!

!

ECO NATIONAL GATHERING

STRIVE 2016 JANUARY 26 – 28, 2016 // NEWPORT BEACH, CA

SYNOD MEETING – JANUARY 27, 2016 – 8:30AM

Worship

Call Meeting to Order & Prayer – Eric Jacobsen

ECO Movement Infrastructure – John Terech, Executive Director of Operations • Celebrating the Formation of New Presbyteries

Process for Proposing & Discerning ECO Business – Dana Allin, Synod Executive Theology Task Force – Richard Gibbons, Chair of Theology Task Force

• Proposed Amendment to Essential Tenets from Great Lakes Presbytery • Introduction of Theological Process

Nominations – Lucky Arnold, Chair of Nominating Committee

• See Nominations Packet Concluding Prayer - Larry Moffet, incoming Moderator and President of ECO

AGENDA

1

ECO:ACovenantOrderofEvangelicalPresbyterians

NarrativeBudget2016

Ourmissionistobuildflourishingchurchesthatmake

disciplesofJesusChrist.Ourbudgetprayerfullyreflectsthatmissionandwelook

forwardtowhatGodhasinstorefor2016.

Income:ECOissupportedbyitscovenantedchurchesandbygiftsofindividualsand

churchesaboveandbeyondthe1%duesstructure.With246congregationsinECO

asweended2015,ourconservativeestimateforduesincomeis$1,840,000.Wecanexpectroughly$20,000inadditionalgivingfromchurchesorindividuals.OnlyGodknowshowmanymorechurcheswillcomeintoECOin2016andofcourseour

emphasisonchurchplantingwillproduceevenmorecongregations,butour

numbershereareveryconservative,representingcertaintiesmorethan

possibilities.

Expenses:Staff: ECOhasaveryflatstructure.In2016,expensesforstaffareprojectedat$1,073,520.Thisincludesthesalariesandbenefits,travelexpensesandallothertaxesrelatedtostaff.Specifically,thepeoplethatrepresentthestaffofECOare:

• DanaAllin,SynodExecutive

• JohnTerech,ExecutiveDirectorofOperations

• MatthewLee,NationalChurchPlantingCatalyst

• TimFearer,DirectorofDiscipleshipMinistry(hiredthroughgrantmonies)

• AnnaKent,DirectorofMissionalAffinityGroups

• BillYoung,DirectorofGlobalEngagement

• EmilyDay,DirectorofCommunications

• SarahVanLant,AssistanttoSynodExecutive

• ShelbyGoss,FinancialAdministrator

• PattyTerech,OperationsAssistant

• SkyeStevenson,ExecutiveAdministrator

• BethAllin,NationalGatheringCoordinator

• BrendaSmith,FinanceandHealth&WelfareConsultant

• 2additionalcontractsupportpeopleifneeded

Presbyteries:TheSynodofECOwillcontinuetosupportitsgrowingandmultiplyingPresbyteriesthrough2016.Ourexpectationisthatwewillbeginwith

13Presbyteriesin2016butwillhavemorethroughouttheyear.$306,000isbudgetedforthislineitem,roughly17%ofthetotalbudgetedexpenses.

OtherExpenses:Aratherbroadcategoryhereencompassesalltheothercostsofdoingbusiness.RentforourGoletaoffice,thesupplies,website,database

managementsoftware,WCRCfees,bankrelatedcosts,boardexpensesallresidein

2

thispartofourbudget.$209,516iswhereweexpectthistobein2016aswemaintainalean,cloudbasedofficestructurewithnotonlyGoleta,CAasaplaceof

business,butthehomesofJohnTerechandothersaswell.

MinistrySupport:Hereiswhereyou’llfindmanyoftheinitiativesandsupportprogramswehaveforourlocalcongregations.Wehavebudgeted$187,500fortheseprograms.TheSynodExecutiveCouncilandStaffhaveavisionformany

opportunitiesforourchurchesandpastorsincluding:

• Leadershipdevelopment

• ContinuallyupdatedwebsiteforFlourish–ourministryandtrainingarm

• FurtherworkontheTheologyTaskForce,whichisnowECOonly

• Coachingsupplementation

• Sacramenttrainingforofficers

• Outsidepartnerships

• Churchplantingtraining

• Laypastortraining

• MissionInsitetools

Godwilling,witheverythinggoingaccordingtothebudget,ECOshouldfinishthe

yearwithpositivecashofjustover$88,000forreserves.

