Please click (here) to view two pages of photos from the September Presbytery Meeting, including the visit of PC(USA) Moderator Rev. Joan Gray.

Rev. Neil Nybo, associate pastor at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, has been nominated to serve as Moderator of the Presbytery of San Diego in 2007. Nominated to be Vice Moderator is Elder Elizabeth Crews, a member of First Presbyterian Church of San Diego. The vote will be at the November Meeting; installation will take place at the January Meeting.

While our season of discernment is still a work-in-progress, we were pleased to present our Initial Report to the Presbytery of San Diego at the September Meeting. We are confident that as we continue to focus on the primary issues, God's Gracious Spirit will continue to reveal the Way Forward to us in new and exciting ways. It is our intent to bring our final report to you at the regularly scheduled meeting of Presbytery on November 21, 2006. At that time we will present our findings and ask that you vote to accept and implement the recommendations of the Task Force on the Way Forward.

We are confident the Holy Spirit will continue to lead us and guide us into all truth and empower us to accomplish God's purpose in Christ Jesus. We wait in great expectation as a new and exciting vision emerges and the Spirit redefines for us what it means to be a confessional, connectional, conversional and missional church in today's world.

Please continue to pray with and for us as we complete the task you, the Presbytery of San Diego, have put before us.

With gratitude,

Elder Elizabeth Crews, Chair
For the Task Force on the Way Forward

Appointed Members

• Rev. Kirk Bottomly
• Elder Nancy Harber
• Rev. Dr. Bruce Humphrey
• Rev. Dr. Chris Lenocker
• Rev. Dr. Mike McClenahan
• Elder Loreto Remorca, Jr.

Ex-Officio Members

• Rev. Dr. Jack Baca
• Rev. Dr. Andy Smith
• Elder Linda Therien

Executive Presbyter's Report to the Presbytery

The Council has declared 2006 to be the "Year of Philip" in the Presbytery of San Diego. Philip the Evangelist showed up when internal conflicts and external opposition were threatening the vitality of the church (Acts 6-7). The dreams of many in the new, growing, vibrant church were shattered as they witnessed the tragic murder of their new leader, Stephen. Great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. Saul, in particular, worked to destroy the church; going from house to house, he dragged men and women off to prison. All believers except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8). The church was in crisis.

The church in Philip's day was lamenting a death, burying a past, and waiting in a prison of despair and uncertainty. They were in crisis, faced with internal strife, external opposition, and an unknown future. Many must have wondered, "Where is God in all this mess?"

Sound familiar? In many ways, we are lamenting the death of the PC (USA) as we have known it. We must now bury the past of our beloved denomination. We, like the church in Philip's day, stand on the edge of an unknown future. We are a church in crisis, suffering internal strife and external opposition. Birmingham lingers. We need to invite Philip the Evangelist to show up once again. His passion is evangelism. His love is the lost. His ministry is focused on those who are not yet in the church. Philip reminds us of our missional identity in these days of great uncertainty. Philip rescues us from the trivial.

Each of my reports to the presbytery this year are intended to include "best practices testimonies", which will highlight churches engaged ministries of evangelism. As we share what God is doing in our midst to reach the lost across the aisle, across the street and across the seas, I pray we will encourage one another to focus our energies on the Church's missional identity and purpose in these challenging days.

1. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the aisle…in the church. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with a man who had just come from worship (Acts 8:26-29). Philip reminds us that many even inside the church need the Savior. God loves the lost who sit across the aisle.
   
   
   • Best Practices Testimony: Randy Yenter, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, will share a how the Lord is using people involved in Trinity's Alpha program to introduce non-believers to the Savior.


2. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the street…in the community. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with people in the neighboring community of Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). Philip reminds us that people just outside the doors of the church need the Savior. God loves the lost who live across the street.
   
   
   • Best Practices Testimony: Paula Taylor, a staff member of Solana Beach Presbyterian Church will share how the Lord used people from Solana Beach to share the love of Christ with the lost in Mexico.


3. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the seas…in the world. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with a man from Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-38). Philip reminds us that everyone needs the Savior. God loves the lost who live across the seas.
   
   
   • Best Practices Testimony: Steve Locke, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, El Cajon shared the love of Christ with students at Transkie Bible College in South Africa this past summer. Steve taught a course on Preaching from Romans and the Gospel of Mark to future pastors in South Africa.

Top Ten Ministry Goals for 2006:

1. Provide visionary leadership for the presbytery, while interpreting the ongoing "local, regional, and national conversations" regarding the changing landscape of the PC (USA).
   
   
   • Update: I introduced the "Year of Philip" to the council, the COM, and the presbytery in the first quarter of 2006. The biblical character of Philip was chosen to help keep the presbytery focused on the missional nature of the church in days of great uncertainty concerning the changing landscape of the PC (USA). I have received many compliments on this focus at this specific time. Since returning from the General Assembly in June, I have spoken in several of our churches regarding the major issues facing our denomination as a result of the adoption of the edited final report of the Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church.
   
   
2. Provide visionary leadership for the council and the Committee on Ministry in facilitating healthy conversations among our pastors and churches relating to the 2006 Birmingham General Assembly.
   
   
   • Update: I have worked very closely with Moderator Jack Baca, Vice-Moderator Neal Nybo, Stated Clerk Linda Therien, and Council Chair Dick Berry in dealing with the potential crisis surrounding the resolution from several of our churches, the open letter from various individuals, the alternate resolution, and the two overtures acted on by the presbytery on March 21. I met individually with various pastors and worked with the rewriting team to present the alternate resolution to the presbytery. I was very pleased to see the presbytery in March adopt a resolution by approximately 90% and an overture by almost 100% of the body.
     
     During the special called meeting of the presbytery immediately following the General Assembly meeting, Moderator, Jack Baca appointed a seven person task force to help the presbytery determine the process of moving forward in the most productive way. The Task Force on the Way Forward (TFWF) will present an initial report to the presbytery during this meeting. I have served as an ex-officio member of this task force and participated actively in each of the meetings.
   
   
3. Provide visionary leadership for the Executive Committee of Council for a new task force charged with creating goals and objectives relating to the report of the Long Range Planning Task Force.
   
   
   • Update: The Executive Committee of Council has not yet established this task force.
   
   
4. Provide visionary leadership for the Evangelism Committee.
   
   
   • Update: I have worked very closely this year with Rev. Dave Pierson, Chair of the Evangelism Committee. The committee has committed the year to prayer and will be "walking the walls" (Nehemiah 2:11-16) of our presbytery to discern future ministries related to evangelism. The committee is also sponsoring a redevelopment program for 2006 and 2007 called "Project 6:15". The goal of Project 6:15 was for 10 PSD churches to walk together for 16 months as they focus their ministries outward, into the immediate communities in which they reside.
     
     Many of us in leadership were pleasantly surprised when 11 PSD churches agreed to be a part of the initial Project 6:15 cluster! The participating churches include: (1) Village, Rancho Santa Fe, (2) First, Oceanside, (3) Christ, La Costa, (4) Pacific Beach, (5) Linda Vista, (6) Northminster, (7) Faith, (8) Chula Vista, (9) Christ United, (10) La Mesa, and (11) Westminster, Escondido. A training workshop was held on May 3-4 at Faith Presbyterian Church. This workshop was a follow-up to the "Rebuilding the Walls" workshop in November 2005 and was attended by 55 pastors/leaders from 14 of our churches. The energy and enthusiasm surrounding Project 6:15 is very high.
   
   
5. Provide visionary leadership for the Missions Committee.
   
   
   • Update: I have worked closely with Rev. Mark Swarner, Chair of the Missions Committee, to focus the energy of the committee on two operative words this year: connect and collaborate. Mark has worked hard to introduce the first PSD mission trip to the Gulf Coast to assist in relief efforts. The trip took place from May 22 to May 28 when 14 individuals from six of our churches helped the relief efforts currently under way in and around First Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Three other churches within our presbytery have also sent mission teams to Bay St. Louis this year.
     
