Young Adult Home Host Program

The Accelerator YMCA Home Host Program is seeking church partners. The program serves young people ages 18-24 in King County who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The program provides young people with the space and opportunity to build independent living skills, gain stability, develop lasting relationships, and focus on goal attainment by matching young people with a caring and supportive host family they identify with.

Host families are volunteers from the community who offer a room in their home to provide safe, short-term, and supportive housing to young people who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Host families provide up to six months of supportive services to a young person, age 18-24 as they work toward stabilization. More importantly, young people have the chance to develop new and meaningful relationships with caring and supportive adults, allowing young people to create and expand their community. The Accelerator YMCA will recruit, screen and train all host families prior to a young person being matched.

Contact Nicole Gulberteaux at 206-462-9327.

Learn more.

Steel Lake PC Launches New Mission

Steel Lake Presbyterian Church in Federal Way launched its new mission on May 15 during a special Pentecost celebration. The church will focus on underserved aging and caregiving communities in the greater Federal Way area. 

"Our mission is in our name," asserts Pastor Will Mason. "Presbyterian means elder. It's not just our polity; it's our identity."

The leaders of the church believe a significant proportion of American society has drifted away from the tradition of caring for family members and valuing the wisdom of elders.  "How we care for our elders says everything about who we worship," says Pastor Mason. "The whole family system is affected by the issues of aging."

Community members, Seattle Presbytery leaders, and staff from Federal Way retirement communities also attended the celebration.

See event photos (courtesy of RE Steven Dent).

SeaPres & Colombia Partnership Covenant

“That they may all be one”

— John 17:21

Partnership with our sisters and brothers in Barranquilla, Colombia

In late January, ten delegates, representing our Seattle Presbytery, Seattle Pacific University and Whitworth University, traveled to Barranquilla, Colombia to formalize a missional partnership between our Presbytery and Presbytery of the Coast.  The delegation included: Tali Hairston, Staci Imes, Alex Maxim, Eliana Maxim, Terry McGonigal, Ben Notkin, Renée Notkin, Kevin Nollette, Ron Rice and Sharon Rice.    

The seed for this trip germinated more than 5 years ago when Mark Zimmerly became aware of the Colombia Accompaniment Program, hosted by leaders of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia and in conjunction with PC(USA) World Mission, that focuses upon a ministry of presence between the church, displaced communities and human rights leaders in Colombia. In his question of how our Presbytery might become more involved, he approached Eliana Maxim, a native of Colombia, and together they traveled to Barranquilla in February, 2015.   Last fall Adriano Portillo, Jairo Barriga Jaraba,  Diego Higuita and Gina Zabala - leaders of the Presbyterian Church in Colombia -  visited Seattle to meet with our church leaders and began to explore the various mission opportunities between our two communities as a way of sharing our faith and life experiences and unite us in our understanding of the Kingdom of God.  

The Seattle delegation experienced an overwhelming affirmation of the vitality of such a partnership during our visit to Barranquilla in January as we visited with displaced farmers, students, educators, pastors and lay leaders.   While we may have needed translators at times to help us in our dialogue with one another, there are two universal words that defined our time together and our excitement about our future partnership:  accompaniment and advocacy. Through the unique missions of our Presbyteries, we are covenanting by the guidance of the Spirit to partner with one another in these areas:  

• Ecclesial engagement through the sharing of liturgy, worship resources, biblical and theological reflections, pulpit exchanges and internships.
• Educational engagement through partnership with Seattle Pacific University and Whitworth University.
• Diakonia engagement through a mutual vision of accompanying the stranger in our communities and presbyteries as we pursue together the work of advocacy, humanitarian relief, reconciliation and sustainable development.

Both councils of Seattle Presbytery and Presbytery of the Coast have signed a partnership covenant to be reviewed every two years.  To support our partnership in Seattle we have formed a Colombia Mission Task Force and are making plans for a delegation trip in 2017.

If you wish to have more information or are interested in joining the team, please contact either co-chairs  Staci Imes at pastorstaci@wppcseattle.org or Renee Notkin at reneen@upc.org

Feds deny permit for coal export terminal

From Gary Payton, Environmental Advocate (May 9, 2016)
Member, Fossil Free PCUSA
www.fossilfreepcusa.org
Member, Presbyterians for Earth Care
http://presbyearthcare.blogspot.com/2016/04/pec-will-be-at-general-assembly-in.html

In an historic decision today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied necessary permits for the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal, a coal export facility located at Cherry Point, Washington. The Army Corps agreed with the Lummi Nation that building a 48 million ton per year coal terminal would have adverse impacts upon the Lummi Nation's fishing rights and way of life.  By denying permits for the largest proposed coal export terminal in North America, Army Corps upheld the Lummi Nation’s treaty rights and protecting the Salish Sea for all people who call the Pacific Northwest home.  Had the terminal been approved, hundreds of communities in multiple presbyteries across Montana, Idaho, and Washington would have been at risk through expanded coal train shipments from the Powder River Basin.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article76545117.html

http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Media/NewsReleases/tabid/2408/Article/754951/army-corps-halts-gateway-pacific-terminal-permitting-process.aspx

Rev. Holly Hallman of Seattle Presbytery and I share this news with you recalling the modest, yet we believe important, role which the PCUSA played in this decision.

