PresbySpeak

There has been so much emphasis over the last twelve months on adaptive ministry, pastoral care, and how to engage safely our congregations and communities in the midst of all things COVID-19. When it comes to the impact of this pandemic on mental and spiritual health, youth of our churches and neighborhoods are among the most impacted. This has warranted an intentional shift in approaches to youth ministry in efforts to care for our youngest neighbors and church members who have experienced significant isolation, digital fatigue, and even increased awareness related to the intersection of socio-political and religious questions. In this episode of PresbySpeak and Conversation at the Well, we listen into leaders serving in diverse youth ministry contexts in our presbytery as they share their learnings, leanings, and how they have pivoted their approaches to discipleship alongside teenagers. Our specials guests today are Elder Contina Lee Lundy, who serves as Director of the Freedom School at First Presbyterian Church of Germantown, Rev. Alex Evangelista, Associate Pastor at Swsarthmore Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Brian Russo, Associate Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. Our conversation facilitator was Vice Moderator of the Presbytery and pastor of Lower Providence Presbyterian Church, Rev. Ted Mingle.

Ministry often pulls pastors in between the two polar opposites, the fear of scarcity and the obsession with abundance. Over the last few years, our Presbytery has intentionally worked to cut through these debilitating narratives and come alongside pastors with a third way as alternative, cultivating a theology of enough. The Scriptures are saturated in stories, proverbs, psalms, and parables that remind us God has provided all we need to participate in the rhythm of life dreamed up in the very beginnings. Even Jesus' prayer teaches us to pray not for abundance, but daily bread. In the fall of 2020, yes, at the height of the pandemic, we received word that our application for a five-year, million-dollar grant through the Lily Endowment's Thriving in Ministry program was approved. We could not have been more grateful, aware that what we were imagining would especially serve our pastors in small churches, communities of color, and church plants/replants so very well as they navigated ministry in these especially trying and despairing times. The aim of the initiative will hinge or caring for clergy as whole people, to remind them they are enough and beloved children of God- not merely producers in this ecclesiastical machine. What follows is a conversation with the newly hired director of the program and longtime member of this presbytery, Rev. Sarah Colwill. You can read more about her on the website: https://presbyphl.org/cultivating-enough-in-the-care-of-clergy/

It is no secret that the last fifteen months have posed an abundance of challenges and questions for the church related to how we gather, worship, and care for one another when our buildings are closed and in-person gatherings are not feasible and/or limited. But we would be foolish if we thought 2020 and 2021 were not also opportunities for the faithful to ask questions related to the intersection of the gospel, congregational witness, and the socio-political realities that deeply impact our neighbors, communities, and larger nation and world in our time and place. As the Confession of 1967 reminds us, "Wherever the church exists, its members are both gathered in corporate life and dispersed in society for the sake of God's mission in the world."

On this week's episode we are thrilled to have with us as a special guest, Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, who models this call so very well and whose ministry is to help us discern what this might look like. The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins is the Director of the PCUSA Office of Public Witness, which has recently merged with the PCUSA Office to the United Nations. Before accepting the role of Director for the Office of Public Witness, Rev. Hawkins served as pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in New Hope Presbytery. He previously served as the yoked pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church, Holmes Memorial and Trinity Presbyterian in Peaks Presbytery. He has a background in the area of youth ministry as a program director of Presbyterian Camps in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as campus ministry intern for Salem Presbytery. Rev. Hawkins’ denominational service includes serving on committees of the PC(USA) including as GA and synod commissioner, as well as presbytery committees and administrative commissions. His community advocacy includes serving as a leader for the Moral Monday Movement since its start in 2013. He is a member of the NC NAACP Executive Committee and has advocated on issues of social justice before congressional and state legislative leadership.

We could go on...but it's best to just sit back and listen to this gem of an episode as you and your congregation discern your voice for public witness.

**This episode was originally a ZOOM webinar through our monthly "Conversation at the Well." You can check out the video on our Facebook page or on our YouTube Channel.

This past week the Presbytery of Philadelphia gathered for our spring stated meeting. There was so much goodness wrapped up with in this sacred gathering. We sustained an examination for yet another candidate for ordained ministry; our Leadership Collegium report highlighted various ways our congregations, ministries, and leaders throughout the region have embodied the gospel in this most-challenging, strenuous, and soul-searching season; the executive team underscored the bravery of our people who dare to practice resurrection hope, seminarians in our ministry and leadership incubator whose questions and courageous witness continues to hold space for innovation and creativity, our 11 churches participating in the Vital Congregations Initiative that are being revitalized by the waters of baptism, and how we continue to expand our digital platforms as a means of grace and support one another in the midst of the pandemic. The Covenant Fund was also launched again to steward grant dollars for relevant ministry and a Lilly Endowment grant has led to the recent hire of Rev. Sarah Colwill to direct our Cultivating Enough in the care of Clergy. Friends, the Spirit is alive and well in this Presbytery.

Yet, what follows is the Keynote address from the Rev.Dr. Victor Aloyo, Jr. Rev. Dr. Aloyo, Jr. serves as the Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity and Community Engagement and has been the primary facilitator of conversations on antiracism with our Presbytery's Leadership Collegium, which will lead to broader engagement throughout the Presbytery in the months ahead. Stay tuned. In addition to a brief devotional as a part of the worship service, Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, Jr. keynoted in the business meeting on Life Shattered/Life Restored, reflecting on the Emmaus road story and the faithful questions of life lived after the resurrection. Listen in to this powerful word to all of us.