     The second PSD mission trip to Ethiopia has been scheduled for February 19 - 28, 2007. The purpose of the trip is to further develop and nurture the partnership between the Presbytery of San Diego, World Vision Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Mecane Yesus (Dwelling of Jesus), as we walk with and love the beautiful people of the Afar desert community in Northeastern Ethiopia.
   
   
6. Provide visionary leadership for the Committee on Ministry.
   
   
   • Update: Working directly on matters relating to COM continues to take the majority of my time and energy. I have worked very closely with the following six search committees in the process of seeking a new head-of-staff pastor: La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mt. Soledad, Chula Vista, Westminster SD, and Northminster. Four of these churches have completed the search process and have called a new pastor. Three new Associate Pastors have been called to our presbytery in the past few months as well (Solana Beach, Rancho Bernardo and Pt. Loma Community). Also, I have assisted the COM in providing part-time stated supply leadership for churches in transition as well as assisting in the areas of conflict resolution in a few of our conflicted churches.
   
   
7. Provide visionary leadership concerning the long-term viability of the Presbyterian Crisis Center.
   
   
   • Update: On March 21, the presbytery created a five-person task force to consider the long-term vision and viability of the Presbyterian Crisis Center. The members of the PCC Re-visioning Task Force are Rev. Ray Sparling (Rancho Bernado), Rev. Jan Farley (Village), Allen Randall (First, San Diego), Elder Bob Collins (First, El Cajon) and Elder Jim Beatty (Graham, Coronado). The task force has been charged with presenting an initial report to the presbytery during this meeting. The initial report will focus upon the future direction, vision, and mission of the PCC. I have been asked by the Chair of Counsel to represent the presbytery by serving as a liaison to this task force.
   
   
8. Provide visionary leadership for the Human Resources Committee in developing a long-range staffing plan.
   
   
   • Update: The HR Committee has been very active in 2006. Matters relating to Reality Changers, the complete restructuring of the Finance Department, employees at Iglesia and the Presbyterian Crisis Center, and the final stages of the decentralization of the Military Outreach Ministries have taken much time and energy thus far in 2006. The committee set aside Friday, August 25th for a retreat to discuss a long-range staffing plan that reflects the priorities of the Long Range Planning Task Force. A comprehensive staffing plan and budget will be presented to the presbytery in the near future.
   
   
9. Provide visionary leadership for the Budget, Property and Finance Committee.
   
   
   • Update: One of the great challenges of this year has been the search for a replacement for our Financial Director, Debbie Clauson. Debbie resigned in the first quarter of the year. I have worked closely with the Human Resources Committee to evaluate our current staffing of our Finance Department and recommend a revised position description for Debbie's position. We have seen a lot of turnover in that position in the past few years. Early in the year, Debbie and I worked closely with the BP&F Committee to evaluate and redirect our current investment portfolio to enhance the presbytery's investment income. Chair John Lucas has worked hard to maximize our investment income, while reducing our debt load.
   
   
   
10. Provide visionary leadership for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.
    
    
    • Update: The leadership of Rev. John Powell is breathing new life and vitality into CPM. The CPM is discussing plans for a future Christmas party for all PSD Inquirers and Candidates as well as a retreat for potential Inquirers. The committee has a renewed commitment to serving, caring for, and walking alongside those who have been entrusted to our care as they prepare for ordained ministry.
    
    

After our Presbytery's March 21 Resolution (see Home Page), many other presbyteries are considering what action they might take in response to the General Assembly vote on the PUP Report and the Authoritative Interpretation. Presbyterian Global Fellowship has published a Covenant. The Presbyterian Coalition has published a recommended statement regarding standards for ordination. Following is a selected listing with links.

Presbyterian Global Fellowship
The Presbyterian Coalition

by Bill Lancaster
Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - Moderator Joan Gray told the General Assembly Council (GAC) meeting here October 2-5 that denominationalism as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has known it "is passing away," raising the question, "Why do we need a denomination?"

