While the deadline for reporting results to the Stated Clerk is July 10 – one year from the adjournment of the 219th General Assembly, which sent them to the presbyteries, and the same day that amendments to the Book of Order go into effect – all the proposed amendments have already received approval from a majority of the presbyteries.

The Belhar Confession has also been approved by a majority of the presbyteries, but not the 2/3 majority required for a change to the Book of Confessions.

Amendment 10-1 (“nFOG”) is a revision and simplification of the Form of Government that divides the first part of the current Book of Order into two sections – Foundations of Presbyterian Polity (replacing the first four chapters) and Form of Government (replacing chapters 5-18).  The approval of nFOG affects the other amendments proposed to the Form of Government.

Amendment 10-A revises the ordination standard in G-6.0106b.  With changes in terminology consistent with nFOG (“governing body” becomes “council” and “office” becomes “ordered ministry”), the new paragraph will be G-2.0104b:

Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (F-1.02). The council responsible for ordination and/or installation (G-2.0402; G-2.0607; G-3.0306) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of ordered ministry. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Councils shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.

Amendment 10-B adds language about the removal of a clerk at G-3.0104 and G-3.0110.

Amendment 10-C, requiring all councils to have a sexual misconduct policy, adds language to G-3.0106.

Amendment 10-D would have changed the membership of presbytery and synod nominating committees, but is superseded by the more flexible requirement in nFOG G-3.0111.  Councils will be free to establish their own policies, and might choose the current requirement, the pattern in 10-D, or another that meets local needs “in conformity with the church’s commitment to unity in diversity.”

Amendment 10-E adds language about presbytery registers for Commissioned Ruling Elders and Certified Christian Educators at G-3.0104.

Amendment 10-F, concerning presbytery participation by Certified Christian Educators, adds language at G-2.1103b.

Amendment 10-G, on the functions of synods, is largely consistent with nFOG G-3.0404 and will add language there.

Amendment 10-H, on General Assembly nominations process, is superseded by nFOG G-3.0109 and G-3.0111.

The rest of the amendments are to the Directory for Worship and the Rules of Discipline, which have not been changed by nFOG.

Amendment 10-I adds to the ordination and installation questions in W-4.4000 a mutual commitment to prayer.

Amendment 10-J clarifies procedures for a stay of enforcement, and reduces the deadline for entering a stay from 45 to 30 days after the action being complained against.

Amendment 10-K makes the dismissal of a case automatic when no challenge is made to the determination by a Permanent Judicial Commission moderator and clerk that one or more of the preliminary questions would not allow a case to proceed.

Amendment 10-L clarifies the role of an investigating committee in preventing repetitive allegations against an individual – an important protection against harrassment by disciplinary process.

Amendment 10-M extends the time limit for filing charges from three to five years after the commission of an alleged offense.

Amendment 10-N removes the ability of a prosecuting committee to appeal a not-guilty verdict, restoring D-13.0102 and D-13.0106 to pre-2005 wording and eliminating double jeopardy.

Amendment 10-O also addressed the problems with appealing a not-guilty verdict, and has become moot with the approval of 10-N.

The Covenant Network rejoices in the affirmation of the 219th General Assembly (2010) of an ordination requirement that is faithful to Reformed theology and Presbyterian polity, calls candidates for ordained office to the highest of standards – joyful submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ - and mandates rigorous examinations, without unwarranted focus on sexuality to the exclusion of other aspects of life and character.

What happens if the presbyteries approve both Amendment 10-A, the new text proposed to replace the current G-6.0106b, and an entirely new Form of Government?

The question is being raised because the revised Form of Government sent to the presbyteries by the 219th General Assembly (2010) retains the current wording of G-6.0106b, the highly contentious paragraph about ordination standards.

Concerned that the project of revising the Form of Government not be derailed by particularly controversial issues, the 217th General Assembly (2006) mandated that the Task Force drafting the revised “FOG” not consider any changes to G-6.0106b, or to the property trust clause currently found at G-8.0201.   The FOG revision and the amendment to G-6.0106b were each considered and approved by the 219th GA on its own merits, and each will take effect if ratified by at least 87 of the 173 presbyteries.

According to the Office of the General Assembly, “If the new Form of Government is approved by a majority of the presbyteries and Amendment 10-A is also approved by a majority of the presbyteries, the new language of G-6.0106b will become the language in the new Form of Government at G-2.0104b.”

