A Place at The Table
Moderator Pat Queen welcomed folx* to this Assembly, which was held at the Colorado Trust for food, fellowship, and worship, and then at Central Presbyterian Church for dessert and continued business.
Thank you Worship Leaders for a wonderful Assembly Worship! Thank you, Paul Vasile for your creative, musical, connectional, and generative worship for Denver Presbytery.
Thank you to Worship Leaders- Paul Vasile, Bill Davis, Ann Butcher, Doug Friesema, Louise Westfall, Ruth Huff, Pat Queen, Dee Cooper, and Chuck Sparks.
Paul Vasile
Paul Vasile is a church musician, composer, and consultant with over 25 years of experience, dedicated to creating collaborative, creative, and hospitable music ministry experiences. Based in Washington, D.C., he serves as an interim musician and consultant for congregations in transition, offering support during seasons of discernment and transformation. In addition to his leadership, Paul composes sacred music that enriches the church's language of praise and prayer, with his work featured in several hymnals and music resources.
Worship and Connectional
Paul led Assembly in worship through shared stories and connections, learning new songs and singing together, and creating a great and intricate weaving of possibility through truth telling, storytelling, forgiveness, and hope. This was embodied into being through a huge colorful web of yarn and ribbons.
Louise Westfall (Central PC) led us in our Land Acknowledgement, Dee re-membered the body and the year we have journeyed together, our history and funding with the Colorado Trust was shared, prayers and liturgies were offered. A place at the table was had by all.
Remembering Who We Are and Where We Have Been
Dee shared that during the past year, the Presbytery has gathered to celebrate and live into the embodied work of building community, deepening our relationships, and embracing our Matthew 25 identity focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Over the past year, the Presbytery engaged in various transformative experiences, including learning from Greg Ellison on relational approaches to racism, attending the Matthew 25 Summit, and focusing on gender inclusion and racial equity through workshops with Samantha Paige Davis. Marcia Mount Shoop led a decolonized worship service, inviting us to reset our nervous systems and engage in truth-telling as part of our journey toward incarnational living of DEIB values. We also experienced music-led gatherings with Paul, which invited us to shape and experience belonging together. This gathering marked a moment to affirm our progress, commit to widening the table, and continually remind each other of who we are and whose we are as we move forward in our shared mission.
Offering
The Assembly took an offering to support Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, North Carolina, which, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Marcia Mount Shoop, and has become a crucial lifeline providing essential resources like food, water, and relocation assistance to those still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Asheville, NC. Thank you for your Generosity!
Colorado Trust and Denver Presbytery History
The Denver Presbytery is deeply grateful for the support of the Colorado Trust, which has enabled the Presbytery to fully live out its mission and values through funding that aligns with both organizations' commitment to community wellbeing. Since its founding in 1985, the Colorado Trust has provided the Presbytery with $25 million. Thank you, Don Mares, Executive Director of the Trust, and Chuck Spark sharing about our journey together.
Welcome New Minister Members!
Brett Gudeman is the newly called Pastor at Eagle River Presbyterian Church in Avon. Linda Valo is newly Commissioned Pastor for Faith Formation at Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church.
Mission Engagement Committee
Kim Graber, the Moderator of the Mission Engagement Committee. MEC supports the Presbytery’s mission groups by guiding their formation, renewal, and funding, while this year drawing inspiration from John 1:14 and Michael Mather's book Having Nothing, Possessing Everything to emphasize abundance and community engagement. Mission partnerships like Empowering Incarcerated Women and ZimkidZ exemplify transformative work, focusing on trauma healing for incarcerated women and providing clean water for schools in Zimbabwe. Donations to the Presbytery's shared mission fund support these initiatives, with 70% directed to mission partnerships, and can be made online or via check to further this important work.
Examination for Ordination
Jinsol Tark was successfully examined for ordination by the assembly. He has been called as a Presbyterian Federal Chaplain in the Air Force Reserves and will be ordained at True Light Presbyterian Church (nested in St. Paul) on December 15, 2024 at 4pm. Congratulations Jinsol and thank you for your service!
Presbyterian Foundation
Joseph Moore, our Ministry Relations Officer brought greetings and updates from the Presbyterian Foundation and specifically talked about the Project Regeneration program.
Presbytery Values
Dee reflected on the 8 core values of the Presbytery, emphasizing the importance of engaging with one another through respect, trust, and shared agreements. All the values are held in balance as they guide the Presbytery’s work and relationships. She stressed the importance of integrating these values in a holistic way, much like how grace and justice work together, to foster a thriving, diverse, and hospitable community where ministries can grow and servant leaders flourish.
Ministry Relations Committee
Sheri Fry, Sandy Safford, and Joanna Douglass presented the report and motion for MRC’s recommendation of an Administrative Commission for St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. This motion was approved, and we hold in prayer St. Andrew and the Administrative Commission - Joann Goss, Louise Westfall, Carl Kantner, Scott Vanderwal, and Heather Cameron.
Colorado Council of Churches
Andrain Miller, the Executive Director of the Colorado Council of Churches spoke to the work of the CCC and the ways the Assembly can be present with poll workers through prayer and blessings in the upcoming election. Adrian is deeply committed to ecumenical work, and is also a published author, an American Culinary Historian, Public Policy Advisor.
2025 Budget
Chuck Sparks presented the 2025 budget, which was approved by the Assembly including the Presbytery Pastoral Staff’s Terms of Call. Thank you to all who helped create this year's budget!
Celebrations
Congratulations and thank you for your leadership!
Matt Syrdal, Doug Friesema, and Alex Sergio - Visionary Leadership Commission
Bill Sanders - Ministry Relations Core Team (Pastoral Care)
Cleve Dixon and Karla Lara Maldonado- Ministry Preparation Committee
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Rev. Louise Westfall and the staff and many volunteers at Central Presbyterian Church for your space, hospitality, and making room for all of us, not only at Central but at the Colorado Trust. Thank you, Don Mares and the Colorado Trust for your gracious welcome.
