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November 2006
Summit reports
Summit
purpose | Spring 2006
listening sessions
results | Planning Team
Summit reports
11-17-06 Introduction from the Presbytery's Moderator, Anita Cummings
(moderator@ptcaweb.org)
Near the end of the Summit, after Discovering the best of what
we are and do as a presbytery, and Dreaming what we could be, we
began to work on Designing specific changes for our "new life
together." During the Destiny phase participants chose one group
to work with to create the structure and the atmosphere through which
these changes would be accomplished. In the following reports, you will
be able to catch a glimpse of the beginning work each of these
"Innovation Teams" did, as well as the on-going fine-tuning of their
designs, as those willing continue to work together.
Some will be implemented as soon as they are ready. Others will take
awhile to sort through, especially if they have budget implications.
Others will need broad Presbytery-wide consideration as they imply
changes in our by-laws. But the conversations and planning can all keep
happening right now.
If you are interested in joining any of these teams, or giving them
feedback from your insights and perspectives, please contact them
through Interim Executive Presbyter Sarai Beck (ep@ptcaweb.org)
or any person listed in the following reports:
November 2006 Summit Reports
Technology
| Clusters
as Committees |
Cluster Accountability
Communication
| Mission
Strategy |
Leadership |
Cluster
Formation
Conversations about differences
Technology
Possibility Proposition: We support, train, and assist all our
congregations and the Presbytery in using the best technologies and
practices to make collaborative work easier and more convenient,
providing bridges and fresh ministry opportunities for all ages. We work
to overcome technological and financial inequalities in access to these
technologies and fully support their innovative use.
Technology Pilot Project:
Purpose: Use technology to serve the church
Pilot:
• Create steering group
• Survey needs/wants, current capabilities/resources,
available expertise by Feb. 28
• Plan
Identify opportunities for technology use
Determine standards/best practices
Identify technological gaps and make plans to address within 3-6 months
• Implement
Identify/obtain technological equipment available for loan
Identify/establish technological support resources
Establish Presbytery server
• Throughout
Collaborate with Communications Group
Names: Brenda Martens, Lois Rhoades, Jack Reddan, Vince Gin, Mary
Caplinger, Sue Goodspeed
Clusters as Committees
Possibility proposition: The ministry and mission of the
Presbytery are lodged primarily in "local" clusters of congregations.
Each cluster covenants to meet together regularly in order to support
its churches and their leaders. The ecclesiastical responsibilities of
the COM and CPM are delegated to the clusters. All clusters meet
together as a Presbytery at least twice a year to conduct business, to
worship, and to celebrate our life together. Other mandated bodies meet
as appropriate and as needed; bodies include representation from each
cluster.
Pilot Project: Committees within Clusters
Purpose: The purpose of this initiative is to outline a plan
to implement the "cluster/committee possibility proposition statement."
Plan:
• Investigate other presbyteries that have gone to the cluster
concept
• Review PTCA bylaws
• Meet with all current committee chairs
• Investigate current committee structure to see if all should be
retained in the new cluster plan
• Review all PTCA policies
• Develop a transition plan
• Plan to be prepared by March 1, 2007, to be presented at the March
Presbytery meeting
Names: Dean Brown, Martha Rockenstein, Timothy Hart-Andersen
Cluster Accountability
Possibility Proposition: We recognize that as we are
accountable to one another we build relationships of trust and
inclusiveness. We therefore covenant with one another that: rather than
holding assumptions, we seek clarity by asking questions; we seek common
ground; we define our tasks clearly and complete them within defined
parameters; we respect others' time and work to build trust in our
process; we invite assistance from those with needed expertise; we are
open to inspection of our work; guidelines are made and changed
periodically as we recommit to our covenant every year.
Pilot Project: Innovation Team on Accountability Guidelines
and Support
Purpose: To provide to the Presbytery/cluster groups a set of
guidelines, resources for training, and a model covenant for
accountability.
Description: We are a resource team.
When: As the Presbytery is working through structural design,
we are defining guidelines, creating a model covenant, and identifying
appropriate resources. Upon definition of structure, we assume our role
of resource.
Names: David Lenz, Jim Stanko, Frank Uvodich, Sally Narr,
Gordon Dosher, Karen Gasche, Karyn Arazi; Also representatives from
Personnel and staff, an HR specialist, laity and pastors.
Communication
Possibility Proposition:
We provide
• Audience appropriate
• Timely
• Open
• Effective
Communications from, to, and among
• Presbytery (staff, committees, etc.)