G-2.0104b in the revised FOG is slightly different from the current G-6.0106b, consistent with the terminology being used for ordained offices in the revision:

Those who are called to ordered ministry in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, ruling elders, or teaching elders.

Amendment 10-A would replace the above paragraph, or G-6.0106b in the current FOG, with this:

Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.

The Covenant Network Board supports both the amendment to G-6.0106b, and the Form of Government revision.

More information about the revised FOG, including the entire text and resources for study, has been posted here.

Progress at the 219^th General Assembly

As Covenant Networkers return home from an intense ten days in Minneapolis, we can reflect gratefully on the good work on many fronts of commissioners to the 219^th General Assembly.  As our Board Statement celebrates, this G.A.

• Sent to the presbyteries a revised ordination standard that focuses on candidates’ discipleship, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the call, rather than on a single, disputed behavioral standard
• Upheld the wisdom of the past two G.A.’s in approving the historic Presbyterian practice of entertaining “departures” on any matter in considering individual candidates
• Declined to reinstate obsolete statements about “unrepentant homosexual practice” that were removed by the 2008 G.A.
• Invited the whole church into discussions of Christian marriage, civil unions, and the changing face of families in our church
• Directed the Board of Pensions to provide equal benefits to same-gender partners of PC(USA) employees and to these couples’ children.

In addition, we are glad that commissioners (as we had recommended) adopted the reports of three unanimous Special Committees.   They authorized the current Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism to continue working with the Reformed Church of America and the Christian Reformed Church in North America to review a new translation to be presented to the 2012 G.A. And they sent to presbyteries for their discussion and votes proposals to

• Add the Belhar Confession to the Book of Confessions, and
• Adopt a considerably revised, substantially shorter Form of Government.

The G.A. also firmly rejected proposals to form non-geographic synods or presbyteries based on self-defined theological affinity (and declined to establish a fifth non-geographic Korean-language presbytery).

Of course, this G.A. did much more.   It adopted thoughtful policy statements and action plans on such wide-ranging topics as peace efforts in the Middle East, gun violence, and treatment of immigrants.  You can read a summary of all the crucial actions of the G.A. in a comprehensive Pastoral Letter from our elected PC(USA) officers.

Elder Cynthia Bolbach, former Moderator of National Capitol Presbytery and chair of the New Form of Government Task Force, was elected Moderator over five clergy candidates.  She and Vice Moderator Rev. Landon Whitsett of  Heartland Presbytery moderated the meeting with a sure but light touch.  While they will serve the entire church well, Cindy was forthright about her long-time support of a more graciously inclusive church.

In two sold-out events, Covenant Network welcomed supporters, commissioners, and friends.  Along with a lovely description of committed love, attorney Doug Nave  offered attendees at the Commissioner Convocation Dinner a reminder of core Presbyterian principles of mutual forbearance in non-essential matters in “That’s For Sure.” His talk was summarized well in the Presbyterian Layman.

Distinguished journalist and sociologist of religion Gustav Niebuhr urged respectful engagement across difference as a critical skill for the health of both our church and our country; his address to the Covenant Network G.A. Luncheon was entitled “Tolerance is a Floor, Not a Ceiling.” The Presbyterian News Service reported on the event. 

Covenant Network directors, members, and friends look forward to helping Presbyterians across the country consider the important amendments sent for their consideration, and beginning or continuing crucial conversations about faithful living in our church.

Committees of the General Assembly committees, meeting in Minneapolis, reported favorably on all business the Covenant Network recommended in our recent Board Statement and other recommendations.

The full General Assembly, now meeting all together in plenary session, has already passed the recommendations to add the Belhar Confession to the Book of Confessions, and to adopt a considerably revised New Form of Government.  Both of these actions will go to presbyteries for their discussion and vote.

The G.A. also authorized the current Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism to continue working with the Reformed Church of America and the Christian Reformed Church in North America to review a new translation to be presented to the 2012 G.A.

You can follow G.A. business “in real time” by video streaming at www.ga219.pcusa.org. Or read the status and action of any or all business items at www.pc-biz.org.

The G.A. will consider both ordination standards and same-gender marriage on Thursday, July 8.  Stay tuned!

Every item of business on the docket of the 219th General Assembly (2010) will affect the health and ministry of the PCUSA, and as such deserves careful and prayerful consideration by commissioners and advisory delegates.

