WHAT IS A PRESBYTERY?
A presbytery is a group of churches and ministers in a specific geographical area. Presbyterian ministers are not members of individual churches. Rather, they are members of a presbytery. Presbytery meetings include all of its minister members and an equal number of elders, at least one from each church in the presbytery. (Anne Meredith Wilson, “What Is a Presbytery?” Presbyterian Beliefs series, Series ed. Frank Hainer, (Louisville, Kentucky: Witherspoon Press, 1999)
Presbytery sizes vary. Wabash Valley Presbytery is comprised of 95 churches in the northwest 1/3 of the state of Indiana. About 2/3 of our congregations have fewer than 200 members.
What Does the Presbytery Do?
The presbytery exists “to nurture and support the churches within its boundaries, and for mission on the district level. The presbytery has the power and authority to organize new churches, or to unite, divide, or dissolve churches, and to coordinate various activities of its churches. Ministers are ordained, dismissed, installed, or disciplined by the presbytery. The presbytery also oversees people preparing for the ministry of Word and Sacrament. It also acts as a court in judicial matters.” In addition, it maintains a partnership with other governing bodies (synod, General Assembly), and elects Minister and Elder Commissioners to both the synod and the General Assembly. (Anne Meredith Wilson, “What Is a Presbytery?” Presbyterian Beliefs series, Series ed. Frank Hainer, (Louisville, Kentucky: Witherspoon Press, 1999)
What Can the Presbytery Do For Our Congregation?
(To contact someone concerning any of these issues, please click on the names in blue.)
Money Issues:
v We want to improve our financial situation.
v We want help designing a stewardship campaign.
v We have questions about the Presbytery’s financial health.
v We want to borrow money to build or remodel.
Ann Bingaman, Moderator, Budget and Finance Committee
Harold Gray, Treasurer
Doug Capper, Bookkeeper
Pastoral Issues:
v Our pastor is having difficulties.
v We want to dissolve a pastoral relationship.
v We are having problems finding a new pastor.
Rev. Bruce Hurley, Moderator, Committee on Ministry
Rev. David Smook, Pastor to Pastors
Theology and Worship Issues:
v We have questions about worship.
v We have questions about Reformed Theology.
Rev. Steve Braden, Moderator, Theology and Worship Committee
Pulpit Supply Needs:
v The pastor is sick/out of town/in the hospital, and we need someone to fill the pulpit
Please call the Presbytery office (574/223-5678 or 800/235-5376, Indiana Only) for a current Pulpit Supply List.
Christian Education Concerns:
v We have questions about Curriculum.
v We need help with teacher training.
v Our educator could benefit from talking to other educators.
Resource Center Questions:
v We would like to borrow videos and other materials for our CE programs, officer training, committee work, teacher training, etc.
v We would like to preview the new Sunday School curriculum
v We need help finding resources pertaining to a particular topic
Congregational Development/Redevelopment Questions:
v We need money to help us start a new style of worship.
v We want information about the demographics of our neighborhood.
Andrew Casper, Moderator, Church Development Ministry Team
Rev. Greg Albert, Interim Staff Resource
Evangelism Concerns:
v We want our church to grow.
v We need help starting an evangelism campaign.
v We need help understanding what evangelism is, and how we can do it better.
v We want to start advertising locally and need advice.
Rev. Stephen R. Smith, Moderator, Evangelism and Church Growth Committee
Geneva Center Questions:
v We have children and youth who want to come to camp.
v We have adults who want to volunteer.
v We have college students who are interested in being part of the Summer Staff.
v We want to schedule a retreat.
v We have money we want to donate to Geneva Center.
Paul Fogg, Associate Presbyter for Geneva Center
Mission Issues:
v We want help finding a mission to support.
v We need to learn more about local, national, and international mission needs.
v People in our church want to go on a mission trip.
v We have mission money to give away!
Rev. Steven Smith, Moderator, Mission and Interpretation Ministry Group
Peacemaking/Justice Issues:
v We want to learn more about peacemaking and justice issues in our denomination.
v We need resources for implementing a peacemaking/justice initiative,
v We want to raise the awareness of the need for peacemaking and justice activity in our church.
v We need suggestions of ways to use our share of the Peacemaking offering.
Rev. Connie Leininger, Moderator, Peace and Justice Ministry Group
Inquirer/Candidate Issues:
v One of our members in interested in becoming a minister.
v We have an Inquirer/Candidate under care who is having some difficulty.
v Why is it so difficult to become a minister?
Rev. Charles Compton, Moderator, Committee on Preparation for Ministry
Rev. S. Kim Leech, Stated Clerk
Presbytery Officers
Elder Ed Fabrici, Presbytery Moderator
Rev. Jamie Miller, Presbytery Vice-Moderator
Rev. S. Kim Leech, Stated Clerk
Rev. Kelly Furlong, Presbytery Council Moderator
Presbytery Staff
Rev. Sue Berry, General Presbyter Doug Capper, Bookkeeper
Rev. S. Kim Leech, Stated Clerk
Elder Harold Gray, Treasurer
Gladys Sargent, Office Manager
Shelly Gibson, Receptionist/Secretary
Geneva Center Staff
Shelly Ewing, Office Manager
Paul Fogg, Associate Presbyter for Geneva Center
Other Useful Contacts
Elder Pam Camren, Moderator, Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery
David Crittenden, Carol McDonald, Co-Executives
Susan Krummel, Stated Clerk