Recently our session made a prosal to our presbytery Administrative Committee and our sister churches. I am posting it here for review and comment of presbytery members.
Our session strongly recommends to the Monmouth Presbytery Council that we cancel all plans to hire an associate executive presbyter, and that the sessions and delegates from our sister churches join us in supporting this recommendation. We offer this suggestion in light of our weak national economy, the budget challenges of our local churches, and the needs of our presbytery.
In a time when churches are cutting back staff and trimming budgets, we believe the Presbytery should be doing the same. We therefore recommend that our fellow members of presbytery join us in the following actions:
1. Respond to the GA Survey, stating that the position of associate executive presbyter is not wanted and cannot be supported.
2. Join us in supporting the cancellation of expanded ordained staff at the presbytery level.
3. Instruct the Presbytery Council to modify the presbytery budget and reduce the per capita.
4. Instruct the Presbytery Council to explore continued reductions in staff and expenses into the future.
We believe that this is a time for trimming Presbytery expenses and allowing our member churches to do the ministry and mission which is at the heart of our Presbytery purpose.
Yours in Christ,
Clerk of Session Moderator of Session
Pastor Steve Davis is so on target. Why Presbytery is thinking of an associate executive presbyter is from the Twilight Zone! We should put this on the agenda for our November stated meeting, and make some recommendation that our commissioner to the November meeting of Presbytery can record our voice on this.If nothing else,if this were to be approved, this would have implications on the per capita for 2009!
Posted by: CA | November 11, 2008 at 08:40 PM
My Session is working on the same type of letter.
Posted by: b | November 11, 2008 at 08:42 PM