EMerge: Monthly

A Publication of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area

Volume Three, Issue Twenty December 2009

Rockin’ at the November Presbytery Meeting

The House Band of The Table
provides music during wor-
ship at the November Pres-
bytery Meeting of the Pres-
bytery of the Twin Cities
Area. The Table is an alter-
native worshipping commu-
nity at Christ Presbyterian in
Edina that reaches out to
people in their 20s and 30s.
Presbyters were given a
taste of what worship is like
at this Sunday evening gath-
ering.

Photo by Dennis L. Sanders.

In this issue: 
Evangelism in the 21st Century  Thinking About Presbyfest 
   
Page 2 EMerge: Monthly

Note from the Editor

 
Page 3 EMerge: Monthly

In This Issue

Page Four: Highlights of the November 2009 Presbytery Meeting at Christ Presbyterian in Edina. 

Page Seven: Pastor Paul Moore shares his views on the cancellation of Presbyfest.

Page Nine: Volunteers are still needed for the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis.

Page Ten: Pastor Matt Johnson muses on what evangelism means.

Page Eleven: A Campus Pastor addresses the “hookup culture.”

Page Twelve: Ordination Anniversaries and Pastoral Changes. 

Page Thirteen: Presbyterian News Service Reports on recent rulings from the General 
Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission.

Page Fourteen: Presbybriefs.

Page Eighteen: Job Openings.

Page Nineteen: Events Calendar.
Page 4 EMerge: Monthly

Highlights of the November 2009 Presbytery Meeting

.By Dennis Sanders

On an unusually warm November day, 169 pastors, elders and visitors took
part in the Presbytery meeting at Christ Presbyterian in Edina on Tuesday,
November 10.
JoAnn Simser, speaking on behalf of the Presbytery Council, thanked the·
sessions of First Presbyterian Church, Maple Plain, and Laurel Presbyterian
Church, Hager City, Wisconsin, for hosting the Council meetings in Septem-
ber and October. Council will continue its program of meeting in the smaller
churches in the Presbytery, using the opportunity to meet with session mem-
bers informally to exchange how the two groups can work together in a
more connectional mode. Simser also reported briefly on the work of the
Synod of Lakes and Prairies, where she serves as a commissioner from this
Presbytery.
John Crosby, Senior Pastor at Christ
Presbyterian, gives the sermon during In her report to Presbytery, Stated Clerk Nancy Grittman shared the follow-
the worship service at The Table. ing information she received the week prior:
On November 3, 2009, I received, by UPS Next Day Air, a Deci-
sion and Order, in Remedial case 219-08, David Bierschwale,
  David Lenz, and Carol Shanholtzer, Appellants, v. Presbytery of
The Twin Cities Area, Appellee, decided by the Permanent Judicial
Commission of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.). This case originated as a result of the decision of the Pres-
bytery, in January, 2008, to restore Paul Capetz to the ordained
office of Ministry of Word and Sacrament. The final appeal to the
GAPJC was a result of the decision of Synod Permanent Judicial
Commission on May 11, 2009, which upheld the decision of the
Presbytery. However, at that trial, the SPJC excluded the public
from attendance. That decision became Specification of Error No.
1, at the GAPJC trial, held on Friday, October 30, 2009 in Indian-
apolis, IN. That specification was sustained by the GAPJC; the
SPJC was found to be in error.
Associate Pastor Paul Tshihamba of There were six additional specifications of error in the appeal from
Christ Presbyterian (left) and Pastor the appellants, and none were sustained.
Kara Root (right) of Lake Nokomis Pres-
byterian share their excitement during The decision of the SPJC is affirmed. The GAPJC found in favor of
the Presbytery and the decision to restore Paul Capetz is finally
the Table worship service.
upheld. This case is now closed and the papers and records are
filed. The Decision and Order will be spread upon the minutes of
this meeting of Presbytery, and an excerpt of those minutes contain-
ing this report will be transmitted to the Stated Clerk of the General
Assembly, as directed in the Order.

PTCA Treasurer Jim Payne reported that the presbytery is doing okay finan-
cially. Detailed reports for October at the Presbytery website.. This year was
the third year a balance sheet audit was completed, showing only minor
issues which have since been corrected.
Among the other highlights of this meeting included visitors from General
Assembly Meeting Service. Deb Davies and Kerry Rice spoke to the Presby-
Volume Three, Issue Twenty Page 5

Presbytery Meeting, Continued

tery about the upcoming preparations for the 219th General Assembly which will be
held in Minneapolis in July 2010.
Afterwards, Committee on Local Arrangements Co-Chairs Manley Olson, an elder at
North Como Presbyterian in Roseville and Sandra Hawley and elder at Ply-
mouth Presbyterian in Plymouth came forward with several volunteers urging the Presby-
tery to get involved in welcoming Presbyterians from around the nation to Minneapolis
for General Assembly and to consider coming to worship at the Convention Center
along with other Presbyterians on July 4, the second day of the General Assembly.
A discussion took place on the Third Great End of the Church: The Maintenance of Di-
vine Worship. Seated at tables, presbyters discussed what was going on in the congre-
gations concerning worship.
Worship at this Presbytery meet was a little different than it has been in past meet-
ings. Presbyters were able to get a taste of The Table, Christ Presbyterian’s alternative
worship community that meets on Sunday evenings. Christ’s sanctuary was transformed
into a dimly lit worship space. Tables were found in the chancel area. The Table’s
219th General Assembly 
house band played old and new songs for their Presbytery guests to give people a taste
of what to expect at a worship gathering of The Table.
Senior Pastor John Crosby preached a sermon explaining the ministry of The Table and When: July 3‐10, 2010 
the wider ministry of Christ Presbyterian focusing on how we can bring people to God’s  
table and not simply to church. He shared examples of how members in the community
Where: Minneapolis,MN 
have welcomed people by playing with an autistic child, helping a family whose wife is
stricken with cancer, and helping an undocumented family. The worship service ended  
with a celebration of the Lord’s supper. Theme: “Rivers of Living 
Water” (John 7:38) 
After dinner, the meeting resumed with Presbyfest Chair Cindy Ray coming forward to  
explain why Presbyfest 2009 was cancelled due to low registration. She explained that GA Wesbite: www.pcusa.org/
the committee would meet in the next few days to do a post mortem and also to create ga219/ 
an alternative event in order to bring the planned keynote speaker Cynthia Rigby to
Minnesota.
 
