Presbytery mutuileeting summary

The fall stated meeting of the Presbytery of Eastern Oregon is complete. We celebrated successes and transitions.

Success: The work of the Tutuilla administrative commission is complete. The church is functioning with the session meeting regularly, pastor Jack Schut leading worship regularly, and the church is reaching out to the community.

Success: The 50th anniversary of Roger Fisk's ordination. Celebrate not only the anniversary of Roger's ordination, but also his 50 years of service to Christ and the church.

Transition: Celebrate with us work of the pastor nominating committee of the First Presbyterian Church of LaGrande. On 10/25 they will recommend that the church call Keith Hudson and Laura Hudson as co-pastors. If that call is made the presbytery will recommend their ordination in Sitka Alaska and installation as co-pastors in LaGrande.

Success: The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ministry of the Community Presbyterian Church in Mt. Vernon.

Success: The recognition by the PC(USA) General Assembly Mission Council that the presbytery was first in per capita giving in two categories in 2008. This recognition follows similar recognition last year.

Transition: Thanks for the work of Rev. Larry Loftus, stated supply to the First Presbyterian Church since 2008. Larry has provided leadership to Lostine for several years and most recently to LaGrande.

Transitions: Thanks for the work of intern Talitha Phillips from San Francisco Theological Seminary for her work during the past year. Talitha has provided great service to the Lostine church and the presbytery.

In addition the presbytery:
Set total General Assembly, Synod, and presbytery per capita assessment for 2010 at $26.00.

Heard the report from Eastern Oregon Presbytery Women on their work and their participation in the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in July.

Mission Yearbook of Prayer and Study (Children's too)

I've been told that the orders for mission yearbooks are being filled now. We should have ours by the end of the month. The Wednesday or Thursday before the presbytery meeting would have been better as I'll be leaving Pendleton for Lostine before I get deliveries on Friday. I'll find a way to ship them to you after the meeting, although they probably won't go out until November 3 at the earliest.

The material for the presbytery meeting changes daily

Even more information received today, Thursday. Because of illness, Linda Toth will not be able to lead a discussion about the national and international mission of the Presbyterian church, (USA). This will accommodate a request by Mary Lou Welby to engage in conversation about a mission statement for the presbytery.

The new new material to the Eastern Oregon Presbytery reference material site: http://bit.ly/16cPYf

Christmas Joy Offering Material Now Available

Material to assist in receiving the Christmas Joy Offering is now available at http://www.pcusa.org/cjoffering/index.htm .



One of the features of this year's Christmas Joy Offering is material from Children's Art Contest winners. One of those winners (2d place in 1 to 6 year age group) is Jaedyn Lehman of the Pendleton First church. Congratulations Jaedyn!!

Art from the Chiildren's Art Contest is at http://www.pcusa.org/cjoffering/childrenart.htm

Pension Board offers Tax classes for Ministers and Churches

The Pension Board offers a free Webinar for ministers and churches on how to reduce taxes for the 2009 tax year.

Tax Tips Webinar for Ministers and Churches
December 9, 2009
Noon Pacific Time


Register now. Deadline November 20

Eastern Oregon Presbytery Reference Material

Eastern Oregon Presbytery Refernce Material is available on Google Docs. The list of contents is available at http://bit.ly/dR3OR

Reference Material

Standing Rules of Presbytery

Presbytery Directory

Roll of Ministers

Elders attending General Assembly

Guideline for Session Minutes

Manual for Clerks of Session

Stated Clerk's Job Description

Fall Meeting of Presbytery

See revised agenda posted 10/12/09

The fall meeting of Eastern Oregon Presbytery will be:
Friday and Saturday, October 23-24, 2009
Lostine Presbyterian Church
132 Highway 82
Lostine, Oregon
541-569-2451
Meeting background material is available at http://bit.ly/16cPYf

First Preview of General Assembly 219, July 3 - 10, 2010

I'm at the fall polity conference of the PC(USA) in Minneapolis, MN. This is the site of the 219th General Assembly, July 3- 10, 2010. More information is available at the GA web page, www.pcusa.org/ga219. At the October meeting, October 23-24, the presbytery will elect on minister and one elder to be commissioners and one youth to be a delegate to the General Assembly.

The facilities are exciting. Look at the Minneapolis information on the GA219 web site. We look forward to great hospitality.