Blessings,

JohnTerech

ExecutiveDirectorofOperations

3

ProcessforOverturesandAmendments

InECOpolity,ahighlevelprocessisgiventomakeamendmentstotheconstitution.

Thishighlevelprocessisspelledoutin6.02ofourConstitution.

6.02AmendingthisConstitutionPresbyteriesmayoverturetheSynodofECOforchangesinthis

Constitutionasfollows:a.Twopresbyteriesmustconcurintheproposedchanges

andoverturethelargerbodywithchanges.

b.TheSynodmayamendandtransmittheproposed

changestotheConstitutiontothepresbyteriesfortheiraffirmativeornegativevote.Atwo-thirdsmajorityofthepresbyteriesshallbe

requiredforadoption.

c.AnyamendmenttotheEssentialTenetsshallrequireanaffirmativevoteoftwo-thirdsofthevotingmembersoftheSynod

presentandvoting.Inaddition,theaffirmativevoteofeach

presbyteryforsuchamendmentshallrequireanaffirmativevoteof

two-thirdsofthevotingmembersofsuchpresbyterypresentand

voting.

Furtherclarification,however,isneededastothetimingandmechanismthata

presbyterymayusetosubmitthoseproposedamendmentsaswellasother

overturesthatdonotrequirechangestothepolity.Thefollowingprovidesthe

guidelinesforsubmissionofthoseovertures.

1.Allovertures,whetherrelatedtothepolityornot,mustcomebywayofthe

presbyterytotheSynod,orbeproposedbytheSynodExecutiveCouncil.All

overturesshallincludeaclearandlegalmotion.Iftheoverturerequiresanamendmenttotheconstitution,itshallclearlystatethetextthatistobeadded

and/orremoved.Arationaleshallalsobeincluded.Becauseourmeetingsareshort

andtheagendaneedstobeclearlydefinedinadvance,nonewbusinesscanbe

broughtontotheflooroftheSynod.

4

2.Presbyteriesmustsubmitovertures120daysinadvanceofaparticularSynod

meetingandconcurrencebyanotherpresbyterymustbemade90daysinadvance

oftheSynodmeetingfortheitemtobeconsideredontheattheSynod.(Thenext

SynodmeetingisJanuary23,2018.Overturesmustthereforebesubmittedby

September25,2017andmusthaveconcurrencebyOctober17,2017.)

3.AlloverturesthatrequireSynodactionwillbepassedontotheSynod.TheSynod

ExecutiveCouncil,andotherrelatedSynodentitiescancommentonthesubmitted

overture.Unlessotherwisestatedinthepolity,Synodapprovalisdonebyasimple

majority.

4.SomeoverturesmaybeabletobehandledbytheSynodExecutiveCouncilina

moretimelyfashion.IftheSynodExecutiveCouncilcannothandletheovertureto

thesatisfactionofthesubmittingpresbytery,thentheoverturewillbepassedonto

theSynod.

5.Someoverturesmaynotrequireachangetothepolityortheologybutberelated

toaruleorprocedure.Inthesecases,iftheovertureispassed,itdoesnotrequire

concurrenceofthepresbyteries.Therefore,theresultoftheoverturegoesinto

effectatthecloseoftheSynodmeeting.

6.Someovertures,ifpassedattheSynod,requireapprovalofpresbyteries.The

presbyterieswillhave180daysafterthecloseoftheSynodmeetingtovote

affirmativeornegativeonthoseovertures.Iftheoverturepassesattherequired

numberofpresbyteries,itwillgointoeffectonthe181stdayafterthecloseofthe

Synodmeeting.Inthecaseofthe2018Synod,theeffectivedateisJuly22,2018.)

5

TheSpiritandProcessfortheDeliberationofAmendmentsatSynodmeetings

ECOhasalwayssoughttopositionandmaintainitselfasanauthenticgospel

movement in the midst of a post-Christian culture. Our mission is “to build

flourishingchurchesthatmakedisciplesofJesusChrist.”Wehaveabothapolityas

well as a theology that have been developed to create an environment in which

churchesmayflourish.Thesearelivingdocumentsandarenotconsideredinerrant

in and of themselves. There is a process in place in our polity to change these

documents.