Volunteer Website: will be 
In other business, the Board of Trustees had one action to bring to Presbytery and that
was approval of a loan for Kwanzaa Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis to formally
available in late 2009. 
purchase the former Calvary Presbyterian Church property at 3700 Bryant in North Min-  
neapolis. The Presbytery approved the loan. Registration: Begins in March, 
Minister and Nominations Chair Betty Raitt brought several persons before the Presby- 2010. 
terty who were called to serve on various committees. The Presbytery approved the
following persons to serve:
CLEARWATER FOREST BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Chase Davies, elder, Shoreview, Church of the Way

 

SELF DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE COMMITTEE  

• Chair Karen Kennerly, minister, Honorably Retired

• Grace Muengai, elder, St. Paul, Dayton Avenue Presbyterian

Page 6 EMerge: Monthly

Presbytery Meeting, Continued

• Mauro Souza, minister, Columbia Heights, Church of All Na-
tions

• Avis Tilden, member, Burnsville, Church of the Apostles

COMMISSIONED LAY PASTOR COMMITTEE

• Leo Gelhoff, elder, Stillwater, First Presbyterian

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

• Thomas Phillips, elder, St. Louis Park, Peace Presbyterian

Raitt also stressed the importance of having commissioners going to the 219th
Several GA Volunteers came forward General Assembly. She urged those who are interested to fill out a nomina-
to show those who are working to wel- tion form and turn it in by December 3.
come fellow Presbyterians when GA- Mission and Witness had a presentation on the Eastside Children’s Summer
219 comes to Minneapolis in July Program, a program sponsored by Arlington Hills Presbyterian Church in St.
2010. Paul. Christian Educator, Sally Narr explained how the program got off the
ground and the invaluable work it has done on the Eastside of St. Paul.
The Presbytery also approved a new manual for those interested in becoming
Commissioned Lay Pastors. The manual is currently on the PTCA website.
The Committee on Ministry placed Robert Hamilton before the Presbytery for
consideration as the new pastor at First Presbyterian in Claremont, MN. He
was approved by the Presbytery. COM also placed before the people a pro-
posal to leave the Presbytery minimums for pastors at 2009 levels. This meas-
ure also passed. The minimums for 2010 are as follows:

• $46,900 (metro)

• $41,985 (non-metro).
The next Presbytery meeting will be on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Presby-
terian Church of the Way in Shoreview.
Stated Clerk Nancy Grittman contributed to this report.
The sanctuary of Christ Presbyterian is
transformed for the Table worship ser-
vice.
Page 7 EMerge: Monthly

On the Presbyfest Cancellation

By Paul Moore
Editor’s Note: The following was written by Paul Moore , organizing pastor of
Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church in Lino Lakes, MN in response to the can-
cellation of Presbyfest. Presbyfest was to have taken place on November 14
at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. It was written on his blog
on November 13.

Last week I received an E-mail saying that Presbyfest was cancelled due to
Ca low registrations. Presbyfest is a bi-annual lay leadership event put on by the
nc Presbytery I serve—the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area.

ell Presbyfest is one of my favorite events that our Presbytery does. I enjoy it
ed because it is one of the few local, lay leadership training events that brings
Presbyterians together. I’ve participated in Presbyfest almost every time it’s
been offered; I always try to bring a group of people from the church I serve
to Presbyfest; I’ve been a workshop leader for Presbyfest in the past and was
scheduled to be a workshop leader this year.

Last December I was asked to serve on the Presbyfest leadership team. I was
grateful to be asked, but I declined the offer. I’ve decided to curtail signifi-
cantly my Presbytery involvement for three years. I figure that being the Orga-
nizing Pastor of a Presbyterian Church qualifies as significant Presbytery ser-
vice.
“My hope for our Presbytery
is we can enter into a learn- As a leader, I am an incurable optimist. When events happen I always look
at the bright side and usually spin them from a positive perspective. However,
ing phase about Presbyfest. I try to balance my own positive outlook with the facts. Sometimes the facts
What has the cancellation don’t lead to a positive and upbeat outlook. I remember earlier this fall at
Chain of Lakes when we had 12 people attend our second Alpha session
of Presbyfest caused us to after 38 attended the Alpha Celebration Dinner. I was disappointed—and
learn? How will these con- diplomatically shared my disappointment with our Emerging Community.

clusions change the Presby- I’m very disappointed that Presbyfest was cancelled.
tery’s programming and the
My intent is not to point fingers or enter into the blame game. I know many of
way we program in the fu- the people who serve on the Presbyfest leadership team, and I know that they
ture? “ are effective leaders.

One element of an effective organization is to be a learning organization. In

his book, “The Fifth Discipline,” Peter Senge wrote the book about learning
organizations. I didn’t read the entire book, but I strive to implement the prac-
tices of a learning organization at Chain of Lakes After every significant event
we do I try to ask the question, “what have we learned from this event?” After
our second Alpha event our worship team at Chain of Lakes came to the con-
clusion that we at Chain of Lakes weren’t as far along in developing the faith
habits of our people as we thought we were. We changed the original plan
-Paul Moore. that we had for the start of worship. Instead of starting with a big Grand
Opening worship service, we decided to start worshipping ourselves on Sun-
day mornings. We put off our Grand Opening service until January. I think
this plan is better than the original one. I can’t say I’m thankful that we had
such a low turnout for our second Alpha event, but I am thankful that we were
Page 8 EMerge: Monthly

Presbyfest, Continued
able to learn from it and develop a stronger plan for our new church.
School - Church Bus My hope for our Presbytery is we can enter into a learning phase about Presbyfest. What has
Free to Good Home the cancellation of Presbyfest caused us to learn? How will these conclusions change the Pres-
bytery’s programming and the way we program in the future?

It’s bad enough to have to endure the cancellation of Presbyfest; it would be even worse if we
don’t learn and grow and become more effective as a Presbytery.

ABC to televise special on people with disabilities

By Melissa Dixon president of the New York Board of Rabbis;

School - Church Bus Bishop Peggy Johnson of the United Methodist
NEW YORK — Making faith communities Church; Ingrid Mattson, President of the Is-
more accessible to persons with disabilities is lamic Society of North America; the Rev. Bill
• 88,000 miles the topic of an interfaith documentary that will Gaventa, director of community and congre-
air on ABC-TV affiliates nationwide beginning gational support at The Boggs Center on De-
• 1989 Chevrolet Bus December 6. velopmental Disabilities of the Robert Wood
Bluebird body, Johnson Medical School.
Model SBCV2909 A Place for All: Faith and Community for Per-
sons with Disabilities is presented by the Inter- Others interviewed include the Rev. Bill Bixby,
• 40 passenger, 2x2 faith Broadcasting Commission (IBC), a coali- director of youth ministry for the Evangelical
Seating tion of Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Orthodox Lutheran Church in America; Imam Mohamed
and Catholic faith groups — including the Magid, executive director for the All Dulles
• Starts Good, Runs Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — as part of Area Muslim Society; and Rabbi Robert Le-
Good, is in good op- ABC’s 2009 Vision and Values series. vine, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Rodeph
erating condition The issue addressed by the program is criti- Sholom, New York.
cal, says the Rev. Michael Kinnamon, Gen-
• Meets MN Commer- eral Secretary of the National Council of The documentary also features Rabbi Darby
cial Vehicle Safety Churches, as it is estimated that 1 out of 5 Leigh, spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai
Requirements Americans has a disability, In the documen- Keshet in New Jersey and one of the handful
tary, Kinnamon notes that both the faith com- of deaf rabbis in the world; members of the
• Interested churches munity and the persons with disabilities lose ELCA’s DAYLE program where Definitely
inquire 612 670-3886 when special needs aren’t properly ad- Abled Youth gather at the 40,000 strong
or myers- dressed. triennial Evangelical Lutheran youth gather-
ing; Pastor Beth Lockard of Christ the King
[email protected]
“There’s no substitute for face-to-face faith Deaf Church; and Brandon Kaplan, a se-
interaction,” Kinnamon reminds viewers, not- verely disabled boy with limited sight and
ing that of all the organizations in society speech who recently had the privilege of be-
faith groups should be at the forefront of fa- coming a Bar Mitzvah.
cilitating the full participation of those with
disabilities in every aspect of community life. The documentary is produced by Debra Gon-
Other faith leaders featured in the program sher Vinik. Check local listings for telecast
are Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice date and time in your area. A trailer can be
Page 9 EMerge: Monthly

Your Skills Are Needed!

