1. God calls us to be vision-driven, not need-driven.
2. Local churches are called to be vital agencies of ministry and mission.
3. Leadership is the key to effective ministry in churches and the presbytery.
4. As Presbyterians, God has called us into connectional relationships with each other.

Rev. Dr. Gary Demarest, co-chair of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church, will discuss the final report in a special pre-presbytery gathering on September 20. The September meeting will be held at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. Joining him will be Elder Emery Cummins and a pastor to be named; they will focus on how we as Presbyterians can live with our diversity in the Spirit of Christ

May 11, 2005

To our dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church:

On May 10, the Presbytery of San Diego voted 91-2 to create an administrative commission to “inquire into and settle the difficulties” at Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church. The administrative commission held its first meeting that night, from 6 pm until 10:30 pm; and we want to share with you the initial actions we have taken.

1. The administrative commission has assumed original jurisdiction for all of the responsibilities of the session. Under Book of Order § G-11.0103s, the current MSPC session must immediately “cease to act,” and the administrative commission will serve as your session for now. In addition, the advisory council is disbanded.
2. There will be no vote on the former session's recommendation that the congregation seek release from the presbytery and fellowship, instead, with the Foursquare Church.
3. No member of the former session, the former advisory council, or the staff may conduct small group meetings. The series of meetings scheduled to begin this evening have all been cancelled.
4. Mark Slomka has been asked to continue to lead the worship portion of services at MSPC but will no longer be preaching. Other members of this presbytery will be asked to fill the pulpit, beginning Saturday, May 14, 2005.

We grieve with those of you who are in grief over recent events within the MSPC family, but we also rejoice with those who are rejoicing over the new things that God is doing in your midst. We do not take our actions lightly, and our actions are motivated by our desire and our charge to foster healing.

We are just beginning our journey with you, but we are working as quickly as possible to sort through the myriad of issues and to handle each one appropriately. Mark has formally requested, through the stated clerk's office, that the presbytery bless him and release him from the exercise of ordained ministry in the PC(USA). It is our intention to work with Mark to facilitate that process.

We want the lines of communication between us to be open, so we will share as much information with you as we can, as often as possible. We welcome your input, too, so please feel free to contact any of us with questions or thoughts you want to share.

Please pray for us, as we walk this dif.cult path with you. And please rest assured that we are praying for you, too. Our greatest desire is that God will be glorified by what happens at Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church.

Together for the Kingdom,
Signed by Members of the Administrative Commission:

• Elder Bob Hansen
  La Jolla Presbyterian Church
• Elder Paul Hefner
  First Presbyterian Church, Oceanside
• Rev. Neal Nybo
  Solana Beach Presbyterian Church
• Elder Claire Padgett
  Village Community Presbyterian Church, Rancho Santa Fe
• Rev. Paul Pulliam
  Honorably Retired Member of Presbytery
• Rev. Jim Rauch Westminster Presbyterian Church, Escondido
• Rev. Ray Sparling
  Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
• Elder Peggy Strand
  Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church

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Executive Presbyter’s Report to Presbytery, May 17, 2005

• The Year of Stephen: Update Top Ten Ministry Goals

1. Work with the Presbytery Council to establish a task force charged with identifying specific goals, objectives and strategies for the four primary areas of focus of the Presbytery of San Diego (PSD) in the next five years:

   Update: The Long-Range Planning Task Force has completed its initial report, which is being presented to the presbytery today for adoption. The report contains four central recommendations concerning the focus of the presbytery in the next five years:

   • Healthy Congregations
   • Transformational Churches
   • Collaborative Mission
   • New Church Development.
   The report also recommends that the Executive Committee of Council establish a follow up task force to work with our sessions in identifying concrete and attainable goals and objectives in the four primary areas of focus.

