Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and grace to the congregations and members of Savannah Presbytery!
The Presbytery Council recently met and will meet again on Thursday, August 1. Please continue to pray for us.
Note that the Presbytery office will be closed June 27 through July 8.
The Work of the Council
- Rev. Deanie Strength (Moderator-Elect) will assume the duties of Council Moderator until the Winter Stated Meeting when she will begin her term as Presbytery Moderator. At that time, the Nominating Committee will present nominees to the Presbytery for a new Moderator-Elect and Council Moderator. Rev. Ozeas Silva will continue to serve on the Council as past moderator.
- The Council is being guided by the Savannah Presbytery Operations Manual (See www.savannahpresbytery.org/administrative-resources/cpm/ )
- Any manual changes recommended by Council shall be presented at the October 2019 Stated Meeting of the Presbytery.
Have a Stated Clerk Question?
- Committee on Ministry Chair, Rev. Andy Meeker, is available to help with matters traditionally handled by the Presbytery’s Stated Clerk.
Presbytery Office Operations
- Office hours are:
- Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am – Noon; 2-4:30 pm
- Fridays 9:30 am to Noon
- The Presbytery office will be closed June 27 to July 8, 2019 while our Business Administrator, Liz Richardson, is on vacation.
- If you need assistance, please contact Rev. Deanie Strength (Council Moderator), Rev. Andy Meeker (Presbytery Moderator), or another Council member.
- When you plan to visit the Presbytery office, please arrange your time with Liz. She is often engaged in data entry which requires timed sessions on the computer.
Financial Operation of the Presbytery
- As the Presbytery’s Business Administrator, Liz is carrying out all of the financial applications and business matters of the Presbytery. We have relied on her expertise now for over 12 years and we appreciate her flexibility in this time of transition.
- Liz is receiving support from the Stewardship & Finance Committee (which recently completed an internal audit).
- Signing checks for the Presbytery are: Doug Alexander, Frederica (Stewardship & Finance Committee); Jay Martin, Frederica (Church Treasurer); and Bob Harper, St. Simons (Church Treasurer).
- This temporary structure will remain in place until a Transitional GP/SC is in place. At that time, the Personnel Committee will seek a Treasurer from the Presbytery congregations in Glynn County using the job description developed by the Transition Team. (See http://www.savannahpresbytery.org/administrative-resources/transitions/ )
Work of the Transition Team
- The job description for a Transitional General Presbyter/Stated Clerk has been posted on the PCUSA Church Leadership Connection website. (See http://www.savannahpresbytery.org/administrative-resources/transitions/ )
- The team is being contacted by interested persons and will meet at the end of July to begin its considerations.
- The Transitional GP/SC will be hired from outside of the Presbytery for a term of 1 year with the option to extend. This person will work out of the Presbytery office coordinating with the Transition Team, Council and Personnel Committee to discern the way forward for Savannah Presbytery.
- Listening sessions in the districts will be conducted by consultant David York when the Transitional GP/SC is hired.
New Staff Support for the Presbytery’s Education Programs
- Marty Susie will serve as program support staff person to the directors of the School of the Laity, the Faith Enrichment Conference, and Summer Camp for a trial period of four months. Marty is the Christian Educator at Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church and is also a long-serving member of the Education & Training Committee, a graduate of the School of the Laity, a former Summer Camp director, and a participant in many of the Leadership Development Conferences (now called “Faith Enrichment”). She is leading the Presbytery’s group to the Youth Triennium this summer.
- After a recommendation from the Education & Training Committee and with approval by the Council, Marty will be paid a monthly stipend to oversee event publicity, registration and other details. At the conclusion of the trial period, the position will be evaluated. We are excited that the programs we value so much will receive her attention.
- The following directors will continue to develop the programs and speakers for our educational events:
School of the Laity Rev. Jamil el-Shair, Midway First
(October 5-6, 2019)
Faith Enrichment Conference 2020 Rev. Jeff Garrison, Skidaway Island
(February 7-8, 2020) Rev. Chris Noyes, First Brunswick
Summer Camp 2020 Program – Nat Scott, St. Simons
(July 20-24, 2020) Registration – Marty Susie, Wilmington Island
Updates to the Online Presbytery Directories
- By the end of the summer, the Council hopes that we will have updated directories. Please assist Liz by sharing the appropriate information when it is requested.
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