QG's Swan Song as Mod

Saturday's presbytery meeting marked my last time to preside as Moderator. I took the opportunity to Honorably Retire the old Moderator's stole, which displayed the Year of the Child logo. The Year of the Child morphed into the Decade of the Child. But the decade elapsed in 2000 and yet the stole kept being passed down.

My suggestion that it was time for a change was received with enthusiasm, so my gift to the presbytery is pictured here. Dear Friend Dorothy embroidered the badges on it for me which represent the logo of the presbytery and then the legend "Moderator Presbytery of New Covenant." Our inimitable Stated Clerk took H.R. Stole home with her to get dry-cleaned before displaying it at the presbytery offices.

The meeting theme was "the vitality of the presbytery." There were no controversial issues on the agenda since the proposed BOO amendments will be voted on at the February meeting.

We did hear a comprehensive report on the presbytery's IKE recovery efforts. The election and the economic crisis have pushed IKE off the front pages of the national news and there has been very little support outside our area for the recovery effort. Other denominations are reporting the same thing. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is preparing to open two worksite camps in the area soon as they open their long-term rebuilding program.

Many thanks to the thoughtful saints at First Presbyterian Church of Pasadena who did a superb job hosting the meeting. I was fighting a new cold and was delighted to see the lectern thoughtfully stocked with water bottles! That really helped to keep me from having a very unattractive and distracting coughing fit in the midst of the meeting.

Although we installed our next Moderator (Rev. Wayne Eberly, good luck and Godspeed!) , my term continues until the end of this year. I have a couple more meetings and at least one more ordination to go. Then I'll return to my local church (Memorial Drive, Houston), from whence I came.

Musings of the Mom-derator

(I figure if the PCUSA's Stated Clerk can issue "Musings", then I can too!)

At today's presbytery meeting I was formally installed as Moderator (or as we say in blogland, the "MOM-derator" for 2008). The meeting was held at Korean Central Presbyterian Church, which is one of our larger congregations. It is a beautiful, modern facility and we were served the most delicious lunch by the members of the congregation.

The picture here shows the official Presbytery of New Covenant moderatorial stole, the gavel, and the cross. The cross has an interesting story: back before reunion of the PCUS and the UPCUSA, each denomination had a presbytery in the Houston area. Each presbytery's moderator wore a different cross. After reunion the crosses were fused together and the stone in the middle is a stone from Mars Hill given by a local member for the purpose. The round green stone marked "HOPE" was given to me by the outgoing moderator.

Our GP gave his annual State of the Presbytery report and caused me to reflect on the many unexpected things that have come my way in the past year.

I didn't expect...

The Million Dollar Problem

The churches in the presbytery to increase their giving to presbytery in response to the Million Dollar problem

PNC to lead the denomination in new church developments (18) that we support

One of our churches to set a meeting date for a congregational vote on withdrawing from the PCUSA

One of our churches to "tithe" the proceeds of the sale of their property (to the tune of $40K) to PNC in support of presbytery

The pastor of my church always closes the service with a benediction that includes the words "expect the unexpected." I'm learning to take those words to heart.

I'm also making taking these verses from Hebrews 12:1-2 my guide for the coming year:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Unexpectedly and prayerfully yours,

QG

P.S. Updated score: Beatrice 3, QG 1.

The Many Hats of the Mom-derator

It's been a busy few weeks down at presbytery. In order to keep up with all the action, I've found myself looking for these hats in my closet:

• Head-Hunter
• Reporter/Editor
• Attorney
• Real Estate Developer
• Editor
• PowerPoint Expert
• FinanceWoman
• Cheerleader

What's my real job down there? Oh, yeah. Mom-derator 2008. Who knew?

Presbytery Post-Partum

I'm back with a quick review of today's meeting.

We had worship in the morning and the pastor who presided over communion MIMED the words of institution. I know what you're thinking--no he didn't wear a mime outfit or makeup! He did explain before he did it that his idea was that most of those present had heard these words so often that seeing them acted out would make it more meaningful. It was different, I'll say that. I had a hard time getting into the spirit of it because in my mind I kept hearing the snarky remarks and seeing the eye-rolling that would have ensued if my daughters were present. ~sigh~

The Cho-Yeh report recommendations passed by a large margin after discussion at the presbytery meeting. Now El Jefe will help the board file all those legal papers!

A pastor friend who is leaving the presbytery for a call in California wished me well next year and then added he hoped I'd have some money in the budget next year. Me too. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth and a serious Come To Jesus discussion on this subject at the meeting. We have until the August meeting to raise more revenue or be faced with more budget cuts. My wacky Youth Minister buddy wisecracked during a presentation that our email was "www.pbyofnewcovenantwehavenomoney.com." Sometimes you just have to laugh, too.

Stushie and PresbyGal suggest my title should be MOMDERATOR. I like it!

On The Road Again For Presbytery

I'm hitting the road again in my role as Mom (oops, make that Moderator) Elect of Presbytery. We're meeting up the road in Livingston at Camp Cho-Yeh. Leaving tomorrow morning would add an hour to the already 2 hour drive because I'd find myself in the midst of the commuter traffic until clearing Houston. So El Jefe persuaded me to drive tonight after traffic clears and stay in a nearby hotel rather than stress about getting up there by dawn's early light. Of course that way I won't be rousing him earlier than usual....either.

One of the items on the agenda is a report written by El Jefe that recommends major organizational and legal changes in the relationship between presbytery and Cho-Yeh. Unfortunately he can't spend the day up there so his co-chair will present it and he's prepped me to answer questions. Now I'm looking for that lawyer hat to pack in the suitcase. Hope it goes with the camp outfit.

Presbytery made the 2007 payment to GA that was authorized by the Repayment Task Force to reimburse the special offerings monies that weren't passed on, so that's good news. The finance folks are struggling mightily with the 2007-2008 budget plans now that we know what funds we really have available. That's not such good news, but its an inevitable consequence of the fact that for several years the previous business administrator was diverting special offerings to our operating budget instead of passing them on to GA.

Time to go. Where's the sunscreen?