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Responses from
Presbytery Entities
What's an
entity?Entity: A word coined to represent groups, places, corporations, camps and the like that function within the presbytery. They may or may not “belong” to the presbytery, but the membership of the presbytery participate with, support and hopefully sustain their particular ministry or vocation.Process of Information Gathering Each entity/group was assigned a representative from Shenandoah 2010 who is to make contact with them regarding completing the Entity Questionnaire. The purpose of this portion of the research is to connect, or re-connect, the members of the presbytery with these ministries that enlarge, support, nurture, or are nurtured, by us. |
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Listing of Entities/Groups and Responses 1. Ethiopian Partnership 2. Massanetta Conference Center 3. Camp Paddy Run Amy Tubbs responded to our inquiries, and presented this description of Paddy Run. “Our outdoor ministry objective is to celebrate Christianity through experiences and fellowship in the natural world. Taking full advantage of the natural setting at Camp Paddy Run, the Camp Committee seeks to: -enable people to begin or deepen their relationship with God, -encourage discipleship through Christian nurture and leadership development, and, -foster stewardship of the earths’ resources.” Camp Paddy Run is overseen by a dedicate group of volunteers who are passionate about the camp, mostly because these folks all have had profound spiritual experiences in this camp, or others like (a rustic setting), and have seen that experience manifest itself in others. By preserving the quiet, natural setting at Camp Paddy Run, their hope is to provide generations the opportunity to move beyond their “comfort zones” and find and embrace God in this setting. The leadership and volunteers of this camp are the only ones in our presbytery that actually oversees and manages a facility. They meet quarterly to discuss the camp, from day-to-day maintenance to planning for the future. Typically, January’s meeting is a planning session; April-May is work-day and prep-day planning; and in September-October is work-time to secure camp. Other meetings are called as needed. Camp Paddy Run reports to the Presbytery Council. At present, Council does not have a particular person charged with the role of liaison to the camp, though at one time, Camp and Conference Committee (currently inactive) was a means to connect the camp to the presbytery. You will also see their display at presbytery meetings. The committee runs a website, which is: www.camppaddyrun.org. Visit the site for a variety of information and sign-ups! This camp does receive financial support from the presbytery’s annual budget (each year Budget and Finance evaluates this support), as well as generating funds through fees collected for use of the facility. What would Camp Paddy Run ask of the presbytery? Come out and see us. There are churches in their area that use the facility for VBS, conferences, events, camping and the like. It is only a couple of hours from the southern part of the presbytery, and you are invited to use our camp! This camp has a true rustic appeal to it, and the only way to know it is to be in it. 4. PDA – Disaster Response Team Dave Thalman was the contact person for PDA. Dave actually steered us more towards DRT, the Disaster Response Team of our presbytery. PDA is of course the denomination’s organization, whereas DRT is our adaptation of preparedness in regards to our presbytery. DRT was charged to “develop and maintain a Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for the presbytery, that includes: coordinating responses to disasters within and outside of our presbytery, provide a preparedness plan for the presbytery, and develop and teach disaster response skills to those churches who wished to “be prepared!” DRT is a sub-committee of Presbytery Council. More correctly stated, it is a “Task Force” of Council, aimed to work with the mission communities. It provides a written report to council, as well as acting should disasters strike. They currently have a line-item budget of $2,000.00. They provide information from the website, offer training seminars, speak and participate at presbytery meetings, and work with mission communities. DRT works with mission communities, and have a specific rep from each community. Their key component is communication, and they strive to maintain a high level of it. Their hope is that all participants of the presbytery, meaning churches, organizations, and individuals, will avail themselves to the resources that this group can, and will, provide. 5. Presbyterian Pilgrimage 6. Presbytery Corporation 7. Presbytery Women Mimi Moring, Moderator and Dot Bowers, Moderator elect, Joan Van Brunt, and Joann Tomaselo were the contact person for the Presbytery Women. Each provided a “purpose” for Presbyterian Women, beginning with “to support the spiritual lives of all women of the Shenandoah Presbytery,” to “advocacy and support of the work of the presbytery in reference to women, resourcing local PW organizations, missions, and Bible study.” PW organizations are based in local churches, with each church group defining their means of working. The presbytery group meets quarterly for leadership development; they meet twice a year with all women invited to these events, and the Synod will usually meet once a year. PW has a spot on Council and of course has representatives to presbytery meetings with voice and vote. They use the Shenpres.org site for communications, as well as their own e-mail/mail and phone contact lists. The PW has a national website for news, updates and plans. The mission component of PW is vital, and they have on-going mission events at every level, from the local church to national campaigns. Each local organization works with their churches of course, and tie into the offerings of the larger group. Since they are “local” they are always seeking new participants in their home churches, as well as reaching out to sister churches. The respondents to the survey stressed “making their programming relevant, their mission projects on-going, and that they be asked to do more and asked directly by the presbytery.” 8. Rehoboth Rev. Ann Held was the contact person for Rehoboth. Rehoboth is “a gathering group for clergy, CLP’s and Christian educators for support, continuing education, the development of community between the participants and other aspects of nurture. This group is part of the Pastoral Relations sub-committee of the Committee on Ministry. The nature and progress of the Rehoboth groups sponsored by this entity prepare proposals and final reports to the committee on their work. Since this began as a project funded from “outside of the presbytery” it has not received presbytery funds. In the future, though, you may hear from them from time to time, seeking funds through gifts, etc. The leadership group meets several times during the year, mostly to support and monitor the on-going Rehoboth groups working at that time. The use of e-mails, direct contact and phone lists are their main ways of communication. They work within the framework of COM to maintain contact with the presbytery structure. Their greatest accomplishment can be seen in the number of groups that still maintain contact with each other, even though they “have finished their tasks.” The friendships developed in the groups go a long way in sustaining the lives of those leaders who were and are involved in this program. 9. SPYCE - Shenandoah Presbytery Youth Council Extrordinaire Laura Holbrook was the contact person that filled us in on “SPYCE.” In her words, this is the call of SPYCE: “To provide fellowship, worship, nurture, and mission opportunities for the youth of Shenandoah Presbytery; to provide faith and leadership development and service to the presbytery by offering youth events.” This group is connected to our presbytery by development youth leaders from our churches. Each Mission Community is represented on their board, either by a youth participant or at least an adult. There are, from year to year, at least 20 to 25 youth leaders on their board! The youth make up the majority of the board membership, and they plan, participate, and take leadership roles in the many functions that SPYCE sponsors. Communication with the presbytery, surprisingly, is mostly “informal.” SPYCE hopes to at least once a year provide an oral report to presbytery, and they do work with Funds Administration during the year. The presbytery supports this group financially, with a budget item of $7,000.00 and also $10,000.00 to be used for summer conferences. They do of course, has Doug Sensabaugh as a shared asset! This group meets throughout the year to plan the programs. You can learn of these events through the presbytery website; by e-mails and facebook, by flyers and regular mailings. This group is the one that leads the various youth retreats during the year at Massanetta Springs (Jr. High and Sr. High for example) as well as leading the trips to Montreat and Triennium in the summer. Their long range plans include the development of deeper adult leadership, better ties to the presbytery through Council or a committee, and to continue the funding that the presbytery provides. Like all of our entities, they are always welcoming inquiries and visits to their ministry. A bring your youth group with you! |