The primary goals of the Covenant Network Board, concerning matters related to ordination and marriage, are expressed in the most recent Board Statement. In addition, the Board has reflected on several other issues before the GA and offers the following recommendations.

The Covenant Network continues to work and pray for a church that, in the best Reformed tradition, is open to new forms of faithfulness to Christ and strives to live out the “trust and love” that are necessary among the “fellowship of women and men with their children in voluntary covenanted relationship with one another and with God through Jesus Christ” (G-7.0103). When diverse committees or task forces, having fulfilled their charge to engage in study and discernment as mandated by previous General Assemblies, issue unanimous reports, their recommendations should be accorded a high level of respect as this General Assembly continues the task of discernment.
The Covenant Network Board is grateful to all committee members who have participated in this service to the PCUSA, and in particular commends the following reports for approval by the Assembly:

The Form of Government Task Force

o Previous General Assemblies have repeatedly affirmed the need to revise the current Form of Government to provide more flexibility for ministry in a wide variety of contexts. The FOG Task Force has unanimously proposed to the church a revision that divides that section of the Book of Order into two parts, “Foundations of Presbyterian Polity” and “Form of Government.” The Task Force was instructed that both G-6.0106b and the “trust clause” in G-8.0201 not be altered, so these remain; the proposal before the church does not promote any faction’s agenda. Instead, it is intended to shift the focus away from a regulatory approach toward an emphasis on broad constitutional principles undergirded by Reformed theology. Functions are mandated, and structures are to be determined largely by those who must make them work efficiently day-to-day.

The Special Committee on Correcting Translation Problems of the Heidelberg Catechism

o The 218th GA (2008) lifted up five specific issues with the translation of the Heidelberg Catechism now in the Book of Confessions. In their work together, the members of this Special Committee identified a number of other problems with our current English text, leading to their unanimous recommendation that they be allowed to continue their work, in cooperation with our ecumenical partners the Christian Reformed Church in North America and the Reformed Church of America. They intend to bring a recommendation for a new translation to the 220th GA (2012).

The Special Committee to Consider Amending the Confessional Documents of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to Include the Belhar Confession in the Book of Confessions

o The Belhar Confession, adopted in 1986 by the Dutch Reformed Mission Church of South Africa in response to the sins of racism and apartheid, would be the first document in the Book of Confessions from the global South, and is unanimously recommended by the Special Committee as an important resource for the multicultural church that the PCUSA is committed to be and become.

*****

The church is at its best when it listens to all voices in an attempt to discern together the voice of Christ, placing our trust in the Spirit to lead us. In keeping with the twin goals of inclusion and unity, the Covenant Network Board urges defeat of several overtures that would restrict Presbyterians’ ability to hear and engage with one another, particularly across differences, and have the effect of impeding faithful dialogue:

o Item 03-06 proposes to require a super-majority vote at GA and a supermajority of the presbyteries to amend the Book of Order, effectively giving a minority the ability to block any change.

o Item 03-07 would require a supermajority of the GA even to consider an overture “substantially the same” as one considered by the presbyteries during the previous four years, prohibiting some presbyteries’ concerns from being fully heard.

o Item 03-20 would limit the participation of Young Adult Advisory Delegates during plenary sessions of the General Assembly.

o Items 04-03 and 04-04 propose the formation of self-selecting, theologically uniform middle governing bodies, removing opportunities for Presbyterians reflecting the rich diversity of the Body of Christ to hear challenges to their preconceptions and increasing the likelihood that we will pursue our own ideas rather than the will of God.

Please pray for commissioners and advisory delegates, the Committee on Local Arrangements and all other volunteers who enable the GA to do its work, the servants of the church who are employed by General Assembly entities, and all who will gather in Minneapolis seeking to serve Jesus Christ!

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church members describe their congregation as a small neighborhood-centered church whose whole 100-member congregation is involved in leadership and pastoral care.  The church building is nestled in the thriving southside Minneapolis neighborhood just west of downtown.  The Bryn Mawr Neighborhood has developed from farmland in the mid 1800′s to a “garden suburb” when first established pre WWII.

A message on the church’s website says, “We take Jesus as our model for living, particularly in his embracing of all people, including the outcasts of his culture.  We seek to follow his model of inclusivity and valuing of all people.  Individual members have strong convictions about issues such as celebrating the ministries of our GLBT sisters and brothers, peacemaking, environmentalism, consumerism, and the economic differences that pervade our society.”

