July 2, 2007

A Message from the Moderator

Dear Colleagues in Ministry,

God is good…all the time. I am grateful to God for the opportunity I have had to serve as moderator of Baltimore Presbytery this year. The staff and members of the presbytery have been warm and supportive. However, I am aware that several people were troubled by the process and decisions made at the June 21 Presbytery meeting. In view of the subsequent discussion taking place in conversation and email, I offer my perspective.

First, I acknowledge the discomfort of a number of members of presbytery regarding the recommendation made by the Personnel Committee and the decision of the Nominating Committee that Charles Forbes not be nominated for another three-year term. Upon receiving the report of the Nominating Committee, the Presbytery Council, following the procedure outlined in the Presbytery manual, established a Stated Clerk Nominating Committee to work through the summer to identify a candidate for the position.

Some have questioned my invitation to Dick McFail, Stated Clerk of National Capital Presbytery, to serve as parliamentarian for the portion of the meeting that had to do with this issue. Aware of the intentions of some in the presbytery to challenge the Nominating Committee decision, I thought it prudent to request assistance from someone outside the presbytery who could offer impartial advice. Several have questioned his recommendation to me and my subsequent ruling regarding the motion presented by the Rev. Jack Sharp. I share the discomfort folks are feeling; but, perhaps for different reasons. I learned of the proposed motion less than five minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting, and Mr. McFail and I had no time to carefully discuss it and consider if and when it might be in order. Mr. McFail read the Baltimore Presbytery Manual prior to the meeting, and was aware of the process outlined therein for the nomination of the Stated Clerk and based his recommendation accordingly.

The Vision Committee of the Council will be meeting in July to consider the concerns expressed by many regarding the position of Stated Clerk and will take another look at the Conflict of Interest Policy. The Committee welcomes constructive comments from the presbytery regarding the position and policy. The Position Description for the Stated Clerk will guide the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee in its work to identify and bring forth a candidate. The Position Description, Nominee, and compensation will be considered and voted on at the September presbytery meeting.

All of us who have known and worked with Charles over the years are grateful for his faithful, intelligent, and knowledgeable service to Christ in Baltimore Presbytery. The Council is considering how to honor and thank him for his ministry in our midst, and your suggestions are welcome.

In closing, I appeal to you, my sisters and brothers in Christ, to honor one another by resisting words and actions that exacerbate divisions among us. I commend to you the writing of the Apostle Paul, Romans 12:4-14. Thank you for your kindness toward and patience with me as I have served as moderator this year. Let us remember one another, the Presbytery and its leadership in our prayers.

Yours in Service to Christ,

Anita Hendrix

Inside this issue

New Calendar Events:

Christian Education Curriculum Workshop led by Jane Johnson

July 31 10:00am-1:00pm

Faith PC

Youth Leader Social

Aug. 18 1:00pm-4:00pm

Second PC

more information to come

Youth Leader Training Event with the Rev. Mark DeVries

Oct. 29 10:00am-4:00pm

Location TBA

Take Note/Act Now

§ 2007-2008 Pulpit Supply List

§ New Imani Address

§ Ferguson Scholarship

§ Seeking Youth Leader

§ Movie Night at Kenwood PC

§ Curriculum Workshop

§ MD Assoc. Nonprofit Training

§ Multicultural Church Institute

Prayer Concerns
Next Generation NCD

People

The Presbytery welcomes the Rev. Dr. Timothy Beal, who started at Woods PC on July 1^st. We pray for a smooth transition to the area and to the church.

Prayer Concerns

Next Generation NCD requests prayers for:

· The tangible steps of faith being taken by participants

· The action experiments, designed to live out our core values

· The shaping of a leadership team

· The upcoming restart of the project in Baltimore City

· Strength for the impending birth of Tim and Saranell’s second child (due any day now!)

Contact Information

For the Presbytery Offices:

Phone: 410-433-2012

or 800-511-0087

Office E-mail: office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org

To Unsubscribe:

email Alice McGee or call the office

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items (non-dated items first; dated items in date order)

The 2007-2008 Pulpit Supply List is now posted to our website in the Downloads section (more).

For those churches responding to the request made at the Presbytery of Baltimore meeting for the purchase of chairs for New Imani, please send checks to: New Imani Community Church, PO Box 1642, Owings Mills, MD, 21117.

The recipient of the Robert F. and Rosa M. Ferguson scholarship is Barbara Ann Shirley from the First Presbyterian Church of Westminster. She will be attending McDaniel College in the fall. She was accepted into their honors program.

Ashland PC is seeking a part-time youth leader/pastor (more).

Kenwood PC presents a movie night on July 7^th at 7:00pm. The movie featured will be “One Night with the King”, rated PG (more).

Springfield PC presents a concert by Bronzewood Paedeia, a harp and handbell duo, on Tuesday, July 17^th at 7:30pm (more).

There will be a Christian Education Curriculum Workshop at Faith PC (same building as the Presbytery office) on Tuesday, July 31^st, from 10am-1pm, in the Woodmont Room on the second floor. Lunch will be served. This will involve: the sharing of best practices, curriculum evaluation tools, trouble shooting, numerous curriculum samples and a time of teaching. RSVP to allow Jane Johnson to prepare adequately. Office: 410.433.2012.

Other items and events

The Maryland Association of Nonprofits has posted its July Training calendar (more).

Stony Point Center in New York State is teaming up with a number of denominations, including the PC(USA), to host a Multicultural Church Institute from September 24^th-28^th, 2007. This will be an intense multicultural immersion program featuring four classes to choose from, excellent faculty and the refreshing atmosphere of Stony Point Center (more).