Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church will host the November 21 meeting of Presbytery. Around Nov. 3, check the Home Page for your copies of the docket, committee reports, minutes of the September Meeting, and other materials.

by Toya Richards Hill
Presbyterian News Service

PHILADELPHIA - The great cloud of Presbyterian witnesses most certainly would have been pleased on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Peering down at the goings on inside Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church here, they had to be smiling as they watched their offspring paying homage to them. And no doubt they marveled at just how far their church had come in 300 years.

A colorful procession of presbytery banners, two choirs and a brass ensemble, an array of denominational officials and a hearty crowd gathered to mark the 300th anniversary of the first presbytery meeting in America. Held in Philadelphia in 1706, the meeting set the foundation for what is today the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

"You can feel the cloud of witnesses in this place," the Rev. Joan Gray, moderator of the 217th General Assembly, said of those early church founders. "They are with us in spirit."

"They ran the race that was set before them. We would not be sitting here if they had not been faithful," she told the worshippers.

Seven Presbyterian ministers organized that first presbytery, which was a general presbytery with broad geographical boundaries. They were led by the Rev. Francis Makemie, considered the father of American Presbyterianism.

The other six men, all considered nonconformists in the Anglican-majority colonial environment, were the Revs. Jedidiah (or Jedediah) Andrews, Samuel Davis (or Davies), John Hampton, George McNish, Nathaniel Taylor and John Wilson.

"They were religious dissidents," said Frederick Heuser, director of the Presbyterian Historical Society, the Philadelphia-based national archives and historical research center of the PC(USA).

Task Force on the Way Forward Presents Answers
To March 21 Resolution

An advisory survey of commissioners who attended a Special Called Meeting of Presbytery, held October 24 at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, indicates a strong awareness of the turmoil in the PCUSA as a result of actions by the 217th General Assembly last June, referring to the Authoritative Interpretation and the PUP Report. At the same time, the 70 commissioners showed support of the Presbytery's Task Force on the Way Forward in its commitment "to lead not leave" the denomination.

Addressing the first five questions of the Presbytery's March 21 Resolution, following are the survey results. (Commissioners were asked to answer NO, YES, or IT DEPENDS.)

1. Does the adoption of the PUP Report create a constitutional crisis?
        YES - 44%         IT DEPENDS - 29%         NO - 27%
2. Does the adoption of the PUP Report create a state of biblical and confessional defection?
        YES - 48%         NO - 28%         IT DEPENDS - 24%
3. Does the adoption of the PUP Report breach the covenant that binds our congregations and presbyteries together?
        YES - 45%         NO - 35%         IT DEPENDS - 20%
4. Does the adoption of the PUP Report minimize or eliminate our covenantal obligation to abide by the polity and discipline of higher governing bodies?
        NO - 40%         IT DEPENDS - 33%         YES - 27%
5. Does the adoption of the PUP Report damage or compromise the PCUSA's ability to exercise governance over its presbyteries?
        YES - 40%         NO - 33%         IT DEPENDS - 27%

Go to the Home Page for the full documentation of the task force response to the March 21 Resolution and the results of the advisory survey of commissioners, non-commissioners, and task force members.

Presbyterians Today's 2006 ADVENT CALENDAR features daily meditations by Jerry L. Van Marter, coordinator of the Presbyterian News Service. The calendar is designed like a newspaper and written as if a journalist had covered the most significant birth in history. It includes suggested activities for families with children. Order reprints for your congregation today, while supplies last and to ensure delivery before Advent! http://www.pcusa.org/today/advent.htm

by Toya Richards Hill Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has reversed two lower-court rulings in favor of a Kansas City, MO, congregation that challenged a neighboring church in its ordination of a woman thought to be a lesbian as an elder.

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) overturned decisions by both the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Mid-America (SPJC) and the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Heartland (PPJC) in the case of Session of Colonial Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, Missouri v. Session of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (GCPC), Overland Park, Kansas.

"At this stage of the proceeding, this Commission is compelled to accept as true the allegation in the Complaint that the (Grace Covenant) session may have had cause for further inquiry based on its professed knowledge of the life and character of the elders-elect," the GAPJC said in its ruling release last week.

The case originated after the session of Colonial Presbyterian Church questioned whether the session of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church violated the Book of Order when it ordained four elders in July 2004.

Colonial claims that Grace Covenant failed to conduct sufficient inquiry consistent with the standard set forth in Wier v. Session, Second Presbyterian Church of Ft. Lauderdale, FL., and specifically failed to inquire of each of the elders-elect as to whether he or she was living in compliance with G-6.0106b, which requires "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and woman or chastity in singleness."

For more go to www.pcusa.org and click on News.

By Steve Skinner

Wow!!!

What a concert we had Saturday night, October 7, at Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church. This was the last concert of the Calvin Hall Concert Series. Archie Robinson and New Birth Praise led the evening's song and praises to our Lord Jesus Christ. I had no idea Pastor Archie was bringing the choir (11 backup singers). This band was tight, and oh what beautiful music.

The highlight of the evening was when one of the church's neighbors, Mr. John Taylor, accepted Jesus Christ into his life. John said he had been listening to the music all year long from his patio (about 75 yards from the church) and finally decided to come by. He was greeted by our very own Fiona and Set Free Ministries' Sylvester. They gently led him to our Lord Jesus, and John was in church the next morning. Please pray for John, that the Holy Spirit fill him completely, and that he will walk with Jesus along the narrow path to Salvation. And pray that we at Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church are able to disciple John to know the Lord Jesus.

Steve Skinner
858/ 483-4980 (home office phone & FAX)
858/ 722-9519 (cell)

Marcia Borgman, center, has joined the Presbytery staff to fill a newly created, full time position of Director of Finance and Administrative Services. Introduced at the Special Called Meeting at Solana Beach PC, she is flanked by John Pearson, retired Director of Finance, and EP Rev. Andy Smith. "Marcia comes to us from La Jolla Presbyterian Church where for the past two years she has been responsible for their business office and financial reporting, said Smith. "Marcia has an MBA from the University of Colorado and is also a CPA…She brings a wonderful balance of professional abilities and spiritual gifts t our team." Her work experience includes corporate CFO, bank holding company controller, and commercial lender. To contact her, call the Presbytery office, 619-224-2490, ext. 106.

The Presbytery would like to advertise all your "special events"-- Thanksgiving and Christmas -- on the Presbytery web site. We'd like a list of your churches' holiday events that you would welcome visitors to. Please include your church's name, the time, date, location (within church), and a bit about the event. Please e-mail back to Clio McEuen, a member of the PresbyNews staff, at ClarkandClio@SBCGlobal.net or leave a message at 619-276-2728. You may also mail to: Clio McEuen, 4920 Sparks Ave, San Diego, CA 92110. All information must be in by October 30 to be listed in the November edition of the PresbyNewsOnLine on the web site.