By Paul Sanders • Departure Arrangements – John Silliman, North
th
Como
Planning for the 219 General Assembly is gaining momen-
tum. GA is meeting July 3-10, 2010 at the Minneapolis Media & Communications Committee – Margo
Convention Center and we expect 8,000 people to attend Abramson, Christ Presbyterian
some part of it. The presbyteries of Northern Waters and • GA Welcome Presentation
Minnesota Valleys are joining with us as hosts. To plan and • Press Relations – Sandy Sweep, Church of the
carry out such an event will require many willing workers. Apostles
The Committee on Local Arrangements (COLA) has organ-
• Church & Governing Body Communications
ized into five major committees and 22 work groups.
• Website – Susan Dray, Westminster & Vince
Gin, Hudson
We are now at the place where we need folks to fill out
these committees and work groups. We hope you will be • Information Center – Stephanie Anthony, Hud-
one of them. To volunteer, please contact COLA Executive son
Coordinator Paula Sanders, 612-839-7465,
Volunteer Committee – Jack Hougen, Hope
[email protected]. Here is a listing of committees,
workgroups and their leaders: • Volunteer Recruitment & Training – Lisa Meyer,
White Bear Lake; Deborah Isabelle, Kwanzaa
Worship Committee – Ann Foote, Plymouth
• Volunteer Hospitality – Mary Anne Bennett,
• Opening Worship – Alika Galloway, Kwan- Church of the Apostles
zaa; Tim Hart-Andersen, Westminster
• Congregational Contacts – Cindy Ray, Presby-
• Daily Worship – Barbara Anne Keely, United
terian Homes
Theological Seminary
• Liturgical Space – Ward Sessing, Presbyterian
Church of the Way Paula Sanders is the Executive Coordinator for the Commit-
• Prayer Chapel – Rebecca Fletcher, White Bear tee on Local Arrangements for the 219the General Assem-
Lake bly.
Special Events Committee
• Moderator’s Reception – Holly Holmes & Sue Christmas
Payne, Plymouth
• YAAD Event – Meghan Gage-Finn, Westmin-
Open
ster House
• Mission & Cultural Tours – Caroline Wanga,
Kwanzaa
• Gift Project – Ann Rock & Jane Hallman, Pres- You are all in-
byterian Women vited to attend
Hospitality Committee – Margaret Thomas, West- the 2nd An-
minster nual Christmas Open House at the Pres-
• Airport Welcome – Ed Martin, Westminster bytery of the Twin Cities Area offices on
• Hotel Welcome – Barb Day & Sue December 15 from 2-4pm. Please feel free
Goodspeed, Lake Nokomis to stop by and say hello!
• Convention Center – Meg Newswanger, Ma-
ple Plain
• Special Guests – Bill Young, Frontier Fellow- We are located at 122 W. Franklin Ave.
ship Suite 508 in Minneapolis.
• Special Needs – Linda Wold & Joanne Shin-
gledecker, Presbyterian Church of the Way
Page 10 EMerge: Monthly

What Does Evangelism Look Like Now?

By Matt Johnson gospel, a “ticket-to-heaven” gospel. Those who
receive that partial gospel often reject it (and
The following is the pastor’s column written
rightly so), or accept it but are then malformed
by Matt Johnson, pastor of Aldrich Avenue
in their faith.
Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. It has
been adapted for Presbytery use. “Malformed” might seem like a strong word. But
the true picture of salvation in Christ leads us to
It’s no longer shocking for us to hear that
reject all other relationships and sources of se-
our world is changing. Finances, technol-
curity, accept our place in the body of Christ
ogy, food production techniques, news/
(Christian community), and reorient our whole
information, politics—all these things are in
lives so we can join in the mission of God to
a constant state of flux. Big deal, right?
bring blessing to the whole world. Without
God is the same yesterday, today, and
those pieces, a person doesn’t really know what
forever. Yet in the midst of rapid cultural
they’re signing up for.
change, we’re entering a point in history
where the Church’s approach to evangel- As a result, people who haven’t grown up with
ism is also in need of change. We are the church need to see us being the church in
compelled to embody the eternal truth of our everyday lives. They must witness the story
God’s Good News today, which means of Jesus in our actions before they will care
asking the question, “What does faithful about the story of Jesus in our words. When
evangelism look like now?” they will not come to our worship services and
“We are compelled to programs (no matter how high-tech or thought-
Consider the fact that there are literally
ful) we must create space in our lives to meet
embody the eternal millions and millions of people in North
them and be with them in the normal rhythms of
America who are growing up without the
truth of God’s Good experience of Christian worship and the
life. May God so empower us to be his mission-
ary people in our own back-yards, schools,
News today, which story of Scripture that once could be taken
sidewalks, and work-places.
for granted. How can congregations in the
means asking the Twin Cities area build meaningful relation-
question,‘What does ships with these people whom God loves?
For those who have become adults without
faithful evangelism such experience, most evangelistic
look like now?’” “techniques” simply fall flat.
One point that I think is particularly impor-
tant is that these techniques can actually
do damage. Here’s how: In my high-school
and college years, I was taught evangelis-
tic techniques that explained the process of
justification (the mechanics of salvation by
faith). I was taught how to explain the vari-
ous parts of a statement like, "If you be-
lieve in Jesus and accept him in your heart,
then God will forgive you of every wrong
thing you have done because Jesus died
on the cross and absorbed all the wrong-
-Rev. Matt Johnson. doing into himself.” Sounds good enough,
right? But from a big-picture perspective
this statement misses a huge piece of the
gospel. In the interest of keeping faith and
works in their proper order, it emphasizes
“being saved,” and de-emphasizes the life
of faith in Christ. I consider this a partial
Page 11 EMerge: Monthly

Why College ministry should address 'hookup culture'

By Duane Sweep discussion.

