UPDATE FROM THE COMMISSION ON PASTORAL MINISTRIES ON THE "SEASON OF REBUILDING" FROM THE BOARD OF PENSIONS

Dear members and friends of the Milwaukee Presbytery,

As you are hopefully aware, early last spring the Board of Pensions announced a significant restructuring of its benefits packages that will take effect on January 1, 2025. Details about the forthcoming changes can be found by visiting https://seasonofrebuilding.pensions.org/.

Members of the Commission on Pastoral Ministries (CPM) and the Commission on Transitional Ministries (CTM) met with our Regional Consultant, the Rev. Ken Green, back in May and a presbytery-wide informational session with Ken was offered in early July at Jerusalem Presbyterian Church. Since then, members of CPM have been in touch with ministers serving in congregations to check in, learn more about their benefit needs, and offer support in navigating these changes. 

Per the advice from the Board of Pensions, CPM is not recommending any additions to the presbytery’s 2025 terms of call related to benefits packages. As churches begin the process of budgeting for 2025, please know that members of CPM are available to provide support and to be a partner in conversation with pastors and sessions. The commission also encourages those with further questions to reach out to Ken directly at kgreen@pensions.org. 

As we continue to learn more about the needs in the presbytery related to benefits, CPM will be reaching out to pastors and congregations shortly after the new year to learn more about which benefits packages pastors are enrolled in for 2025 and what factors went into the decision-making process. It is our hope that what we learn after the new changes are implemented will help us in faithfully discerning what presbytery support for congregations and their pastors. If you have further questions, or have gained insights that may be helpful for other congregations, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. 

Thank you for your partnership in ministry! 

Rev. Teresa Larson

Moderator, Commission on Pastoral Ministry

teresalarson@immanuelwi.org

EVENT CANCELED -- CHURCH SECURITY AND SAFETY TRAINING

The Church Security & Safety Training event to be held on Saturday, August 24 has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. Disaster Preparedness & Response hopes to reschedule this event at a later time and appreciates the commitment from all those who registered.

RACIAL ETHNIC STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

The Committee on Racial Equity Ministry is now accepting applications for the Racial Equity Student Scholarships. Please share this information with your congregations and in your newsletters.

This scholarship is an educational assistance program designed to encourage Racial Ethnic students to complete their post high school education and graduate with an academic degree. Those pursuing a seminary or doctoral degree may also apply. All of the information about the scholarship and the application can be found on the synod’s website. Questions may be sent to office@lakesandprairies.org.

A SEASON OF PEACE DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Each day during A Season of Peace, September 8 – October 6, 2024, you can receive a devotional. This year’s reflections for A Season of Peace highlight Presbyterians in history who have challenged injustice, broken down barriers and dividing walls, advocated for the marginalized, stewarded the common good, taught peace and been agents for the transformation of society.

Are text messages more your thing?

If text messages are more your speed, consider signing up for a daily text message featuring a prayer of peace. Each day during A Season of Peace (Sept. 8–Oct. 6, 2024), you will be texted the prayer from our A Season of Peace email devotional. This is a great option if you want a simple prayer each day for peace.

REGARDING RULING ELDERS

Serve the Lord with Gladness

valerie izumi has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly.

PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS SPECIAL OFFERINGS RESOURCES

Several resources are available to help you plan for the upcoming Peace & Global Witness Offering. These resources are great for children, youth or adults — some are even intergenerational. Check out some of the options below:

Worship Liturgy for World Communion Sunday

This liturgy follows the theme of sowing seeds of peace and provides you with everything you need, from the call to worship to the prayers of the people and even the communion liturgy. Planning World Communion Sunday worship is easy with everything ready to go.

Coloring Sheet

Do you need an activity for the children in your congregation or maybe just the young at heart with a joy of coloring? Our coloring sheet offers a great activity for a prayground, children’s church or even as an extra option for those fast finishers in Sunday school.

PowerPoint Slides

Download these completely customizable PowerPoint slides. They are great for using during worship or in a committee or session meeting. Share information about the Peace & Global Witness Offering and personalize these slides for your congregation.

Social Media Images

Need an easy post for your congregation’s Instagram or Facebook account? Special Offerings has you covered. There are a plethora of images you can use that share information about the upcoming Peace & Global Witness Offering. Additionally, Facebook cover images are available that will add to your congregation’s emphasis on this season.

View all Peace & Global Witness Resources

POLITY, RECORDS, AND YOU

Wednesday, September 4, 2:00-3:30 p.m. CST

Presbyterian Historical Society Records Archivist David Staniunas will talk about the maintenance and use of records, how to close a bricks-and-mortar office and build a remote office, what to look for when working on closed churches’ property, what to keep/shred, legal discovery/what lawyers ask for, where to find records and who can help you; and how your national archives supports mid councils with research, preservation, and access. 

To register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUoceurrjkrHNKpFyaSkakRwovh7K6pls_O

TRANSITIONS FOR MID COUNCIL MINISTRIES AREA OF OGA

A message from Stated Clerk Jihyun Oh

With Kris Valerius out on extended leave and my new role as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), some of you may have been wondering what the Mid Council Ministries area will look like in the coming months. Here is the transition plan while the Unification Commission continues their work to unify OGA and PMA.

• Tim Cargal will become the Interim Director of Mid Council Ministries until his retirement in May 2025. In addition to offering continuity in the OGA approach to supporting mid councils and coordinating that work during this transitional time, Tim will focus on supporting the conclusion of Church Leadership Connection development and help re-envision statistics and rolls systems and processes.
• We will follow transitional processes during this unifying time to search for staff to support preparation for ministry.
• We have temporary staff in place to work on stats and rolls; Tim will oversee this work and continue to work with Vicente and me to ensure that processes and systems are in place for stats season.
• Tricia Dykers Koenig has announced her retirement for December 2024. She and her spouse, Mark, who retired this month, are planning to move to Albuquerque. (You might have heard her talk about her two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter.)

We will follow transitional processes during this unifying time to search for staff in the Mid Council Relations role.

GA226 IN BRIEF

The General Assembly in Brief is available for download for use in your newsletter and at the next meeting of your council. Please also encourage your commissioners to use it during their reporting to the presbytery, and pastors to include it as a bulletin insert or in their newsletters.

Bulletin/Print Version

Letter-sized/Online Reading Version

GA226 RECORDINGS

Did you miss part of the 226th General Assembly (2024) — or want to relive something? Videos of plenary and committee meetings are posted for your viewing pleasure.

GATHERING: LITURGY FOR VITAL CONGREGATIONS

by Rev. Dan González-Ortega, Evangelist of the Presbytery

On July 27, 2024, Parroquia San José and North Shore Presbyterian Church collaborated to host the "Gathering: Liturgy for Vital Congregations," an event made possible by the generous support of the Congregational Vitality initiative of the Presbytery of Milwaukee.

This gathering served as a valuable platform for reflection upon the proposal put forth by the Latin American Network of Liturgy, known as "Red Crearte," which has recently established a presence in the United States through "Red Crearte US."



The Reverend Gerardo Oberman, coordinator of this network and pastor of the Reformed Church of Argentina, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the critical importance of…(read more and find an example of Advent liturgy)

Having worked through the Seven Marks of Vitality over the past couple of years, the Presbytery staff thought it would be fun to see images that fit into Outward Incarnational Focus. Those are the times when you're looking "out the door" with mission, philanthropy, connecting with partners, building relationships...you get the idea!

Photos sent to Kate will be shared in Fresh Impressions to celebrate you're Outward Incarnational Focus and help inspire those who are looking out their own door.

CELEBRATE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF REV. TED ANDERSON'S ORDINATION

FORGIVECO DEBT FORGIVENESS SERVICES

ForgiveCo is on a mission to serve the Milwaukee Presbytery, its congregations, and the people that bring it to life. Through the Matthew 25 initiative, ForgiveCo leverages cutting-edge debt forgiveness services to eradicate poverty. By utilizing funds from presbyteries, churches, and individuals, ForgiveCo forgives debt at pennies on the dollar for communities as a random act of kindness. This approach eases financial strain, boosts consumer spending, and improves credit scores, providing long-term benefits like increased disposable income and better access to loans. ForgiveCos unique 50:1 dollar multiplier means a $50,000 partnership can forgive $2,500,000 in debt, profoundly impacting roughly 1,000 lives. By targeting systemic inequalities, ForgiveCo offers psychological relief and addresses the structural factors fueling poverty, creating a brighter future for all. Join today at forgiveco.com. Contact Erik Antico at erik.antico@forgiveco.com or 914-565-4558.

NAVIGATING THE ELECTION SEASON

Webinars to help clergy and congregations during this election season

The Wisconsin Council of Churches and the Clergy Emergency League are partnering to present an election season webinar series this fall. Follow this link to find out more about these upcoming webinars: 

• Discovering Your Congregation’s Theologies of Conflict
• Politics, the Media, and the Church's Role in Truth-Telling
• Preparing for Faithful Nonviolent Resistance This Election Season
• Depolarizing Congregations and Communities
• During the Election Season and Beyond

Register today and mark your calendars!

St. Mathias Episcopal Church / First Presbyterian Church in Waukesha seeks MUSIC DIRECTOR