2. Work with the Communications Ministry Team to enhance communications and a sense of community within the PSD.

   Update: I met with the Communications Ministry Team this quarter to discuss the updating and improving of our website, the new online version of PresbyNews, and a future e-Sharing email from me, to enhance a spirit of community within the presbytery. Glen Spearman (La Jolla) has offered to assist me in planning and implementing the e-Sharing project.

3. Work with the Military Outreach Ministries Steering Committee and the director to completely decentralize the ministry by July 1, 2005.

   Update: The decentralization of Military Outreach has taken much of my time and energy in the first quarter of 2005. Heather Henderson, Stan Beard (La Jolla), Bob Davis (Escondido), and I have met on several occasions to develop a plan for decentralizing the ministry into two major regions: North County and South County. We have hosted several informational gatherings in North County, worked with the Human Resources Committee to search for and hire a new North County Director, and begun to formalize the formation of a North County steering committee.

   An informational dessert hosted by Solana Beach in mid-March attracted 25 interested volunteers. The same efforts are now being duplicated in the Southern Region. The goal is for the ministry to be completely decentralized by July 1, so that the remainder of the year can be spent coaching and shepherding the two independent ministries.

4. Work with the Missions Committee to initiate collaborative efforts within the presbytery for local, regional and global mission opportunities.

   Update: The two operative words for the Missions Committee this year are “initiate” and “collaborate”.

   On March 1, thirty individuals from several of our churches toured the Pueblos Hermanos ministry of the Presbytery Border Ministries. Sixteen of our churches gave over $118,000 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for tsunami relief.

   Tom Theriault (Solana Beach) and I are still discussing the possibility of a presbytery-wide, short-term mission trip to the Afar people sometime in early November.

   And the presbytery's partnership with San Diego Habitat for Humanity has enjoyed a wonderful groundbreaking with the Amos family home in Descanso. Over 15 volunteers from First Presbyterian Church in El Cajon participated in the first work day on April 2. We are responsible for providing volunteers for four work days per month, from May through November, and each church is encouraged to identify a liaison to coordinate volunteer teams. Please contact Sharon Pruess at the presbytery office if you need more information on our partnership with Habitat.

   The Year of Stephen is working! Bottom-up collaborative mission efforts are increasing, and the downsizing of presbytery mission staff continues.

5. Work with the Committee on Ministry to strengthen committee members, pastors, and churches.

   Update: We have had EIGHT presbytery meetings in the past eight months! Issues relating to churches in conflict and churches in transition continue to take most of my time and energy. I am grateful for the excellent work and energy given by so many people from the presbytery staff, the COM response team, and the administrative commission in addressing the La Jolla situation.

   The administrative commission at Pacific Beach has been enlarged and continues to work diligently with that fellowship. Most recently, I have been working with a newly established COM response team at Mt. Soledad.

   I recently joined 17 of our pastors at the West Coast Presbyterian Pastors' Conference, with speakers Dr. F. Dale Bruner and Dr. Darrell Guder. A pastor's “sabbath retreat” has been scheduled for Thursday, April 28, and several of our pastors have already signed up. In February, COM hosted a three-day training event with consultant Pete Steinke, which focused on con.ict resolution in churches, and 11 members of our presbytery went through the training.

6. Work with the steering committees to strengthen the three PSD Missions: Sudanese American Presbyterian Church, Iglesia Presbyteriana Hispana, and the Presbyterian Crisis Center.

   Update: I have met on several occasions with the steering committee for the Presbyterian Crisis Center, have served on the Crisis Center's Bequest Task Force to help determine the best way to use a recent bequest. I attended the Crisis Center's recent volunteer appreciation luncheon and open house. I hope to spend some time with the steering committees for the Sudanese American Presbyterian Church and Iglesia Presbyteriana Hispana in the last half of the year.

7. Work with the Evangelism Committee to: a. Establish groundwork for future NCD ministry (Top Draft Choice: Utilize $300k Synod fund) b. Engage Hispanic Ministries Probe for future development.