The 221st GA (2014) passed Overture 15-03 on expanded coal export projects which had been brought forward by Seattle Presbytery and concurred in by the Presbyteries of Cascades and North Puget Sound.  An action called for in the overture was the communication by the Stated Clerk of the content of the overture to the Corps of Engineers.  

https://pc-biz.org/#/committee/529/business

Holly and I would like to extend a special thanks to Leslie Woods, former staff person in the Office of Public Witness, Washington D.C., for the exceptional letter she drafted in 2015 for Gradye to send to the Corps.  The letter blended the thrust of the overture with a call to respect the treaty rights of the Lummi Nation. 

With letter in hand, Holly read its content last May to an assembly of Northwest tribal leaders.  Her presentation on behalf of the PCUSA was the only voice at the gathering from the faith community.

https://www.pcusa.org/blogs/eco-journey/2015/5/26/behalf-lummi-nation-and-northwest-native-tribes/

Our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has taken profound and historic positions on a host of social justice issues through the decades.  We do not always know if our faithful voice is heard in the halls of power.  Thus, when we can draw a connection, however modest, between the 221st General Assembly's action, the denial of coal terminal permits, and the upholding of Native American treaty rights, it warrants a thankfully voiced "Alleluia!"

The power of the fossil fuel industry is great, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at the upcoming 222nd General Assembly in Portland will again be asked to made decisions about the industry, our investments, climate change, and as voiced by Pope Francis, "the cry of earth and the cry of the poor."

I thank you for receiving this email.  And, I thank all those who take an active roll in protecting God's creation.

Blessing to you this day, and Alleluia!

Gary
Environmental Advocate

More media coverage:

http://komonews.com/news/local/feds-deny-permit-for-giant-cherry-point-coal-export-terminal

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/tribes-prevail-kill-proposed-coal-terminal-at-cherry-point/

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Army-Corps-of-Engineers-blocks-giant-coal-export-7423531.php

Seattle Presbytery Statement

Our airwaves and screens are saturated with disturbing images and rhetoric in the wake of the upcoming election.  The name-calling, racism, Islamophobia, and exclusion, some of it in the name of Christianity, is damaging our witness to a hurting city and world.  We are working to undo the damage in our local congregations and neighborhoods, with our ministry partners and seekers. The Presbytery of Seattle voted to publish an official statement for our use in reaching out to our communities:

"The Seattle Presbytery is disheartened by the hate speech and rhetoric that has characterized this election season.  As a body, we cannot and do not endorse a political party or a political candidate, but we strongly urge our members to speak publicly against the dehumanizing of individuals.  We affirm that all are made in the image of God. We are called to be peacemakers in our homes, our communities, our country, and our world. Language of hate, division, racism, elitism and violence fly in the face of the message of God which is a message of love, reconciliation, and unity.  We urge the congregations, ministers, and members within Seattle Presbytery to speak and proclaim again that love casts out fear.”

PC(USA) Church Leadership Connection

2016 Face-to-Face Event in Portland, OR

The Church Leadership Connection (CLC) a ministry of the Office of the General Assembly will host one Face to Face Event this year at the 222nd General Assembly, Portland, Oregon, June 17-21, 2016. We hope you will consider participating in the event.  Face to Face will include PNC training, a mid council panel discussion, call seeker’s training, networking opportunities, vocational coaching, one-on-one PIF reviews, and other educational opportunities for call seeker’s and calling organizations. All call seekers (teaching elders, candidates, ruling elders, and other lay professionals) with an active Personal Information Form may participate.  All search committees for installed and temporary positions with an active MIF or approved job description are encouraged to attend.Registration runs February 29 – May 27, 2016. Please see attached an announcement about the upcoming Face to Face Event.

Read more.

