By Bob Battenfield, Editor

With interest running high throughout Presbyterian-dom, the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church has issued drafts of parts of its eagerly anticipated report. Copies may be downloaded from www.pcusa.org/peaceunitypurity/

Essentially foundational background, these sections start with a Prologue: The Theological Basis of This Report, and a Theological Reflection: Discerning Our Christian Identity in and for the Twenty-First Century. The next section has three parts: I. The Plan and Progress of the Work of the Task Force; II. The Issues Before the Task Force; and III. Resources for Peace, Unity and Purity.

Draft of the final section -- the task force's recommendations - will be released in mid-August. The final report is to be released September 15 for dissemination and discussion throughout the denomination, with the task force completing its assignment by reporting to the 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, Alabama in June 2006.

On September 22, San Diego Presbytery will present a Pre-Presbytery Meeting review of the report. Leading this review will be the Rev. Dr. Gary Demarest, co-chair of the task force and until recently interim pastor at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church. Every church in the Presbytery is encouraged to send its pastors and elder commissioners to the September meeting. The meeting is open to all communicant members as well.

An initial perception is that the material issued thus far has something to please almost everyone across the theological and social-political spectrum.

To see for yourself, go to the Links Page of this website to obtain more information including editorial commentary from both conservative and liberal points of view. In particular, one may find comments at these sites: Presbyterian Coalition, Presbyterians for Renewal, Presbyterian Layman, Presbyterian Outlook, More Light Presbyterians, and the Witherspoon Society.

As a follow-up to an October 2004 trip to Kenya and Uganda, a return trip is underway from August 11-August 28. In part this trip is designed to finalize plans for a trip in January 2006. The August trip, however, also has some tangible opportunities to meet some immediate needs in Kenya and Uganda.

John Bryan, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for African Assistance, will be accompanied by his wife, Karen; Walter Lam, President and Founder of the Alliance; and Sharon Lyon, free-lance photographer and supporter of the Alliance.

John and Karen will spend five days in Gulu in northern Uganda meeting government officials, medical personnel, and church leaders. The majority of the trip will be dedicated to visiting with residents of the Bobi camp for internally-displaced people. They are 21,000 of over one million internally-displaced people in just one of over 40 similar camps in northern Uganda.

"This visit," John explained, "is intended to finalize the foundation for at least two trips annually to build basic infrastructure and provide medical and spiritual care in the community that continues to suffer from 17+ years of civil war."

John and Karen will connect with Walter and Sharon in Nairobi where a series of opportunities surfaced in mid-July. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa - Ngong Presbytery has asked the group to physically and financially assist in several construction projects:

• Painting, teaching and maintenance at Olooseos Centre and Dispensary.
• Construction of a classroom with associated equipment for Kerarapon Church at a cost of Ksh. 350,000.00.
• Completion, renovation, painting and medicines at the PCEA's Smyrna Clinic at a cost of Ksh. 200,000.00
• Construction of a classroom with associated equipment for the PCEA's Oloolaiser Parish at a cost of Ksh. 350,000.00

"We will once again worship at the Kibiku Parish of the Ngong Hills Presbytery, Presbyterian Church of East Africa where we helped dedicate their new sanctuary in October 2004," John added. "We will complete this trip with a three-day return visit to the UN's Kakuma Refugee Camp."

Beginning in January 2006, the group hopes to organize at least two trips to Kenya and Uganda annually. They hope to help plant a PCEA congregation in Gulu (northern Uganda), likely the first Presbyterian congregation to be officially planted in Uganda. They also hope to provide the PCEA with other tangible assistance and to continue to provide assistance to refugees and displaced people in both countries.

"Let us know if you are interested," invited John. "Tentatively, we are planning to return to Nairobi on January 6, 2006."

The Current Need
The Nairobi projects totaling 900,000 Kenya shillings, approximately US$9,000, will not be possible unless we can raise this funding by August 15, when Walter leaves for Kenya. If you can help, please send a check to "PCEA" or "Alliance for African Assistance" with Ngong on the memo line. The address for the Alliance is listed below. We are hoping that nine congregations or individuals will contribute $1000 each, or eighteen congregations or individuals $500 each toward these projects. Naturally, smaller and larger contributions toward this effort will be greatly appreciated.

About the Alliance for African Assistance In San Diego, the Alliance is a refugee resettlement agency, supported in part by the Presbytery of San Diego. Each year, the Alliance resettles approximately 250 refugees here in San Diego and reaches out to thousands more with programs designed to help them get back on their feet.

Already in 2005, the Alliance has assisted over 150 refugees in making a fresh start here in San Diego, many of them single mothers with young children - arriving from various camps around the world where they have lived for the past five to ten years or longer.

Refugees arrive with virtually nothing. The Alliance assists them in securing housing, basic home furnishings, initial food supplies, and clothing. It costs about $1,250 per refugee ($5,000 for a family of 4) to cover the basics and help get our newest neighbors back on their feet. The Alliance is always seeking donations of household goods and clothing, in good condition, to help supply the apartments of newly arrived families and to sell in the Alliance thrift store.

Alliance for African Assistance is located at 5952 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92115.

Closing
We hope you will prayerfully consider financial support for these projects in Africa. Whether or not you can help financially, we hope that you will cover us with your prayers during this trip. Neither Kenya nor Uganda are as safe as San Diego. The church, however, is growing there.

Because He Lives.