• Congregations
• Pastors
• Sessions
• Individual members
By a variety of methods
• Electronic
• Mail
• Personal visits
• Telephone
In order to
• Increase sense of belonging
• Share tools and resources
• Disseminate news and events
• Answer questions
Pilot Project #1
Contact and resource subnet.
Purpose: Set up and test effectiveness of inter-church communication
via email.
Plan: Establish a database of contact information, church
information, resources available and resources needed. Poll members at
one month and three months to determine effectiveness. Provide report to
Sarai in April 2007.
Name of contact person: John Kingery
Pilot Project #2
Electronic Communication Task Force.
Purpose: Change the Presbytery office databases, lists, and
communications to electronic forms.
Plan: By 2/28/07, review with Presbytery staff and technology team
the office databases to find what needs to be changed.
Contact person: Gail Hall
Mission Strategy
Possibility Proposition: We collaboratively equip
congregations for local and global ministry and support congregational
transformation and new church development. Accepting God's call to
mission, we invite people to faith and discipleship, to love neighbor
and to join God’s activity in the world.
Key elements:
• International partnerships locally and globally
• Seeking justice and serving people with needs
• Ecumenical and interreligious partnership
• Multi-cultural; race/class/economic diversity
• Contextual; hospitality; welcoming to all
Mission Strategy:
• Coordinating partnerships between congregations for outreach
opportunities.
• Developing new churches and establishing endowment funds for success
of these ministries.
Plan for local ministry—Transformation and New Church Development
• Staff person for transformational work
• Communication with different dimensions: education, theological,
mutual, contextual, multi-cultural and interreligious, justice,
race/class/economic diversity
Plan for global ministry—Partnership
• Coordinate through partnerships and shared information.
• Communication with different dimensions: education, theological,
mutual, contextual, multi-cultural and interreligious, justice,
race/class/economic diversity
Plan for endowment
• Raise $ through congregations, charitable annuities, individuals,
corporations, stewardship
Overall
• Lmp. Of intentionally cultivating a DNA of congregations that is
multi-cultural, w/race/class/economics diversity
Names: Suzan Ireland, John Ivers, Joyce Camp, Russ Maki, Nancy
Hanson, Carol Reed, Walter Chuquimia, Newell Krogmann, Kerri Allen,
Karin Craven, Carole Lloyd
Leadership
May 2007-
Letter
from the Leadership Innovation Team (New!)
Next Meeting:
March 28, 10:00 am,
Westminster Presbyterian Church. Please
join us!
Thank you: The following Thank You note is available for
download - such as for pastors to use with their deacons and elders, in
recognition of their leadership in the Church, in congregations and in
this Presbytery:
Thank you card's
outside |
inside (MS Word format)
Updated March 13, 2007:
Goal: To help this presbytery move towards a culture of shared
leadership.
This process should recognize the importance of:
- Memory: both the negative experiences that hinder people from moving
forward and also accessing positive experiences of shared leadership
they have had in the past to help them move forward.
- History: Having a basic common understanding of how a presbytery can
and should function and what it means to be Presbyterian.
- Ownership: The presbytery is made up of US – that it needs and values
all individuals and congregations, and that this needs to be
communicated to new pastors, new members, in officer training, and
affirmed by pastors.
Vision of Leadership in the PTCA:
Leadership affirms the priesthood of all believers. This means that
every Presbyterian is a leader in this presbytery and is called to share
his or her gifts. We need one another. In the PTCA all are called to
equip, educate, and empower each other. We choose to be connected for
the purpose of joyfully participating in God’s work in the world.
Initial Project Goal:
To visit congregations for conversations to communicate:
- our vision of what leadership in this presbytery could look like
- a brief understanding of presbytery function
- to gather stories and experiences from congregations of positive,
mutual leadership in order to share them widely and help reframe this
presbytery’s narrative of leadership
- to ask them about their gifts, calling and identity as a congregation
to help recognize how their congregation is a unique and vital part of
the whole
Names: Dennis Benton, Susan Marvin, Kara Root, Nancy Grittman,
Eric Adams, JoAnn Simser, Betty Raitt, Dwight Chamberlain, Cindy Ray,
Doug Mitchell, Gordon Stewart, Julia Carlson, Joshua Heikkila
Cluster Formation: two groups
| Possibility
proposition: To encourage the building of relationships, the
PTCA has created six distinct clusters. Clusters are formed
primarily geographically: One in the southern tier of our area,
the rest divided like the spokes of a wheel with a single large
congregation in each cluster (Faith, Christ, House of Hope,
Hope, and Westminster). All members are benefiting from
increased networking, pastoral support, Bible study, and sharing
of resources. This new organization has allowed us to greatly
reduce the number of PTCA business meetings. Pilot Project:
Initiative for Cluster Formation
Purpose: The purpose of this initiative is to design a
workable structure for the PTCA to reorganize its life and
ministry around the concept of clusters.
