223rd General Assembly - Highlights

The 223rd General Assembly (2018) will be held in St. Louis, Missouri -  June 16 - 23. Denver Presbytery was represented by Commissioners: Ruling Elder Georgia Comstock (South Park Community Church), Ruling Elder Cleve Dixon (St. Paul Presbyterian), Rev. Ruth McCollum Huff and Rev. Jason Whitehead.  Claire Wineman of Central Presbyterian church was our Young Adult Advocate Delegate. Rev. Carol Fisher served as an alternate.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meets biennially in even-numbered years. It consists of commissioners elected by each of its 173 presbyteries. The GA is full of activities: business sessions, committee meetings, an exhibit hall, daily worship services, and mission tours sponsored by the  Committee on Local Arrangements. 

The assembly acts on hundreds of items of business, which it receives through the reports and recommendations of various assembly entities, and through overtures from synods and presbyteries.
 

History of the Montview Boulevard Communion Table

Montview's Communion Table with one minister's chair.  The gentleman shown who is sitting in a chair next to the historic communion table is Dr. William Easley.  Bill Easley is a retired Denver dentist who remains very active at Montview Church at the age of 92.  He joined the church as a member of the communicants' class in the spring of 1937.  Over the years Bill Easley has served as a deacon and as an elder, a number of terms in each office.  Today he is the Montview Church member with the longest tenure as a member, 81 years.  After returning from WWII, Bill Easley joined the Westminster Choir in 1947 and he continues to sing in the choir every Sunday, a tenure of 71 years.  Bill Easley remembers very well when the historic communion table sat in the very same spot as shown in the photo and when that area served as the chancel of the sanctuary (The Auditorium) which was dedicated in 1918.  When Bill Easley's parents joined the church in the late 1920s (at that time Bill was just a child), the sanctuary and the communion table shown here were just about 10 years old.  What a long history and what an amazing experience Bill Easley has had as a member of Montview Church.

Montview communion table arrives at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, returning to church after 60 year absence, Tony Johnson (left) Montview Church sexton, and John Howell, Montview Church elder, wheel the communion table into the building, March 13, 2018

Montview Communion Table is back in its original location of 100 years earlier.  "The Auditorium" at Montview Church served as the sanctuary for 40 years (1918-1958).  Seen also in the photo are two large minister's chairs (originals) and one pulpit (original).  "The Auditorium" at Montview has since been converted into an area for theatrical presentations (since 1970), therefore the sets on the stage behind the communion table and in front of the huge blue stained glass window.  The blue window was installed in 1952.

Montview's Communion Table as it is today.  The table is located in the Montview Heritage Center (The oldest part of the Montview building, constructed in 1908-1910).  The original minister's chairs are situated on either side of the communion table.  The table and other parts of the Heritage Center displays reminds us all about serving others and they serve as connections to our earlier history, 100+ years ago.

Photo of Montview's Antiphonal Choir (photo taken in late 1940s) with Montview's Communion Table, including candles and cross.  The location of the Communion Table is the same as shown in earlier photo taken March 13, 2018.  The Antiphonal Choir was made up of 7th through 9th grade girls.  This is a typical photo showing how the Communion Table looked over the 40 years (1918-1958) during the time The Auditorium was used as Montview's sanctuary.

The communion table was used at the Presbytery of Denver Center for many years.  It has now been returned to Montview. 

Thank you to Bob Matchett for making sure it got back to it's home.

Church Law & Tax: Same Sex Marriage and Gender Identity

What Does the Recent Supreme Court Decision Mean for Churches?

A week has passed since the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. The Court chose to focus on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission’s handling of a baker’s decision not to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Even still, the various angles involved with the case invoke issues ranging from public accommodations laws to religious liberty.

Emily Lund, assistant editor for ChurchLawAndTax.com, reached out to four attorneys—Richard Hammar, Frank Sommerville, Erika Cole, and Stuart Lark—to find out what they think about the decision and its potential impact on churches and pastors. Read their reactions to get a better sense of what the ruling means, what it doesn’t mean, and what the future possibly holds.

