“As our Stated Clerk, Linda is extremely familiar with our Presbytery and is well known by our churches, pastors, elders and the staff of our higher governing bodies,” the announcement stated.   “She is esteemed as a woman of competence,  credibility, and integrity.”

She has been closely involved in the business and polity of the presbytery for many years which will allow her to quickly assume the responsibilities of the job.  The Rev. Dr. Andy Smith resigned in December after five years in the position.  He cited health reasons.  (See the “A Farewell to Andy” photo page.)

Also announced was the opening of the position of part-time administrative assistant to help Therien with the paperwork details so she can devote her time to the pressing duties involved in being both Acting Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk.  Marcia Borgman, Director of Finance, will continue in that vital capacity which supports the missional work of the presbytery.

In addition, the Executive Committee of Council announced the formation of a Pastor Support Team headed by the Rev. Barry Moller.  “Barry brings many years of Committee on Ministry and counseling experience, is respected within our presbytery, and will be able to add a needed dimension of pastoral care.”  

The Executive Committee of Council is comprised of the Rev. Dr. Jack Baca, chair; the Rev. Neal Nybo, moderator; and Elder Elizabeth Crews, vice-moderator.  Baca called the appointment of Therien, who  is a member of Palisades Presbyterian Church,  “an innovative approach that we feel best serves the needs of our Presbytery at this point in time.”

May 15th Meeting of Presbytery will be at
La Jolla Presbyterian Church

Commissioners: mark your calendars for the May Meeting of Presbytery – at 2:30 pm on the 15th at La Jolla Presbyterian Church.  Check this website around May 5 for your packet and to make dinner reservations. [map]

Report on the March Meeting of Presbytery

Elder Bill Tayler, chair of Executive Presbyter Nominating Committee, reported the search for a new Executive Presbyter is well underway.  A CIF has been created and posted on the web and applications are currently being received and screened.  “It is the search committee’s intent to have completed their important work and have a new Executive Presbyter in the fall of this year,” Tayler said.
 
Rev. John Moser was approved by Presbytery to serve as pastor of Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church.  Installation is set for May 20.  He follows Rev. Pam Powell, interim pastor.  (Click here to link to Mount Soledad website and get to know Pastor Moser.)

Peter Crouch, development director for San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, made a surprise special presentation to Rev. Mikel Taxer – Distinguished Alumnus.  Taxer retired last year after more than 30 years as pastor at Westminister Presbyterian Church, Point Loma.

Efrain Romero, who has been serving as pastor of La Nueva Vida Church in Tijuana’s El Pipila Colonia, has been selected to serve as pastor of the Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana, a  mission church of San Diego Presbytery.  A graduate of Mexican Presbyterian Seminary in Mexico City and Tijuana, he has nearly completed his exams to be ordained in the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico.  His father is the Rev. Enrique Romero, co-director with the Rev. Bill Soldwisch of Pueblos Hermanos of Presbyterian Border Ministry, the bi-national ministry in Tijuana and San Diego.  The Iglesia is located at 2691 B Street in near Golden Hill in San Diego.

See the March Meeting Photo Page PDF for highlights.

A Farewell to Andy

The Rev. Dr. Andy Smith and his family were honored at the dinner following the March Meeting with gifts, a plaque and a slide show.  See the Farewell to Andy Photo Page PDF.

From PC(USA) —
Work Continues on New Form of Government

The Form of Government Task Force of the PC(USA) encourages the participation of the whole church as it continues its work of proposing a revised Form of Government that will preserve the foundational polity of our church while focusing on congregations as missional communities and providing flexibility at all levels of the church.

The Task Force met in Louisville Feb. 22–24. “We have now completed preliminary draft work on all chapters of what we intend to propose. We have reviewed some of these drafts more than others, but all are still in preliminary draft form, and we invite comment and suggestions concerning all the chapters,” said the report as found on www.pcusa.org.

The proposal is in two parts:

First, “The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity.” We envision this as a new initial section of the Book of Order. It essentially preserves the basic content of the present Chapters I-IV but in a reorganized and somewhat shortened form. Separating these foundational principles from the Form of Government emphasizes their importance as the foundation for the whole Book of Order.

Second, a proposed Form of Government that includes six chapters:
•   Chapter One: Particular Congregations and Their Membership
•   Chapter Two: Church Office and Ordination to Office, Commissioning, and Certification
•   Chapter Three: Representative Bodies
•   Chapter Four: The Church and Civil Authority
•   Chapter Five: Ecumenicity and Union
•   Chapter Six: Amendments

For the full report, click here.