[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” custom_width_px=”750px” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_button url_new_window=”off” button_alignment=”right” background_layout=”dark” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#e09900″ button_letter_spacing=”0″ button_use_icon=”default” button_icon_placement=”right” button_on_hover=”on” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_url=”http:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?page_id=3027″ button_text=”Return to Reflections” button_text_size=”14″ button_border_color=”#e09900″ \/][et_pb_post_title title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”below” parallax_effect=”off” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”left” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” text_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.9)” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parallax=”off” \/][et_pb_divider color=”#ffffff” show_divider=”off” divider_style=”solid” divider_position=”top” hide_on_mobile=”on” height=”4″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” \/][et_pb_text text_orientation=”justified” use_border_color=”off” max_width=”750px” header_font=”|on|||” header_font_size=”66px” header_line_height=”1.7em” _builder_version=”3.7″]<\/p>\n
It\u2019s September, and we are looking forward to our Presbytery meeting on September 15th<\/sup> at Calvary Presbyterian Church in South Pasadena.\u00a0 As I have mentioned, this meeting will be a great celebration of ministry\u2014the ministry of several of our churches as they are calling new pastors, the ministry of our presbytery as we receive new members, and of course the ministry of these servants of the Lord as they come into the San Gabriel Presbytery family.\u00a0 The planning team for the meeting has worked hard to design the docket to be efficient and creative, so that there is enough time for the Presbytery to ask questions of the potential new members, and movement between subjects to keep your interest.\u00a0 We are trying to keep the other business as streamlined as possible\u2014in fact, Lt. Daniel Menza from the Navy, whom I mentioned in an earlier column, had a slight conflict in timing, so he will be coming in November rather than September.\u00a0 We have managed the docket so that we still expect to end the meeting by lunchtime, and welcome all to stay for lunch to welcome our new members in a more relaxed manner.\u00a0 We expect to send the Presbytery packets out later this week.<\/p>\n Recently, the attendance at Presbytery meetings has been quite low, and this has raised some concern on the part of Presbytery leadership and staff.\u00a0 While I expect we will have more people in attendance because of church members coming in support of their pastor, we have wondered how to encourage more participation from our ruling and teaching elder commissioners.\u00a0 We are also aware that several Presbytery members have expressed a desire to develop better relationships within the Presbytery, and we continue to consider new ways to facilitate that.\u00a0 We are hoping to be more proactive in welcoming especially these new members of Presbytery, as some of our newer members have mentioned that they still feel detached from the Presbytery.<\/p>\n The Bible gives many accounts of how Jesus encounters people, and ways that they welcomed him, for good or for bad.\u00a0 Sometimes crowds greeted him like a rock star.\u00a0 Often he is seen eating with friends and strangers, church leaders and outcasts.\u00a0 On several occasions, he is observed by church leaders with a critical eye.\u00a0 On the occasion referenced in John 1:46, Jesus was just beginning his ministry, and he approached Philip, who then invited Nathanael to come meet Jesus.\u00a0 And, like many of us, Nathanael made a preliminary judgment on the new minister based on his background, yet he was open enough to give the new guy a chance.<\/p>\n How do we give these new folks a chance?\u00a0 I hope we will have some time at the meeting to share ways that our congregations welcome new members and new pastors. \u00a0For pastors, we now have different ways by which a new pastor comes to a church, and this has caused some confusion.\u00a0 Most congregation members often assume that the pastor is called by the church and the church alone.\u00a0 With installed pastors, the congregation votes, and with temporary pastors, the session approves and presents the pastor.\u00a0 But it is the presbytery\u2019s responsibility to establish and dissolve pastoral relationships, and to be \u201cPastor, Counselor, and Advisor to Its Pastors and Congregations.\u201d\u00a0 So we often need to explain to church leaders that the pastoral covenant is like a three-legged stool, requiring the concurrence of church, pastor, and presbytery.<\/p>\n So we as a presbytery have the responsibility to authorize the pastoral leaders of our churches, to welcome the pastors as members of presbytery, and to support and encourage the healthy relationship between pastor and congregation (as well as care for the church during times of pastoral transition).\u00a0 We leave it to the congregational leaders to plan for welcoming their new pastor, and I always ask the church to take great initiative in receiving the new pastor and their family.\u00a0 I believe that how a pastor is first received into the church can set a tone for the whole pastorate, and a pastor\u2019s first call can set a tone for their whole ministry.\u00a0 Of course God can make anything happen as God wills it, but I want church leaders to fulfill their very important role in establishing a mutually caring and respectful ministry partnership.<\/p>\n And we as a presbytery have an important role in welcoming new members to the presbytery family.\u00a0 Several new ideas are being considered to help them get to know the presbytery.\u00a0 But as far as I know, any relationship needs time and energy to flourish, so I encourage you all to attend presbytery meetings, to make an effort to talk with others you don\u2019t know, and to come to ordination and installation services.\u00a0 There will be several ordinations and installations scheduled this fall, and each represents a milestone in the life of the pastor and the congregation.\u00a0 As they are services of the presbytery, I hope all of us can attend these times of celebration for our pastors and our churches.<\/p>\n We at San Gabriel have been striving to plan meetings where we worship God, learn from each other and guests, and act as discerning leaders for the responsibilities entrusted to us for this place.\u00a0 In 2019, we are suggesting that two Presbytery meetings be held on Tuesday evenings, in order to address scheduling conflicts on Saturday mornings.\u00a0 I ask that you give us your feedback and ideas for building relationships and increasing Presbytery participation.\u00a0 You are the Presbytery, and without you we are lacking in the wisdom and grace that God intends for us.<\/p>\n I hope to see you on the 15th<\/sup>.\u00a0 And blessings on the pastors and churches as we welcome each other into new chapters of ministry.<\/p>\n Peace, <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”off” hide_prev=”off” hide_next=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nathanael said to Philip, \u201cCan anything good come out of Nazareth?\u201d\u00a0 Philip said to him, \u201cCome and see.\u201d John 1:46 It\u2019s September, and we are looking forward to our Presbytery meeting on September 15th at Calvary Presbyterian Church in South Pasadena.\u00a0 As I have mentioned, this meeting will be a great celebration of ministry\u2014the ministry 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\nWendy<\/p>\n