[The regular "Clippings Calendar of Events" follows the Newsflash
and the two letters below. Scroll down for dates & events.]
NEWSFLASH:
Second communication from Presbytery Council regarding "Action Plan"
[If you missed the first letter, published July 20, 2006, scroll down to see it.]
To: Ministers, Churches, and Sessions
From: Elder Gail Banks, Presbytery Moderator
the Rev. Thomas R. Drake, Coordinating Council chair
Date: August 18, 2006
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
This is the second of a series of important communications to our congregations and clergy on behalf of your Presbytery Coordinating Council. You will be receiving these communications every three weeks or so and the entire series will be posted on Presbytery's web site: www.presbycs.org.
As reported to you in our July 20 letter, this Spring the Coordinating Council committed ourselves to develop an Action Plan which would reverse what some have seen as a "downward Spiral" in our Presbytery and which would manifest a mutual renewed mission. The short-term goal of the Action Plan is to achieve a balanced Presbytery budget in 2008. However, the larger goal is even more significant -- to support and promote health and vitality in our churches, relevant to our congregations' situations and promote growth in our churches. Since our Presbytery mission is closely linked to the life and mission of our churches and ministers, it is vital that everyone be involved in helping develop the Action Plan.
Here is what is happening
- After considering several highly qualified persons, Coordinating Council invited the Rev. Dr. Timothy Rogers-Martin to be our consultant as we develop the Action Plan (which Council will present to the Presbytery for endorsement in January 2007). Tim is Director of "Spirited Strategies" based in Decatur, Georgia and has done similar strategic mission consulting with Geneva, Susquehanna Valley and other adjoining presbyteries here in central New York. He brings "fresh eyes" and an objective perspective to our work. The specific goals and objectives for Council and Tim between now and year's end is, overall, to develop a written Missional Action Plan for January 2007. Specific goals and objectives are to develop an Action Plan that will: (1) give missional focus to the Presbytery, (2) clarify agendas for common mission, (3) provide a foundation to foster congregational vitality, (4) refocus the attention of staff and volunteers, (5) address trust, communication, and transformation issues, and (6) align financial needs and resources.
- Council will be recommending to Presbytery on September 26 that the cost for employing Rev. Rogers-Martin (approximately $15,000) be drawn from the New Initiatives Fund (current balance $26,028.16) and that the Coordinating Council and Trustees restore these funds through the Presbytery Budget over a four-year period of time in the amount of $3,750 per year. The Action Plan is our Presbytery's investment in our future and in our churches' futures. Your Council believes it is worth the cost to hire a consultant for this project, and that we ALL be involved in the investment for our future.
- Instead of taking time off over the summer, Council is meeting twice a month! There is a true sense of momentum and genuine enthusiasm as we progress toward a full Action Plan (now in its VERY rough second draft)
- Most of Council's Action Plan work groups have been very busy as well
1. "The World Around Us." Tracie Martin and Dan DeBrucker are coordinating data about our Presbytery, by ZIP code. This material will be added to earlier analyses that describe Presbytery's mission field and challenges in reaching the post-modern world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
2. "State of the Presbytery." Gail Banks has been gathering written and oral history of our presbytery going back to the early 1990s. We are reminded of Ecclesiastes: "to everything there is a season!"
3. "Christ's Call to Ministry". We expect to recommend that we reaffirm our existing Mission Statement: "Equipping our congregations to fulfill Christ's Great Commission." However, Maxine Hunter and Deb Thomas are developing a Vision Statement identifying specific goals and emphases for equipping our congregations, especially in tools for vitality, growth and transformation. Also Maxine and Deb are working on a Values Statement to identify some elements that we as a Presbytery have valued historically.
4. "Critical Issues." THANK YOU for the responses so far! Over twenty have been received! Steven Thomas and Lynda Fauler report that your responses are thoughtful, sometimes passionate, and are very valuable. Your comments on the realities and challenges we face will be included (without identifying the authors) in an Appendix in the January Action Plan. A second e-mail went out last week. If you haven't already responded or if you missed the e-mails, there is still time to contact the Rev. Steve Thomas at Steve.Thomas@cazpres.org.
5. "Goals, Strategies and Indicators of Success." Craig Williams will be lead person for this work group, looking at strategic (leadership) goals and perennial (management) goals, how we might get these goals accomplished in our structure, how much it might cost (or save), and how to measure whether or not we are successful
6. "Structural Changes and Impact." Steve Thomas and Tom Drake will be lead persons for this work group, identifying what specific things in our mission design should be changed to facilitate our Mission, Vision and Values Statements (examples could be if there are needed changes to the Standing Rules, Council's composition and role, Presbytery's overall staffing rationale, etc.). This will be the bulk of the Action Plan?10-20 pages of recommendations and rationale for us to consider together.
The Action Plan will not be perfect. Nevertheless, it will represent Council's best, most faithful efforts to position us for strong mission and ministry in the years ahead through our congregations and as a Presbytery. BUT WE NEED YOU! It's not enough to just speak your mind?"follow-through" is required.
