New officers were installed at the November Presbytery Meeting held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Albany. Rev. Kate Kotfila stepped into the role of Moderator and Rev. Michael Burkley accepted the role of Vice Moderator. We give thanks for their service. Being new to this position, we took a moment to connect with Michael and learn a little more about him. Before we get started, can you … [Read more...]
What does Thanksgiving Look Like To You? by Kate Kotfila
November 15, 2018 by
In his State of the Union speech in January 1941, FDR proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people ought to enjoy: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear. Four Freedoms images © SEPS. Used under permission of Curtis Licensing. The speech was not particularly noteworthy, and the Four Freedoms did not grab hold of the American consciousness until … [Read more...]
Open Space: Proposed Amendments to PC(USA) “Book of Order” by Michael Burkley
November 6, 2018 by
Amazingly enough, the governance of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is left up to … us! Our churches elect Ruling Elders to serve in the local church and the presbytery. Working with the Presbytery our churches call pastors to teach and care for their congregations and to serve in the mission of the presbytery. The presbytery, as a union of our local churches, reaches out to our larger denomination … [Read more...]
Statement on the Tree of Life Synagogue Murders and Our Lives Together
October 31, 2018 by
Eleven Dead in Attack on Jewish Service. The headline came as it does these days, not as a shock - - for our society has become too violent for murder even on an unprecedented scale to shock -- but as a clear sign that evil stalks the places we used to think of as safe – the synagogue, the mosque, the church, the school, the neighborhood business. The Bible tells us God said, Thou shalt not … [Read more...]
Open Space: Learning Together Before Presbytery Meetings
October 15, 2018 by
I'm really excited that Albany Presbytery now offers regular "Open Space" opportunities for presentation or conversation before each stated meeting. In National Capital Presbytery (2009-2016), I saw this practice work to great advantage. Many came early to the host facility to engage in topics of their choice. There would be several options, making it hard to decide. Everyone is Invited - … [Read more...]
“Will you be a friend to your colleagues in ministry…” by Alexandra Lusak
October 15, 2018 by
On Tuesday, September 5, shortly before noon, I arrived at El Mexicano restaurant on Route 50 in Saratoga Springs for lunch with sisters and brothers in Christ from Albany Presbytery. Jerry McKinney and I had met there for lunch after the second presbytery retreat, concerned that we had both been active participants and colleagues in ministry in the presbytery for many years yet didn’t know each … [Read more...]
The Committee on Representation & Nominations Needs Your Help by Jerry McKinney
October 15, 2018 by
The Committee on Representation & Nominations (CRN) is working diligently to complete our work so that we can present a full slate of nominations to our committees. As we looked at our current committee membership, we learned that only 25% of our congregations are represented on Presbytery committees. That’s why we need your help! We need suggestions of folks who might be willing to … [Read more...]
PWSNE 2018 Fall Gathering Summary Report
October 15, 2018 by
This is a summary report of the PW in the Synod of the Northeast Fall Gathering that was held on Sept. 28-29, 2018. Our Moderator Lisa Gray added in a separate email a special thank you to Donna Rahmann who led the PW bible study workshop and to Charlotte Hasselbarth for shared a video clip about the book: "Something Beautiful Happened" which describes the story of a woman's relatives hiding … [Read more...]
A Celebration of Our Synod by Becca Lawson Putman
October 10, 2018 by
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as a Commissioner to the 2018 Synod Assembly. This is the first time I have ever been to Synod Assembly, so there were some things that I hadn’t been aware of before I got there. One is that most of the “business” of the Synod is handled by the Synod Commission. This is part of the New Way Forward, which was adopted a few years ago. What that … [Read more...]
2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium Informational Webinar
October 5, 2018 by
The planning for the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium trip has begun. Hear directly from people who have participated as a Youth, on a Work Crew, as an adult chaperone, and finally from the Albany Presbytery Triennium Registrar. Our hosts include: Christy D'Ambriosio - Albany Presbytery Triennium Registrar Rev. Rebecca Lawson Putman - Northville United Presbyterian Church Andy … [Read more...]
