First Ashland hosted the summer presbytery meeting June 28 and 29. Members of the Shasta and Klamath peoples opened the meeting by welcoming us to their home and praying in their native language .
Milestones were anticipated and celebrated: Seven youth and four leaders were commissioned on behalf of the fifty from Cascades attending the Youth Triennium in July. Don Shaw was recognized for 50 years of ordained ministry. Presbytery members rotating off committees were thanked for service and our new Presbytery Moderator, Eileen Sheelar (Ruling Elder, John Knox, Keizer), was installed along with Central Region Vice Moderator, Mark Olson (MWS, Lincoln City).
Aaron Pratt Shepherd (Central, Eugene) and Morgan Schmidt (First, Bend) were approved for ordination after successfully answering the interlocutors examining them.
Presbytery acted to approve minimum compensation for 2020, recommend a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase of 2.8% but did not take action to retroactively mandate that all ministries under presbytery jurisdiction receive sabbaticals after 6 years after questions were raised about whether the presbytery had that sort of authority over calls executed before a policy is made. COM promised to regroup and bring back a motion thoroughly vetted at a future meeting.
The presbytery dinner was served by The Community Dinner Team at First, Phoenix. Many thanks to them and blessings on their ministry.
Background Papers are posted HERE
Pre-Presbytery Workshops
Welcome to the Homeland of the Shasta People. Pastor Mary Gentry and mother, Laura Ellen Picard Grabner and Mary’s husband Don. They share stories of growing up in Christian Schools that “tried to beat their native traditions out of them.” Watch Video
Peacemaking in Rwanda Presentation by Pastor Amber Slate,
Aurora PC.
25 years after the devastating genocide that happened in Rwanda, peacemaking is the central focus of church and society in that country. Watch Video
Presbytery Meeting Videos
Friday Afternoon Opening Worship and Meeting
Saturday Morning Worship and Meeting
Open Space – Cuba Partnership with St. Andrew’s & Meeting Conclusion
Ministry Celebrations
First Presbyterian Church, Ashland
Free Community Dinners, Phoenix
Minutes of the March 2019 Presbytery Meeting
To read Presbytery Wrap Up Part II featuring – joy and gratitude! Click here
Upcoming Meetings
November 15 and 16, 2019 at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, Oregon
