Linda Valentine

The "Crown Jewels" of the PC(USA)

When I say one of the cool* things about my job is that I get to meet with the presidents of our Presbyterian-related seminaries, I am often met with blank stares or quizzical looks, but I mean it. Michael Lindvall, pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, has referred to our seminaries as the "crown jewels" of the denomination. And so they are. Last week, I had the privilege of being an invited guest at a meeting convened by the seminary presidents.  Because their relationships with both the PC(USA) and each other matter to them deeply, they meet voluntarily to resource, support, and enjoy one another.  Our seminary presidents are smart, dedicated and faithful, and it was a special treat for me as an observer to see what good colleagues they are for each other.

(*cool betrays my generation, so read groovy, awesome, or sweet depending on yours)

As part of my itineration throughout the church, I have been invited to meet with the boards of our Presbyterian-related seminaries.  It's been interesting to me to see how each seminary has its own character. Each seminary picks a topic on which to focus the conversation in addition to our each sharing our priorities and initiatives to become better acquainted. At McCormick, we spoke about multicultural theological education; at Princeton, commissioned lay pastors and resourcing the whole church; Christian education combined with theological education at Union PSCE; passing on the Reformed tradition for the practice of ministry at Austin; disciplines of spiritual formation, critical theological reflection and skills and arts of ministry at San Francisco; world mission at Pittsburgh; and common interests at our neighboring seminary in Louisville. I’ve yet to get to Dubuque or Johnson C. Smith, but hope to do so, and the Columbia visit on the pastoral needs of the future church was held before I came to the GAC.

Last week, I joined the presidents in a stimulating dialogue about preparing leaders for building up the church.  In a denomination that is increasingly comprised of smaller membership churches, we spoke of the challenges of identifying, preparing, supporting and encouraging leaders who can undertake the starting of new congregations, or transform existing ones into healthy and vibrant congregations.  There are some striking examples already out there.  Through the Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands, critically needed support has been provided for a number of new churches that are off to promising starts.

Our morning conversations last Friday began with worship, where we remembered and gave thanks for the life of Jack Stotts, a former president of two Presbyterian seminaries, McCormick and Austin. I remember Jack fondly from his association with my home church, Fourth Presbyterian, Chicago.  My husband, Chris, also had the opportunity to talk to Jack on the recognition of his 50th anniversary graduation from McCormick when Chris was at the board meeting. How wonderful that he was so honored then, and at Fourth, and how glad I am that I had the chance to greet him and receive his blessing when we were at Austin Seminary.  The seminary, by the way, is inviting congregations to use portions of the Brief Statement of Faith on Sunday, February 10, the day when Jack’s memorial service will be held.  What a moving tribute this will be for the man who chaired the committee that wrote the Brief Statement.  May God comfort Jack’s extended Presbyterian family, who mourns the loss of this good and faithful servant of the church.

Mission Consultation

The experience of the last three days has been nothing short of profound. A disparate group of Presbyterians came together - who have in common a love of Jesus Christ and a passion for mission but who might otherwise have characterized each other more by perceived differences than commonalities.  That is, until we gathered and became acquainted with each other, in many cases for the first time. We worshiped, sang, studied, laughed, spoke from heads and hearts, prayed, discerned together and emerged with "An Invitation to Expanding Partnership in God’s Mission," signed by every participant present on the last day.  Covenanting to live and serve together, committing to working cooperatively, celebrating diverse Presbyterian approaches to mission, sharing responsibility for educating and preparation of all Presbyterians for mission and seeking and supporting more mission personnel, are among the statements in the invitation. “Breakthrough,” “watershed,” “historic,” “moving of the Holy Spirit” were among the words used as we each described what had just happened. And the most frequent word “Hope” – hope for the Presbyterian Church (USA), for our witness in the world, our respect, encouragement and support of each other -- this truly was the church together.

Each of us committed to share the document and the invitation with others over the next three months.  And so we will.  So watch for more.  And thanks be to God.

A Beehive of Activity

Wow, what a week. When I walked in on Monday after a most restful and restorative holiday vacation, I was immediately swept up into the beehive of activity that was the Center last week. It seemed that meetings were going on in every room and corner of the building. Bright and engaged seminary "J-Term" (January term) students met with many of us as they engaged with us in their course "Leadership in the Connectional Church," a great way for them to learn about the mission and ministry of the PC(USA), and for us to hear their inspiring hopes and dreams. (For more, read the PNS story.)  The GAC Executive Committee met first together and then with the review committee led by Judy Fletcher, synod executive for the Synod of the Sun, that is undertaking a review of the GAC, a regular part of the General Assembly's review of GA agencies. The GAC Procedures Subcommittee is revising the Manual of Operations to reflect the many changes that have been made in the GAC of late. Women of Color Consultation was busy at work for a few days in Room 5000. The GAC Mission Work Plan 2009-2010 team met and is making good progress on the plan that will be presented to the GAC in February. Meanwhile the staff has launched project teams for developing an operational plan to support the Mission Work Plan and the 2009-2010 budget that will be presented to the GAC in April and the GA in June. We are planning an all staff meeting for the end of January, a consultation with some presbytery executives to talk about funding in March, the Mission Consultation that will involve representatives from many parts of the church in Dallas next week, and a joint GAC-Committee on the Office of the General Assembly that will include a session with deans of the PC(USA) seminaries in February. And these are just a few - the place was buzzing with conversation, plans and projects - the year is starting off with great energy!  Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Presbyterian Encounters

Even on vacation, the fellowship of the Presbyterian community breaks through. After wonderful, family filled holidays that culminated in sending our new University of Illinois engineering grad off to Nigeria for an Engineers without Borders project and our middle daughter back to New Orleans where she is working with Habitat for Humanity on a year break from college, together with her younger sister on break for the month of January, my husband and I headed to Arizona for exercise, reading and relaxing. Multiple paths led to Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, although we ourselves didn’t get there in our mid-week get away. A long time Motorola colleague will join the session there shortly and a friend who retired from Chicago to Scottsdale not only worships at Valley, but introduced us at dinner to the church's pastor emeritus, the Rev. Wilson Kilgore. I was regaled at supper with inspiring stories of new church development.  The Valley Church, under Wilson’s leadership, started two other churches – including Pinnacle in Scottsdale – which both now number over 1,000 members.  I learned that Wilson’s former church in Cleveland, Ohio, recently honored him by naming part of a building after him.  What a marvelous legacy!

May your New Year be similarly filled with delightful encounters with friends old and new!