   Update: Many of the Evangelism Committee's meetings are scheduled immediately before presbytery meetings, so meeting with them can be difficult. I am working with the other EPs in our synod to secure $300,000 in a fund for new church development or church transformation.

8. Work with the Budget, Property and Finance Committee to revise, balance, and monitor the 2005 PSD operating budget to reflect the recommendations from the Long Range Planning Task Force and Mission Study Report of Presbytery Missions (2002).

   Update: I meet regularly with Bill Turnquist and Debbie Clauson to review and monitor the 2005 budget. Our goal continues to be following the recommendations made in the Mission Study Report of Missions in 2002. The financial report for the first quarter is very positive. Debbie Clauson is working to simplify the presentation of our financial reports.

9. Work with the Human Resources Committee to develop a five-year staffing plan for the PSD which reflects the four priorities of the Long-Range Planning Task Force.

   Update: I have worked with the Human Resources Committee to secure full-time status for our two temporary employees at the Crisis Center. I have also participated in the search committees for three new employees at Military Outreach. Linda Therien and Debbie Clauson were very helpful in transitioning non-ordained employees out of our Board of Pension bene.ts program and into a more economical plan. I hope to engage the Human Resources Committee in some long-term planning regarding staf.ng needs.

10. Interpret the ongoing “local, regional, and national conversations” regarding the changing landscape of the PSD, the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii, and the General Assembly.

    Update: I have been in regular conversation with EPs from around the country regarding the changing landscape of the GA, synods, and presbyteries. In April, I spent two full days with ten other EPs for meaningful discussion and prayer concerning the future of our beloved denomination. In November, I plan to attend a gathering in Orlando for further discussion, as we approach the General Assembly of 2006 in Birmingham.

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Start of Training of Commissioned Lay Pastors Offers Unique Opportunity for Service to the Church

The Presbytery of San Diego is blessed with extraordinary leaders. In recent years, elders have been called forth to serve as Commissioned Lay Pastors (CLP) across out denomination. The Book of Order (G-14.0801) provides for the training, examination, and authorization of elders to exercise public ministry of the church as Commissioned Lay Pastors.

Over the next year, the Presbytery of San Diego will be offering two tracks -- the Appointment Track for those who have a seminary degree, and the Transformation Track for those seeking to integrate the theology of ministry with the practice of ministry.

If you feel God calling you to explore serving as a Commissioned Lay Pastor, you are encouraged to contact the Committee on Ministry through the Presbytery Of.ce, 619-224-2490.

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Letter From Rome

By Megan McDonald
Lakeside Presbyterian Church
Occidental College Student

Watching CNN and BBC, we waited. The only channels we get that are in English, and they are broadcasting non-stop from the Vatican. We’ve come to love the CNN Vatican correspondent, Alessio Vinci. We figure he’s been up for about four days straight.

Friday night, rather then walking the Corso, or having a drink at Barrone Rosso, like most of Siena’s population, we go to a prayer service at the Siena Cathedral. At the service each contrada of Siena is represented by a flag bearer in Renaissance costume. Trumpeters sound their arrival and their departure. The service begins. Though an English speaking Protestant, the Latin and Italian Catholic Mass was easy to understand. The prayers, the sorrow, the hope, the pain crosses all barriers, lingual, religious, racial.

In the midst of the rosary, the bishop made the announcement, “Il Papà ha lasciato.” “The Pope has passed away.” Despite the obvious imminence of his death, the tears flowed more freely. The congregation gasped as the funeral bells of the Duomo began to toll. With tears streaming down my face, I felt my hand being clasped by my friend Karen, an Israeli-American Jew. As I looked at her, I noticed her tear-stained face as well as that of my roommate Lauren’s. She was raised Catholic and has a very Polish grandmother who rejoiced at Pope John Paul II’s election. Lauren’s arm was linked with Karen’s other arm, and on the opposite side of Lauren stood Ditmira, an Albanian Muslim and Karen’s apartment mate. Her head covered in a scarf, her tears falling onto her clasped hands.