Walter Lam     John Bryan
President     Chair of the Board of Directors

Rev. Jim Rauch, chair

The Administrative Commission assumed original jurisdiction of the Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church (MSPC) and dismissed the session at its meeting on May 10, 2005. It decided to relieve Rev. Mark Slomka of preaching responsibilities, but did not relieve him as pastor of MSPC at that time. Other pastors from the presbytery were invited to preach at Mount Soledad to show support for the congregation and to build the congregation's connection to the Presbytery. We are thankful to the many pastors who have been willing to assist in this important ministry.

We received Pastor Slomka's resignation and called a congregational meeting at the church to recommend that Presbytery dissolve the pastoral relationship. A service of blessing and release was held at Mount Soledad on Saturday, June 4. Mark and Associate Pastor Doug Satre led a final worship service with communion together on Sunday, June 5.

Mark's resignation facilitated his licensing and certification as a pastor in the Church of the Foursquare Gospel International. He immediately began serving as pastor of a local Foursquare congregation at a nearby church facility off Phyllis Place. Approximately three-fourths of the former participants from MSPC followed Mark to this new worship setting. His pastoral leadership of this Foursquare congregation served as his official release from the jurisdiction of the PCUSA. Worship attendance at Mount Soledad has been between 75 and 100 during the first weeks after Mark's departure.

With the exception of Associate Pastor Doug Satre and the employees of the Little Steps Pre-school, all of the MSPC staff resigned. A new preschool director for the Little Steps Preschool has been hired to replace the former director who resigned.

To meet the financial obligations of the departing staff members, approximately $20,000 of funds from Presbytery of San Diego was needed.

An Advisory Council of MSPC members and Associate Pastor Satre has been meeting weekly with AC Representative Paul Pulliam. Reps from the Advisory Council and the associate pastor have also been meeting with the AC regularly for communication. There is a great spirit of hope and enthusiasm for what God will do in this new season of ministry for the congregation of MSPC.

A Finance Committee of MSPC members was formed, and they presented a preliminary budget to the AC. The budget shortfall for the 12-month period from July 2005 through June 2006 is projected to be approximately $100,000. This estimate is VERY rough and will be revised during the coming months. The AC has been looking for a part-time stated supply pastor to serve at MSPC to moderate session and provide leadership in this transitional period. We hope to call a person to this position as soon as possible. We envision formation of a new session with AC oversight sometime within the next 3-6 months.

A personal word: this AC is a great team and I am thankful for their faith, knowledge, wisdom, and hard work on behalf of this congregation in crisis. We are thankful for the prayers and support of our Presbytery. The commission has been meeting every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to about 8 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church. Current members: Ray Sparling (RBCPC), Paul Hefner (Oceanside), Paul Pulliam (HR), Peggy Strand (PLCPC), Neal Nybo (SBPC) and Jim Rauch (WPC). We regretfully received the resignations of Bob Hansen (LJPC), Claire Padgett (RSF), and our Minute Clerk, Heather Henderson (1st SD). Our EP, Andy Smith, and Clerk Linda Therien have also attended various meetings on an as-needed basis. We have requested that the Moderator of Presbytery appoint replacements for those who have resigned.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Escondido, plans to break ground on a new sanctuary this October. Completion is scheduled for Summer 2006.

The new sanctuary will serve as a tool for ministry that will feature:

• More space in the chancel so that both choir and praise band can lead worship services together.
• A flexible chancel arrangement to allow for changes in style and structure of worship in the future.
• A Schantz pipe organ to replace the existing Allen electronic organ.
• More aisles to allow for movement before, during, and after the worship services.
• Screens in the front and rear for video/powerpoint display.
• Seating for 430 people (vs. seating for 225 in current chapel).

Rev. Jim Rauch said, "It is our hope and prayer that our new sanctuary will help us to better welcome people from our communities who are seeking a connection to the living God through his son Jesus Christ. Please keep Westminster Escondido in your prayers during this time of transition."

A survey conducted over four years with the unchurched showed valuable perspectives.*

1. The unchurched generally have a favorable view of Christians. They recognize that there are "a few fruitcakes," but generally respect and like their Christian friends.
2. The unchurched think Christians are much more informed about the Bible than we really are. Often, when we respond to their questions about the Bible by saying our knowledge is not as great as they think, they view us as just being modest or making an understatement.
3. The unchurched wonder why Christians do not invite them to church. Seven out of ten said they had never been invited. Generally, they actually have a willingness to attend church.
4. The unchurched look to Christians as models for healthy family lives. We know that Christians have as much in the way of family problems as anyone else, but they look to us for hope and encouragement.
5. The unchurched believe that a Christian is more likely to provide a lasting friendship than non-Christians. Many of them are very lonely. While many of us are reticent or too lazy to get involved in their lives, such an effort may prove the eternal difference in their lives.
6. The unchurched struggle with inconsistencies in Christian's lives. They see our goodness, but sometimes they hear things come out of our mouths that really surprise them. Their reaction has been quoted as, "I wonder if she realizes how much that affects me!"
7. The unchurched wonder why Christians are often reticent to share their faith. Most of those surveyed would like to hear about Jesus Christ from us, but the vast majority have not had a Christian share their faith with them.

* Article by Thom Rainer, The Rainer Group of Consultants, submitted to Chula Vista Presbyterian Church newsletter The Celtic by Joan Stroh, Evangelism Committee