PRESBYTERY OF CHICAGO ASSEMBLY MEETING SUMMARY
First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, 2/21/15
Even the polar vortex could not deter the Presbytery of Chicago from attending to the business of Christ and his church. The warm hospitality of the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston more than made up for the cold, biting winds of February.
The meeting began with national business of the PCUSA. Last summer, the General Assembly proposed six amendments to the Book of Order. Book of Order amendments have to be approved by a majority of all presbyteries in order to be adopted. Five of the six proposed amendments were approved as part of the omnibus motion, including one that required all councils to have a child protection policy and another that simplified the process of approving accommodations to the particular circumstances of a person seeking ordination as a teaching elder.
The Presbytery chose to discuss proposed amendment 14-F, which changes the definition of marriage in the Directory for Worship. After vigorous, respectful debate, the Presbytery of Chicago voted to affirm that “Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives.”
The General Assembly also proposed adding the Belhar Confession to the Book of Confessions. Chicago Presbytery spent time studying and discussing Belhar in preparation for voting in April.
The assembly approved the ordination of three new teaching elders: Kara Smith-Laubenstein, Elizabeth Nickerson, and Lora Burge. Kara will serve as temporary supply associate pastor at Libertyville, First; Elizabeth as designated associate pastor at Southminster, Arlington Heights; and Lora as a Chaplain Resident at Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare in Elmhurst.
The assembly also examined, approved and commissioned ruling elder Julio Peña as a Commissioned Local Pastor to the Spirit of Love Worshipping Fellowship in Chicago. Julio is a member of the Pullman Presbyterian Church, Chicago, and a former moderator of the Presbytery Assembly.
After lunch, Rev. John Azumah, an Associate Professor of World Christianity and Islam at Columbia Theological Seminary, preached on “Thy Kingdom Come.” Sonia Bodi, a ruling elder and member of Evanston, First was installed as the Presbytery moderator for 2015. Her theme for the year is based on the last of the Great Ends of the Church: “the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World.” (F-1.0304).
The transitions approved at the November meeting were also discussed. The Assembly thanked the Mission Priority Leadership Teams for their long years of service, and elected members to the new Transitional Mission Collaboration Team, to be moderated by Rev. Susan Finley; and the Transitional Congregational Vitality Team, to be moderated by Rev. Shawna Bowman. The
Presbytery Coordinating Commission has appointed the Presbytery Reorganization and Implementation Task Force, to be moderated by Rev. Cliff Lyda. The Assembly approved the proposed amendments to the Presbytery’s Manual of Operations that implement the transitional process. PCC shared the results of the Assembly Format Survey that was taken at the November Assembly meeting. All of the various changes that were implemented in 2014 were strongly approved.
Rev. Bob Reynolds, the Presbytery’s Executive Presbyter since 2000, announced his retirement, effective at the end of September. The Assembly acknowledged his retirement and wished him well. It authorized both the position of Transitional Executive Presbyter, and the election (by PCC) of a Transitional EP search committee. The search committee will prepare a job description and a timeline for approval at the April Assembly meeting.
The Assembly considered and approved a balanced budget for 2015. As part of that budget, the Assembly approved 3% raises for the Assembly’s support staff. It also considered and approved 2% raises for the Presbytery’s executive staff as well as an increase in their continuing education allowance and expenses. It also elected Barbara Bundick to her fifth two-year term as Stated Clerk.