Prefacing her remarks by saying that her husband Bill had told her to tone down her comments because they were too "radical," she said after listening to the meeting of Presbytery executives, staff and GAC members for two days, "I'm giving it to you full strength."

After quoting Isaiah 43:18ff., she said she was convinced that God was doing a new thing in the denomination. "The sign of that for me is that the former things are passing away."

"The ways of being a denomination that have served us so well for so many years, in which I was raised and trained and done my ministry for the past 30 years, are passing away, some so slowly that we barely recognize it, some very fast," Gray said.

"We have come to a time when any person with a computer can access a universe of resources, programs and relationships. And churches are not looking to the national office for these things much any more."

Gray said she had heard a "scary question" floating around: "Why do we need a denomination?"

She said she has a long list of positive answers to that question, but that, "What I want to put forward to you today is that I believe living into that scary, anxious question may be one of the ways God opens us to the new thing that God wants to do among us, whatever it is."

Quoting again from the Bible, Gray said that it is in dying that we are born to new life. "What shall we do?" she asked.

She referred to comments GAC Executive Director Linda Valentine had made the previous day: "What is most crucial now is not structure and program and how and what. The crucial things are attitudes and ways of being. The crucial things as we move forward into the unknown are things like transparency. Accountability. Listening. And listening. And listening. And acting out of faith rather than fear."

"If I had a magic wand to wave over the church and could do one thing that I think would help us move into the new thing that God is doing," Gray said, it would be to require that every pastor, elder and organization in the PC(USA) "spend a month meditating and living into John 15:5. And I would start with the last phrase of that verse. Jesus said, 'Without me you can do nothing.'

"We need to live into what it means to be able to do nothing, before we will ever get to [the phrase], 'Abide in me that you may bear much fruit,'" Gray said. "There has to be deconstruction before there can be new construction."

She said, "I have a vision and a belief that God is indeed doing a new thing. Hearing what I have heard [from the presbytery executives, staff and GAC members], I rejoice that I am not the only one sharing that vision."

In response to Gray's remarks, Marian McClure, director of the Worldwide Ministries Division, noted that the GAC Executive Committee asked the same question about the need for a denomination at its summer retreat.

"I suggested that it might be the wrong question," McClure recalled. "Not why do we need a denomination, but, 'Why do hurting and lost people everywhere need Christians to be well organized?'"

She asked Gray: "Have you given any more thought to that twist on the question?"

Gray responded, "Yes, I agreed with that at the meeting and still do. That is part of my long and substantial list of reasons why I think we need a denomination.

"But I still believe that the question [Why do we need a denomination?] is formative," she insisted. "It is in asking the question that we get to where we need to go. If we never ask the question, we never sort through the bag of stuff that we have that may or may not be serving us well. I guess for me it is about process, and where are we now and what is the process that will take us into the future in a way that will be life giving."

Gray drew laughter and applause with her concluding comment: "It's good to be with you at my first [GAC] meeting, and it is going to be a hell of a ride!"

Bill Lancaster is associate executive for mission for Foothills Presbytery.

Rev. Virginia Brown has accepted a call to become Designated Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles.
Rev. Jackson Clelland, formerly associate pastor at Trinity Presbyterian, has accepted a call to be a Designated Associate Pastor at University Place Presbyterian Church in Washington.
Joseph Farrell, a candidate under care of Salem Presbytery, was examined and approved for ordination as Associate Pastor of Spiritual Grown at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Richard Greenwood, formerly interim pastor at Chula Vista Presbyterian, has accepted a call to become the Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Philadelphia in Ohio.
Rev. Brad Gustafson, formerly Interim Associate Pastor at Point Loma Presbyterian, has been installed to serve as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Josh Kerchoff, a candidate under care of Seattle Presbytery, was examined and approved for ordination as Associate Pastor of Next Generations at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church.
Rev. David Ricketts, who had been under the care of Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church, was examined and approved for ordination by San Francisco Presbytery to accept a call to serve as pastor of Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church.
Elder Linda Therien was nominated to serve a second three-year term as Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of San Diego. Her election will be at the November Meeting.