For more guidance on what churches and pastors should know about public accommodations laws, particularly during this contentious cultural moment regarding sexuality and gender identity, check out our premium downloadable resource Church Issues: Same-Sex Marriage and Gender Identity.

Church Issues: Same-Sex Marriage and Gender Identity

What Churches Need to Understand about Public Accommodations Laws

Introducing Church Issues—an in-depth resource created to help church leaders gain clarity and direction on a specific topic that challenges religious freedoms or exposes a congregation to legal risk. 

In less than 30 years’ time, several developments have redefined the country’s cultural and moral, giving rise to questions and confusion by clergy and church leaders alike. Will a church or pastor be legally compelled to host same-sex marriage ceremonies? How might public accommodations laws affect bathroom access for individuals who visit your church?

Attorney Richard Hammar, senior editor of the Church Law & Tax Report, believes churches still can be equipped with the right information to use as they navigate these important issues and reach conclusions about how to act.

While it is difficult to prescribe a certain course of action that will be relevant, let alone applicable, to all churches, since virtually every church faces unique laws based on its geographic location.

In Church Issues: Same-Sex Marriage and Gender Identity, Hammar combines research and analysis to take you through a step-by-step process regarding public accommodations laws, whether pertaining to same-sex marriage ceremonies or restroom access. He offers several critical questions that church leaders must address, including:

• Whether the church is a place of “public accommodation” under applicable local, state, or federal laws;
• If so, whether an exemption is available for churches;
• If a church exemption exists, whether all the conditions for the exemption have been satisfied, and
• The constitutional protections available to churches based on applicable judicial precedent.

WHO SHOULD READ THIS?

• Senior and Executive Pastor
• Board members
• Denominational Leaders
• Churches with public access businesses such as a coffee shop or preschool.

2018 May Presbytery Assembly Meeting - St. James Presbyterian Church

Thank you to St. James Presbyterian Church and all the volunteers that helped put this meeting together.  We had fabulous food, wonderful worship and a good meeting.

If you missed the sermon, listen here.  Rev. Andy Hamer, Associate Pastor, Shepherd of the Hills gave the sermon.

Service of Celebration - The Presbytery Center

On Sunday, June 3, 2018, a gathering was held at The Presbytery Center on Grant Street to celebrate our past as we look to our future.  At some point over the summer, the Presbytery Office will be moving to 4800 Happy Canyon Road in Denver, we wanted to celebrate with you and look back to how the Grant Street Property has been a place of joy, peace, sorrow and grace-- so for many.  

Thank you to Revs. Gretchen Hope Wilson and Justin Spurlock for leading worship. A special thanks to Pastor Tu (Vietnamese Fellowship), Ruling Elder Don Boggs (formerly of South Presbyterian Church), Ruling Elder Ki Park (True Light Community Church) and Rev. Amy Mendez for sharing your stories with us.  Go in peace~  

The Presbyterian Foundation has a grant to help pastors and churches

The Presbyterian Foundation has a program to help church leaders finance the expense of attending a course on church financial management.

Please help us spread the word among your pastors, commissioned ruling elders (CRE), and leaders of 1001 New Worshiping Communities. The Presbyterian Foundation invites these pastoral leaders to apply for a Church Financial Leadership Grant to assist with the financial cost of attending finance-related educational activities. Our goal is to help them institute best practices for church financial leadership, introduce them to new models of giving and stewardship, and offer them new ways to talk about money and form generous disciples within their church.

The Church Financial Leadership grants are matching funds, and applicants must provide the source(s) for the other half of expenses. Eligible expenses include registration fees, transportation, lodging, meals and other expenses for approved church financial leadership events, training and continuing education opportunities.

The application deadline is June 15, 2018. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Grant applications take approximately four weeks to process. Click here for an application. If you have questions, send an email here.

The grants were made possible from the Foundation’s work as part of a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders.