August 15th Assembly Highlights
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Opening Information and New Minister Introduction
Moderator Chris Wineman opened the Assembly with prayer, acknowledged the Stated Clerk Pro-Tem RE Anne Bond, invited Eagle River Presbyterian Church Pastor Brett Gudeman to offer a welcome and Land Acknowledgement, explained the work of the Community Cooperative in the translation services and welcomed corresponding members and new elder commissioners.
Rev. Dr. David Hogue, Moderator of the Ministry Relations Committee introduced two new minister members of the Presbyter of Denver: Rev. Alex Wimberly, Co-Pastor at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church and Rev. Kiran Wimberly, Member at Large. The. Moderator introduced our two special guests for the day: Dr. Jeni Rinner and Professor Jon Hurst, both of Iliff School of Theology, who led our worship and our generative time.
Transition of the Stated Clerk
Visionary Leadership Commission Moderator Russ Kane and Lead Presbyter Dee Cooper gave a report on the issues surrounding the most recent transition in the office of the Stated Clerk. They briefly described the challenges faced by both Rev. Chu in his inexperience as a clerk, and those of the staff trying to meet the expectations of the presbytery for his work. Rev. Chu was provided with three coaches to help his professional growth in specific areas of the clerk role. He submitted his resignation with the awareness that this work was beyond his experience at this time.
A leadership team reached out to contract with RE Anne Bond and Rev. Dr. Greg Goodwiller to fulfill the needed roles of clerk in the coming months as a search for an Interim Stated Clerk began.
The team announced that an Interim Stated Clerk was hired by the VLC at its last meeting: Rev. Dr. Melissa Allison, currently Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Detroit, will begin work on September 14 on a one-year renewable contract, during which time a leadership team will assess the recent issues of the Stated Clerk and make recommendations for future hiring practices.
By-Laws Change Related to the Presbytery Treasurer
The Presbytery approved by a 2/3 vote the following replacement of the Presbytery By-Laws 3.17a with the following new wording: “The Treasurer shall be a person elected by the Presbytery who possesses the experience, competence and integrity required to fulfill the responsibilities of the office.” The approval authorized the Treasurer Search Committee (which has received no applications within former by-Law requirements) to broaden and publicize the search for a new Presbytery Treasurer to begin work in January 2027. Thanks were extended to RE Sarah Savage for her work as the Interim Treasurer in 2026.
Worship and Generative Time
The Presbytery moved into a time of music and worship with a focus on the theme of Overcoming Wealth and Poverty. Dr. Rinner shared an introduction to the work of the day and a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks: The Children of the Poor. Professor Hurst preached a reflection “ Stand Up and I will Speak with You, Reflections on the Journey Ahead” from Ezekiel 2:1-4.
During the Generative Time, participants were invited to reflect on their personal identity in a wide range of questions about past and family roots.
Lunch roundtables
Over lunch, assembly participants were invited to select a table for specific conversations about how we provide outreach and support to those groups and individuals we wish to help and how this benevolence model might not be as inclusive or helpful as we hoped.
Delegate Commissioning
Delegates to the two upcoming Presbytery trips were commissioned to their work on behalf of the Presbytery of Denver. The Guatemala Mission Partnership will travel to install their tenth water system for rural communities and the Partnership of Denver and Zimbabwe Presbyteries will continue our twenty-year collaboration in ministry to strengthen our connectional commitment.
Rev. Sheri Fry will be our next Vice Moderator
Servant Leader Development Committee (Committee on Representation)
The SLDC brought forward a motion to elect the Rev. Sheri Fry as the Vice-Moderator of the Presbytery of Denver for the year 2027. The motion passed.
Rev. Denise Shannon will be the Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Ministry Relations Committee
The Ministry Relations Committee brought forth the following motion:
“The Ministry Relations Committee of the Presbytery of Denver requests that the Presbytery concur with the vote and request of the congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church that the Rev. Denise Shannon was moved from the status of Designated Pastor to that of Pastor effective today, August 15, 2026.”
The motion passed with more than the required 3/4 vote.