Voices from the Margins to be Heard in Worship at Mt Baker Park

During a presidential election cycle when many groups of Americans have been labeled as unimportant, dangerous, or unwelcome, Mt Baker Park Presbyterian Church (MBPPC) will offer a series of dialogue sermons lifting up the voices of people from some of these groups. Beginning on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, the sermon at MBPPC will take the form of a dialogue between Pastor Leland Seese and a different guest on the 3rd Sunday of each month through November.
 
Guests will include Muslims, People of Color, People Who Identify as LGBTQ, Jews, People Living with Addictions and Mental Illness, and People with No Permanent Home. Each guest will tell the story of his or her faith journey (or no-faith journey), and what life is like day-to-day. The goal of the series is simply to extend welcome and give voice to men and women among us whose voices, and very personhood, are being rejected, “othered”, or oppressed by many of their fellow citizens.

Seattle Presbytery & clergy members support vandalized Seattle church

Seattle Presbytery members and other Seattle-area clergy members gathered this week to stand with Curry Temple C.M.E. Church, which was vandalized over the weekend. 

Watch the story on KING 5 News.

April 19 Stated Meeting Photos

Thank you to the volunteers and staff at North Point Church for their gracious hospitality hosting the April presbytery meeting.

Download Complimentary eBook about the Presbyterian hymnal

For a limited time only, you can download a complimentary Amazon Kindle edition of Introducing Glory to God!
For those who have already adopted Glory to God, Introducing Glory to God helps inform congregants about the ‪Presbyterian hymnal. If your church is still deciding whether or not to purchase Glory to God, this helpful book explains:

• Why a new hymnal was produced
• The challenges of creating a new hymnal
• The theology, liturgy, language, and musical genres in Glory to God
• Ideas for introducing Glory to God to your church.
• Off ends Saturday, April 30.

J. Herbert Nelson selected as nominee for PC(USA) Stated Clerk

Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson —Photo by Byron Buck

APRIL 19, 2016

News Release

LOUISVILLE

The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson is the nominee to become the next Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the committee charged with bringing a candidate to the 222nd General Assembly (2016) announced today.

Read more.

2016 Guthrie Scholars

Center for Lifelong Learning Seeks 2016 Guthrie Scholars

The Center for Lifelong Learning is accepting applications for the 2016 Guthrie Scholars Cohort. This is a limited enrollment opportunity to engage in five days of independent study among a small group of clergy, educators and other church leaders on the campus of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA.

The program is named for the late Shirley Guthrie, professor of theology at the seminary and funded in part by an endowment established in his honor. Those selected for Guthrie Scholars are invited to the campus to pursue a topic of their choice that engages a pressing issue of the church from a Reformed perspective. Scholars are provided with a guest room and meals in the campus dining facilities, and will have access to the seminary library, chapel services, and fitness room.

The dates for the 2016 Cohort are September 19-23. Applications are received electronically and the link is found in the brochure, below. They will be reviewed as they are received and the application process will close when the available spaces are filled or not later than late spring 2016.

For additional information about Guthrie and the Scholars program, including the application link, please see the complete brochure posted on the seminary website: Guthrie Scholar Brochure.

For more information, contact

Sarah Erickson
404-687-4526

Two SeaPres Churches Certified as Earth Care Congregations

Newport PC and Wedgwood PC are certified as Earth Care Congregations by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Environmental Ministries through February 2017.

Rebecca Barnes, Associate for Environmental Ministries, PC(USA), says this honor speaks to the great commitment that these congregations have to caring for God’s earth.

To become an Earth Care Congregation, these churches affirmed the Earth Care Pledge to integrate environmental practices and thinking into all facets of their church life. They also completed projects and activities in the fields of worship, education, facilities, and outreach.

The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that have made the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden.

The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by PC(USA) Environmental Ministries.  The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of church life.  The Earth Care Congregation certification honors churches that made that commitment, and encourages others to follow their lead.

For more information on the earth care program at the churches, please use the contact information provided below:

• Newport Presbyterian Church: Holly Hallman at hhhallman@gmail.com.
• Wedgwood Presbyterian Church: Jennifer Houston at jennifer@wedgpres.org.

For more information on the Earth Care Congregations program, go to www.pcusa.org/earth-care-congregations.

"Fab Five" Pastors Lead Worship at Newport PC

(Pastors from left to right in the picture:  Jim Patten, Gary Schwab, Dennis Hughes, David Yeaworth, David Meekhof)

Newport Presbyterian Church recently had the delight of having all five of its head of staff pastors lead in worship:

David Meekhof (1959-1969)

David Yeaworth (1970-1981)

Dennis Hughes (1982-1989)

Gary Schwab (1991-2002)

Jim Patten (2004-2014)

Many members, past and present, enjoyed a time of meaningful worship and great reunion.

A picture of the “Fab Five” (above) and brief bios linked here.

