STATED ASSEMBLY | August 21, 2021

The Assembly business included the election of new committee members for the Leadership Council, TE Jacqueline Brovold; and for COM, RE Eilean Clark.  The newly elected 225th General Assembly Commissioners are: TE Fred Powell-Haig, RE Barbara Hassall, and RE Debi Davis (alt).  The Rev. Martha “Missy” Shiverick was honorably retired after 40 years of ministry.  Members at Riviera PC shared some fond memories of Rev. Shiverick ministry among them, and GPSC Daris Bultena thanked her for serving on the Leadership Council as chair since 2017.

The Stated Clerk report included that there are 40 congregations still needing to complete the 2021 records review of the 2020 minutes.  He announced that the 2022 Presbytery Assembly dates will be February 5th, May 21st, August 20th, and November 12th – the format will be determined as we get close for each.  The two announcements included the 2021 Pastors Convocation via Zoom, which featured Tod Bolsinger’s Tempered Resilience.  The second announcement was a new lunch and learn webinar for pastors, called Creative Arts Based Self Care Approaches for Pastoral Leadership, on September 21 & 28 and October 5 & 15; led by Jeannelle Benek, MA, HPMT, MT-BC, a master’s level board-certified music therapist, and Ella Dufrene, MPS, ATR, a master’s level art therapist and yoga instructor will be facilitators.

Daris also reviewed that the Clarity of Identity Part One (2019) theme was: “Now We See in a Mirror Dimly – Looking Back, Looking Now, Looking Forward.”  Clarity of Identity Part Two (2021) theme is: “Faith, Hope, and Love Abide – Building Faith, Deepening Hope, and Abiding Love.  Leaders and congregations were invited to name their vision and values; and to evaluate the Vibrant Together workplan.  All were encouraged to use “The Compass of Prayer” as the shared spiritual practice of prayer as we did in 2019.

Geoff McLean, Associate General Presbyter (AGP), was pleased to announce the 2022 Coral Gables Fund (CGF) Vibrant Together Grant Request for Proposals. Vibrant Together Grants are intended to assist congregations as they seek to embrace and employ the principles of Vibrancy as outlined in the Presbytery’s map for ministry. Grants support new ministries or augment existing ministries that support this work. Grants are not intended to supplement congregational budgets for ordinary or ongoing expenses.  The Proposal Submission deadline is October 22, at 5:00 pm. For more information, contact gmclean@vibrantpresbytery.org.

MINUTES
Session Minute Review Forms
Clarity of Identity Conversations
Vibrant Together Grant Info

STATED ASSEMBLY | May 22, 2021

The morning started with some lite business, which included taking a poll on where to have the November Assembly.  Since it is not clear what and when post pandemic will arrive, the numbers where split in half between in-person or zoom.  The Rev. Fred Powell-Haig was approved to move from Transitional to Called and Installed Pastor at The Community Church at Lauderdale by the Sea.  Inquirer Tricia Young was approved to be Candidate Under Care.  Our ministry partners were: Rev. Joyce Lieberman (Synod Executive & Stated Clerk of the South Atlantic), Kathy Broyard (Director of Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network), Dianna Wright (Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Inter-Relations, PCUSA), and Clark Simmons (Senior Consultant, Board of Pensions).

GPSC Daris Bultena led the conversation on Reconciliation as part of the Vibrant Together curriculum.  We were invited to discuss the working definition of Racism as: “Racism is a socially constructed system where some people are advantaged, and others are disadvantaged, merely because of their skin color, ethnic identity or their ancestral background.  Racism is failure to abide by the commandment to love your neighbor and a denial that all are made in the image of God.”  We also discussed the importance of anti-racism training will be for our Presbytery.  We concluded that the training: “Is a commitment to engage in deliberate learning about systemic racism, building consciousness and awareness of how we all have personal racial bias, and examining what it means to be faithful disciples in a culture of systemic racism.”

Moderator Barbara Hassall and Vice Moderator Valdir Franca lead in Pentecost worship which correlated with our Reconciliation conversation.

MINUTES
Policy for Converting a Transitional Pastor to a Called/Installed Pastor  (COM Tab)
Board Of Pensions Update
2021 Minister Salary Report

STATED ASSEMBLY | February 6, 2021

The first Presbytery Assembly of the year is always a joyous one as we installed our new moderator, Elder Barbara Hassall.  Rev. Dr. David Massey was given thanks for his service as the 2020 Moderator.  Rev. Dr. Valdir de Franca was also introduced as our Moderator Elect.  Ms. Jennifer Rohrich was enrolled as a Candidate for Ministry of Word and Sacrament.  Associate General Presbyter, Geoff McLean lead worship with the theme of Reconciliation.  GPSC Bultena presented the topic of Reconciliation as the last of the Vibrant Together topics.  He talked about the theology of Reconciliation based on the Confession of 1967, including: God’s work through Jesus Christ, the sin of humanity, and the New Life.  He went on to talk of the Ministry of Reconciliation and how it works in the mission of the church.  He also announced that there will be a five-week Congregational Lenten Study that can be used during Lent or after Easter, as each congregation chooses.

MINUTES
Session Minute Review Forms
Statistical Reporting
Earth Care Task Force
2020 Necrology Report
Payment Protection Plan 1 & 2
Vibrant Together Reconciliation Bible Study
Tuesday Together