What shapes us as Presbyterians? We live in obedience to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church… Under the authority of the Bible… Guided by our Constitution: The Book of Confessions The Book of Order

Form of Government Directory for Worship Rules of Discipline Constitution, Part II –

Directory for Worship Rules of Discipline Foundations of Presbyterian Polity Form of Government Constitution, Part II – Form of Gov’t

Change Needed because of changing needs Previous Form of Government = one size fits all polity Based on an organizational model now close to 30 years old Many requirements could not be met by many sessions / presbyteries

Goal of revising the Form of Government? Connect our belief with our actions Clarify standards for the whole church Provide flexibility appropriate to each context

Terminology Changes Ordered Ministry instead of “office” or “officer” (specific functions w/in total context of ministry of the whole church) Teaching Elder (instead of MWS) and Ruling Elder Lifts up parity of ordination (avoidance of clericalism) Emphasizes role of session as leaders, discerners of the Spirit (Ruling = measuring) Elevates importance of teaching the faith / equipping people for their ministry Councils instead of governing bodies – latter an unintentional synonym for “board of directors”?

Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse All of this opened the door for us to try something brand new as a Presbytery, in terms of: Staffing Office Mission funding Structure Our life together

Staffing Old staff configuration (recent): Executive Presbyter (full-time) Stated Clerk (part-time) Web-spinner (part-time) Administrative Staff (full-time and part-time) Present: Stated Clerk/Communicator (full-time)

Office Office in the old “church center” on East Genesee in Syracuse, then Office on West Genesee in First Pres. United, then Office on James Street with our current Treasurer, then Office in my house…

Mission Funding Old paradigm: Churches pledged and gave mission monies to the Presbytery, and Presbytery determined causes to support, and Presbytery distributed the funds. New practice, with new possibilities: Presbytery is “out of the business” of collecting and disbursing mission monies, because Congregations are encouraged to find and fund projects

Structure Old paradigm: Presbytery Council Council committees and standing committees (many) Presbytery officers New practice, with new possibilities: Leadership Team Work Groups of the Leadership Team (few) Presbytery officers Other task forces as needed temporarily

Life Together Old paradigm: Presbytery met five times a year Committees met monthly Council met monthly New practice, with new possibilities: Presbytery meets twice a year Leadership Team meets monthly Work groups and task forces meet as needed

Purpose of the Presbytery The presbytery is responsible for… “the government of the church throughout its district, and assisting and supporting the witness of congregations to the sovereign activity of God in the world, so that all congregations become communities of faith, hope, love, and witness.” (G )

Work of the Presbytery As it leads and guides the witness of its congregations, the presbytery shall keep before it… (from G ) the marks of the Church (F ), the notes by which Presbyterian and Reformed communities have identified themselves through history (F ), and the six Great Ends of the Church (F ).

Work of the Presbytery The marks of the Church (F ): we affirm that the Church is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic..” The unity of the Church The holiness of the Church The catholicity of the Church The apostolicity of the Church

Work of the Presbytery The notes of the Presbyterian and Reformed Church (F ): “Since the earliest days of the Reformation, Reformed Christians have marked the presence of the true Church wherever: the Word of God is truly preached and heard, the Sacraments are rightly administered, and ecclesiastical discipline is uprightly ministered.”

Work of the Presbytery The six Great Ends of the Church (F ): the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

What Presbytery offers Resources of a full-time staff person – For questions of polity and procedure – For help with “good order” – For support, prayer, and presence Communications – Weekly e-letter: "Monday in Ministry""Monday in Ministry" – Presbytery website with resourceswebsite – Presbytery Twitter feedTwitter feed – Presbytery Facebook pageFacebook page Relationships with other congregations: we’re not in this alone

Challenges for the Presbytery How do we fulfill the lofty goals set forth in the marks, notes, and Great Ends of the Church? How do we maintain relationships with sporadic meetings and concentrated leadership? How can we best support congregations in their efforts in mission and witness? How can we find ways to help congregations in this very new day, which calls for openness and risk to try perhaps very new ways of being the church?

The future… Is challenging for the Church Is open to new ways in which the Holy Spirit is birthing the Church and its life, witness, and ministry Is in God’s hands – “Eternal God, you call us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (from the Presbyterian Church’s Service of Morning Prayer)