Presbyteries nationwide begin a busy 2012
The Layman , January 27, 2012
As the new year begins to gather steam, several presbyteries within the Presbyterian Church (USA) have started to make plans and generate news.
Shenandoah Presbytery (Virginia)
A Virginia presbytery started 2012 off with the hiring of two new staff members.
The Rev. Dan Williams will serve as acting, part-time stated clerk for the Shenandoah Presbytery following the Dec. 31 departure of former interim General Presbyter Sally Hinchman, who had also served as stated clerk. Williams serves as pastor of Second Presbyterian Church of Staunton, Va.
The Rev. Randy Webb will serve as the new acting, part-time general presbyter. Webb also serves as stated supply minister for Nineveh Presbyterian Church of Front Royal, Va.
Presbytery of Santa Barbara (California)
A California presbytery will soon decide how many of several overtures to submit to the 220th PCUSA General Assembly.
The Presbytery of Santa Barbara has drafted the overtures and will submit them to the GA if the presbytery approves them.
Included are items which address church property issues stating:
“All property that is under the control of a local session and is being used by an individual congregation shall be deemed to be that individual congregation’s property and not be considered as held in trust for any body other than the local congregation. The individual congregation shall be the sole owner of such property, and shall hold title to such property, should the congregation vote by a two-thirds majority to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church (USA) due to theological disagreement with any action taken by a governing body or permanent judicial council of the [PCUSA].”
The second overture concerns non-geographical presbyteries and reads in part:
“A presbytery may receive congregations as member churches any congregation which petitions for membership regardless of whether or not that congregation lies within the geographical boundaries of the presbytery. A congregation may petition a presbytery to join it upon a two-thirds vote of those members attending at a regularly called congregational meeting.”
A third GA proposal seeks to clarify that presbytery “governing bodies will continue to be free from compulsion in making decisions on whether or not to uphold an examination of any candidate for ordained office.” The amendment is designed to give “the necessary affirmation that governing bodies will be permitted to exercise their freedom of conscience as they make decisions regarding ordination of practicing homosexual persons to all of the offices of the [PCUSA].”
To access all of the proposed overtures, click here. The presbytery has also called a special meeting March 17 to address similar issues. The presbytery may also form the Santa Barbara Association. Such a move would allow churches outside the geographic boundaries of Santa Barbara to become part of the presbytery. The presbytery will next meet on Feb. 11.
Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley (Alabama)
A central Alabama presbytery hopes to begin construction on a 440-acre retreat in 2012. The Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley began the process in 2001 with a purchase of land along the Cahaba River.
Dubbed Living River, the complex will include children’s cabins, adult lodges and dining and recreational facilities. The presbytery has raised $7 million of $11 million needed to complete construction.
Presbytery of Charlotte (North Carolina)
A North Carolina presbytery will decide on the fate of a three-member church. Calvary Presbyterian Church of Davidson is working with the Presbytery of Charlotte to see how it might survive the coming year.
According to an article in the Charlotte Observer, the presbytery will meet on Feb. 11 to decide the church’s fate. The church includes three members of the Overcash family and the Rev. Reid Montgomery. Currently, the church’s building is also being used by several other churches and religious organizations and presbytery officials hope to find a way to help the church survive.