Synod of the Trinity Enews: GA recap - Ruth Santana-Grace elected co-moderator

	July 12, 2022 The Synod of the Trinity Being More Together 225th General Assembly (2022) Ruth Santana-Grace part of co-moderator team elected the executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Philadelphia)  More from GA Synod presbyteries see overtures passed Four overtures were brought before the General Assembly that were sponsored by presbyteries from within the Synod of the Trinity. All four were passed. To learn more about these overtures and any amendments that were adopted with them, click the blue hyperlinks below. On Establishing the Authority of Presbyteries to Define Severance Plans for Installed Ministers (Beaver-Butler) On Adopting and Implementing Harassment Policies for All Councils (Philadelphia) On Living in Healthy Relationships Free of Violence and Coercion (Pittsburgh) On Amending W-4.0403 Regarding Laying on of Hands at an Installation (West Virginia)                                                                        PCUSA per capita figures approved for 2023 and 2024 New per capita rates were established for the PCUSA on Saturday at the 225th General Assembly. They are: 2023 - $9.85 2024 - $9.80 The proposed amounts had been $9.61 and $10.28, respectively. By comparison, this year's PCUSA per capita amount is $8.98. For more on this action, click here.                                                                      Elsewhere... The 226th General Assembly (2024) will be held using an “Omega plan,” which calls for in-person plenaries and online committees. Click here for more information. Commissioners approved six overtures addressing gun and intimate partner violence. To read about these decisions, click here. Stated clerk the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson led a panel discussion for this year’s Hands and Feet initiative. For a recap, click here. Presbyterian Mission Agency THIS IS DIFFERENT! Changes to student loan forgiveness benefiting clergy, church staff Are you a pastor or church staff member with student debt? Think there is no way you'll ever be able to get out from underneath the monthly payments that are barely (or not at all!) decreasing your total loan amount? New regulations are now allowing clergy and church staff to be eligible for student loan forgiveness, and the Presbyterian Mission Agency and Board of Pensions have webinars and coaching to help you through the process. And they're free! To read about this new opportunity, click here. Lackawanna ‘Reconciling Congregation’ vote strengthens Church of Christ Uniting’s inclusiveness stance The Church of Christ Uniting in Kingston, PA, a merged congregation of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and United Methodist faiths, recently voted to become a "Reconciling Congregation," meaning it equipping and mobilizing United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” COCU is the third congregation in the United Methodist Susquehanna Conference and the first congregation (out of approximately 107) in the Scranton Wilkes-Barre District to become a Reconciling Ministries Congregation. To read more about this inclusiveness stance taken by this congregation, click here. Huntingdon The Welcome Church living up to its name with help of Synod grant In May of 2021, The Welcome Church in Philadelphia was awarded an Innovation Grant from the Synod of the Trinity. The funds went to support Sanctuary Village, a partnership of The Welcome Church that is a small, self-governing village of Tiny Houses to serve as transitional housing for chronically homeless individuals who due to age and/or pre-existing health conditions are most vulnerable to Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections/complications. Such a community, the application said, would offer people the security and stability to obtain needed services for a better quality of life and a move to permanent housing. For more on this ministry, click here. Philadelphia After selling camp, presbytery gives back to Native Americans After decades of faithful ministry in East Stroudsburg, PA, the Presbytery of Philadelphia made the difficult decision to close Kirkwood Camp and Conference Center and sell the property. With wisdom and insight, the Administrative Commission sought to honor the land in an intentional way, understanding that before this special place was a Christian camp, it belonged to the Native Americans in that region. After purposeful research and collaboration with one of the co-moderators of the 224th General Assembly, Elona Street-Stewart, the presbytery was connected with the Nanticoke Indian Tribe, which, along with the Lenape Tribe, has roots in the Pocono area. Members of the Presbytery of Philadelphia and the Kirkwood Administrative Commission presented Chief Natosha Carmine with a $50,000 check as a token of acknowledgement of the land that belonged to their people. These funds will be used to teach their heritage to the next generation of Indigenous Americans. For more on this meeting and donation, click here.
