Presbytery Packets

The Presbytery Packet for the May 11, 2010 Stated Meeting is now available for download by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org/presbyterypacket. Please note that this is a partial packet and will be updated as we recieve reports from various committees and task forces, so please check back at the Presbytery Packet page for updates. 
 
 The Call to the Stated Meeting and Directions to the meeting site are included below for your information. 
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Presbytery office at 612-871-7281 or by email at communications@ptcaweb.org.

Editor’s Note: The following post contains the highlights of the Stated Meeting held March 13, 2010 at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville, MN. Excerpted by the Editor are the minutes of Stated Clerk, Nancy Grittman. A complete report is available by clicking here.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS:

Stated Clerk: Nancy Grittman

• The Administrative Commission appointed to ordain Jonathan Cornell, candidate, to the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament, completed its work on Sunday, January 10, 2010, and needs to be dismissed with thanks. The members are: The Rev. David Lenz, The Rev. Kara Root, The Rev. Neil Craigan, Elder Lucy Mungai, Elder Norm Scott, Elder Kirsten Berry. The chair of the commission is Vice Moderator Vince Gin.

• The Administrative Commission appointed to ordain and install Donald Hanna, candidate, to the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament, and to install him as associate pastor at St. Luke Presbyterian Church, Wayzata, MN, completed its work on January 24, 2010, and needs to be dismissed with thanks. The members are The Rev. Gary Elg, The Rev. Scott Stapleton, The Rev. Gwin Pratt, Elder Laurie Ramirez, Elder Vincent Thomas, Elder Hannah Roth, Elder Betty Beck. The chair of the commission is Moderator Jin S. Kim.

• Since the last meeting of Presbytery, The Rev. Dan Johnson (Honorably Retired) has resigned as a member of the Commissioned Lay Pastor committee.

• The Rev. Jane Harper, on the annual non-parish clergy report form, stated she was renouncing her ordination as minister of word and sacrament. In accordance with G-6.0700, when an officer of the church informs the stated clerk of the governing body of membership that she/he wishes to renounce jurisdiction, the renunciation shall become effective upon receipt. In accordance with G-6.0703, the appropriate actions have been taken to remove the Jane Harper’s name from the roll.

Executive Presbyter: Rev. Chaz Ruark

Chaz reported on the grand opening worship of Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church, the 50^th anniversary of Presbyterian Church of The Way, Shoreview, and the first full worship service at Stadium Village Presbyterian Church following the flood of their building. In 2009, 26 of our congregations reported growth, with a net growth for our Presbytery of around 200 members. In response to the earthquake in Haiti, PTCA congregations and members have raised over $39,000 for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and have given $79,837 total to relief for Haiti (as of March 13, 2010). Chaz explained the process that has been planned for strategic planning, including the committee that has agreed to serve.

After acknowledging the difficulties of the January meeting, and the sense of incomplete information, Chaz (with the approval of Council) invited The Rev. Jin Kim to explain to Presbytery his motives for seeking election as Moderator of General Assembly. Jin was endorsed to stand as Moderator at the January meeting following the election of GA commissioners.

Moderator: The Rev. Jin S. Kim

Jin spoke in the capacity as a candidate for Moderator of General assembly.

Treasurer: James Payne

Jim announced that the financial reports are available online. The preceding year, 2009, ended with a substantial surplus. Work is being started to do the financial review.

Council Chair: Chaz Ruark for Elder JoAnn Simser

The Presbytery Council met on January 28, 2010, and February 25, 2010, meeting both times at Presbyterian Homes Eagle Crest, Roseville. Council will resume its practice of meeting in churches in April, and will welcome invitations.

The intent is to have an opportunity to visit churches that do not have the ability to entertain Presbytery, due to size of facility, or distance away from the center of the Twin Cities Area.

In January, Council voted to authorize Chaz to negotiate with “Best Year Ever”, a consulting firm, to help Council form a strategic plan for the mission and direction of the Presbytery for the next several years. The proposed cost will be $8,000, and the time frame will be three to six months for the work to be done. The consultant will work with a representative committee appointed by Council. The report will be presented to the Presbytery for approval.

Council also voted to approve the position description for treasurer, after some amendments were approved.

In February, Council continued work to endorse a list of names of persons to be asked to serve on the task force to work with the consultant. The names of those persons who have agreed to serve on the task force are:

• Ministers: Paul Moore, Andrew Lindahl, Jin Kim, Phil GebbenGreen, Julia Carlson, Kara Root
• Elders: Carol Anderson, Jo Ringgenberg, Phil Park, Jerry Ganfield, Ward Sessing
• Staff:Chaz Ruark
• Consultant:Karen Morey

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY

The Presbytery voted in the affirmative on the following issues:

• Reappointment of Harry Maghakian as Stated Supply Pastor- Andrew Riverside Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
• Dissolution of Associate Pastoral Relationship with Rev. Andries Coetzee and Transfer of Ecclesiastical Membership to the Presbytery of Muskingum Valley—Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, MN
• Contract for Full-time Interim Pastor, the Reverend Jong Hyeong Lee- Korean Presbyterian Church of Minnesota, Brooklyn Center, MN
• Moderator Appointed (Rev. David Stewart) ; First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, MN
• Transfer of Ecclesiastical Membership from Presbytery of Lake Michigan: Reverend Helen Jo Taliaferro
• Transfer of Ecclesiastical Membership from the Presbytery of Riverside: The Reverend Harry Kenneth McCullen
• Terms of Call for the Reverend Thomas J. Parlette as Pastor- First Presbyterian Church, Rochester, Minnesota
• Interim Pastor Contract: Rev. Richard Townsend-Anderson- Presbyterian Church of the Master, Coon Rapids, MN

The Presbytery entered into a time of worship, led by The Rev. Mark Lomax, First African Presbyterian Church, Lithonia, Georgia. The Rev. Lomax preached on the fifth great end of the church, the Promotion of Social Righteousness. The Rev. David Maghakian and The Rev. Alika Galloway officiated at the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

The Necrology Report, in celebration of the resurrection in memory of those elders, deacons and ministers who passed into life eternal during the past year, was read by The Rev. Jin S. Kim and Elder Vince Gin.

COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY

• Sara Berry, who is on the roll of Inquirers of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, having satisfactorily demonstrated adequate promise for ministry by presenting the statements specified in the Presbytery’s policy (G-14.0402), met with the session of Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, and with the Presbytery’s Committee on Preparation for Ministry, is presented to the Presbytery to be examined “with respect to her Christian faith, forms of Christian service undertaken and motives for seeking the ministry,” and to be received as a candidate for the ministry of the Word and Sacrament

The committee recommended that Sara Berry be enrolled as a candidate for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament and that the moderator ask her the questions specified in the Presbytery’s polity.

Presbytery VOTED TO ENROLL Sara Berry as a candidate.

• Risley Prakasim, who is on the roll of Inquirers of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, having satisfactorily demonstrated adequate promise for ministry by presenting the statements specified in the Presbytery’s policy (G-14.0402), met with the session of Church of All Nations Presbyterian Church, Columbia Heights, and with the Presbytery’s Committee on Preparation for Ministry, is presented to the Presbytery to be examined “with respect to his Christian faith, forms of Christian service undertaken and motives for seeking the ministry,” and to be received as a candidate for the ministry of the Word and Sacrament.

The committee recommended that Risley Prakasim be enrolled as a candidate for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament and that the moderator ask him the questions specified in the Presbytery’s polity.

Presbytery VOTED TO ENROLL Risley Prakasim as a candidate.

• Anna Kendig, who is on the roll of Inquirers of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, having satisfactorily demonstrated adequate promise for ministry by presenting the statements specified in the Presbytery’s policy (G-14.0402), met with the session of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, and with the Presbytery’s Committee on Preparation for Ministry, is presented to the Presbytery to be examined “with respect to her Christian faith, forms of Christian service undertaken and motives for seeking the ministry,” and to be received as a candidate for the ministry of the Word and Sacrament. (See Attachment C)

The committee recommended that Anna Kendig be enrolled as a candidate for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament and that the moderator ask her the questions specified in the Presbytery’s polity.

Presbytery VOTED TO ENROLL Anna Kendig as a candidate.

Vice Moderator Vince Gin asked the new candidates the questions from the Presbytery polity, and they were received with prayer.

BILLS AND OVERTURES

The committee recommended approval of these items.

The committee votes on the following overtures were unanimous to RECOMMEND that the Presbytery concur with the following overtures. (Note: these do no yet have GA-assigned numbers) The vote on each was 6/0/0

• Overture 008. On Partnering for Peace in Sudan—From the Presbytery of Trinity.

• Overture 013 On Strengthening the Peacemaking Program—From the Presbytery of Pittsburgh

The Presbytery VOTED TO CONCUR with both overtures.

The closing hymn, “Go With Us Lord” was sung. The Rev. Jin S. Kim pronounced the benediction.

The next meeting of the Presbytery of The Twin Cities Area will be May 11, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.at Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, Minnesota.

Moderator Jin S. Kim’s report to the Presbytery is now available for download.

The entire March 2010 Presbytery Packet is now available for download in a .zip file format.  The March Packet includes the following:

• Call (with directions)
• January 2010 Stated Meeting Minutes
• Docket
• Nominating Report to Presbytery
• Commissioned Lay Pastor Committee Report to Presbytery
• Bills and Overtures Report to Presbytery
• Committee on Preparation for Ministry Report to Presbytery
• Committee on Ministry Report to Presbytery
• Board of Trustees Report to Presbytery
• Report of the Stated Clerk
• Report of the Presbytery Council
• January 2010 Financial Reports
• January 2010 Treasurer’s Report
• February 2010 Financial Reports
• February 2010 Treasurer’s Report
• Necrology Report

You can download the complete packet by clicking here.

The Committee on Ministry Report for the March 13 Stated Meeting is available for download.

The Committee on Preparation for Ministry’s Report to Presbytery for the March 13 meeting has been revised.  Please visit the Presbytery Packet to download the latest version. 

Please disregard the previous version.

The following reports for the March 13 Presbytery Meeting are now available for download:

• Docket
• Report of the Stated Clerk
• Report of the Presbytery Council