Plan:
• Gather information on congregations and clergy in PTCA
• Divide into six relatively equal clusters based loosely on
geography, including a broad diversity of size
• Recommend new structure to March 2007 meeting of PTCA
Note: Leave training, implementation, accountability, and
constitutional committee questions to other initiative groups.
Names: Janet Youel, Anne Farmer, Rochelle LeTourneau,
Ward Sessing, Barb Van Loenen, Phil GebbenGreen, Katie Estes
Collins, Terry Roos, John Goertz
Others to consult: Stated Clerk Nancy Grittman
regarding congregational sizes and exact geography. |
Name of Project: Network Initiative Project
Members:
Rollie Baldwin, Sandra Berthene, Bette Buelow, Sandra Hawley, Josh
Heikkila, Dick Whitcomb. Purpose of the Project:
To create a flexible, dynamic network within the Presbytery of the
Twin Cities Area that builds meaningful and supportive relationships
among churches, clergy and laity, so as to define and accomplish the
work of the Presbytery in a collaborative, efficient and
cost-effective manner. Description of the Project:
To conduct studies and develop recommendations to the Presbytery
regarding the organization of geographic clusters utilizing networks
within and across cluster boundaries, allowing churches of different
sizes and in different geographic areas to accomplish more together
than they could do alone. In response to changing needs and emerging
opportunities, clusters and networks can be formed to aid new church
development, Christian education, fellowship, worship, mission
(local, national, and international), spiritual growth, leadership
development, and advocacy. The project will use experience gained
from Kwanzaa Community partnerships (10 churches from Stillwater to
Edina), Disability Concerns (10 churches from Roseville to Eden
Prairie), and the recent Hungarian partnership (12 churches from
Rochester to Stillwater). The project will include recommendations
from all committees required by the Book of Order, including the
Committee on Ministry and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry,
regarding the feasibility of cluster components of these committees,
ranging from totally independent to subsets of Presbytery-level
committees. The Stated Clerk will be consulted on all project
recommendations to assure compliance with the Book of Order. The
project also will explore the use of technology to provide timely
and relevant information to members of these networks, and to
minimize the time and expense of travel. Estimated Project
Completion Date: May 1, 2007 |
Conversations about
differences: four groups
| Pilot Project:
Season of Healing and Reconciliation
Plan:
The Summit Planning Team will be asked to be the nominating
committee to nominate seven members to a Council of Elders. This
group of seven should be respected, honorable and trustworthy
members of the Presbytery, representative of differences and able to
bridge differences. The Summit Planning Committee—now Nominating
Committee—will accept and offer names for their deliberation. The
slate of possible names should be known and delivered well in
advance to Presbytery members. Members will be invited to write
confidential responses of concern and/or support before the slate is
presented to Presbytery. Seven will be elected. The Council of
Elders will be commissioned in a service at Presbytery.
They will be charged to promote and set up conversational forums
about the differences which divide, making room for dialogue which
names the hurts, apologies, forgiveness, and healing. They will be
charged to set up a Presbytery Worship service—as the time seems
right—to heal and celebrate our diversity and challenging work. The
service will be replicated within or together with all the
congregations of the Presbytery. The Council of Elders will make a
brief report to Presbytery at each meeting.
Names: David Stewart, Carolyn Germaine, Anita Cummings |
Possibility Proposition: We are
listening to each other’s stories, and we have come to understand
that we are truly brothers and sisters in Christ and we commit
ourselves to continue to walk together, pray for each other, and
continue to listen always to each other. Pilot Project:
Stop in the Name of Love . . . Before You Break My Heart
Plan:
• Cease all but constitutionally mandated functions of Presbytery
for not less than a year.
• In order to deepen personal and spiritual friendships between
people and among congregations, create six congregational clusters
to meet faithfully in order to witness each other's testimonies.
• Initial cluster meetings to happen before year's end.
