July 25 SeaPres Update from Co-Executive Presbyters
Seattle Presbytery
“In Christ, Church members share with all humanity the realities of creatureliness, sinfulness, brokenness, and suffering, as well as the future toward which God is drawing them.” Book of Order F-1.0403
Dear friends,
I am grateful for the more than 80 presbyters who attended last Tuesday’s presbytery meeting at Calvary Presbyterian Church. We had the opportunity to wrestle with some challenging issues, ones where we were not of one mind, and yet we had rich, respectful discussion and Spirit led discernment. If there is one thing we learned as we left the meeting, it was that in our humanity we can be in complete disagreement, and yet in Christ be drawn together towards God, God’s call, and God’s will for us all. In other words, the tent is big enough, gracious enough, loving enough, to include us all. And for this we give thanks to God.
At our meeting we also heard from GA commissioners Rev. Scott Anderson, Linda Enkema (BelPres), and Dustin Wilsor (Woodland Park) about their participation in the denomination’s biannual national gathering and what business was addressed.
The presbytery elected to appoint a work team to create a child protection and vulnerable adult policy for approval at the next presbytery meeting in October.
The body also voted to concur with both COM and the Executive Board’s recommendation to rescind special rule of order 2 regarding paper ballots for ordination examinations.
We are grateful for the generous hospitality of our siblings at Calvary Presbyterian Church in beautiful Enumclaw and many volunteers who helped make our time together special.
To read more about the actions taken at the meeting, please click here.
As we enter the last month of summer, we also turn to considering what is coming up in the fall. Here are some items to keep an eye out for:
Executive Board leadership retreat.
Thriving Congregations’ Leadership Summit.
BIPOC Pastoral Leaders’ Gathering
We also recognize that heading into this election season, both tempers and rhetoric can become heightened. Know that we pray for each of you, particularly those in leadership positions having to navigate the complexities of pastoring to a diverse group of people. May God grant us all patience and grace with each other, may our politicians and leaders be led by authentic concern and care for the country and all its people. And may we rise above the cultural norms of our time and embody kindness, curiosity, and love.
We welcome hearing from you; please feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or simply to say hello.
In Christ,
Revs. Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden
Co-Executive Presbyters