The four of us stood there, in the midst of the hundreds of other devout Sienese, and cried. We cried for the work that John Paul II did, for the work that he’d planned to do. The peace he achieved and the peace we know he was praying for. He was a proponent of peace, a believer in the importance of understanding between the world’s religions.

We four were what he spent his life advocating. He spoke out against the War in Iraq, boldly voicing his opinion and his desire for a peaceful resolution to President Bush. He brought Communism to an end in his own country, and visited Fidel Castro in Cuba with the hope of doing the same there. During World War II, as a young man, he helped Jews to escape Nazi oppression. John Paul II embraced diversity. He reached out to the Catholic youth, because he believed, and rightly so, in the now cliché phrase, “the children are our future.” Each of these things he did to love and serve God. At his funeral, more than 200 world leaders were in attendance. Never before had so many world figures been gathered together in a single location, for an occasion as singularly important as this.

We -- Karen, Lauren and I -- were among the congregation that day. After rising early, we got in line, or rather, we got “in crowd.” Amidst mostly Polish pilgrims, we moved with the rest, like sheep as one particularly tall Polish man joked, “baaaing” as we moved along. Never has a crowd so large been so calm.

Polish grandmothers were singing hymns all around us. One would start, and then several others would join encircling us with their songs of sorrow. The Italian volunteers were patient, organized, kind, and helpful. Water was given out to be sure to avoid dehydration and they even learned a few words in Polish to the delight of the crowd.

Once inside Piazza San Pietro, the arms of Bernini’s colonnade enclose you in a womb or an embrace. God, the church, the Pope, the people around us all embraced and welcomed us. After a long wait, after a long time standing, jam-packed like toothpicks in a cup, the mass began. Applause erupted as the coffin emerged from the Basilica into the weak sunlight of that April morning. Despite the solemn occasion, cheers and shouts of joy accompanied Il Papà as he was borne upon the shoulders of his pallbearers.

Scattered throughout the Piazza, flags waved in the hands of their countrymen. It was a test in flag recognition as we called out the ones we knew. Nigeria, Spain, Lebanon, Germany, Ireland, Italy, France, America, South Africa, Poland, Poland, Poland. And those were only the ones we were able to recognize. Even the Pope’s favorite football (soccer) team was represented as the squad’s flag waved above the flag of the city of Krakow. As mass continued, only the sound of snapping flags could be heard in the silence of the vast and crowded Piazza. I have never experienced such silence. It was pensive, commemorative, sad, yet celebratory.

I raced through a myriad of emotions that morning. Awe at the historical event I was a part of. Relief came with the knowledge that the Pope’s many years of suffering are over. Joy at the thought of him in heaven looking at the testament to his life’s work. Sadness as I watched his coffin disappear back into the Basilica and saw the crowd waving goodbye. Fear that, rather than moving forward and continuing the Pope’s work, the Catholic church would revert back to a time of intolerance.

As I watched the outpouring of love from every nation, every race, every creed, my thoughts turned to the many world leaders in attendance. I hope and I pray that they understand why this man was so loved. I hope and I pray that they realize that this could only be for THIS man, that none of them will generate such a worldwide, peaceful, reverential reaction upon their deaths. I hope and I pray that they saw the crowd, more a congregation, and the many .ags that waved in that Piazza. I hope and I pray that that funeral would become an example to each of them, an example of what to strive for, an example of the work that peace and love and understanding and tolerance can do in the world. I hope and I pray that they will take it upon themselves to continue the Pope’s work.

Former President Clinton, in the paper the following day, was quoted as saying that never in his life had he been a part of anything like this funeral. With as many appearances, as many speeches, as many moments of importance in the lives of these world leaders, nothing has nor will ever compare to the Pope’s funeral.