If interested in more related to this meeting, other episodes of PresbySpeak, or upcoming gatherings, resources, and connectional content, check us out on the web, facebook, twitter, instagram, or any of your favorite podcasting platforms.

Grace and Peace saints of this Presbytery and beyond.

https://presbyphl.org/events/april-20-2021-stated-meeting/

Music performed and provided by Paul Lee, member of Podowon Presbyterian Church. "What a Beautiful Name: Break Every Chain."

This past week our Conversation at the Well was facilitated by the Commission on Ministry. This commission of the Presbytery, commonly referred to as COM, is a primary vehicle for the collaboration, communication, support, strategizing, and equipping of our congregations. As churches leverage their unique work and relevant leadership structures for the sake of gospel witness in their time and place, COM is a primary partner.  This week, Elder Jim Ballengee and Rev. Kari Olson, Moderator and Vice Moderator of COM respectively, talked with pastoral leaders through our Presbytery on the topic, Moving Forward in Faith and Hope. They mused about how churches are leaning into this next season of worship, fellowship, and ministry in the midst of the pandemic. Our guests featured: 

- Rev. Jason Grimes, Ardmore

- Rev. Ethelyn Taylor, Oxford

- Rev. Baron Mullis, First Philadelphia

- Rev. Karen Nelson, Marple

Elder Susan Christensen, member of COM, also shared about recent surveys related to congregational responses in the midst of the pandemic. Listen in to this uncut audio from this past week's Conversation at the Well.

Also, exciting news for podcasting geeks! PresbySpeak is now available on both Spotify and Google Play. That's right four platforms for all-things PResbytery of Philadelphia stories, resources, and interactions with leaders from around this great city and across the country. Give us a follow or subscribe. More info at www.presbyphl.org/presbyspeak

Last Saturday, eleven of our congregations gathered virtually with leaders from our Presbytery for a worship and sending service as we launch our Vital Congregations venture. An initiative of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), these congregations are entering into a communal pilgrimage as they discern where and how the Spirit of God is breathing fresh possibilities and renewed capacity to embody the Good News of Jesus Christ. The service was themed, revitalized by the waters of baptism, entering into the sacred and sending waters once again. Our guest preacher was the Rev. Carlton Johnson, Asssociate for Vital Congregations. Be sure to listen in and consider sharing this word with your congregations as you remember your own baptism that has begotten you for worship, work, and revitalized witness near and far.

If interested in learning more, check out www.presbyphl.org/ministry-incubator/vital-congregations.

This past week we welcomed Lisa Allgood as the featured guest for a Conversation at the Well. Lisa is not only the Executive Presbyter in the Presbytery of Cincinnati, but also a trained immunologist. In the midst of all things COVID-19, Lisa's wisdom and expertise has proved pivotal in the work alongside churches as we navigate not only safety related to our gatherings and public health, but also in how we consider what all of this means as disciples of Jesus in this difficult and despairing and confusing time. Our conversation was titled, "Viruses, Vaccines, Variants, O My," and was loaded with all kinds of solid information that should be listened to over and again and shared with your congregations. Our hope and prayer is that this episode would further equip the faithful throughout the Presbytery to live into love through wise and safe actions as we lean into year two of this pandemic.

In this episode, we feature the many movements of stories shared at our recent Celebration of African American Presbyterian Heritage. Anchored by Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, coordinator of the National Committee for the Self-Development of People, this gathering of worship, song, and sankofa, reached back into the history of Black Presbyterianism as we move forward into our call as the church of Jesus Christ in our time and place. In addition to Rev. Dr. Johnson, we also heard from Rev. Dr. Janel Dixon and Rev. Ethelyn Taylor, co-moderators of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, and our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace.

As a Presbytery committed to empowering Christ's work through our collective witness, we continue to value the varied nature of our churches that have shaped our incarnations of the gospel for over 300 years. Listen now and and lean into our story and song as testified to by Black Presbyterians past and present.

This week’s episode was a good one. We welcomed as our guest , Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, national coordinator of the Self-Development of People, and Rev. Todd Stavrakos, moderator of our presbytery’s local SDOP committee. SDOP is a vital extension of PCUSA work and witness in the areas of economic justice, poverty alleviation, and liberation from various manifestations of systemic oppression. Supporting ecumenical grassroots movements to empower our neighbors for over fifty years, our Presbytery was the first to leverage a local committee of our own. This episode offers a chance not only to learn about this work, but also to consider how you can learn from and collaborate with SDOP as you lean into your own local and ecumenical partnerships

as a reminder and shameless plug, The work of SDOP is supported by the Special Offerings and One Great Hour of Sharing. In addition, March 14th is Self-Development of People Sunday. We invite you to lift up in your congregations the many ways SDOP empowers movements and works towards a more just and equitable society that mirrors God’s dreams for the world. More information can be found on our website: www.presbyphl.org/leadership/committees/sdop

You can also learn more about how our Presbytery’s committee distributed $17,000 of grants on your behalf two organizations, one which empowers women who are re-entering society after a period of incarceration and another that provides nutrition services to children and youth in Southwest Philly.

A Minister Member and child of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben was recently sworn in as the first woman to serve as chaplain to the United States House of Representatives. Rev. Dr. Kibben was the preacher for our January 23, 2021 Stated Meeting and Service of Light as part of opening worship.

The Scripture readings from before the service are from the Old and New Testaments and delivered by seven voices from within the Presbytery.