Bryn Mawr’s “Mission Possible Team” supports St. Anne’s Place, a homeless shelter in N. Minneapolis that provides housing for women and their children.  A unique outreach mission of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church is the Cedar Lake Seven Men’s Gospel Choir, which draws from the radio gospel music of the 40′s and 50′s and has entertained thousands of people since their formation in 1994.

Central Presbyterian Church,  St. Paul, Minnesota

Central is a downtown St Paul church with a growing membership that is excited to welcome the GA to the Twin Cities.  The church is on the National Register of Historic Places and on Wednesday, July 7, GA visitors will have an opportunity to visit Central on one of the historical tours – “Presbyterian Pioneers in St Paul”.  Founded in 1852, the current building was erected in the late 1800′s and has a history rich with notable speakers including former slave Booker T. Washington; three time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan; former President and Supreme Court Chief Justice William Taft and evangelist Billy Sunday.  In addition to welcoming GA commissioners and visitors who visit Central, the congregation will be joining the Sunday worship service at the convention center and individual church members will serve throughout the week in a variety of ways.

Central’s outreach to the downtown community includes year-round Wednesday lunch – great food, live music, good conversation – followed by a worship service of Scripture, hymns and prayer – a wonderful mid-week refreshment to many!

The Rev. David Colby is Central’s pastor and also serves as a Director on the Covenant Network Board.

House of Hope Presbyterian Church, St Paul, Minnesota

Another St Paul church listed on the National Historic Register, House of Hope was founded in 1849, named after a Dutch refuge in Connecticut and meant to be a shelter “to all who feel themselves as strangers in a strange land”. Individual congregation members will be serving in many areas for GA and continuing the tradition of welcome and hospitality on which this church was founded.

The House of Hope Choir School is one of the area’s finest and most unique children’s and youth choir programs. Open to all boys and girls of the entire Twin Cities community regardless of religious affiliation, the Choir School offers students of all ages, levels of musical experience, and walks of life an exceptional opportunity to sing, learn, and dine together in an engaging atmosphere that encourages excellence, character development, and spiritual growth.

House of Hope’s Pastor David Van Dyke currently serves as Co-Moderator of Covenant Network.

Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Paul, Minnesota

Their logo is a cityscape with church steeple, a rainbow that grows from left to right and over all a cross.   Their passion is for social justice and faith-based action.   Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church is home to about 160 members who carry on the tradition of the “rainbow coalition” begun at Dayton Avenue in the 60′s, a ministry that today operates a free clothing outlet; sponsored a 175-unit housing facility for low income families; supports refugees; contributes to a ‘food shelf.

During the upcoming General Assembly, two members of Dayton Avenue will be recognized for service and commitment to ministry.  The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship will honor Dayton Avenue member, Mel Duncan, at its breakfast on Wednesday, July 7, with the Peaceseeker Award for 2010.  Mel is the co-founder of Nonviolent Peace Force, an unarmed, professional civilian peacekeeping force that is invited to work in conflict zones worldwide.

A second Dayton Avenue member, Elona Street-Stewart, will receive a Woman of Faith Award given by the General Assembly Mission Council at the Woman of Faith Breakfast on July 4.    Ms Street-Stewart is being honored for her many years of involvement from grass roots to national levels of involvement in social justice issues including racism, affirmative action, women and family issues and public policy.

St. Luke Presbyterian Church, Wayzata, Minnesota

St. Luke Presbyterian Church was founded in 1957 in Wayzata, a western suburb of Minneapolis that is rich in history from early settlement in the 1850′s and with Native American tribes before that.

St Luke has a long history of being deeply engaged in issues of peace, justice and healing change for the local, national, and world community.  They have supported the Sanctuary Movement of the 80′s and more recently voted to be a part of the “New Sanctuary” movement.  Over the years this congregation has sold Peace Bonds; opened a food co-op;  participated in ministry with the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and have ongoing support for the Native American focus group.  St Luke even has a sweat lodge on the church property that continues to be used to this day.  Currently the 360-member congregation is making plans to transform their 4.2 acres into a model of sustainability, producing both beauty and food to share.                  Their commitment to GLBT persons is also longstanding.  St. Luke is being awarded a More Light National Award at GA at the MLP National Celebration Dinner on Saturday, July 3.   Members of the St Luke congregation will be marching in the annual Gay Pride Parade the end of June.  The church maintains an expansive library of over 3500 books, video and audio-books, including many resources for  GLBT persons and their families.

