January 31-February 1, 2025 Stated Synod Commission Summary

About one third of the Commission turned over at the end of December 2024, and introductions were made on Friday followed by orientations to working groups.

Comments Made and Actions Taken:

 Synod Leader, Rev. Dr. SanDawna Ashley, stated that the theme this year is Reimagining the Church in the World: Bold in Faith, Transformative in Mission, United in Christ.  True transformation depends on how we respond to this moment of fear in our country.  We are invited to think boldly and faithfully about the future.  Her report updates key actions since the Synod Assembly while outlining next steps.  She asked for prayers for the Discernment Team and Synod Staff and Leadership as we integrate rich insights gained over the last 2.5 years.  The goal is to present a compelling vision to the Assembly in November, answering the question of What is the role of the synod, and what is our calling?  How do we model and embody innovation while centering our work in the transforming gospel?  We are interested in sparking a movement, investing in strong leaders, and embracing a strong vision.

In response to the 2024 election, the synod has engaged mid-Council leaders in conversation and hosted two webinars on -Immigration Advocacy and Sanctuary Congregations.  The new Immigration Action Team will have 7-9 members working to put together proactive initiatives related to advocacy, support, and education, addressing challenges within presbyteries, congregations, and the wider community.  $18K has been allocated for this, in addition to money available in the current budget.  The project is still in development.

She signed on to a letter from the Massachusetts Council of Churches responding to the Trump administration's changes in the way that Homeland Security can intervene with churches, schools, and hospitals: sensitive spaces where the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were not permitted in the past to raid.  The letter was signed by heads of communions that form the MCC.  Plus she wrote a pastoral letter to the Synod community addressing fears and concerns in presbyteries and congregations.  

Stated Clerk, Rev. Nancy presented the results of a Permanent Judicial Commission case, which is required to be "spread across the Minutes" in full.  Our new rules require that two assessments of the five preliminary questions must be answered in the affirmative for a case to move forward, both when the case is presented and then again after an answer from the Committee of Counsel.  This case was dismissed because all the questions were not answered in the affirmative the second time.  The complainant, Randall Memorial Church in New York City Presbytery, challenged that finding.  So now the case is at the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission. 

Administrative Coordinator, Rev. Dr. Nichol Burris, reported that Early Ministry Institute will meet on May 19-23, 2025, in Silver Bay.  They have an excellent teaching staff, and many people already signed up.  The theme is Engaging Conflict, led by Rev. Dr. James Fenimore and Rev. Carol Howard.  There will be a synod-wide Indigenous Day Offering to be scheduled on a date to be determined. The Connectional Ministries Working Group has approved Emergency Migrant Ministry Grants for $5K each to four churches in the synod.

Mission Working Group.

Rev. Aaron Frank reported that the themes of their work were: food insecurity for college and university students, fear over global unrest, e.g. Israel and Gaza, US politics and implications.  There is a desire for familiarity and community, and to connect around shared values. 

The campus ministry programs seek to address these needs and concerns but also place Christ at the center of the relationships they are building, seek to deepen faith and bring people to faith, and call people to service.  For all the Campus Ministry grant applications the full requested amounts of $2500 was recommended for each applicant.

  • Protestant Campus Ministry at Albany 

  • Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell

  • Princeton Presbyterians of the Westminster Foundation (Also serves Princeton Seminary, Ryder College, and Mercer County Community College)

  • Campus Ministry at the Sage Colleges. 

  • United Campus Ministry at Plymouth State University

  • Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministries 

  • UKirk Ewing of the Westminster Foundation (College of New Jersey)

  • LaMP Campus Ministry (uptown Manhattan)

  • Campus Church Coalition (State University of New York, Buffalo)

  • Cortland Interfaith Council

  • PRiSM Student Ministry (downtown Manhattan)

  • Protestant Chapel Community (University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology) 

The Commission VOTED to fund these campus ministry grants as presented, totaling $30,000.  (This does not exhaust the money budgeted for campus ministry grants.)   

Youth and Young Adult Leadership Development

Princeton Presbyterians Sabbath Retreat Weekends            $6000

Presbyterian Camps and Conferences at Johnsonburg       $7500

(We will need to expand the requirements to include people from outside the synod.)

Good Success Academies                                                                             $7500

Institute of Music for children                                                                       $7500

Total                                                                                                              $28,500

The Commission VOTED to fund these grants.                     

Connectional Ministries Working Group.

Rev. Brandi Wooten reported that the Working Group did an overview of their work. 

They are working on Emergency Migrant Grants for which a non-budgeted amount of $15K is available now. Indigenous Mission Day, June 14, 2025, will focus on the Seneca Nation.  She invited the Commissioners to spread the word.  There will also be an offering through the synod.  Bulletin inserts are available.   

Administrative Working Group.

Elder Lisa Gray reported.  She listed the following standing committees under the Administrative Working Group who are seeking volunteers for this year:  the Audit Committee, the Wuffel-Sills Review Committee, Anti-Racism and Harassment Policy Writing Group, and the Committee on Representation.

Elder Gray encouraged Commission members to communicate back home in their churches and presbyteries how we are doing in meeting our mission goals. 

The Commission VOTED to receive the Treasurer's Report.     

The Commission VOTED to ratify the transfer of $18K left over from the 2024 DEI budget to set up an advocacy and justice fund, to be used for immigration advocacy.

The Commission VOTED to increase the Youth Triennium scholarships to $150 per individual up to age 25 and add using it to send middle-schoolers to a particular similar gathering.

The Commission VOTED to authorize the Leadership Team to approve the selection of Committee on Representation members.

Finally, Elder Gray noted the upcoming meeting dates for 2025:

  • Mission and Ministries Commission, April 25-26, in-person

  • Mission and Ministries Commission, September 18-20, in-person

  • Special Meeting of the Synod Assembly, November 15, in-person

Question

In response to a question from a Commissioner, the Stated Clerk reported that progress in translating documents into Spanish and Korean is happening only slowly.  There are translation disagreements among speakers of these languages which need to be resolved.  There is also so much going on in Louisville which is preventing adequate attention being paid to this. This Commissioner offered to help get some people together for this. 

Mark Bennett