The Rev. Dr. Andy Smith, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of San Diego for the past five years, has tendered his resignation to the Human Resources Committee, effective December 31, 2006. The Rev. Dr. Jack Baca, moderator of the presbytery, has expressed his deep regret at Andy's decision and has indicated a search for a new EP will begin soon.

Andy explained in his letter of resignation addressed to the Human Resources Committee that a "recent annual physical raised some serious health concerns for me. I have not cared properly for myself in these five years of intense ministry. I am now in need of a season of personal rest, reflection and discernment, in order to best prepare for my next call to ministry in our beloved PC(USA)."

Rev. Neal Nybo, an associate pastor at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, was elected at the November Meeting to serve as Moderator of the Presbytery of San Diego for 2007. Elected to serve as Vice Moderator/Moderator Elect was Elizabeth Crews, an elder at First Presbyterian Church of San Diego. Both Nybo and Crews were commissioners to the 217th General Assembly in Birmingham. Crews chaired the Task Force on the Way Forward. They will be installed at the January Meeting.

Linda Therien Re-Elected Stated Clerk

Elder Linda Therien, a member of Palisades Presbyterian Church, was re-elected at the November Meeting to a new three-year term as Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of San Diego. She was initially appointed to the position to fill out the term of the Rev. Herb Christ, and subsequently elected in 2004.

The Task Force on the Way Forward Report was approved at the November Meeting of Presbytery. The task force recommended that the Presbytery of San Diego declare 2007 to be a Year of Preparation for the new thing God is doing among us. In response, the Presbytery approved the immediate formation of a council-level committee to be divided into work groups with augmentation by advocates of areas outlined below.

The committee will be charged with actively exploring and strategizing implementation of ten categories. A work plan and timeline will be presented at the January meeting of Presbytery. The ten categories:

1. Lead as a presbytery in a post-denominational setting
2. Create a new way of being a presbytery
3. Reaffirm our theological identity
4. Rethink church property
5. Redirect per capita and mission giving
6. Initiate networks and partnerships
7. Maintain vigilance
8. Strengthen local ordination standards
9. Engage the national leadership of the PC(USA)
10. Develop contingency plans

Charged with evaluating the Presbyterian Crisis Center in its mission to serve the poor and homeless in San Diego, the Presbyterian Crisis Center Task Force presented its final report at the November Meeting. The report was presented by Rev Ray Sparling, an associate pastor at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church and a task force member. Others on the task force were Jim Beatty, Graham Memorial; Bob Collins, First Presbyterian El Cajon; Rev. Jan Farley, Village Rancho Santa Fe; and Allen Randall, First Presbyterian San Diego, with Rev. Andrew Smith, Executive Presbyter, as Presbytery Liaison.

The task force considered three options for the future of the Crisis Center: an enhanced approach; a transformational approach; and a decentralized approach. They recommended the enhanced option, which would see the PCC continuing to provide services to the poor with the addition of a new full-time director who would seek to increase funding.

Per Capita assessment in 2007 will remain at $25.00 per member. Following is the breakdown of how this amount is distributed:

• Presbytery of San Diego  -  $16.61 (22 cent decrease from 2006)
• Synod of SoCal & Hawaii  -  2.60 (no change)
• General Assembly  -  5.79 (22 cent increase over 2006)

Gunnar DePaul has been hired as Interim Director to replace James Giddens at the Presbyterian Crisis Center in San Diego. DePaul will continue current Crisis Center operations while he implements changes recommended by the task force report.

Sharon Pruess, a member of Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church, was honored at the November Meeting for her more than two years of service as Office Manager at the Presbytery Office.