Synod seeks stated clerk applicants With the retirement of the Rev. Wayne Yost at the end of the year from the position of stated clerk of the Synod of the Trinity, we have begun the search for the next person who might serve in this way. Although a part-time position, we know that the person fulfilling this role is important in ecclesiastical matters and in support of the ministry and mission of the Synod. A link to the position description is available by clicking here. PDA encourages work groups Along with many other faith-based and non-profit groups, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance provides opportunities to step into the gap, walk with those impacted, and work towards healing. PDA currently has seven host sites receiving volunteer teams witnessing to the healing love of Christ by supporting rebuilding efforts in areas that have been affected by natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires. For a listing of those sites and more information, click here. NWMC continues hybrid format in '22 For the second consecutive year, the New Wilmington Mission Conference will be held in-person and online. This year’s hybrid conference will be held July 16-22 on the campus of Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. The theme this year is based on Colossians 3:12: “Clothes yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” The conference will end after morning worship on Friday, July 22. A list of speakers and their bios is available by clicking here. Entering its 117th year, the New Wilmington Mission Conference is the longest-running mission conference in the United States. More information is available at the NWMC website here. Presbyterian Men offer Manual for Church Building Care The Pittsburgh Presbyterian Men organization has been active in providing building maintenance and restoration care for many years. This Christian Presbyterian Men volunteer work has now produced a Manual for Church Building Care and Related Operations. This 127-page document includes sections on Funding & Design Resources, Maintenance and Project Implementation. There are also areas related to roofing, stained glass, food service, building security and solar power. Numerous inspection checklists are part of this document to help buildings and grounds people determine the life of their facilities. The manual is available by clicking here. Camp Lambec celebrating 75 years A 75th anniversary celebration of Camp Lambec (East Springfield, PA) will be held Saturday, July 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the camp. The day will include a tour of the facilities, picnic lunch, anniversary celebration service and time to explore the camp on your own. More information is available on a flyer available by clicking here. Carlisle seeking 'Presbytery Leader' The Presbytery of Carlisle is looking for applicants for the new full-time position of Presbytery Leader for Governance and Congregational Leadership. This position serves alongside the interim executive presbyter (and successor) and encompasses the role of the stated clerk along with responsibilities for cultivating new leadership models for the faithful, vital and sustainable witness of its congregations. A position description is available by clicking here. Nominate someone for Women of Faith Awards Nominations are being sought for women who work to address improving the quality of life for others through systemic change for the 2022 Women of Faith Awards. Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries in the Presbyterian Mission Agency sponsors this annual award and the 2022 theme is “Women Leading Movement for Positive Change.” More information and nomination form are available by clicking here. Deadline for nominations is July 22. Weapons at Church: The Unthinkable in God's House We like to think of our churches as places of safety and refuge. A place to commune with God and join in fellowship with our church community. Unfortunately, others view churches as targets. White supremacist Dylan Roof murdered nine people at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina in 2015. Recently a Las Vegas man with a grudge against Taiwan entered the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, CA, and shot members and friends of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church who were gathered at a celebratory luncheon. It is unfortunate that church leaders must think about how to prevent such violence or how to respond to it if it happens. But sessions should discuss church safety. There are many resources available for churches. The Synod has compiled a webpage on Church Safety/Disaster Preparedness and is available by clicking here. Campground ministry chaplains needed The Pennsylvania Council of Churches’ Campground Ministry is seeking chaplains for the 2022 summer season. This is a paid position and this year, they’ve added even more opportunities to serve across Pennsylvania. To learn more about the position, click here. It’s easy to apply via PCC's website and the online application. This is a first-come, first-filled opportunity, so if you or someone you know might be interested in serving, please apply immediately.
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