Dear Synod Community,
For our clergy siblings who serve congregations, I hope that you were able to find rest after the Easter rush. I hope that all of you are enjoying this slow beginning to Spring. Here at the Synod, we had our Mission and Ministry Commission meeting from April 24-25 in Englewood, NJ. As always, we had business to attend to, and I’ve listed all our actions below. It was also a time of spiritual reflection and worship.
Our speaker was Rev. Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung who shared his thoughts on the rule of the Herod family in Palestine during the time of Jesus. He reminded us of Herod the Great’s paranoia and brutality and how his offspring followed suit, even if they were a little less “great.” Our speaker reminded us that we live in Herod-like times. The birth of Jesus demonstrated that though the most powerful government in the world was unspeakably corrupt and violent, that the birth of Jesus was a sign that God had not given up on planet earth. This, he believes, is important for us to remember in these times.
He also introduced us to “Critical Mentoring.” This is mentoring done through a social justice lens. He focused his words on the great mentor, Howard Thurman. Thurman mentored great figures like Barbara Jordan, Whitney Young, and Martin Luther King, Jr. While Thurman has long since passed away, a great way to learn from him is through his books, especially Jesus and the Disinherited and The Inward Journey.
One quote that I appreciate from Thurman was this, “Whoever controls the thermostat to your soul controls your life. No one should control the thermostat to your soul.” Words like these helped civil rights leaders find peace as they fought for justice against the principalities and powers of their time.
During the commission meeting, our dedicated commissioners took important actions in support of the mission of congregations around the Synod. Here is a list of the actions:
- The commission voted to endorse and concur with the Korean American Roundtable Overture.
If approved by the General Assembly, this overture will form a Korean American Ministry Roundtable in partnership with Presbyterian Life and Witness to explore and advance immigrant theology for the advancement of the Korean American church’s mission and to equip the next generation of leaders.
The overture cites for purposes:
1. To serve the Korean American Church and the larger denomination.
2. Form a new vision for a new time. The roundtable will explore how the Korean American church can move beyond its role as a community hub and become a site for prophetic ministry.
3. To navigate significant transitions and emerging challenges.
4. Build leadership capacity for the church of today and tomorrow.
How much, and if, the Synod will support the Korean American Church Roundtable will be determined later if this overture is adopted by the 227th General Assembly in June/July of 2026.
- The commission approved the new Standing Rules published in advance of this meeting. The new set of Standing Rules replaces any previous Standing Rules effective at the first meeting of the new Synod Assembly, which is scheduled to begin its work in January of 2027.
- The Commission authorized the write-off of the operating note receivable of $25,000 carried on behalf of Ushindi Church (Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church), Lowell, Massachusetts, under the Presbytery of Northern New England, as an unrecoverable bad debt, effective June 30, 2026, consistent with the full reserve for doubtful accounts established and maintained since January 2021.
- The Commission elected Ruling Elder Steve Bodden to the Investment Review Committee.
- The Commission established a search committee to fill the position of Synod Stated Clerk to be made up of five persons.
- The Commission approved the membership of the Synod Stated Clerk search committee to be four members of the Leadership Team and one member of the Personnel Committee.
- The Commission approved funding grant applications as recommended by the Mission working group. The following grants recommendations, which the Commission approved total $140,000:
INV-26-04-02 Glo Girls Empowerment Club- Year 2 $5,000 Northeast New Jersey Institute of Music for Children
INV-26-04-03 Renewing Fatherhood – Year 1 $10,000
New York City First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica
INV-26-04-04 Christmas Labrinth – Year 1 $10,000
Northeast New Jersey First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell
INV-26-04-05 Elizabeth Pipeline for Success – Year 1 $10,000
Northeast New Jersey Restore Ministries, Inc.
INV-26-04-06 Cook and Eat – Year 2 $15,000
New York City Bethel Presbyterian Reformed Church
INV-26-04-08 New Breath Spirituality Center – Year 1 $5,000
Albany
With Conditions – Only for Scholarships
INV-26-04-09 Roseville -Vision2Victory- Year 1 $10,000
Northeast New Jersey Roseville Presbyterian Church
INV-26-04-10 Transformations Online Community Portal – Year 1 $7,500
Hudson River Connect Faith
With Conditions – Not for Staff
INV-26-04-11 Well Being Trauma Informed Personal Empowerment Year 2 $15,000
Hudson River Interfaith Prison Partnership
INV-26-04-12 Innovative Young Adult Ministry Initiative Year 1 $10,000
Coastlands Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church
INV-26-04-13 The Hive Year 1 $10,000 Southern New England First Presbyterian Church of Hartford
INV-26-04-15 Bronx First Faith in Action Initiative -Year 1 $7,500 New York City Bronx Presbyterian Churches
INV-26-04-16 UKirk Ewings Young Adult Sunday Services- Year 1 $5,000 Coastlands Princeton Presbyterians of the Westminster Foundation
INV-26-04-17 Immersive Music Experience – Year 2 $10,000
New York City Bedford Central Presbyterian Church
INV-26-04-18 Reconnecting Community $10,000
Uniting Through Arts and Music in a Welcoming Space Year 2
Southern New Jersey Memorial Presbyterian Church of Wenonah
- The Commission approved the Ecumenical Grant application for the Summer Institute of Theology at Hartwick College in the amount of $2,500 recommended by the Connectional Ministries Working Group.
We are especially thankful for the gracious hosting of Rev. Rich Hong and the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, NJ. As always, we are thankful for the dedicated work of our commissioners.
Peace,
Rev. T. J. DeMarco, Temporary Stated Clerk
Synod of the Northeast