Aschangesareconsidered,withinpresbyteriesandtheSynodasawhole,it

is our hope that there will be a healthy spirit behind considering these changes.

Deliberative bodies can often be set up in adversarial stance or in a “win-lose”

stance. It isourhopethatwithinECOtherewillbeadifferentethos. Ourhopeis

thatproposalswillbemadeandconsideredbasedonthequestionofwhetherornot

a proposal helps us, both nationally and individually, fulfill our mission to build

flourishingchurchesthatmakedisciplesofJesusChrist.

If we are clear and singularly focused on our mission, then we can have

robustdialogueaboutparticularproposalsandhow theymayormaynothelpus

fulfillourmission. Ifwearesingularlyfocusedonourmissionandthepositonwe

advocatefordoesnotcarrytheday,itwillallowustocontinuetomaintainourunity

aswefulfillourmission.

Proposed process - When a proposal is brought to the floor of the Synod,deliberationwilloccurasfollows:

- The moderator will allow for 20 minutes of discussion after an initial

presentationismade.

- Eachspeakerfromthefloorwillbeallowedtospeakfor120seconds.

- Speakerswillalternate,asmuchaspossible,betweenthosewhoarefora

proposalandthosewhoareagainstaproposal.Thosewhoareinfavorof

theproposalshouldspeaktohowtheproposalwilladvancethemission

ofECO.Thosewhoareagainsttheproposalwillshouldspeaktowhythe

proposaldoesn’thelpadvancethemissionofECO.

- Ifdeliberationisfinishedbefore20minutes,thenthemoderatormaycall

forthevote.

- If after 20 minutes there is a desire for further discussion, the may

entertainamotiontoexpanddeliberation.

- Voteswill ordinarily be voice votes unless a count is neededbyhaving

commissionersstandorapaperballot.

6

ProposalforAmendmenttotheECOEssentialTenetsRegardingBaptism

IntroductionandRationale:TheEssentialTenetsoftheECOhasbeenaneffectivedocumentinunitingchurches

aroundthecommonreformedheritagethatweembraceandhasservedasabridge

togreatertheologicalengagementacrossdenominations.Thewordsthathavebeen

craftedflowoutofthelanguageoftheconfessionsandattempttocommunicate

manytruthsinaconciseandeffectiveway.Inregardstooursacramentaltheology

muchburdenwasplaceduponafewwellconstructedsentences,howeverthe

brevityoftheconstructionleftsomeopportunityformisunderstanding.Somehave

interpretedourstatementtoallowforanunderstandingofbaptismalregeneration.

Thisismostcertainlynotanintendedunderstandingofthesacrament.Toaddress

thisconcernacombinationofphrasesandideasfromtheWestminsterConfession's

statementonBaptisminChapterXXX/XXVIIhavebeenselected.Thisstatementwill

addadditionalsubstancetotheexistingtextandfurtheranchorthestatementto

ourconfessions.

ThethirdparagraphofSectionIII.C.oftheEssentialTenetswouldreceivean

additionallineoftext,showninred,thatwouldexpanduponourconvictions

regardingbaptismandclarifyourrelianceupontheconfessionsforour

understandingofitseffectiveness.

Proposal:Withinthecovenantcommunityofthechurch,God’sgraceisextendedthroughthepreachingoftheWord,theadministrationoftheSacraments,andthefaithfulpracticeofmutualdiscipline.First,throughtheworkoftheHolySpirit,thewordproclaimedmayindeedbecomeGod’saddresstous.TheSpirit’s

illuminatingworkisnecessarybothfortheonewhopreachesandforthosewho

listen.Second,theSacramentsofBaptismandtheLord’sSupperaresignsthatare

linkedtothethingssignified,sealingtousthepromisesofJesus.IntheBaptismof

infants,weconfessourconfidenceinGod’sgraciousinitiative,thatababywho

cannotturntoGodisnonethelessclaimedasamemberofthecovenantcommunity,

achildofGod,cleansedbygraceandsealedbytheSpirit;intheBaptismofadults,

weconfessourconfidencethatGod’sgracecanmakeusnewcreationsatanystage

ofourlives.<Baptismisasignandsealofthecovenantofgrace,amarkofentranceintothevisiblechurch,anditistheHolySpiritthatmakesthissacramentefficaciousinGod'stimetothosewhomhehascalled.>IntheLord’sSupper,weconfessthatasweeatthebreadandshareonecuptheSpiritunitesusto