The Association of Executive Presbyters (AEPS) is engaging in a prayer project in preparation for General Assembly:

As a reminder and stimulus for this call to prayer and reflection, there would be a daily e-mail blast written by a member of AEPS which would encourage and support our prayer and reflection. It might be a scripture with a short reflection, a poem, an account of some uplifting experience, a short story, a film review: the only rule would be that it not directly address the legislative matters and other hot button issues before the General Assembly. The intent is to open all of us to God’s mind and possibilities for the future witness of the PCUSA.

To pray along, keep this link to the AEPS website handy and visit each day.

Moving Toward Greater Faithfulness at the 219th General Assembly

A Statement by the Board of Directors of the
Covenant Network of Presbyterians

May 2010

The Covenant Network Board of Directors is deeply grateful that the church has discerned ways to live more faithfully together despite differences in recent years.  The Board has three primary goals as it looks toward the General Assembly in July:

         Resolving the urgent pastoral crisis faced by ministers and Sessions of congregations amid changing structures of family life.  Members of congregations in states where same-sex marriage has become legal are seeking to celebrate their marriages in the sight of God and the presence of their church community, with their pastor officiating.  Business Items 12-06, 12-08, and 12-09 helpfully urge the Assembly to affirm the rights and responsibilities that ministers and Sessions already have under the Constitution to provide pastoral care to these couples—care which may include performing legal marriage services and permitting them to take place on church property.  Other overtures (Items 12-02, 12-03, 12-04, 12-07, and 12-10) would revise the definition of marriage in the Constitution to make it more inclusive.  Still others (Items 18-01 and 18-06) would direct the Board of Pensions to provide benefits for all members of families of those its programs cover. All of these overtures address the changing conditions amid which the church is asked to demonstrate the love of Christ to and among its members. They deserve the Assembly’s priority attention.

         Preserving the actions of previous Assemblies to promote the peace, unity and purity of the Church. The last two Assemblies took actions that affirmed the historic right of presbyteries and Sessions to apply church-wide ordination standards as they were meant to be applied in Presbyterian tradition, with respect for conscience in non-essential matters.  These actions mark a path through ordination debates that offers freedom of conscience for all sides, respect for church-wide standards, and the opportunity for the church to grow in unity and love as it discerns the will of God and the teaching of Scripture.  The last General Assembly also removed 30-year-old statements that oppressed the conscience of many members. Business Items       06-04, 06-05, and 06-18 would turn back the clock, removing the gains of recent years and fundamentally impeding our life together. The Assembly should affirm the actions of the past two Assemblies, which we believe were guided by the Holy Spirit.

         Removing G-6.0106b. This was a founding goal of Covenant Network and remains its high priority. Covenant Network chapters and members were active in urging 21 presbyteries to send overtures to this Assembly.  While these overtures (Items 06-06, 06-07, 06-08, 06-09, 06-10, 06-12, 06-13, 06-14, 06-15, 06-16, and 06-17) use somewhat different language, all propose to replace G-6.0106b with statements that preserve high standards for officers but are better aligned with Reformed theology and practice of ordination.  As in the past, Covenant Network will work through the General Assembly’s process of discernment to bring about the full inclusion of all whom God calls to ordained leadership in the church.

Coming to Minneapolis for the 219th General Assembly (2010)? 

Start the week off well with the Covenant Network Commissioner Convocation Dinner, to be held Friday evening, July 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, near the Minneapolis Convention Center at 1200 Marquette Avenue.

Gather with other commissioners and observers to hear CovNet Director and legal expert Doug Nave reflect on the challenges before the Assembly, then share table fellowship and conversation about how to make a difference in the coming week, whatever your role at GA.   The commissioners who are standing for Moderator have been invited to introduce themselves.

You can purchase a ticket when you register online for GA;  here’s the form to use if you have already registered and wish simply to order a ticket.  Make sure you book your travel arrangements to arrive in time to attend!

Not able to come to General Assembly?

You can still participate by helping a commissioner make it to the dinner.  Tell the commissioners from your presbytery and other friends about this important event, and consider offering to purchase their ticket(s).   CovNet Program and Communications Coordinator Lou East  would love to hear from you if you’d like more information about this way to support our work at General Assembly.

Hope to see you in Minnesota; either way, keep praying for the 219th GA and for the whole PCUSA!