Elected at the November Meeting to serve as committee chairs and members of Presbytery Council were:

• Elder John Lucas, Budget & Finance, (Mount Soledad)
• Elder Carole Ostrander, Ecclesiastical, (Westminster, Escondido)
• Pastor David Pierson, Evangelism, (La Mesa)
• Pastor John Powell, Preparation for Ministry (Point Loma Community)
• Pastor Mark Swarner, Missions, (Village, Rancho Sante Fe)
• Elder Bill Tayler, Human Resources, (Christ La Costa)
• Elder Michael Williams, Committee on Ministry, (Solana Beach)

Elected to serve on Council as Members at Large were:

• Elder Leslie Evans, Class of 2008, (La Jolla)
• Pastor Steve Locke, Class of 2008, (First El Cajon)

Presbytery Approves the Call from Westminster Point Loma; Rev. Dr.
Tony Wolfe to Serve as Designated Pastor

In response to a request from the session and congregation at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Point Loma, the Presbytery voted to approve a motion to renew the business of the call by the church to Rev. Dr. Tony Wolfe. The call was denied at the September Meeting. Wolfe stood an examination by the commissioners, giving a statement of apology and reading a new Statement of Faith. He was approved by written ballot and will serve at Westminster as Designated Pastor. He previously was on staff at Westminster as Consultant for Outreach. Prior to that he was Interim Pastor at Christ United Presbyterian Church in San Diego.

Rev. Pam Powell has been named Interim Pastor at Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church.

A Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need.

Fifty percent of the receipts to the Christmas Joy Offering are distributed to the Board of Pensions for assistance programs that provide support to retired and active church workers and their spouses and families. The other fifty percent supports Presbyterian-related racial ethnic education through the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.

The Christmas Joy Offering is usually received the Sunday before Christmas.

Compiled by Clio McEuen

Dec. 9      7:30 pm First, Oceanside Carols & Lullabies of the Southwest by Conrad Sousa and Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten with N.C. Chorale & Mira Mesa College Chamber Chorale. $10 Admission.

Dec. 10

• 10 am Chula Vista Church will present Joseph Martin's Christmas Cantata
• 10:30 am Trinity The Glories of Christmas
• 1:30 pm Crusader Bells will ring in the Music of Christmas at Pacific Beach. Free will offering.
• 7 pm First, San Diego, will have a Feast of Lights with choir, orchestra and soloists presenting the Magnificat of John Rutter, candlelighting and a living nativity
• 7 pm La Jolla presents Poulene's Gloria and selections from the Many Moods of Christmas with orchestra, choirs and soloists. Free will offering
• 7:30 pm First, Oceanside Carols & Lullabies of the Southwest by Conrad Sousa and Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten with N.C. Chorale & Mira Mesa College Chamber Chorale. $10 Admission.

Dec. 11      7:30 pm First, San Diego, will present a Feast of Lights with choir, orchestra and soloists presenting the Magnificat of John Rutter, candle lighting and a living nativity.

Dec. 13      6 pm Fletcher Hills Presbyterian, Advent Carol Singing

Dec. 17

• 9 am St. Luke's Lutheran in La Mesa with combined choirs from Pacific Beach for A Winter Rose by Joseph Martin.
• 10:45 am A Winter Rose by Joseph Martin will be presented at Pacific Beach by combined choirs from St. Luke's Lutheran in La Mesa.
• 4 pm a Joyous Christmas Carol sing along for the whole family at Chula Vista.
• 7 pm Faith's Sanctuary Choir Christmas Concert.
• 7 pm Fletcher Hills Presbyterian, Christmas Program

Dec. 21      7:30 pm Crusader Bells will play with the San Diego Symphony in Holiday Pops. Admission tickets required.

Dec. 22      8 pm Crusader Bells will play with the San Diego Symphony's Holiday Pops. Admission tickets required.

Dec. 23      2 pm and 8 pm Crusader Bells will play with the San Diego Symphony's Holiday Pops. Admission tickets required.

Dec. 24      10:30 am La Mesa Choir Christmas Cantata.

Please call your local church and join them for their special Christmas Eve services. They would love to have you come and celebrate Christmas.

Jan. 7     6 pm First, Oceanside 12th Night Choir Festival Free Sing Along.

With Christmas Day on Monday this year, all of our churches will be having special Christmas Eve Services on Sunday night. Please take advantage of this opportunity to visit a sister church. Call for times of services.