewart Pattison, Chair
- Committee on Ministers and Congregations (COMAC) Report – Laura Rogers, Member, COMAC
- Overtures for the 223rd General Assembly – Dan Rogers, Stated Clerk
- Staffing Process Advisory Team (SPAT) Announcements – Ted Wright, Moderator, SPAT
- Church Mission Committee, Special Offering – Ted Wright, Member, Church Mission Committee
- Bridges Out of Poverty Training Overview – Kate Kotfila, Vice Moderator, Albany Presbytery
- Announcements
Stewart Pattison
Chair, Committee on Leadership Development
“The Committee on Leadership Development was pleased to present Kukjin An to change his status from Inquirer to Candidate. Kukjin’s change in Candidate status was approved. The committee, jointly with the Committee on Ministers and Congregations, presented Andrea Holroyd for examination of her statement of faith and was approved for ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament.”
Laura Rogers
Member, COMAC
“The Committee on Ministers and Congregations made the following recommendations which were approved by the Presbytery:
That the Rev. Kathryn Kelly, upon her request, be released from ministry as a Minister of Word and Sacrament due to her inability to carry the weight of her ordination since her husband’s death. Rev. Kelly addressed the Presbytery explaining her difficulty over recent years and shared that “my soul is weary and I need a pastor and congregation to raise my girls in as a source of strength.” After a brief discussion and spoken words of care the Presbytery approved the request without exception. As the Moderator, the COMAC spokesperson and the Rev. Alexandra Lusak surrounded Kate and her daughters Rev. Lusak led the presbytery in prayer.
That the Presbytery authorize 28 Ruling Elders who had been trained to administer communion in their own congregations when invited to do so by their session. It was approved without exception.”
Dan Rogers
Stated Clerk, Albany Presbytery
Dan Rogers offers the following blog article related to Overtures for the 223rd General Assembly: Albany Presbytery Concurs with Overtures for 223rd General Assembly
Ted Wright, Moderator, SPAT
Staffing Process Advisory Team (SPAT) Announcements
The SPAT Team offers the following:
- Blog Article: Collaborating for a Better Future! Convocation: May 8th
- Proposed Spring & Summer 2018 Meetings in Albany Presbytery
Ted Wright, Member, Committee on Church Mission
Church Mission Committee, Special Offering – Pentecost
The Pentecost Offering supports local and national programs for youth, children, and young adults. To learn more about it, or to order free resources, click on: Pentecost Offering: Children at Risk • Youth • Young Adults by Church Mission Committee
PC(USA) missionary Ellen Smith (Russia/Germany) can be available to congregations late May or early June. If your church might welcome a program on peacemaking, partnerships, or an inside look at Russia, please notify Katy Stenta immediately: katyandtheword@gmail.com
Kate Kotfila, Vice Moderator, Albany Presbytery
Bridges Out of Poverty Overview
“Generational poverty (more than two generations) shapes resilience, creative problem-solving and tight relational bonds. Middle income folks focus on the value of education, planning and ‘getting’ ahead. Generational Wealthy are more likely to be drawn to managing their wealth, looking for unique experiences, and historical conservation. Each group has specific strengths and weakness. Almost all of our social services whether, public, ngo, or church organizations come from a middle income viewpoint which may limit their effectiveness.
Albany Presbytery gathered on Saturday, April 21 to be exposed to Bridges Out of Poverty, a process for identifying and reflecting on the ways values and assumptions impact our ability to address generational poverty. More than 70 of us were encouraged to think of poverty in terms of limited resources, not just limited money. Resources that impact poverty include, emotional, economic, relational, vocational, educational and more. As those who attended return to our local churches, we are equipped with information and insights that could lead to new approaches to our food pantries, advocacy and peacemaking groups etc.
The Presbytery recorded the training and hopes to make it available for general viewing in the near future.
Some resources identified at the meeting include:
- www.poorpeoplescampaign.org (a call to moral revival)
- Small group workbooks based on Bridges out of Poverty – email kate.kotfila@gmail.com to find out about reduced rates.
- United for Alice (By United Way, New Jersey)
Albany Presbytery Announcements
Thank you all for your service. Official minutes will be offered at the next Presbytery meeting. See you at Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church, Saturday, June 5, 2018 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