theascendedChrist,sothatHisresurrectionlifemaynourish,strengthen,and

transformus.Third,thecommunityoftheChurchpracticesdisciplineinorderto

helponeanotheralongthepathtonewlife,speakingthetruthinlovetoone

another,bearingoneanother’sburdens,andofferingtooneanotherthegraceof

Christ.

7

SynodExecutiveCouncil

ClassofSynod2018 ClassofSynod2020 ClassofSynod2022

LauraSmit(p) ScottPalmbush(p) RichardKanwischer(p)

LarryMoffett(e)-

PresidentGregSmith(e) KarenHook(e)

Jaylee(p)

JenniferHoltz(p)-

VicePres.BobReich(e)

PJC ClassofSynod2018 ClassofSynod2020 ClassofSynod2022

MichaelCarey(p) LarryLangon(e) PatrickSinger(e)

BobEfird(e) RonHorn(p) KenRobbins(e)

CindyPirtle(e) JenniferParham(e) MarkKlusmeier(e)

NominatingCommittee

ClassofSynod2018 ClassofSynod2020 ClassofSynod2022

BecciCurtis-Lillie(p) CarolKillman(e) JasonSchepp(p)

SuzanneGeiger(e)

BrianStewart(p)

MJRomano(p) TimMcConell(p) SaraMcDonnell(e)

8

NominationsSynodExecutiveCouncilClassof2022RichardKannwishcer

TheRev.Dr.RichardR.KannwischerservesastheLead

Pastorofthe3,200-memberSt.Andrew’sPresbyterian

ChurchinNewportBeach,CA.AnativeTexan,Richard

graduatedcumlaudewithabusinessdegreefromTrinityUniversity,wherehecurrentlyservesasamemberofthe

boardoftrustees.HealsograduatedwithaMasterof

DivinityfromPrincetonTheologicalSeminary.Heservedasa

memberoftheboardoftrusteesforPrincetonTheological

Seminaryfrom2010–2012.Hereceivedhisdoctoratefrom

FullerSeminaryandiscurrentlyservingtheschoolasamemberoftheboardof

trustees.Richardmethiswife,KellyBeckhamKannwischer,atPrinceton

TheologicalSeminary.KellycurrentlyservesasVicePresident,University

AdvancementforVanguardUniversity.

Followingseminary,RichardservedasanAssociatePastorattheFirstPresbyterian

ChurchofHoustonandasSeniorPastoroftheCentralPresbyterianChurchof

Summit,NJ.InSummit,heledthe1,200-membercongregationthroughthewakeof

theSeptember11thtragedy.HethenservedastheSeniorPastoratFirst

PresbyterianChurchofSanAntoniopriortocomingtoNewportBeachinthefallof

2009.KellyandRichardspendmuchoftheirtimechasingtheirtwoprecious

daughters,Danica(age12)andAshby(age11).Richard’sotheractivepursuits

includesnowskiing,hikingandplayinggolf.

KarenRandall-Hook

Iwasbornin1956,youngestoffour,andraisedinthe

Seattlearea.IgraduatedfromWashingtonStateUniversity

andthenfromphysicaltherapyschoolattheMayoCIinicin

Minnesota.WhileinMinnesotaImetmyhusband,afellow

student,andwemarriedin1981.AfterlivinginMichiganfor

threeyearswerelocatedtothePNWin1983.Weboughta

houseinNETacomain1985andproceededtoworkand

raiseourtwodaughterswhoarenowtwenty-eightand

twenty-four.Wearebothstillworking,althoughIampart

time,andlookingatretirementinthenextfewyears.