I still marvel at the fact that we made it through that Friday safely. So many conflicts between so many of the countries represented, and yet, no incidents to speak of. Petty disagreements were, even though temporarily, brushed aside. For once, conflict was not the focus of such immense attention, but the life and work of a man of peace.

Friday morning, all of Rome closed down. Flights were cancelled, store windows were dark, museums and sites were closed to visitors. Across Rome, trucks with television screens were broadcasting the funeral to various other locales to try to quell the flood of people to Vatican City.

Piazza’s throughout Rome were filled, a screen played to Coliseum visitors and everywhere, the reaction was the same. When cheers erupted in Piazza San Pietro, the same would happen in Piazza del Popolo. When silence reigned in Piazza San Pietro, it seemed that the whole of Rome also fell quiet. Wherever you were in Rome, was a good place to be. The awe, the sadness, the hope, the celebration of this man was the same.

I don’t know how you reacted to the death of the Pope. I don’t know if you cried, I don’t know if you prayed, I don’t know if you cared. I don’t know if your .ags were at half staff, I don’t know if you even knew who he was. I don’t know if you are Catholic or Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Atheist or Agnostic. I do know that as an advocate of peace, as a world leader, he deserves your respect.

Amidst so much praise for a single man, I began to pray that each person would be glorifying God infinitely more so in their hearts. I began to worry that God would be lost amid the cries of, “Giovanni Paolo.” The Pope glorified God with his life. He is worthy of respect and thanks, but I worry that the fact that he worked for God, because of God, and in the name of God, was being forgotten.

While loving and lifting up this man, we should remember who he served, who he prayed to, from where he got his strength and endurance. Praise God for giving the world such a man as John Paul II. Praise God for allowing him to work so hard, so long and so well in furthering God’s love. Praise God for blessing the Pope with the gifts he used in his ministry. Most of all, simply praise God.

Megan MacDonald was raised in the Lakeside Presbyterian Church. Her parents, Gary and Wendy MacDonald, are both elders, and Gary is on the Presbyterian Crisis Center board.

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People Column

Ray Sparling, an elder who has served on the staff of the Village Community Church of Rancho Santa Fe, was approved by the Presbytery at its May meeting, and has accepted the call to be Designated Associate Pastor at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church. On June 19 there will be a joint installation service, Sparling and Rev. Mofid Wasef, an associate pastor on staff at Rancho Bernardo who is serves the Arabic Congregation there.

Rev. David Turner, who has served as associate pastor at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church, has accepted the call of the Church of the Covenant in Washington, Penn., Washington Presbytery.

Rev. Rosche Vermaak, who has served as pastor of the Brawley Presbyterian Church, has accepted the call to be Designated Associate Pastor for Christian Education at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, Brentwood, Calif.

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Commissioners to Synod Elected

Elected at the May Presbytery Meeting to be Synod Commissioners were:

Class of 2005: Elder Patricia Berry, Elder Jayne Fairchild, Rev. Jan Cook, Rev. David Pierson, Rev. Andy Smith and Rev. Ben Fairchild.

Class of 2006: Elder Loreto Remorca, Jr., Elder David Whitmoyer, Elder Dick Walker, Elder Jauhree Walker, Rev. Brad Gustafson, Rev. David Burgess.

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Other News

Now Available - 2005/2007 Book of Order;
Edition is Valid for Two Years

Churches and individual elders or church members can order copies of the new 2005/2007 Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Place your order online at www.pcusa.org/marketplace or by calling the Presbyterian Distribution Service at 1-800-524-2612. Refer to PDS Order #OGA-05-001

.

The Book of Order is the Constitution of the PC(USA), Part II, and contains the Form of Government, Directory of Worship, and Rules of Discipline.

Discounts are available: 1-9 books are $7.50 each; 10-24 books get 10% off; 25-49 books get 15% off and 50+ books get 20% off.

