October 28, 2025 Assembly Highlights
Partnering: Courageously Conspiring Together
Moderator Ruth McCollum Huff welcomed folx* to our Assembly Gathering at Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church. Vice-Moderator Chris Wineman shared our theme for this meeting: Conspiring Together…For Others
Welcome De’Amon Harges and Rev. Mike Mather
Denver Presbytery welcomed De’Amon Harges and Rev. Mike Mather.
De’Amon Harges, the original Roving Listener and founder of The Learning Tree, is a social banker and artist who helps communities uncover and connect the gifts, talents, and passions of their neighbors to build shared prosperity and joy. His work as a neighbor, consultant, and storyteller has taken him around the world, reminding people of the power and presence of community—especially in places where others are pushed to the margins.
Mike Mather, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Boulder and faculty member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute, helps congregations and organizations across the globe discover the abundance within their communities. Author of Having Nothing, Possessing Everything and co-author of the forthcoming 100 Year Work: Social Capital for the Long Haul, he inspires faith communities and civic partners to build on local gifts rather than perceived deficits.
Worship and Generative Time
Clover Reuter Beal led our Land Acknowledgement.
Worship was an interactive generative experience of liturgy, storytelling, reflection and song centered around our baptism and our connection to each other. De’amon Harges and Mike Mather invited us to look at one another with the assumption of giftedness, shifting our attention from what is missing to what is already present and alive among us. Together, they fostered a worship space shaped by abundance, mutual recognition, and the practice of noticing God at work in one another’s stories.
Clover Beal and Jason Hays led the Assembly a re-affirmation of Baptism.
Thank you Worship Leaders for a wonderful Assembly Worship!
In addition to our speakers De’Amon Harges and Mike Mather, our liturgists included representatives from our Denver Presbytery Mission Partnerships, and staff from Montview Blvd.
Clover Reuter Beal- Liturgist, Montview Co-Lead Pastor, Molly Brown - Journey With Migrants Mission Partnership, Whit Dempsey - Empowering Incarcerated Women, Dana Easton- Presbyterians for Second Wind, Dan Gasser- percussion,
Jason D. Hays - Liturgist, Montview Interim Co-Lead Pastor, Barry Mayhew - Guatemala Mission Partnership, Chris Primus - Carpenters Helpers, Jordan Shive- guitar, vocals,
Adam Waiter - piano, vocals, Ann Butcher - liturgical arts.
Worship Planning Team: Jordan Shive, Ann Butcher, Ruth McCollum Huff, Chris Wineman, Dee Cooper, gretchen Sausville, Raafat Girgis.
Lead Presbyter Report | Dee Cooper
Dee addressed the Denver Presbytery on some of the most pressing challenges of our time—gun violence, immigration, and systemic oppression—urging us to respond with compassion and intentional care. She reminded us that dismantling oppressive systems begins with small acts of love and connection, rejecting the divisive “us versus them” mindset. Committed to embodying Christ’s love, the presbytery strives to see one another as whole people, support each other faithfully, and work together to bring healing, hope, and transformation to our communities.
Welcome New Minister Members!
Ron Graves is the Supply Pastor at United Church of Idaho Springs. Idaho Springs is a joint United Methodist and PC(USA) Congregation
Vernon Jones is the Installed Pastor at United Church of Montbello, which is one of our EMI congregations between the United Methodists, United Church of Christ, and the PC(USA)
Alex Sergio is the newly Commissioned Pastor for Congregational Engagement for Presbyterian Church of the Covenant and Grace Presbyterian Church
Triennium Report
Bethany Peerbolte and Kiersten Hill and Triennium attendees reported back to the Assembly about Triennium 2025 As If We Were Dreaming, which was held in Louisville, KY July 28-31, 2025. Abby McCubbin and company led us in an Energizer.
PC(USA) Stewardship & Funds Development
We welcomed Rev. Jeanie Shaw for the first time to Denver Presbytery as she gave us an update of Special Offerings and the restructuring under the new Unified Agency.
Servant Leadership Development Committee
Thank you Nancy Dixon, Verniece Vafeades, and Jill VanderWal for your passion, witness, and vulnerability in sharing about serving in the Presbytery and the ways people can serve.
2026 Budget -passed! Thank you Chuck Sparks, Rob Habiger, Julia Henderson for your reports and all those who helped create the 2026 budget.
2026 Minimum Minister Compensation and Pulpit Supply Guidelines -Passed! Thank you to the Ministry Relations Committee for your preparation.
Celebrations
Congratulations to newly elected members who will begin/continue their service in 2026!
Visionary Leadership Commission - Kiersten Hill
Ministry Relations Core Team- Whitney Dempsey & Cindy Cearley
Synod of the Rocky Mountains- Dwight Blackstock (Moderator) & Rob Habiger
Servant Leadership Development Committee- Brett Gudeman, Bill Davis, & Charla Musgrave
Ministry Preparation Committee - Karen Hogue Murray
Sarah Savage, our Interim-Treasurer beginning in January 2026.
Celebration of Mission Partnership!
The Denver Presbytery’s Mission Partnerships and Covenant Communities were represented during the Assembly during dinner time, in worship, and celebrated during the Mission Engagement Report given by Kim Graber.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Rev. Clover Reuter Beal and Rev. Dr. Jason Hays, and the staff and many volunteers at Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church for your space, hospitality, and making room for all of us.