9

MyhusbandandIbeganattendingMarineViewPresbyterianChurchandjoinedin

1986.OvertheyearsIhaveparticipatedinvariousaspectsofchurchactivitiesand

ministryincluding:music,children'sprograms,attendingandattimesleadingbible

study,women'sministry,youthmissiontrips,personnelcommission,Deacon,and

mostrecentlyElderwhereIservedonourdiscernmentcommitteeintheprocessof

choosingtoleavetheUPCandjoinECO.

IambothhonoredandnervousaboutthisopportunitytoserveinECO.Thepurpose

andtenetsofECOresonatewithmeandIamexcitedtobeabletoparticipateinits

growth,andIleavethechoicetoGod,throughyou,andwillservetothebestofmy

abilityifHeputsmeinthisposition.

RobertReich

Bobisahighschoolgraduate;earnedhisbusiness

administration&businessfinancecertificateandalso

completedrequiredcourseswithlocalandoutofstate

universitiesandtheAmericanBankersAssociation.Hehas

alsoannuallycompletedaccreditedcontinuingeducation

coursesduringhis35yearbankingcareer.Heisa2003

graduateofNorthumberlandPresbytery,CommissionedLay

PastorSchool.Priortohisretirement,hewasemployedfor32

yearswithNortheasternFarmCredit,whereheservedthelast

25yearsofhiscareerasPresidentandChiefExecutive

Officer.PriortohiscareerwithNortheasternFarmCredit,he

servedthreeyearsasacommercialbankerwithLewisburg

NationalBank,Lewisburg,PA.Bobhasservednearly30years

ofcooperativeleadershipandservicethroughPennStateCollegeofAgriculture

Sciences-PennsylvaniaCouncilofCooperatives.Fortwenty-fiveyearsheservedon

alocalministerialcommittee,whichengagedteachingandevangelismprogramsfor

largecommunitychurchvenues.Heservesandchairedvariousofficesinhisformer

PC(USA)presbytery.

CurrentlyheisaCommissionedLayPastorattheMountainPresbyterianChurch,

Sunbury,PA.,havingcompetedhisseventeenthyearastheirleadpastor.

AdditionallyheisamemberoftheECOPresbyteryoftheNortheast,wherehe

servesaschairmanoftheMinistry&AssimilationTeam(MAT)andisamemberof

thePresbyteryExecutiveTeam.AdditionallyheservesasChairmanoftheBoardof

DirectorsofBethesdaFamilyServicesFoundation,Lewisburg;memberofthe

GreaterSusquehannaValleyChamberofCommerce.BobandhiswifeVirginialive

onan18-acrefarm-etteinSnyderCounty,PA.TheReich’shavetwomarriedsons,

threegrandsonsandonegranddaughter.

10

PresbyteryJudicialCommitteeClassof2022PatrickSinger

PatSingerwasborninPortsmouth,Ohioandtraveledwith

hisfamilythroughouthisyouth,attendingfivehighschools

infourstatesfromOhiotoCalifornia,graduatingin

Mississippi.HeattendedcollegeatTheOhioStateUniversity,

earningaBAinRussianLanguageandLiteratureandaJuris

DoctoratefromTheOhioStateUniversityCollegeofLaw.

WhileanundergradatOSU,hemetandlatermarriedhis

spouse,Bonnie.Theyhavetwosons(andtwodaughters-in-

law)andsevengrandchildrenranginginagefrom18tosix

months.TheSingerfamilyjoinedtheAirForcein1970and

spentthenexttwentyyearsservinginlocationsfromTurkeytoGuam.Patheldjobs

asaRussianLinguist,aTitanIIMissileLaunchOfficer,andaJudgeAdvocate.He

retiredin1990andthefamilymovedtoAppleValley.Afterfiveyearsofprivate

practice,PatwaschosentobecomeaMunicipalandthenSuperiorCourt

Commissionerwhereheservedonthebenchhearingtraffic,smallclaimsand

evictioncases.

