A Place at The Table
Moderator Pat Queen welcomed folx* to this Assembly, after opening the Assembly in Worship.
Worship Leaders for the Assembly. Paul Bretz, Ann Butcher, Dee Cooper, Samantha Paige Davis, Bill Davis, Sheri Fry, Ruth McCollum Huff, Lorraine Leist, Linda Marshall, Bethany Peerbolte, Pat Queen, gretchen N. Sausville, Alex Sergio, David Van Deren.
Special Guests
René Myers, is Denver Presbytery’s Ministry Engagement Advisor for PC(USA). Her role is to build relationships with mid-councils, congregations, and presbyterians, which sustain and increase financial support for God’s mission throughout the world. Rene spoke our ministry together in the Assembly.
Samantha Paige Davis, serves as the Associate of Gender and Racial Justice with the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Samantha is a Black Feminist, organizer, policy wonk, and storyteller working through an anti-oppressive framework. Samantha preached on Acts of God’s Love from James 1:19-27. Samantha also led a workshop for the Denver Presbytery on April 18, 2024 that can be found here. (Click on link to right)
CONNECTIONAL
Samantha and Dee led our Generative Time which took place in groups around the Sanctuary with bowls of rainbow skittles candy. Folx were invited to choose skittles and then answer a question or share information based on the theme of the color.
Lead Presbyter Report
Dee shared about the ShadeTrees Assembly in March that was filled with inspiration and hope. The journey of Matthew 25 and anti racism work, inclusion, and intersectionality is real, necessary, and can be messy. This journey invites us to get real, go deep, and stand together.
Examination for Ordination
Danielle “Dani” Hillyer was successfully examined for ordination for the assembly. She has been called as the Associate Pastor for Cultivation and Innovation, a shared ministry position between Grace Presbyterian and Covenant DTC.
Justin Sprulock shared about the shared ministry Model between Grace and Covenant.
Congratulations Dani!
Overtures for Concurrence
Eleven Overtures to the 226th General Assembly were presented to the Assembly for concurrence. They were all approved. See the link here for those concurrences. Click here to learn more about the overtures.
Commissioning Commissioned Pastors to the Presbytery
Commissioned Pastors CJ Biewenga, Beth Hewlett, Lyn Hull, Teddie McConnell, Cindy Moorman, Sandy Safford were commissioned for service to the Presbytery of Denver. Congratulations and thank you for your ministry among us.
Necrology
The Assembly gave thanks for the Ministers of Word and Sacrament who joined the church triumphant in 2023. We give thanks for Burton Kugler, Paul T. Bock, Brent Owen Johnston, and Dusty Taylor who fought the good fight, finished their race, and kept the faith, and who are at rest within glory with God.
Election of Folx to Committees and Commissions
Jemimah Ngatia, Ministry of Word and Sacrament, and leader of Neema African Fellowship, was elected to the Ministry Preparation Committee, Class of 2026 Congratulations! We are excited for your leadership and service!
Communion
Communion was officiated by Paul Bretz, Lorraine Leist, Bethany Peerbolte and Samantha Paige Davis. Communion reflected the theme of gender and identity: between, beyond and beside inclusion and A Place at the Table.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Rev. Justin Spurlock and Covenant Presbyterian DTC for your space, hospitality, and making room for all of us. Many thanks to the staff, many volunteers, and the folx at Covenant Presbyterian DTC for hosting the Assembly in their space.
*folx is inclusive language for including everyone and is used throughout