The topic of sex may be popular among stu- In February 2010 Chalice Press will publish a
dents on college campuses, but it isn’t necessar- book, co-edited by Godsey and the Rev. Lara
ily a topic found in collegiate ministry settings. Blackwood Pickrel, titled “Oh God! Oh God!
Oh God!: Young Adults Speak out about Sexu-
But the Rev. Heather Godsey believes the topics
ality and Christian Spirituality.”
of sex, sexuality and spirituality need to be a
part of collegiate ministry. The publisher’s promotional material notes that
the book “addresses issues of love, sexuality
Godsey spoke in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Nov. 10 at
and embodiment from the perspectives of
the Synod of Lakes and Prairies’ second Colle-
young adults who work for or are involved with
giate Ministries Conference, “Making Connec-
the church.” The book, according to the pub-
tions in Times of Change.”
lisher, also examines the “history of the church’s
An ordained minister in the Christian Church struggle with human sexuality from a fresh per-
“You go to the club (Disciples of Christ) and a program director for spective.”
and get very, very the Wesley Foundation at the University of Ten-
Godsey provided several keys to opening the
nessee, Knoxville, Godsey said the results of
drunk. That way you discussion of human sexuality and Christian
college life and its “hookup culture” make the
spirituality.
don’t have to claim need for discussions of sex and sexuality all the
more great. She said, “Jesus was a body – not only divinity
responsibility...a re- but humanity too.” And she pointed out that
The “hookup culture” involves more than having
lationship with this “bodies are created good; the shame came
connections to get tickets to the best show in
with the fall.” Godsey, too, said there is
person.” town. The “hookup culture” is one of casual sex
“sexuality in all God created. It is a part of
or sex used to gain advantage, Godsey said.
what God has given us.”
“You go to the club and get very, very drunk.
Using the Latin phrase Imago Dei, the concept
That way you don’t have to claim responsibil-
that human beings are created God’s image,
ity,” she said, and the subsequent sexual en-
Godsey said, “If I have to look at you as a child
counter doesn’t amount to “a relationship with
of God, I’m less likely to use you.”
this person.”
In the forthcoming book, Godsey’s essay,
Speaking of her own college experience, God-
“Hook up Jesus: Spirituality and Collegiate
sey said, “Oh, my God, I lived that.”
Sexuality,” the relevance of being created in
By her senior year Godsey suffered from de- the image of God, sexuality in God’s creation,
pression and agoraphobia. She wanted to re- and Jesus’ humanity are “anchor points from
move herself from all social situations. “I de- which to begin building a Christian collegiate
cided I was just going to write my papers and sexual ethic that can successfully repudiate
apply to graduate school,” she said. hookup culture without forcing students into an
untenable purity paradigm.”
She had been using the “hookup culture” to
provide a sense of “power” to her on campus. Duane Sweep is the Associate for Communica-
-Rev. Heather What she later learned in seminary was that tions of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and is
her “use of power was a cry for intimacy” that a member of Presbyterian Church of the Apos-
Godsey speaking the “hookup culture” didn’t provide. tles in Burnsville.
at the Collegiate Failure to make sexuality a part of the spiritual-
Ministries Confer- ity discussion in campus ministry can inhibit the
development of relationship skills among col-
ence for Synod of lege students, she said.
Lakes and Prai- “We don’t necessarily address these issues as a
ries. Christian community,” Godsey said. However,
she’s doing her best to be a springboard for the
Page 12 EMerge: Monthly

Transitions: Notes About PTCA Pastors

• William Day (12/02/04))
• Jean Daugherty (12/03/82)
• Joy Smith (12/05/93)
• Julie Mall (12/08/93)
• Thomas Watson (12/08/96)
• James Sanders (12/09/79)
• Aron W. Wilterding
(12/11/77)
• Kook Jin Nam (12/13/06)
• Stephen Muhia (12/16/98)
• Stanley Martin (12/26/93)
• Glenn Pozine (12/28/58)
December 2009
• Calvin Cooper (12/29/74)
• David Hopper (12/29/61)

cretia, as she deals with a recur- by the Presbytery to become the

Comings and Goings rence of cancer. next pastor of First Presbyterian
Church of Claremont, MN at the
• We remember Joe Kammel, a
• Please remember T. Ewen November 2009 Presbytery Meet-
Commissioned Lay Pastor at
Holmes, pastor of Plymouth ing.
Knox Presbyterian in Minneapolis
Presbyterian Church in Ply- who recently lost his father. • Bev Modlin, currently the pastor
mouth, whose father passed away of First Presbyterian Church in
in December after a long illness. • Heidi Vardeman, the Senior Pas-
Shakopee will also be the mod-
tor at Macalester Plymouth
• John Crosby, Senior Pastor of erator of session for Presbyterian
United Church in St. Paul is cur-
Christ Presbyterian in Edina re- Church of LeSeur.
rently on sabbatical in China.
cently celebrated his 20th year as
• We give thanks for the life of Don-
the pastor of the suburban congre- • Kim Goodman, a chaplain at
ald McNair, who died on Decem-
gation. United Hospital in St. Paul is part
ber 2 from complications of Parkin-
of a vocal group called InVocation
• Tom Forester-Smith is conclud- son’s Disease. He was 60. He
that will have its Advent Concerts
ing a sabbatical that took him to was most recently the pastor at
at two PTCA churches this month:
Europe and Africa. An Associate Aldrich Avenue Presbyterian in
First Presbyterian Church in
Pastor at House of Hope in St. Minneapolis. A memorial service
Hastings on December 5 and
Paul, Tom’s journeys included will be held on December 7.
Macalester Plymouth Church on
Croatia and South Africa. December 11. You can find out
• We remember Tim Held, Stated more about InVocation by going to
Supply at Warrendale Presbyte- www.invocationsingers.org.
rian in St. Paul and his wife, Lu- • Robert Hamilton was approved
Page 13 EMerge: Monthly

GAPJC issues technical rulings in closely-watched cases

by Jerry L. Van Marter
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) — the highest court in the church — has issued two technical rulings that leave
unresolved the extent to which conscientious objection to the church’s sexual conduct standards
may disqualify candidates for ordination.
The Nov. 2 rulings involve Lisa Larges, a lesbian candidate for the ministry in San Francisco Pres-
bytery, and the Rev. Paul Capetz, a gay theology professor in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities
Area who set aside his ordination in 2000 and then sought reinstatement in 2007.
The rulings effectively allow San Francisco Presbytery to proceed to examine Larges for possible
ordination and the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area to restore Capetz to ordained ministry in the
PC(USA).
Larges and Capetz both relied on an authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108a of the Book of
Paul Capetz. Order issued by the 2006 General Assembly. As part of its approval of the report from the Theo-
logical Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the church, the interpretation allows candidates
“If there is any ques- for ordination and installation as church officers to declare a “scruple” or conscientious objection
tion about Capetz’ to any provision of the church’s Constitution.
conduct, including It is then up to the ordaining body to determine whether the scruple is a sufficient enough depar-
whether he has led a ture from the essentials of the Reformed faith to be disqualifying.
life in obedience to Though it applies to any constitutional provision, the declaring of scruples has so far only been
Scripture and in com- utilized in objection to G-6.0106b, which requires of church officers “fidelity within the covenant
of marriage or chastity in singleness.”
pliance with the his-
toric confessional Larges, who has been a candidate for the ministry for more than 20 years, was certified by San
Francisco Presbytery as “ready for examination with a departure [scruple]” on Jan. 15, 2008 by
standards of the a vote of 167-151.
church...he, like any
Three minister members of the presbytery filed a remedial complaint with the Synod of the Pacific
other officer of the PJC, alleging that the presbytery’s actions and those of its Committee on Preparation for Ministry
church, may be held were improper. They sought to have the presbytery’s vote voided and Larges removed from the
accountable for his presbytery’s roll of candidates.
conduct under the The synod PJC agreed that the presbytery had erred by addressing the scruple prematurely —
Rules of Discipline.” during the certification for readiness rather than during a subsequent examination for ordination
— and voided the January 2008 vote. It refused to instruct the presbytery to remove Larges from
the roll of candidates.
The three San Francisco Presbytery complainants appealed that ruling, telling the court that “the
burning question to which the church needs a clear answer” is whether scrupling allows a presby-
tery to “waive” constitutional ordination standards.
The court didn’t address that question, instead affirming the synod PJC’s ruling that the proper
time for a presbytery to consider a scruple and whether it is disqualifying is during the examina-
tion for ordination, not during the CPM’s certification for readiness stage of the process.
The General Assem-
Larges is scheduled to be examined for ordination by San Francisco Presbytery on Nov.
bly Permanent Judi-
10.
cial Commission.
At that time, the court ruled, the presbytery is required “to determine whether the Candidate has
expressed an interpretation of Scripture that represents a serious departure from essentials of Re-
formed faith and polity, and if it determines that she has,
it must then decide whether the departure infringes on the Continued on Page 19
Page 14 EMerge: Monthly