Minds and Hearts Set on Christ

The Whitworth University Office of Church Engagement invites you to join a grant-funded preaching cohort. Pastors are invited into a year-long process of:

• Renewing our spirits - “Rekindling my love for the lover of my soul”
• Relating in our communities - Pastor cohorts and congregations
• Refining our craft - “Mind and Heart” preaching and teaching of God’s Word

Cohorts will gather at the Whitworth Institute of Ministry (see more below). For more information email the OCE at oce@whitworth.edu. 

Link to promotional flyer.

Invitation to Cohort Participants.

Information for Cohort Leaders.

10 Fascinating Facts about Pastor and Church Staff Compensation

Thom Rainer, the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, recently wrote on his blog about 10 trends he identified from our 2016-2017 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff. Three of his observations stood out in particular:

1. Fewer than two-thirds of lead pastors receive health insurance as a benefit.
2. One half of all pastors did not receive a raise in the past year.
3. Churches in mainline denominations tend to offer higher compensation to their pastors and staff than do churches in other denominations.

You can read his entire list in his post, which he permitted Christianity Today to reprint over on ManagingYourChurch.com (excerpt below). 

Thom Rainer

By almost any metric, pastors and church staff are not overpaid.

While some ministry leaders provide sensational exceptions to this rule, we need to dispel the myth of highly-compensated pastors and church staff.

I have in my hands one of the best statistical resources for ministry in the world. I am deeply grateful for the years of work of Richard Hammar, especially his latest statistical tome: 2016-2017 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff.

This incredible volume belongs in every church. I have distilled some of the facts from the nearly 400-page book:

Read more.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle Presbytery Assumes ‘Original Jurisdiction’ of First Presbyterian Church of Seattle

Contact:  Executive Presbyter, Rev. Scott Lumsden

scott@seattlepresbytery.org

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (February 17, 2016) – After thoroughly investigating allegations of mismanagement, disorder and denominational irregularities within the leadership of First Presbyterian Church of Seattle (FPCS), the Presbytery of Seattle, acting through an Administrative Commission, has assumed original jurisdiction of FPCS effective February 16, 2016 with the hope of preserving FPCS’s historic legacy of ministry in downtown Seattle.

Seattle’s Executive Presbyter, Rev. Scott Lumsden says, “This decision was certainly not arrived at lightly, but after much prayer, input and serious deliberation.”

This action was required under the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the bylaws of the church as the former FPCS leadership repeatedly:

• Failed to follow the constitution and its own procedures;
• Failed to be truthful and forthcoming with its own congregation, ministry partners and the Seattle Presbytery; and
• Failed to wisely manage the affairs of the church.

Furthermore, both former co-pastors renounced their Presbyterian ordination, leaving FPCS with no pastoral leadership.  

As such, effective immediately the Administrative Commission has assumed the role of Session (the governing body within Presbyterian churches), has appointed an interim pastor and will provide for worship, pastoral care and assist in the ministries of the congregation.

FPCS was organized in 1869 by a pastor who arrived by wagon train and canoe, and started with seven people. By 1940 it had grown to 8000 members, the largest Presbyterian Church in the world.  In recent years, membership has dwindled and currently fewer than 100 people worship on Sunday. It is the Seattle Presbytery’s sincere hope to help restore this urban church’s historic ministry in downtown Seattle.

# # #

Call for Special Meeting on March 1 Rescinded

Because the presbytery has received no word of any overtures coming to it from sessions and because recommendations to concur with overtures from other presbyteries can be addressed in a timely manner at the regular meeting of presbytery on April 19, the call for a special meeting on March 1 is rescinded. If commissioners know of sessions that are planning to present an overture to the presbytery, please notify the clerk as soon as possible.

Next stated meeting: April 19 @ North Point Church, Poulsbo. 

One Great Hour of Sharing Resources

We are so glad to have such a wide range of offerings materials to support your One Great Hour of Sharing promotion activities. But we also know it can be difficult to scroll through the several pages to find it all. Here are our most popular resources for 2016: 

Click here for resources.

Visiting Italian Pastor

Currently visiting Seattle through an exchange program of the American Waldensian Society is Rev. Peter Ciaccio.  Peter, an Italian Methodist pastor, serves a Waldensian congregation in Palermo (Sicily).  He is also a film critic and has written several books, most recently "The Gospel According to Star Wars."   Peter is available to speak to groups large and small about the protestant Churches of Italy, and about the Waldensian church in particular, with whom the PC(USA) has a long-standing partnership.  You can reach him via phone at 206.427-5191, or though Madrona Grace Presbyterian Church where he is being hosted.