• Communication plan: Presbytery staff
• Resources: Council, Clerk, Executive Presbytery of the Twin Cities
Area
Initiative Leaders: John Ryan, Zach Wilson
Group Members: Rich Phenow, Jody Phenow, Bruce Johnson, Jamie
Schultz |
| Possibility
Proposition: The Presbytery of Twin Cities Area is a fellowship
where presbyters are known for working hard together in Christ's
mission, for sharing genuine moments of caring laughter, for stating
with passion and respect their deep convictions on controversial
issues, and for praying for God's best through one another's
ministries.
Cluster Group:
Conversations About DifferencesVision: FAITH IN ACTION:
Discussing the Issues
Purpose:
Living Together in the Midst of Differences:
Involving all people within our Presbytery
This initiative promotes Life Together in the Midst of
Differences in such a way that: The Presbytery of the Twin Cities
Area is a fellowship where presbyters are known for working hard
together in Christ’s mission, for sharing genuine moments of caring
laughter, for stating with passion and respect their deep
convictions on controversial issues, and for praying for God's best
through one another's ministries.
Table Representative: Bruce Brooks
Coordinators:
Part A: Sue Brooks-Qualified Mediator;
Sandra Griswold-LPC, LGSW & Mediator
Communication Arrangements: (Beginning with email)
Timeline: Beginning 11/11/06
Steps:
A. Infusing communication guidelines that enhance relationships
throughout our Presbytery.
Resource and Referral Information for sustaining healthy
communication:
• Workshops: Creating Healthy Dialogue in the Midst of
Differences
• Workshops: Mediation Skill Training for Balanced Dialogue:
• 1:1 Dialogues with 3rd Party Neutral Person Facilitating
• PUP Tent Conversations
• Lombard Mennonite Peace Center-Congregational Resources
• Hamline University Law School Mediation Center-Training and
Mediation
• Books, Literature & Web Resource List
B. Faith in Action Series: Safe Spaces for Forums on Divisive
Issues
Where Voices are Heard
• Select 3 Geographic Locations for Forums
• After each meeting write and post voices of the people attending
• Create web blog or other web method of communication
C. Coordinate with the other Cluster’s ideas: Having Forgiveness
and Healing Worship Service
D. Having the goal of putting divisive issues "behind us" by a) a
point within the year when a vote is taken, and/or b) a point in
time when the relationship between opposite voices will be such that
the issue no longer stands in the way of other shared Christian
efforts together
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Possibility Proposition:
Life together amidst our differences is a given. It is not a
possibility that we not come together. To that end, we create
special occasions for paired individuals to report, to those
assembled, the fruits of their on-going conversations. The
individuals are chosen for their positions on a variety of
spectrums/issues, one from each end. For a period of not less than
one year, they covenant to learn who their "opponent" is, and why
they believe what they do. The model for conversing is that used by
the PUP task force or something similar. At regular intervals, they
report back to their assemblies, taking special effort to include
the strengths of their "opponent's" position and the weaknesses of
their own. Their experience models a conversation larger groups may
also engage in, centered on, for example, interpretations of
Scripture.
Pilot Project:
The PUP Tent project
Plan:
• Team will find and implement models of conversation that need
to take place, using pairs of individuals as conversation partners.
• Conversations will begin as soon as possible.
• Pairs will report back to larger group at cluster or Presbytery
meetings.
• This will encourage new appreciation for other ways of thinking
• It will help all to value our differences.
Names: Rick Konecki, Sher'ron Brown Konecki, Scott
Stapleton, Katie and John Bergen, Marilyn Youel |
Summit Purpose
The Presbytery Council of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
(PTCA) expressed a desire to develop a compelling and unified vision, to
seek God’s will for our life together; and in response, to create new
ways for the Presbytery to empower ministry and mission. To do this, the
Presbytery is conducting an Appreciative Inquiry Summit in order to
discern God’s will, develop a vision for our life together in the midst
of differences and develop a plan for a dynamic organizational structure
that will serve the needs of our member congregations.
Listening sessions summary
 Here
in
PDF format is the . . .
Summary of the Spring 2006 listening sessions:
a report in anticipation of the PTCA Summit 2006, November 10 & 11
PTCA Summit 2006
Planning Team
Summit Planning Team (on behalf of Presbytery Council): Mary Cederberg;
Anita Cummings (moderator@ptcaweb.org); Sue Goodspeed; Tim Hart-Andersen
(prescouncil@ptcaweb.org); Josh Heikkila; David Lenz;
David Mwihia; Kathy Van Schooten; Jamie Schultz; Ward Sessing; JoAnn Simser;
and Steve Wolinski, Appreciative Inquiry Consultant.
Copyright © 2007 PTCA
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