Presbybriefs: News At A Glance

Achtemeier charts spiritual journey on homosexuality at Cove-

National Council of Churches Meets in Minnea-
nant Network gathering: Mark Achtemeier, a Presbyterian evangelical
polis: The annual General Assembly of the National
theological professor, shared his journey from seeing homosexuality as a “a
Council of Churches USA (NCC) and Church World
kind of destructive addiction” to a person that sees the Holy Spirit seeing the
Service (CWS) commenced Nov. 10 amid sober assess-
church move to “a new and better place,” at a recent gathering of the Cove-
ments of national and world conditions and calls for re-
nant Network of Presbyterians. You can read the entire story by going to:
newal of the churches’ historic commitment to unity.
http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09970.htm .
-Compiled by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies
Twenty-eight of the General Assembly’s 35 member com-
munions had registered delegations, said NCC President-
Faith in the future: The downturn in the national economy coupled with elect Peg Chemberlin, who will be installed Nov. 12 as
the collapse of the American auto industry has made the state of Michigan NCC president for a two-year term. Chemberlain is ex-
and economic disaster area. Flint, Michigan has been hard hit especially, ecutive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches.
with more and more jobs going away. First Presbyterian Church in Flint, has You can read the full story at http://www.pcusa.org/
found a way to be a faithful witness in Flint and bring hope in a town where pcnews/2009/09976.htm .
hope seems distant. You read it by going to: http://www.pcusa.org/
-Phil Jenks, NCC
pcnews/2009/09992.htm .
Presbyterian News Service
“For Such a Time as This:”In a proactive response to
Jin S. Kim Participates in Multicultural Ministry Institute: The
both the changing landscape of the Presbyterian Church
Erdman Center, Princeton Theological Seminary's Center of Continuing Edu-
(U.S.A.), in which half of the denomination's nearly
cation, in collaboration with The Hispanic Leadership Program, has slated the
11,000 congregations have 100 or fewer members, and
Institute for Multicultural Ministry Monday through Friday, Jan. 11-15. The
the challenge of calling leaders who will be effective in
Rev. Jin Kim, pastor of Church of All Nations in Columbia Heights, Minn.,
growing the church, the General Assembly Mission Coun-
will be one of the institute's leaders. Promotional material for the institute
cil has launched "For Such a Time as This," an innovative
states, " In a post-modern, post-ideological, post-denominational, multicultural
pastoral residency program designed to serve under-
age often marked by uprootedness and loss of meaning, how do we "do
served congregations and develop missional pas-
church" in a way that testifies to the reconciling gospel of Jesus Christ? In an
tors. Named for a reference from the book of Esther, the
individualistic culture that tends toward alienation and isolation, how do we
program seeks to pair small, underserved rural or urban
lead our congregations to become high-risk, low-anxiety churches, to lead
congregations with recent seminary graduates in a two-
God's people to confess who they are, to experience healing in intimate com-
year pastoral residency relationship. The complete story
munity, and to be a witness to the liberating power of the Spirit?" Details are
can be found at www.pcusa.org/pcnews/pressreleases/
available at the Institute for Multicultural Ministry (http://www3.ptsem.edu/
gamc09046.htm.
Offices/ConEd/index.aspx?id=2826) .
by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies
Compiled by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies
Oak Grove Presbyterian Honored: The Blooming-
ton, MN congregation will be honored on December 7
Project Overture: The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church with the 2009 Omar Bonderud Human Rights Award by
(U.S.A.) doesn't convene in Minneapolis until July 3, 2010. While this may the Bloomington City Council. In a letter of recommenda-
seem a long way off, ask anyone who has ever put together a large gather- tion by the city’s Human Rights Commission Oak Grove
ing and opening day sometimes seems a mere 10 minutes away. Along with was described as “an outstanding community organiza-
national level planning, there is also General Assembly planning at the local tion with a long history of working with community part-
level. This planning includes the development and submission of overtures to ners to improve the lives of the diverse residents of Bloom-
the General Assembly. Through a series of upcoming articles, Presbyterian ington.” Associate Pastor Dries Coetzee thanked the
News Service will track a selected overture from inception in a local govern- congregation for all their hard work. “I want to thank you
ing body (session or presbytery) to action on the floor of next summer's 219th for your support as you made this milestone happen for
General Assembly in Minneapolis. The complete story can be found at Oak Grove,” he wrote in the December church newslet-
www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09958.htm. ter. “As a church we are humbled by this award, as the
work we do is mostly collaborative in
Compiled by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies
Page 15 EMerge: Monthly