“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38)

Come to Minnesota for the 219^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and be sure to meet the hosts -  The Synod of Lakes and Prairies; the three presbyteries of Twin Cities Area, Northern Waters and Minnesota Valleys, including our  nine Covenant Network congregations.

The COLA (Committee on Local Arrangements) is hard at work under the leadership of CovNet member Manley Olson (North Como Presbyterian Church) who serves as co-chair.   Over 2000 volunteers are being organized throughout the three hosting presbyteries.  Our Covenant congregations are part of that organizing effort and we will be reporting on these congregations over the next few weeks.

North Como Presbyterian Church, Roseville

Roseville, Minnesota is a close suburb of St. Paul and members of North Como are looking forward to participation at General Assembly.    The church’s Session has agreed to relocate Sunday morning worship – July 4 – to the convention center. There will be many North Como singers in the mass choir which will be singing at the Opening Worship on Sunday, July 4 at 10 am, and a group sharing music at the closing worship on Saturday, July 10.   Signups at North Como for volunteer positions will also include communion servers.    Members Manley (Co-Chair) and Ann Olson (Recorder), Tanna Morse (Moderator’s Reception),  John Silliman (Departure Arrangements), Jennifer Anderson (Daily Worship), Sue Moseman (Moderators’ Reception) and Kate Wolfe-Jenson (Publicity) serve on the COLA.

North Como members also originated, sing in and support as an outreach ministry – The Global Harmony Community Chorus – an inter-faith, non-auditioned community chorus who most recently raised funds for Haiti earthquake victims and since its inception have raised well over $100,000 for global relief efforts.

Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Bloomington

A description on their website describes this congregation as “small enough to have a family feeling; large enough to make a difference.”  Members of Oak Grove will certainly make a difference to visitors coming for GA as they will be greeting at the airport and hotels, staffing the information booth at the convention center and helping participants with special needs. Bloomington is a large community conveniently connected to Minneapolis and home to the Mall of America.

Next month a sizeable team from Oak Grove will be meeting at the Mall to participate in the Race for the Cure.  In community ministry and support, Oak Grove members focus on the increasing diverse population of Bloomington including a tutoring program called Homework Connection and an established and sustained relationship with the local Muslim community through education and activities.

Valley Community Presbyterian Church, Golden Valley

Golden Valley is considered a “first ring” suburb of Minneapolis, about ten miles from the convention center.   Valley Community Presbyterian is a 500-member congregation that was founded in the 1950′s.    They will have a presence at GA in the special needs/resources booth.  This includes assistance to commissioners and visitors with locating emergency medical services, optical, pharmacy as well as help with mobility needs and info on handicap accessible restaurants in the convention center area.   Valley Community volunteers in the special needs/resources booth will also be handing out maps of all GA venues and headsets for those needing interpretive services.     Member Linda Wold (Co-chair of a Hospitality Committee)  serves on the COLA.

Valley Community’s congregation is a strong supporter of PRISM (People Responding in Social Ministry), a local service agency providing over 5,000 persons with food, clothing, financial assistance, transportation and other resources.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis

This downtown Minneapolis church is literally across the street from the convention center and will be a major hub of hospitality and respite for commissioners, visitors and volunteers  alike.   Starting off on Friday, July 2, Westminster will be hosting the Covenant Network dinner.  A Friday evening free concert open to all -  “Music of Minnesota” -  will feature CANTUS (who sang at our Conference there in 2008) and Monroe Crossing, a blue grass ensemble.   The ecumenical worship service on Wednesday, July 7, will also be held in Westminster’s sanctuary and each day (Monday – Friday, July 5 – 9) both the sanctuary and the chapel will be open in the afternoon for quiet time and prayer. During the week of  July 5 – 9, there will be a hot breakfast served in the church’s great hall and courtyard with walkup availability as long as provisions last.  Box lunches will also be prepared and may be reserved by going online to the GA registration website.  Members and pastors serving on the COLA include Rev. Tim Hart-Andersen (Opening Worship),  Rev. Meghan Gage-Finn (YAAD Event),  Rev. Margaret Thomas (Hospitality Committee Chair), Rev. Ed Martin (Airport Welcome), and Susan Dray (Website).

Of the many service projects undertaken by members of Westminster Church is one that has been going strong for over 100 years!  The social service sewing project members craft prayer shawls, blankets and other items.