OnretirementfromtheAirForce,theSingersjoinedChurchoftheValleyinApple

Valleyandhaveservedinamultitudeofprograms.Pathasaspecialinterestin

ChristianEducation,servingasElderofAdultEducationandteachingtheAdult

SundaySchoolclassformanyyears.Pat,BonnieandtheirsonRichardareallElders

withRichardcurrentlyservingonSessionandPatservingasClerkofSession.Pat

alsoservedontheCommitteeonMinistry,chairedthePersonnelCommitteeand

servedasamemberandastheModeratorforthePJCinRiversidePresbytery.He

waselectedastheElderDelegatetotheGeneralAssemblyinFtWorth.Patchaired

theCOVcommitteetoworkwithRiversidePresbyteryduringtheGraceful

Separationprocess.SincejoiningECO,Pathasbeenselectedtoserveonthe

PresbyteryPJC.Sincehisretirementfromthebenchin2013,heandBonniehave

beentravelingandplayinggolfwhennotspendingtimewiththeirfamilyand

friends.KennethRobbins

KennethM.RobbinsisapartnerwiththelawfirmofMason,

Robbins,Browning,&GodwininMerced,California.Priorto

enteringprivatepracticein1980,Kenservedwiththe

UnitedStatesNavyintheJudgeAdvocatesGeneralCorpsand

intheU.S.AttorneysofficeintheNorthernDistrictof

California.

11

Kenreceivedhisbachelor’sdegreefromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Davisin1972,

hisJ.D.degreefromPepperdineUniversityin1976,andhisL.L.M.intaxationfrom

theUniversityofthePacific,McGeorgeSchoolofLawin1983.Hehaswrittenand

lecturedonwaterissuesbeforetheCaliforniaAssociationofWaterAgenciesandthe

AmericanBarAssociationaswellasteachingcontinuingeducationclasses.

Ken is very involvedwith leadership positions in his community and his church,

CentralPresbyterianChurchinMerced,CA.Heservesoncorporateandnon-profit

boards of directors, has served as trustee of the University of California-Merced

Foundation. He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and has served in several

leadershippositionsincludinghischurchgoverningboard,asModeratorofStockton

Presbytery (PCUSA), Commissioner toGeneralAssembly and Synodof thePacific,

andasamemberoftheSynod’sPermanentJudicialCommission.Kenalsoservedas

theorganizingModeratorofthePresbyteryofN.California/NevadaoftheCovenant

OrderofEvangelicalPresbyterians(ECO).

He has beenmarried to the formerBetty JeanBritts (also an elder) for 43 years.

Theyhaveraisedfourchildrenandnowenjoytheir12grandchildren.

MarkH.Klusmeier

MarkKlusmeier,57,hasbeenapracticingattorneyin

southwestOhioformorethan30years.Heisadmittedto

practiceintheStateofOhioaswellastheUSDistrictCourts

fortheNorthernandSouthernDistrictsofOhio,theUSCircuit

CourtofAppealsfortheSixthCircuit,andtheUnitedStates

SupremeCourt.

HeisanElderatCollegeHillPresbyterianChurchin

Cincinnati,Ohio,wherehehasbeenacovenantpartner(and

previouslyamember)since1971.During2016,heisalso

servingaspresidentofthechurchcorporationandchairsthe

church’sFacilities,Finance,andAdministrationTeam.HeandhiswifeAnnwill

reach25yearsofmarriageintheFallof2016,havethreechildren,andresideinthe

Cincinnatiarea.

12

NominatingCommitteeClassof2022JasonSchepp

IhavebeenblessedtoserveGodforthelastnineyears

atEastBrookPresbyterianChurchinWestern

Pennsylvania.ItisherethatIfindmyselfimmersedin

thewoodedhillsides,enjoyingthecreationthatGod

laidoutforus.Iamaproudfatheroftwochildren,

ages9and6,wholiketokeepmywifeandmyselfbusy

withhorses,martialartsandcamping.

Whenaskedaboutmypassion,IhavealwaysfeltthatFaith,FamilyandFellowship

defineme,inthatorder.Ifeltthecalltoministry,andhavebeenblessedtoserveas

thePastorofEastBrookPresbyterianchurchforthepastnineyears.However,Ialso

workastheSalesManagerforaspringmanufacturerinPittsburgh,PA.

MypassionforservingChristgrowsallthetime,andIamcontinuallystrivingtosee

whereGodisleadingandwhatgreattaskHehasinstoreformeandmyfamily.Iam

honoredtoserve2016astheModeratorforthenewRiversofLifePresbytery,and

lookforwardtoservingwithinECOasGodcontinuestobuildandshapethis

ministry.Intheend,itismygreathope,thatthroughmyprayers,mywordsandmy

actions,peopleseeandcometoknowJesusChrist.