Presbybriefs: News At A Glance

nature and we are very thankful to all our partners in our pursuit of complete story can be found at http://www.pcusa.org/
justice and freedom for all. Congratulations to all members of Oak pcnews/2009/09975.htm.
Grove and thank you!
by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies
By Dennis Sanders, Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
Senior Presbyterian Chaplain Addresses Fort Hood
New Fire @ CAN: Young Adults from around the nation came to Tragedy: A top-ranking retired Presbyterian military chaplain
Minneapolis to take part in New Fire, an ecumenical initiative wrote earlier this month to the head of the Presbyterian Council on
started by the National Council of Churches. Nearly 40 person Chaplains and Military Personnel in the wake of the
took part in the event and many of the interns from Church of All horrific mass killings at Fort Hood, Texas, rejecting “the natural and
Nations Presbyterian Columbia Heights took part. The New Fire immediate response of retribution.” Instead, said
Participants worshipped at the multicultural congregation. The
Brigadier General (Ret.) Wayne H. Hoffman in his letter to PCCMP
meeting took place November 7-9 before the national meeting of
director, the Rev. Ed Brogan, “the challenge is to
the National Council of Churches in Minneapolis.
respond as shepherds of a flock that has been raided, wounded,
By Dennis Sanders, Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and some of them killed.” The complete story can be
found at www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09962.htm.
by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies
Stewardship Conferences in 2010: Two stewardship events
are scheduled for spring 2010 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Stewarship
Kaleidoscope Conference ( http:// MISSION EXPERIENCE:Meeting Our Sisters In
www.stewardshipkaleidoscope.org/) , is slated March 15-17 South Dakota
and will include numerous workshops on congregational steward-
ship. The other conference, the North American Conference on A group of Presbyterian
women will travel to South Da-
Christian Philanthropy (http://www.stewardshipresources.org),
kota in 2010 for a second USA
runs April 14-16. Speakers will include John Wimmer of the Lilly
Mission Experience. Partici-
Endowment and Una Olisi, director of research from the Indiana
pants will encounter chal-
University Center of Philanthropy.
lenges to God’s promise of a
by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies beloved community and wit-
ness to the faithful work being
Scholarships Available for First Year Students: The Na- done by our Native American
tional Presbyterian College Scholarship Program (http:// sisters.
www.pcusa.org/financialaid/programs/natpresbycollege.htm) ,
administered through Financial Aid for Studies, a ministry of the PW’s 2010 USA Mission Experience will provide the oppor-
Office of Vocation, offers need-based scholarship assistance to full- tunity to meet with Presbyterian sisters living on reserva-
time students entering their first year of college at one of the partici- tions in Sisseton, Flandreau, Chamberlain and Pine Ridge,
pating colleges related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Appli- South Dakota. We will hear their stories, learn more about
cants must be confirmed members of the PC(USA) and carry a 3.0 significant events in their history and build relationships.
cumulative high school grade point average. Applications for the Our journey will begin in Sioux Falls on September 9 and
2010-11 academic year are due Jan. 31. will end in Rapid City on September 16.
by Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies Cost for the trip is $1600. not including travel to and from
South Dakota. Each participant is responsible for her
costs, but it is hoped, synods, Presbyteries, congregations
FTE Fellowships Available: The Fund for Theological Education will offer financial assistance to their participants.
has announced that it will provide $1.5 million for the 2010-11
January 15, 2010, is the deadline for applicants to send
academic year to theological students across the United States and
applications to PW Synod moderators. More information
Canada who aspire to be pastoral leaders and professors. The
and applications will be available on the PW web site
fellowships support students who are preparing for pastoral minis-
(www.pcusa.org/pw).
try and doctoral students from underrepresented racial ethnic
groups who plan to teach religion, theology or biblical studies. The
-Heide Buettner, Roselyn Peterson Co-Moderators
Page 16 EMerge: Monthly

News from the Board of Pensions

By Doug Kelly
Communications Regarding Medical Plan Changes Con- Christmas Joy Offering Begins
tinue
The time of year has arrived when we begin to think about the
The modifications being made to the Medical Plan were first re- Advent and Christmas seasons and consider our donations to the
ported in the summer 2009 issue of The Board Bulletin. In addition Christmas Joy Offering. This offering provides a wonderful opportu-
to an email announcement, the Board has developed several com- nity for you to support the Assistance Program of the Board of Pen-
munication tools to help Plan members understand the changes: sions and Presbyterian-related racial ethnic education.
• Medical Plan Changes mailing You may provide your contribution through gifts to your congrega-
• 2010 Medical Plan at a Glance flyer tion’s offering or, if this is not convenient, you may give online. For
additional information about the Christmas Joy Offering, including
• Medical Plan Changes for Active Benefits Plan Mem-
an educational video, please visit the Presbyterian Church
bers e-learning module
(U.S.A.)’s Web site.
• Medicare Supplement Program Changes for Retired
Open Enrollment for Optional Dental and Supplemental
Benefits Plan Members e-learning module
Death Benefits
• Medical Plan Changes E-learning Modules Spotlight
This year’s open enrollment period for Optional Dental and Sup-
On article
plemental Death Benefits began on October 5 and will run through
The modifications to the Plan include:
November 20, 2009.
• Changes to deductibles and out-of-pocket costs There are no rate changes for either program for 2010. For pro-
(effective January 1, 2010) gram details, please visit the Optional Dental Program page and
the Supplemental Death Benefits Program page.
• A new health management service provider (effective
January 1, 2010) This year, Pensions.org will also serve as a central repository for
• Expanded coverage for children with congenital de- all of the required enrollment forms and information, so look for the
velopmental disabilities (effective January 1, 2010) materials online.

• An increase in the maximum lifetime benefit (effective Access to Your Benefits Information Online through
January 1, 2010) Benefits Connect

• Dependent coverage waiver option available Active and retired members and surviving spouses have access to
(effective October 1, 2009) Benefits Connect, the Board’s secure Web site that provides online
Details about these changes will continue to be emailed, mailed, access to their personal and Plan benefits information, as well as
and posted to Pensions.org over the coming months. If you have useful tools. To register, visit the Board’s Web site at Pensions.org
questions about the changes, please contact the Board at 800-773- and select “Register” under the Benefits Connect logo. If you have
7752 (800-PRESPLAN). questions, you may complete the Contact Us form or call us at 800-
773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).
Doug Kelly is the Regional Representative for the Board of Pen-
Attention Church Treasurers and Business Administra- sions. He can be reached by phone at (800) 511-0132 or by
tors: Salary Change Form to Come Online! email at [email protected].
We are pleased to announce that church treasurers and business
administrators will be able to submit their 2010 salary changes
online. This new feature will be accessible through Benefit Connect,
the Board’s secure benefits Web site. Once a church treasurer or
business administrator registers on Benefits Connect, he or she will
be granted access to this new feature. Changing or confirming
salaries will be completed through an easy-to-follow online process.
Church treasurers and business administrators will receive more
information in the coming months.
Page 17 EMerge: Monthly

Youth Triennium 2010

Give to the Christmas Joy Offering "For Such a Time

as This" is the
For decades, Presbyterians have long given an of- theme for the
fering at Christmas in celebration of God's love 2010 Youth Tri-
shown in the gift of Jesus. The offering supports ennium at Pur-
students at the church's historic racial ethnic due University,
schools who are listening for God's call, and the July 20-24, 2010.
Board of Pensions' assistance programs that meet You can go to
unexpected financial needs of those who have the Youth Trien-
spent their lives following that call. A new video, nium website
"What Child Is This," highlights this year's theme. (www.presbyterianyouthtriennium.org) to find out about this
The video and other free resources can be found at gathering of Presbyterian Youth and as well as how to pro-
the PC(USA) website by going to www.pcusa.org/ mote it in your congregation. Please share this with parents
cjoffering/. of teens and your youth leader!

Chain of Lakes Needs Chairs!

Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church, a new church development of

the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, is asking Presbyterian
churches in our Presbytery to consider purchasing one (or
more) chairs for the start of the regular worship services on Janu-
ary 31. Chain of Lakes is looking to buy 75 chairs for worship and
with your help, they can make their goal.

