Category Archives: Presbytery

What Happened at POV Assembly 9/13/14

September 13, 2014

Gradye Parsons, the Stated Clerk of General Assembly, was our guest at the Assembly and the preacher for the opening of the meeting. Gradye spoke in his warm and winsome manner focusing on the ways in which we can truly know and be known to each other. It was a great sermon.

Dedication of the Micah Center—Our host church (Dale Presbyterian) has just finished the construction of an expansion of the Church building to house and more significantly serve the needs of the Dale community. This church is an outward focused mission oriented group. The assembly was part of an entire weekend of work to dedicate this new ministry and focus.

Presentation of the Commissioners to the 221st General Assembly was offered. Alan Finnan gave a verbal report and Phil Newton presented his information in written form due to a schedule conflict.

The Olivet Administrative Commission reported. The legal issue with the Olivet Presbyterian Church has been settled. The Commission was dissolved with the gratitude of the Presbytery. The details of this settlement will be available online. There was no absolute resolution of some issues.

Various Committees reported on their work.

A Refinement of Presbytery Structure was adopted along with revised bylaws. This has been the result of much work on the part of a task group. Committees have been somewhat redefined and formed in such a way as to offer more responsibility and accountability.

Susan McGhee is initiating her 6th year as our Presbytery Executive.

L. Jackman, Stated Clerk

Opportunity to Meet Fellow Presbyterians in Southern Indiana

The Mount Lebanon Church of Henryville, IN would like to invite all Presbytery of Ohio Valley members to a Presbytery Heritage and Field Day at the Englishton Park Retreat Center on August 10, 2014.

The event will take place from Noon-2:00pm, eastern time.

  • 12:00pm – Pitch-in Lunch and Fellowship
  • 1:00pm – Introduction of congregations, presentation about Englishton Park, celebration and recognition of pastors (ministers) who are retiring or answering a call to another church.
  • 1:30 – Games, hiking or biking on the trails, etc.
  • Clean up to follow.

Mt. Lebanon Church will provide the meat dish with catering from Leroy’s Restaurant in Lexington; All attendees are asked to bring a covered dish and a 2-liter.

Please RSVP to Clare Burkhart (cburkhart@cwgo.com).

Englishton Park Retreat Center
Rawson Center
2425 S. English Drive
Lexington, IN  47138

Proposed Design for the Presbytery of Ohio Valley

The Design Team thanks everyone for the comments, questions and suggestions raised at the June 10 Presbytery Assembly. As we reported that day, we will present a revised proposal and engage in conversation in two locations:

  • July 19: First Presbyterian, Seymour
    (1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Eastern Time)
  • July 21: Indiana Presbyterian, Vincennes
    (1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Eastern Time)

The same presentation will be made in both locations. No pre-registration is required.

What Happened At Assembly—June 10, 2014

Worship—As always, our meetings start and end in worship.  In the middle we fill the space that is worship too.  This meeting Kevin Fleming was our preacher.  Kevin is the pastor at First Church in Evansville.  His message was heavily focused on mission/stewardship/good witness already in place in our midst and the call to greet the future.  The celebration of Communion at the close of service was led by Murray Thompson who will soon retire as the pastor at Bloomfield.

Design Team Report—The Presbytery structure was adopted approximately 5 years ago.  It has served us well in some respects, but was a sweeping concept when initiated.  Some parts of that structure have worked, some have never really been fully implemented and some have faced challenges in accomplishing  goals.  There is, currently, a “Design Team” in place that is seeking to adjust and tune our current structure into a more functional tool for mission.

That team brought an initial report to Assembly including a bylaw revision that would more adequately support the mission of “what we want to be” as a Presbytery.  A more complete design will come to us in our December meeting.

CRE Dick Poff – Dick was re-commissioned as the Commissioned Ruling Elder Pastor at Spencer Bethany.  In two tours of service at Bethany, Dick will now enter his 11th year with the congregation.

Next Meeting—Our next meeting, September 13, will be in Dale.  We will help dedicate the new work at Dale in the Micah Center.  The Stated Clerk of General Assembly,  Grayde Parsons, will preach for us at that service.

Minimum Salary Recommendation— The Committee on Ministry report included a preview of minimum salary changes—the compensation will be an increase of 1 ½ percent taking the number to $44,856 when no manse is provided.  There is also, as has been published widely a   1 ½ % charge for dependent coverage for dependent family members that will be an additional item of need for clergy calls.

