Dear Friends in the Synod of the Northeast,
On September 18-19 we had our last Mission and Ministry Commission meeting. Since its beginnings in 2015, the commission has helped to support ministries of many kinds throughout the Synod. Through our work together many of us have become friends. Thank you to all who served on the this and past commissions. The new Synod Assembly will begin working together in October. At that meeting, the Assembly will be oriented to its work. The Assembly will also act upon the 2027 budget. To prepare for this meeting, commissioners will be oriented to the budget in Zoom meetings in the month leading up to the in-person meeting.
Here is a summary of the actions taken at the September 18-19 commission meeting:
- Our Synod Leader reported that part of implementing the new vision will be done through the Implementation, Evaluation, and Adaptation Team. The Implementation, Evaluation, and Adaptation Team (I.E.A. Team) will support the Synod in moving its approved vision and Missional Pillars into action, assessing progress and impact, and recommending adjustments based on what is learned. The team will help create a disciplined cycle of implementation, learning, evaluation, and adaptation so that the Synod can respond thoughtfully to emerging opportunities and challenges.
The Commission elected the following individuals to the I.E.A. Team
▪ Rose Niles
▪ Brandi Wooten
▪ Scott Kindig
▪ Moses Biney
▪ Glory Thomas
▪ Magalene McClarrin
- The Commission approved the recommendation that United Presbyterian Church of Milford as one of the two congregations to participate in the 2026 program, contingent upon the congregation completing the Phase II process requirements.
- The third-year funding of the Presbytery Support Grant for the Presbytery of Boston for $40,000 is finishing this year and was previously approved by the commission.
- At its July meeting, the Collaboration Grant Commission approved the following grants:
▪ Presbytery of Boston, Presbytery of Northern New England, and Presbytery of
Southern New England — Phase I discernment process to create space for listening, reflection, relationship-building, and collaborative imagination regarding possible expressions of shared ministry ($5,000).
▪ “Waiting, Witness, and the Way of Christ: Reimagining the Church’s Calling” — joint event of the Presbyteries in central and western New York ($3,500).
▪ Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse and Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley — Merger Coordinator ($45,000).
▪ Presbytery of Utica and Presbytery of Northern New York — merger support ($45,000).
- The commission approved the revised Synod Standing Rules. A revised draft was presented to the commission.
- The commission voted to suspend the Standing Rule and by-laws to allow the newly elected Synod Commissioners to begin their terms on October 23, 2026 to conduct any necessary business and install the Synod Assembly’s new moderator.
- The Treasurer presented the audit report. Both the audit and bank reconciliations were clean.
Administrative Working Group
Motion 1:
The Commission approved the Personnel Committee’s action to provide the staff with a 3% COLA increase for 2027.
Motion 2:
The Commission voted to recommend that the Synod Assembly to approve the following motion: Suspend (this is a one-time suspension for purposes of this motion) our general practice of asset transfers in order to facilitate the transfer of $735,814 from the Operating Unrestricted Funds (Strategic Reserve) and $687,151 from designated funds to balance the 2027 budget.
Motion 3:
The Commission recommended that the Synod Assembly to reclassify $1,000,000 of Designated Funds from the Innovation Fund to the Operating Undesignated Fund (Strategic Reserve) and direct the Synod Treasurer to draw $200,000 from these funds in each of the following years: 2027, 2028, and 2029 to balance the budgets for those years if needed.
Motion 4:
The Commission recommended that the Synod Assembly to raise Synod per capita by $1.00 in 2027, $.50 in 2028, $.50 in 2029.
Motion 5:
The Commission recommended that the Synod Assembly approve the 2027 budget as presented by the Budget Team in the Synod Assembly packet.
Motion 6:
The Commission received the 2025 Audit Review with appreciation for the people who have worked so diligently on our financials, resulting in a clean report.
Mission Working Group
At the recommendation of the Mission Working Group, the Synod Mission and Ministries Commission approved the following 2026 Emerging Gospel Community Grant recommendations as presented:
Aboga por Su Causa / Advocate for Their Cause – Year 2
Coastlands Presbytery
Award: $5,000
Madres y Padres con Esperanza – Year 2
Presbytery of New York City Award $20,000
Parent Oasis: Faith & Family Table – Year 2
Presbytery of New York City Award: $20,000
Finding Our Way Home – Year 2
Hudson River Presbytery Award $5,000
New Breath Spirituality Center – Year 1
Albany Presbytery Award $10,000
Little Dreamer’s Library – Korean Church of Syracuse – Year 1
Cayuga/Syracuse Presbytery
Award $20,000
Sanctuary + Seed: The Wild Commons Year 1
Presbytery of the Highland Award $20,000
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Synod Leader thanked commissioners for their participation and collegiality. Many commissioners shared their gratitude for having served.
We look forward to the gathering of the Synod Assembly in October.
Peace,
Rev. T. J. DeMarco, Temporary Stated Clerk
Synod of the Northeast