Would you consider purchasing chairs for Chain of Lake's

new worship space? The chairs cost $36.99. Please call 651-528-
7321 for details or send a check to Chain of Lakes’ office address:

Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church

6776 Lake Drive, Suite 225
Lino Lakes, MN 55014

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. As always, please also keep
the ministry and mission of Chain of Lakes Church in your prayers.
Page 18 EMerge: Monthly

Positions Available

For more information on the positions listed below, please go the PTCA website at http://
www.ptcaweb.org. 
• Accompanist, Chain of Lakes Presbyterian, Lino Lakes 

• Custodian, North Como Presbyterian, Roseville 

• Christian Education/Youth Coordinator, First Presbyterian Church, Red Wing 

• Choir Director, First Presbyterian Church, White Bear Lake 

• Director of Children's Ministries, First Presbyterian Church, White Bear Lake 

• Interim Pastor, Church of the Master Presbyterian Church, Coon Rapids 
•
• Pastor, Zion United Church of Christ, LeSeur 
Do you have a church staff position that needs to be filled?  Send in your job announcements to Dennis Sanders  at 
[email protected].  (Oh, and let us know when you fill the position, so we can remove it from the job 
listings.)

The following PTCA Congregations are have vacant pulpits according to the Committee on Ministry: 
 
• Korean Presbyterian Church of Minnesota, Brookyln Center– Associate Pastor 
• Buffalo Presbyterian Church, Buffalo– Pastor 
• Presbyterian Church of LeSeur, LeSeur– Pastor 
• First Presbyterian Church, Rochester– Pastor 
 
To find out about the status of these congregations, please contact the Committee on Ministry at 
[email protected].  
 
Page 19 EMerge: Monthly

Events Calendar
Job Support Group at Lake Nokomis: The South Old favorites will be sung — hymns, carols,
Minneapolis Job Networking Group meets at Lake No- Tchesnekoff, Rutter, Praetorius and Bach.
komis Presbyterian on Fridays at 9am for support, re-
The concert will also find brilliance in perhaps
sources and networking. For more information, please
less familiar places — the music of Hungary,
contact the congregation at (612) 721-4463.
Mexico, the Philippines, and (in the title piece)
Latvia:
Advent Worship at Lake Nokomis
Bring us fire, bring us light! Let God
Advent Quiet Thursdays, December 3rd & into your heart!
10th: A pocket of peace in the crazy Christmas season. Riding onward, clothed in silver, over
Sanctuary open from 6:30?9:00 pm for private reflec- the hillside God is come.
tion, with labyrinth, prayer stations, candles & calm. Admission is free, but a free will offering will
Brief prayer service at 7:15. benefit House of Charity. Refreshments provided
Do you have an after the concert.
Blue Christmas Service, December 17, 6:30
event you’d like pm: A worship service of solidarity,honesty and hope…
for those walking through the holidays with grief and
to publicize? Alternative Gift Giving Market at
loss. Sanctuary open following the service for private
Please send it to reflection until 9pm. Cherokee Park

Dennis Sanders at Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church Gifts Encircling the World: A Justice Oriented
1620 East 46th Street • South Minneapolis Holiday Market, Saturday, December 5, 2009
communications@ www.lakenokomispc.org • 612-721-4463 from 11am-3pm at Cherokee Park United
ptcaweb.org. Church in St. Paul.
Christmas Trees for sale at Valley Presbyterian Come shop for gifts that enrich the lives of peo-
The Minnesota council of Churches is inviting the public ple around the earth. Purchase fair-trade goods
to the closing event of the National Council of and items that promote peace and justice.
Churches/Church World Service General Assembly at
which the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, MCC executive director, Make donations to global-aid and eco-friendly
will be installed as the NCC's 25th president. The event organizations as holiday gifts for your friends
takes place Thursday, Nov. 12, with a banquet at 5 and family. Add to the meaning and impact of
p.m. in St. Louis Park, Minn., and worship at 7:30 p.m. your
at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove St., giving this year!
Minneapolis. Additional information is available at the
Returning organizations:
MCC Web site, www.mnchurches.org.
• 50 Lanterns Project • Common Hope
• Turkish Scarves Project • West Side Youth
Farm
“Bring Us Fire, Bring Us Light”
New organizations:
First Presbyterian Church, 602 Vermillion Street, Hast- • Pan Dau Hmong Handwork • Fry Bread Love
ings, MN proudly presents InVocation Singers for the • Friends of the Mississippi, BE YA GI (Fair
first of its Fourth Annual Christmas concert series, “Bring Trade
Us Fire, Bring Us Light,” Saturday December 6th at 7:00 Products) • I Love a Parade • Habitat for Hu-
p.m. manity
The music of this program sparkles; it glimmers; it shines; Please bring checks and cash. No credit card-
it glows. We’re exploring aspects of light this Christmas saccepted. Refreshments available at nominal
season, from the brilliant rays in the first Christmas sky to cost.
the beckoning twinkle of the Epiphany star, from the Cherokee Park is located at 371 W. Baker
sparkle of the moon on snow to the candlelit warmth of Street in St. Paul.
celebration.
Page 20 EMerge: Monthly

Events Calendar
  Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas
holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one,
  Help the Homeless Help Themselves facing life after divorce or separation, coping
with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some
Ending homelessness, one person at a time
  other disease that puts a question mark over the
Project Homeless Connect
future, and a number of other human situations
Monday, December 7, 2009, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
Office Hours @ (volunteers arrive 9:00 am)
make parties and joviality painful for many peo-
ple in our congregations and communities.
the Presbytery Minneapolis Convention Center
First Presbyterian Church in South St. Paul is
Office Project Homeless Connect is a one-stop shop model for
trying to provide a sensitivity and attentiveness to
delivering services to people experiencing homeless-
the needs of peoplewho are blue at Christmas
ness. Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis
bycreating a sacred space for members of the
are partnering with service providers, businesses, citi-
congregation and community who are living
zens, and faith communities to bring multiple resources
through dark times.
to one location where people can come to find the
services they need. These services include: housing At 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, the First
providers, employment specialists, medical care, men- South St. Paul will for a special worship service
tal health care, benefits specialists, eye care, haircuts,
designed around these themes. Often such ser-
transportation assistance, food and clothing. vices are held on the longest night of the year,
which falls on or about December 21, the Winter
About 2500 participants expected for this event, which
Solstice, to signify the long nights just before
means at least 1400 volunteers are needed to make
Monday-Friday: Christmas, and the struggle with darkness and
the day successful. Volunteers must be at least 18
8:30am-4:30pm grief faced by those living with loss. This service
years of age. Volunteers accompany guests as they
will be more reflective, accepting where we
make their way through the convention center seeking
really are, and holding out healing and hope.
the services they need. The hospitality provided to
each participant makes it a special day for volunteers First Presbyterian is located at 535 20th Avenue
and the homeless alike. North in South St. Paul. For more information,
please contact the church at 651-451-6223 or
[email protected].
Before the event, all volunteers attend a 90 minute fun
Roseville–Area Church Needs Volunteers
and interesting training program. You will understand
for Project Home
  the event and what you will be doing very clearly.
One of the trainings is at the Ridgedale Library on Dec Galilee Lutheran Church in Roseville, the second
  2 at 7:00 pm and there are a number of others. overflow shelter site for Project Home in
December, is a small congregation in dire need
Per Capita To get more information and to register to volunteer,
go to www.homelessconnectminneapolis.org . This
of volunteer help. To be precise, we still need 27
for 2010: website also has all the training times.
Evening Shift Volunteers and 36 Overnight
Volunteers! The Evening Shift at Galilee is from
General Assembly: Pastors’ Social Media Boot Camp 5:30pm to 8:30pm and the Overnight Shift is
$6.15 from 8pm to 7:30am (weekdays) and 9:30am
December 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Solomon’s Porch, 100
(weekends).
W 46th St., Minneapolis. The advent of social media
Synod: $4.80 has the ability to transform ministry. Social media vet-
Presbytery: $19.06 erans and pastors, Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones, will This beautiful little church located at 145
teach you the basics of blogging, Facebook and Twit- McCarrons Blvd. North in Roseville (on the NW
Total= ter, and introduce you to a powerful social media corner of Rice and McCarrons). Galilee