The Third Annual Music Benefit, which raises funds for Military Outreach Ministries and the Presbyterian Crisis Center, will be held at Chula Vista Presbyterian Church on October 29, beginning at 2:30 p.m. A wide range of musical talent will be presented: a gospel choir, operatic soprano and bass-baritone, comedy, folk music, guitarist and pianist. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for children 13 and under.

Westminster Choir Reunion Concert is planned for Sunday, November 12

Dr. Myron Tweed, Minister of Music, is retiring after 28 years of dedicated service at First Presbyterian Church. The Retirement Committee is making plans for the farewell events.

A Westminster Choir Reunion Concert is planned for Sunday, November 12, at 4:00 PM. All former members of the choir who sang under his direction beginning in January 1979 are invited to return and perform in this concert. Favorite anthems from worship services over 28 years will be selected for this program. We encourage all former members to come and enjoy this exciting event. A rehearsal will be held on Saturday, November 11 at 9:00 AM in the Sanctuary.

A reunion of all former New Dawn Singers will also be held on Saturday, November 11 at 11:15-12:30 PM. Favorite anthems will be selected for both choirs and performed at the concert on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 PM. A reception will be held immediately following the concert so we can greet old friends and share a "hug or two." Robin Tweed has invited Jerry Monroe to arrange video excerpts of selected programs during the reception.

You may check the church website---www.fpcsd.org for further information.

Additional events include the Autumn Fest on Saturday, October 7 at 4:00 PM in the church patio. Favorites from the previous ice cream socials will be recalled, including Disney tunes, Tweed Family Singers, Oompah-pah Band, and much more. Any former singers who would like to participate in any or all events including the Feast of Lights please RSVP to Mary Price at: 619-660-8834, mlp1828@aol.com or Robin Tweed at: 619-990-6917, robintweed@cox.net - Subject: Reunion Events.

Thank you for your prayers and support of this exciting era of music ministry.

by the Rev. Martha Cross Sexton, Chair Peacemaking and Social Justice Ministry Team, Presbytery of San Diego

Ms. Sanjana Das of Nagpur, India will be with us Sunday, October 15 through Wednesday, October 18 to address peacemaking in families and in community living, one of eight emphases of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

Coordinator of Children's Concerns for the Church of North India, a mission partner of the PC(USA), Sanjana also serves as secretary of the South Asia Ecumenical Network for the Dignity of Children for the World Council of churches and the Christian Conference of Asia. She works to promote the rights of children, to ensure their basic needs are met, to protect them from exploitation and abuse, and to ensure opportunities for their development. She has developed a curriculum for UNESCO for the non-formal education of street children.

While in our Presbytery, Sanjana will use DVD and PowerPoint presentations (she will bring her own laptop) to address the following topics:

Child rights violation in India/South Asia
Trafficking in women and children in India/South Asia
Role of the church in protecting children at risk and children's rights

Sanjana is available to speak to your church group Monday, October 16. Also, her mid-day flight on Wednesday, October 18 allows her to meet for breakfast with your youth, men or women's group that morning. Please contact Kyle Holberg @ 619-470-7195 or kholberg@pacbell.net to arrange a specific time and place.

You are invited to attend any of these scheduled events:

• Sun. October 15, 10 AM - Worship, lunch and discussion with Sanjana Das at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3598 Talbot St., San Diego, 619-223-3193.
• Sun. October 15, 4 PM - Chapel service with Sanjana Das at White Sands of La Jolla, 7450 Olivetas Ave., La Jolla, 858-454-4201.
• Tues. October 17, 11 AM - Women's Association welcomes Sanjana Das for program and lunch, Grace Presbyterian Church, 1450 E. Vista Way, Vista, 760-724-0077. (Please call to make reservations for lunch.)