BrianStewart

BrianStewartservesastheAssociatePastorfor

EvangelismandMissionatFirstPresbyterianChurch,

Greenville,SC.BeforecomingtoFPCsevenyearsago,he

wasachurchplanterforthirteenyearsinTennesseeand

NorthCarolina.

HeisapreviousmoderatoroftheEastCentralPresbytery

andhasservedonthatPresbytery'sMATsinceits

inception.HewillcontinuetoserveofthePresbyteryof

theSouth'sMATonceisitorganized.Brianiscurrentlyservinginhissecondtermas

atrusteeoftheOutreachFoundation.Heandhiswife,Tracie,alsoapastor,havetwo

teenageboys,BrianandWilliam.

SaraMcDonnell

SarahasbeenamemberofFirstPresbyterianChurchin

NorthPalmBeach,Florida,since1986.Shehasservedthe

churchthroughtheyearsasaStephenMinistryleader,a

13

deacon,anelderandanadultSundayschoolleader.

Sararetiredin2006afterteachinginthepublicschoolsinWestVirginiaandFlorida

for26yearsandacceptedthepart-timepositionasCoordinatorofMembershipat

FirstPresbyterianChurch.Hereducationaltrainingincludesabachelor'sdegreein

historyandmasters’degreesinsociologyandeducation.

SaralooksbacktoseeGod'strainingandequippingforherpresentposition

welcomingnewmembersandvisitorsthroughtheBibleteachingandleadership

trainingatFirstPresbyterian,andfromEmmausandBibleStudyFellowship.Sara

enjoystraveling,gardening,photographyandherextendedfamilyinWest

Virginia.Shehasthreegrowndaughters,whoaremarried,andtwograndsons.

Classof2020BetsyStraiter

BetsygraduatedfromWhitworthCollegeandFuller

Seminary(whereshereceivedbothaM.DivandaTh.M

concentratingontheMissionalChurch).Herfirst

pastoralcallingwasinBendOregon.Shehasservedin

avarietyofrolesatGlenkirkChurchinSouthern

Californiaforthelast30plusyears.WiththePCUSA

sheservedonCPM,astheModeratorofSanGabriel

PresbyteryandCouncilChair,twiceasacommissioner

toGeneralAssembly(onceasvicemoderatorofthe

CommitteeonSocialJustice),helpedtostarttheWeeKirkConferencesontheWest

CoastandservedontheCoalitionBoard(forashorttimeasmoderator).

WithECOBetsybeganservingontheMPTteamofthePresbyteryoftheWest

resourcingchurchesinCaliforniaastheytransitionedintoECO.Asthepresbyteries

begantodivideBetsybecameandcurrentlyservesasModeratorofthePresbytery

ofSo.Cal.Betsy’sbrotherisalsoapastorservingachurchinVistaCalifornia.Betsy

enjoysgolf,skiing,andtravel.Shehasastrongcommitmenttodoingwhatever

needstobedonetohelpECObecomeaflourishingdenominationthathelps

flourishingchurchesmakedisciplesofJesusChrist.Classof2018SuzanneGeiger

ElderSuzanneGeigerhasbeeninECOsinceJune,

2012.ShehasservedontheNominatingCommitteeof

thePresbyteryoftheNortheastfortwoyears,andas

chairforthepastyear.ShehasservedontheMinistry

&AssimilationTeam(MAT)for3years,inthe

PresbyteryoftheEast,thenNortheast.Sheenjoys

participatingintheassimilationinterviewswith

14

PastorsandSessions,andfindsitagoodwaytomeetpeoplecomingintothe

Presbytery.

SuzannewasordainedasanElderatFirstPresbyterianChurch,Dunellen,NJin

2000,andhasbeenamembertherefor31years.ShehasbeenClerkofSessionfor9

years,andisactiveinmusicministryandascoordinatorofGrowthGroups.Shehas

servedasaDeacon,andenjoysleadingsmallgroupBiblestudies.Suzanneformerly

workedasadministratorforaninterfaithhomelessshelterprogram.Sheandher

husbandMannyhavethreegrownsons,andaredelightingbeinggrandparents.