$30.01 browser called Flock. Cost: $95 (lunch included). For

more information and to register go to
Lutheran offers guests the privacy of their Sunday
School classrooms downstairs for sleeping and a
www.jopaproductions.com/events/bootcamp. wonderful play room/family room space upstairs.

Blue Christmas Service At South Saint Paul

Page 21 EMerge: Monthly

Capetz, Continued
rights and views of others or obstructs the constitutional governance of the church.”

For the second time, the GAPJC ruled that the Presbytery of Twin Cities Area did not err when it voted to
restore Capetz’ ordination in January 2008. A professor at United Theological Seminary in Minneapo-
Holiday Office lis, Capetz had set aside his ordination in 2000, four years after the PC(USA) added the commonly-
called “fidelity and chastity” provision to the Book of Order. But when scrupling was reinstituted in
Hours 2006, he sought restoration to ordained ministry, also declaring conscientious objection to G-6.0106b.
In a related March 2009 decision that affirmed the presbytery’s decision, the GAPJC also ruled that the
Synod of Lakes and Prairies PJC must conduct a trial to determine if the presbytery had in effect waived
an ordination requirement.

That trial was held on May 12, 2009, and the synod PJC ruled that the presbytery acted properly, add-
ing that it “took extraordinary care to make it clear that their decision applied only to the current expres-
sion of [Capetz’] departure and was not making policy or setting precedent….”
Capetz has repeatedly said he will not “take a vow of celibacy.” The GAPJC said that a remedial case
(alleging faulty process by governing bodies) is not the appropriate way to address an ordained per-
son’s alleged misconduct.

The “If there is any question about Capetz’ conduct, including whether he has led a life in obedience to
Presbytery Scripture and in compliance with the historic confessional standards of the church,” the court said, “he,
like any other officer of the church, may be held accountable for his conduct under the Rules of Disci-
Office will be pline.”
closed from
December Events, Continued
24, 2009 to In the Footsteps of Paul: Greece and Tur-
All volunteer shift openings at Galilee are at the key May 10-21, 2010
January 1, Presbytery website (www.ptcaweb.org) . If you
Rev. Deb Kielsmeier of Christ Presbyterian Church
can help on any of these days, please
2010. We will call June at (651) 253-0375 OR Christena at
invites you to join her on a pilgrimage to the bibli-
reopen on cal lands of Greece and Turkey. Hosted by New
(651) 785-8730 OR you can send an email to
Testament scholar, Dr. Steven Notley, this program
them at [email protected].
Monday, centers upon the outreach of the Gospel as it pene-
Workshop on Suicide and Suicide Preven- trated into the Greco-Roman world. The group will
January 4, tion retrace the ministry of the Apostles Paul and John
2010. looking at the historical, cultural and archaeological
The Disability Concerns Taskforce of the Presbytery settings that assist us to better appreciate their writ-
of the Twin Cities Area is sponsoring a half-day ings and the Early Church's cross-cultural ministry
event on suicide and the church’s response. Under into these lands. With the Bible as our guide and
the theme “Suicide and the Church’s Ministry” the the land as our classroom, our aim is to search the
workshop is designed to help church people answer Scriptures, break bread together and fellowship in
their questions about suicide, recognize warning travel. Join us for a remarkable pilgrimage of fel-
signs, and minister to those who are coping with lowship and learning. For more information, please
loss. All concerned persons are invited. It will be contact Rev. Deb Kielsmeier (952) 920-8515
especially helpful for clergy and parish visitors. or [email protected].
The workshop takes place Saturday, January 30,
  2010 from 8:30am to Noon at Valley Presbyterian
Church, 3100 Lilac Drive in Golden Valley, MN.
  For more information or to register, please contact
Bebe Baldwin at [email protected].
 "EMerge:Monthly," is a publication from the Presbytery of
the Twin Cities Area (PTCA). The mission is to share brief
highlights with links to resources and news. Recipients in-
112 W. Franklin Ave. clude congregations, minister members, other members,
Suite 508 committees, and friends. Please send submissions and e-mail
Minneapolis, MN 55404
corrections to Dennis Sanders, editor, at communica-
Fax: 612-871-0698
E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] . Usual distribution: Thursdays. Next
Web: www.ptcaweb.org
Blog: www.presbyterytwincities.org/ Deadline: Close of Business (4:30pm) Thursday, December
emergetheblog 17.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ptcaweb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ptcaweb

Presbytery Calendar, December 2009

Thursday December 3, 2009 Tuesday December 22, 2009
Nominating Committee : 6:30-8:30PM (Minnesota Advocates for Integrity in Ministry:6:30 PM-8:00
Church Center, Minneapolis) PM, Mac-Plymouth, St. Paul
Saturday December 5, 2009 Thursday-Friday December 24-25, 2009
Disabilities Concerns Taskforce: 9:30am – PTCA Office Closed for Christmas
11:30am, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Min-
neapolis
Tuesday December 8, 2009
The Presbytery office will also be closed from Monday,
Presbytery Council: 5pm – 7pm , Eagle Crest December 28, 2009 to January 1, 2010.
Tuesday December 15, 2009
Presbytery Christmas Open House : 2-4 PM, PTCA
Presbytery Office, Minneapolis
Wednesday December 16, 2009
Kwanzaa Comm. Task Force: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Kwanzaa Presbyterian, Minneapolis
Thursday December 17, 2009
Commissioned Lay Pastors Committee: 9:30 AM-
11:30 AM Minnesota Church Center, Minneapolis
Church Development Team: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM
(Contact Office for location)
Monday December 21, 2009
Committee on Ministry , 5pm – 7:30pm , Hope
Presbyterian Church, Richfield

Presbytery Staff
Chaz Ruark, Executive Presbyter: [email protected]
Nancy Grittman, Stated Clerk: [email protected]
Risa Anderson, Office Manager: [email protected]
Dennis Sanders, IT/Communications Specialist: [email protected]