Executive Presbyter's Report to Presbytery
Reflections on "The Year of Nehemiah"

As I reflect upon the first eight months of this "Year of Nehemiah," I am aware of the following six major areas of "rebuilding" that have occurred in our presbytery…

1. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Staff: Since February 1, 2003, five new employees have been added to the staff of the Presbytery: Linda Therien (Office Manager), Jeanne Wright (Bookkeeper), Heather Henderson (Director, Military Outreach Ministries), Liz Carlson (Administrative Assistant) and Greg Seckington (Controller). This new leadership team shares the common commitment to serve the presbytery well for many years to come.

2. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Greater Parish Ministries: Organizational "rebuilding" has occurred in the each one of the Greater Parish Ministries of our Presbytery. A Steering Committee has been established in our Military Outreach Ministries for the oversight, management and support of the ministry. In April, the Council established a task force to review all programs of the Presbyterian Crisis Center. In June, the Council acted on the joint recommendations of the BP&F Committee, the Human Resources Committee and the Executive Presbyter to close the Bargain Bungalow Thrift Store.

3. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Missions Committee: The Missions Committee has reorganized and redefined its central focus as "the interpretation of our Presbytery's mission programs." During a retreat in March, the Missions Committee identified three areas of concentration: (1) Interpretation: Keep mission visible to the Presbytery and the churches, (2) Interaction: Establish liaisons to church mission committees and assist them as needed, and (3) Initiation: Be alert to new things God would do in our midst, and encourage mission vocation.

4. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Budget: The BP&F Committee will present a new and "divided" 2004 Operating Budget at the September meeting. The new budget will present the two streams of income (Per Capita and Shared Mission) with the two categories of expenditures (Ecclesiastical Expenses and Shared Mission Expenses).

5. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Campus Ministry: The Lindo Paseo House on the campus of SDSU has been sold to the SDSU Foundation. The assets from the sale of the property will be applied directly to future Campus Ministry endeavors through the Presbytery of San Diego. A three-way partnership in evangelism is being established between Faith Presbyterian Church, the Navigators Christian Fellowship, and the Presbytery of San Diego. This "rebuilt" campus ministry partnership will be introduced to the Presbytery in 2004.

6. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Communication Network: David Buck (Elder, The Village Church) has donated over 150 hours of his time and energy in rebuilding our current Presbytery Website. All Presbytery docket information has been distributed electronically via the new Website since January 2003. This new form of communication is saving the presbytery hundreds of dollars each year in office and personnel expenses.

As I reflect upon the remaining four months of the "Year of Nehemiah," I am aware of the three major areas of our Presbytery still in need of rebuilding…

1. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Crisis Center: In the next several months, a Board of Directors/Steering Committee will be formed for the oversight, management and interpretation of the PCC. In November, a final report with recommendations will be presented to the Presbytery concerning the future ministry of the PCC. The implementation stages of the final report of the task force will be completed by December 31, 2004.

2. Rebuilding the Presbytery's Committee on Ministry: The Committee on Ministry is in the process of revising the COM Manual and organizational structure in order to revitalize its ministry with our pastors and churches.

3. Rebuilding the Presbytery's NCD's: The Evangelism Committee is charged with the oversight of the three New Church Development Churches in the Presbytery of San Diego (Mir Al, Arabic Speaking, Discovery at the Center). There is a pressing need for establishing clear communication, support and accountability in our NCD's.