As we announced a few months ago, next week, May 17-23, General Assembly Council staff will be taking unpaid furlough leave as one of our measures to provide savings in the 2009 General Assembly Mission Budget during this challenging economic time. I am grateful to my colleagues for their personal sacrifice for the sake of General Assembly mission during this time.
 
During the furlough week, no work may be performed by GAC staff. Compliance to the “no work” rule is critical in order to comply with applicable federal and local laws, therefore most GAC offices will be closed next week.
 
We have arranged for a few staff to work during the week, in the event of an emergency. These staff will take their furlough leave at another time.
 
In the event of an emergency, these are phone numbers that you may use:
 

 
Other offices at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, including the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and Presbyterian Women, will remain open during this week. Here are direct dial numbers to their offices:
 

• Churches and individuals interested in calling PPC about These Days and Theology Today should call (800) 624-2612.
• Individuals and churches with questions about TheThoughtful Christian.com should call (800) 554-4694.
• Churches and individuals wishing to place orders should call Cokesbury at (800) 672-1789.
• Bookstores who wish to place an order should call (800) 523-1631.

 
GAC staff will return to the office on Tuesday, May 26, following the Memorial Day holiday. Thank you for your continued partnership in ministry.

Linda Valentine

The 2009 Presbyterian Communicators’ Network conference is being held in conjunction with Big Tent June 11-13 in Atlanta, Georgia. Have you signed up yet? 

We have a great line-up of plenary speakers and workshop leaders, including tech-savvy Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218^th General Assembly, speaking on “Social Media 101,” and Kevin Hoffman and Chris Cashdollar of Happy Cog (the company rebuilding the pcusa.org site), leading a workshop on Web site development. Other workshops that promise to be popular include “Beyond Language: Multicultural Communication,” “Church Newsletters: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” and “Worth a Thousand Words? A Graphic Design Primer.”

In addition to more than a dozen PCN workshops, there are three great plenary sessions: “Communications as a Ministry,” “Reaching the Un-Churched and De-Churched,” and “Communicating with Different Generations.” We’ve planned a tour of CNN headquarters followed by a special Q&A session with a CNN insider. And bring the kids – there are special programs for children, youth and young adults.

I know budgets are tight, but Big Tent truly is a great value. Participants can attend activities for our conference or sample workshops from any of the other partner conferences. In addition, there are shared Big Tent activities that include inspiring worship, shared meals, and a great outdoor celebration event at Centennial Park. The “early bird” deadline has been eliminated, which means the early bird registration fee will not increase. There are reasonable day rates for those who live in the Atlanta area or those who can only attend a day or two. And the first 100 PCN Conference registrants receive free hotel accommodations worth more than $300; see details on the attached flyer. There is still time to be one of the first 100 if you register now.

Please see the two attachments for a full PCN schedule and more details. Feel free to pass these attachments along to others who handle communication duties within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Also, as communicators, will you help us promote Big Tent? Post information and links on your web sites, or publish articles about the PCN conference and Big Tent in your online and print publications. There are some great promotional resources available on the Big Tent web site, including a downloadable video that can be posted on your web site and bulletin inserts.

Remember: Big Tent is open to all! People do not need to be on synod, presbytery or session staff. They do not need to be on staff at a church or involved with committees or networks. Anyone who has an interest is encouraged to join us at Big Tent.

See www.pcusa.org/comnet and www.pcusa.org/bigtent for more information.

I hope to see you at the Big Tent! And bring a friend – you’ll both have a great time.

Susan E. Lindsey, APR

Senior Communications Associate
Mission Communications
Presbyterian Church (USA)

See you at the Big Tent!
www.pcusa.org/bigtent

At the March 14 Stated Meeting, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area voted on the proposed amendments to the PC(USA) constitution.  Here are the results:

Affirmative Votes:

• 08-B Ordained Officers: On Amending G-6.0106b, G-14.0240, and G-14.0450
• 08-C Replacing the Word “Sympathy” with the Word “Compassion” On Amending G-6.0202b and G-6.0401
• 08-D General Assembly Mission Council Name Change On Amending Throughout the Book of Order
• 08-E Non-Geographic Presbyteries: On Amending G-11.0102 and G-12.0102k
• 08-G Synod Membership on Permanent Committees
• 08-H Five Ordination Examinations
• 08-J Alternative Forms of Resolution: On Amending D-2.0103 and D-10.0202h
• 08-K Ecumenical Statement with the Roman Catholic Church
• 08-L Ecumenical Statement with the Episcopal Church
• 08-M Ecumenical Statement with the Korean Presbyterian Church in America
• 08-N Ecumenical Statement with the Moravian Church

Negative Votes:

• 08-A Vows of Membership On Amending G-5.0200
• 08-F Presbytery Membership of Certified Christian Educators: On Amending G-11.0407 and G-14.0730
• 08-I Certified Christian Educators

As the financial crisis rolls on, it is impacting churches. As indiviudal churches struggle to make ends meet, so do larger bodies like the General Assembly. Below is a video from General Assembly Council Executive Director Linda Valentine and Deputy Executive Director for Mission Tom Taylor.

Below is a video by PC(USA) Moderator, Bruce Reyes Chow sharing his thoughts on the appointments he made to several task forces.

To read more about the appointments, please visit the Moderator’s Blog.

As many of you know, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area will take a vote on several amendment approved by the 218th General Assembly. Some of you may have questions about the proposed amendments and their affects on the faith community called the Presbyterian Church (USA). Some want more information on the proposed amendments. Others have formed viewpoints and want to share your insights with the wider community.In November of 2008, we set up “…Always to be Reformed,” a blog that allowed a venue where people could comment on each of the proposed amendments. For whatever reason, the blog was not able to stimulate the conversation desired.

In order to make conversation between fellow Presbyterians easier, we have created another way to allow dialogue. A forum has been set up where you can register, read and write posts on each of the proposed amendments. To take part, go to http://presbyterytwincities.org/discuss/ . After that, simply register and begin chatting. Some people might be concerned that allowing a space for dialogue will only deepen chasms and create antagonism between opposing viewpoints. However, this forum carries with it the hope of showing a “better way” to talk with each other over difficult issues. As with the blog it is hope that the forum can achieve to objectives:

-respectful conversation and continued dialogue within the Body of Christ.
-conversation that will help us to move forward past the votes to some kind of palatable future as a Presbytery.

I hope that you and your congregation will take part in these discussions. If you have any questions, please contact me, Dennis Sanders at 612-871-7281 or by email at communications@ptcaweb.org .

Thanks, and I look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,
Dennis Sanders
IT/Communications Specialist
Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area