Other Committees—The Assembly also heard reports from the POV Academy,  The Mission Partnership Workgroup, PYOCA, Staff Reports and the shared information of the “Good News from the Pews”.

2014 Trip to Bethlehem

Travel to Bethlehem and stay at the Guesthouse of the International Center of Bethlehem October 21 – 30, 2014

Trip Itinerary:

  • Tue Oct 21: Depart USA Overnight flight to Tel Aviv.
  • Wed Oct 22: (TelAviv/Bethlehem) Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, meet your guide and transfer to Lutheran Guesthouse at the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB)All overnights will be at the Guesthouse.(meals in flight,D)
  • Thur Oct 23: (Bethlehem) Visit Dar al-Kalima Academy and Health and Wellness Center, an outgrowth of ICB, for the health and development of Bethlehem-area people, Christians and Muslims alike. Visit Deheishe Refugee Camp and Shepherds? Field. (B,D)
  • Fri Oct 24: (Jerusalem/ Bethlehem) Green Oive Tours will take you to a settlement and the Separation Wall, helping in understanding the impact of this action. Savor the Mt. of Olives, the Garden of Gesemane, the church of all Nations. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.(B,D)
  • Sat Oct 25: (Galilee/ Bethlehem) Travel to Galilee and enjoy a boatride on the Sea of Galilee. Visit the ancient Synagogue and St. Peter?s house at Capernaum. Stop at the Jordan River enroute back to Bethlehem.(B,D)
  • Sun Oct 26: (Bethlehem) Start the day with worship (in Arabic) at Christmas Lutheran Church, and join Rev.Dr. Mitri Raheb and the congregation for fellowship following the service. Walking tour of Bethlehem and Church of the Nativity, built over the cave-stable where tradition says Jesus was born. (B,D)
  • Mon Oct 27: (Jerusalem/Bethlehem) Tour the Old City, starting at the Western Wall; followed by the Temple Mount and the Golden Dome of the Rock. Walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit the Garden Tomb. Enjoy free time. Return to Bethlehem (B,D)
  • Tues Oct 28: (Bethlehem) A volunteer work project at Dar al Kalima Academy or College. (B,D)
  • Wed Oct 29: (Bethlehem) The day is for your leisure in exploring Bethlehem and the work of the International Center of Bethlehem. No guide or motorcoach today. Farewell dinner at the Guesthouse B,D)
  • Thur Oct 30: Return to USA Early morning transfer for flight to USA. (B,Meals in-flight)

code: B-breakfast D-dinner

  1. Travel dates October 21-30, 2014
  2. Trip cost includes airfare from Indianapolis (other cities available), luggage handling, housing, meals, transfers, guides $3499.00
  3. The Partnership of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley (POV) and the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB) includes travel opportunities.
  4. Local Host: Brad Napier, Pastor at pastorbrad@btownpres.org or 812-528-0977 Full Brochure available from kpeer@gtd.org
  5. Trip arrangements are with Group Travel Directors- Kate Peer
  6. Sign up today Group G#141006 800-747-2255 e-mail: kpeer@gtd.org

The Presbytery of Ohio Valley(POV) Partnership with the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB) has been a work of the POV since August 2006. The Partnership provides scholarship dollars for students, funds for Dar al-Kalima College, used hearing aids to serve the 3000 audiology patients seen annually at the ICB Health and Wellness Center, travel and education, daily prayer and support for the Churches for Middle East Peace. The ICB is committed to education, health care,intercultural dialog and promoting the building of civil
society. The work is directed by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb.

Individuals, 12 congregations two foundations and the Presbytery have given dollars and have sent 10 shipments of used hearing aids for the ICB Health and Wellness Center. The POV has hosted three staff members of the ICB and made 92 formal presentations. Travel to Bethlehem and see this partnership at work. The place where Jesus was born blesses the world today.

This partnership is a work of Peacemaking. The ICB is an Extra Commitment Opportunity (ECO) of the Presbyterian Church USA. What a gift, when we hear news of Israel/Palestine, to know the good work being done and that we are part of that work. As Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb says, “We are not called to be spectators, but actors in shaping a new identity that
includes all peoples in this land and in God’s lands.”

June 10, 2014 Assembly

The next Assembly will take place at 10:00am (ET) on Tuesday, 6/10/2014 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, IN.

Registration will begin at 9:00am (ET).

The packet, driving directions, and the minutes from the March meeting will be available for download from the assembly web page after 4:00pm on May 29th.

Online registration for the Assembly is available now. Please let us know if you will be in attendance!

Edited 5/29/2014: The Assembly packet is now available for Download.