The on-line group, PbyCSFeedback, is a place where you can share your thoughts on the Action Plan as it develops. To join this on-line group, simply e-mail
PbyCSFeedback-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
There will be several other opportunities for you to participate actively in the emerging Action Plan. You may send your comments directly to either one of us, Gail or Tom. Gail will be convening 3 Focus Groups, inviting leaders from our congregations together for 90-minute reflection periods focused on our values and critical issues. During upcoming Presbytery meetings, Council will be sharing emerging goals of the Action Plan: in outline form on September 26; possibly at a special meeting of Presbytery on October 28 devoted exclusively to Action Plan information and discussion; at Presbytery on November 28; and, of course, formal presentation of the full Action Plan draft at Presbytery in January 2007. Finally, regional meetings in October and November will be a place to "float" specific structural ideas for your comment.
These updates, plus background on the Action Plan, will be posted on the Presbytery web site. Thanks to those who have shared with us already! Please do not hesitate to contact either of us directly if you have questions or thoughts to share.
May God continue to bless your summer.
Elder Gail Banks, Presbytery Moderator banksgy@yahoo.com
105 Whedon Road, #20
Syracuse, NY 13219
the Rev. Tom Drake, Coordinating Council Chair
oakmarble@bluefrognet.net
90 Franklin Street
Auburn, NY 13021
*******************
Preliminary Letter of July 2006:
To: Ministers, Churches, and Sessions
From: Elder Gail Banks, Presbytery Moderator
the Rev. Thomas R. Drake, Coordinating Council chair
Date: July 20, 2006
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
This is the first of a series of important communications to our congregations and clergy on behalf of your Presbytery Coordinating Council. You will be receiving these communications every three weeks or so and the entire series will be posted on the Presbytery's web site: www.presbycs.org. Our writing to you today is by way of introduction.
The risen Christ gave his followers a set of assignments, which have come to be known as The Great Commission: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you?." (Matthew 28)
In May 2001, after several years of study and discussion, we as the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse formally identified our mission as EQUIPPING OUR CONGREGATIONS TO FULFILL CHRIST'S GREAT COMMISSION. Nevertheless, simply saying that this is our mission does not make it so in reality. We now must put practices alongside the words and, for that, led by the Holy Spirit, we need your help!
This Spring the Coordinating Council committed ourselves to develop an Action Plan which would reverse what some have seen as a "downward spiral" in our Presbytery and manifest a renewed mission for us all in the years ahead. The short-term goal of the Action Plan is to achieve a balanced Presbytery budget in 2008. However, the larger goal is even more significant -- to support and promote health and vitality in our churches, relevant to our congregations' situations and promote growth in our churches. Since our Presbytery mission is closely linked to the life and mission of our churches and ministers, it is vital that everyone be involved in helping develop the Action Plan. Of course, the elder and clergy delegates from our churches must approve any final plan.
An initial aspect of the Action Plan requires a review of the Presbytery's mission statement. As we begin this journey, we need to be certain if indeed "Equipping our congregations to fulfill Christ's Great Commission" IS to be the Plan's primary focus. Reaffirming our current Mission Statement will allow creation of concrete, specific steps for us to help equip our churches to go and make disciples, baptize and teach. However, if we feel that in 2006 there are other mission priorities, the Action Plan must address that reality. Implementing the plan that is adopted will likewise mean ongoing interaction with our congregations in a team effort.
The Council anticipates the Action Plan will be presented for formal discussion at the November 28, 2006 meeting of Presbytery and potentially be voted upon at the January 27, 2007 Presbytery meeting. The Council intends that the Plan will
1) Present a strong mission focus to our presbytery and its congregations,
2) Clarify opportunities and priorities for our common mission,
3) Provide solid practical tools and Biblical foundations to foster congregational vitality,
4) Clarify and guide the work of our staff and volunteers,
5) Address in healthy ways ongoing issues of communication, trust and transformation, and
6) Align financial needs and resources to encourage their highest and most faithful use.
To be sure that the Action Plan addresses the real issues faced by our congregations we, the Moderator of Presbytery and Chair of the Coordinating Council, invite you to join us in consultation.
- Last week an e-mail invitation went out from one of the Council's Action Plan work groups seeking your input on "Critical Issues" facing our Presbytery. We have had many responses already! If you haven't already responded or if you missed the e-mail, please contact the Rev. Steve Thomas at Steve.Thomas@cazpres.org.
- An on-line group, called PbyCSFeedback, is a place where you can share and your thoughts on the Action Plan as it develops. To join this on-line group, simply e-mail PbyCSFeedback-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
- You may always send your comments directly to either one of us, Gail or Tom.
In future communications you will be hearing not only from us, but also from various Action Plan work groups established by the Coordinating Council. We will tell you more about the work groups in future communications, but for now we will simply list them and the Council members serving as "lead persons".
- "The World Around Us" (demographics): Tracie Martin, Dan DeBrucker
- "State of the Presbytery": Gail Banks
- "Christ's Call to Ministry" (Mission, Vision, and Values): Maxine Hunter, Deb Thomas
- "Critical Issues": Steven Thomas, Lynda Fauler
- "Goals, Strategies and Indicators of Success": Craig Williams
Please watch for our communications on the Action Plan that, as mentioned above, will be posted as well on the Presbytery web site. And please do not hesitate to contact either of us directly if you have questions or thoughts to share.
Thank you, and may God richly bless your congregation's life and ministry, and our life and ministry together.
Elder Gail Banks, Presbytery Moderator
banksgy@yahoo.com
105 Whedon Road, #20
Syracuse, NY 13219
The Rev. Tom Drake, Coordinating Council Chair oakmarble@bluefrognet.net
90 Franklin Street
Auburn, NY 13021
**********end of letter***********