Because the church has moved to hold General Assemblies every two years, this is the first edition to be in effect for two years. The 2006 General Assembly will be held June 15-22 in Birmingham, Alabama.

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2004 General Assembly Agencies Report for 2004 Available

Everything you might want to know about agencies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on a national level can be found in the 2004 General Assembly Agencies Report for 2004. Included are reports from the General Assembly Council, the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, Presbyterian Foundation, Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, Inc., and the Board of Pensions.

Copies of the report are available at no cost. Call 1-800-524-2612 and request PDS #68-200-05-001. Or go online to www.pcusa.org/marketplace, or www.pcusa.org/annual.

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Celebrating the PC(USA Seal)

Theme of this year's GA Agencies Report is Sealed in Christ in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the PC(USA) seal. The seal embodies eight different elements, each representing an integral part of our Christian life and learnings.

Next time you study the PC(USA) logo, look for these elements - the cross, the dove, the fish, the book, the pulpit, the cup, and the flames. Then there's one more that you really don't see - a triangle representing the Trinity which the designers say is implied in the structure of the artwork.

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News of the Administrative Commissions

Three of our San Diego area churches have gone through difficult times in recent months. The Presbytery's Committee on Ministry (COM) has intervened. Administrative Commissions have been formed to handle church affairs, mediate the issues, and recommend remedial actions to the Presbytery.

• LA JOLLA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
  The Administrative Commission is continuing to work with the Session of the La Jolla congregation in preparation of a mission study as the precursor to a search for a new pastor and in the preparations for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the La Jolla Church next October. Rev. Dr. Chuck Hammond continues to lead the church as Pastor/Head of Staff and is supported in ministry by the Rev. Dr. Jeff Holmes and Rev. Gary Robertson.
  
  
• MT. SOLEDAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
  On June 12, the Administrative Commission accepted the resignation of The Rev. Mark Slomka and dissolved his pastoral relationship with Mt. Soledad retroactive to June 6, 2005. Associate Pastor Douglas Satre continues his position at Mt. Soledad during this time of transition. Several pastors from other churches within the Presbytery have accepted invitations to preach as well.
  
  
• PACIFIC BEACH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
  The Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church joined with their Administrative Commission (AC) in recognizing the ministry of Pastor Debbie Rundlett on Sunday, July 17th. This was Pastor Rundlett's final day in their pulpit and following a single worship service, the church family gathered for a meal together and a celebration of her ministry. Words of appreciation and thanks were shared and a generous gift of a new laptop computer were presented to Debbie. The AC and church family pray for her future in ministry. The AC will now work with the session and presbytery to identify options for transitional leadership at Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church."
  
  

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Upcoming Events

Anniversaries

June 26, Grace Presbyterian Church in Vista celebrates its 40th Anniversary.

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Presbytery-Wide Mission Trip to the Afar People of Ethiopia Being Planned for November 2005

The Muslim Afar people of Ethiopia, the target of one of PC(USA)s largest people/frontier mission projects, will be visited the rst two weeks of November by a delegation from San Diego Presbytery led by Rev. Andy Smith, Executive Presbyter, and Rev. Tom Theriault, missions pastor at Solana Beach Church. Other pastors and mission leaders from San Diego Presbytery are anticipated to join the trip as well.

Seven San Diego churches currently support outreach to the Afar: Fallbrook, Fletcher Hills, Graham Memorial, Linda Vista, Oceanside, Solana Beach and Westminster Escondido.

"We are praying that other church pastors/mission leaders will get excited as they see [the Afar] for themselves," said Theriault. He expects the missions group "to see the mighty works of God among the Afar."

Dates for the trip remain tentative.

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It’s another Hal Heath Concert!

On September 18, Faith Presbyterian Church will host a Concert of singers and musicians assembled by theRev. Hal Heath, a retired pastor in our Presbytery. Last fall, Rev. Heath organized a similar show as a benefit for Presbyterian Crisis Center. More info to come.

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