A Letter from the Moderator

Dear Friends,

Earlier this week you received Rev. Tom Sheffield’s letter telling us of his retirement from his ministry as Presbytery Pastor, effective November 15, 2017. His announcement is bittersweet. While we lament that his time with us is coming to an end, we are joyful that he will have opportunities for other ministry as well as additional time to relax and enjoy his family. Tom has served us with immeasurable grace and skill, and we grieve the upcoming loss of his wise leadership. Most importantly, however, we are grateful because we have been blessed with Tom’s vision for -- and many years of dedication to –the Presbytery of Denver, guiding us on our continuing journey to become the Church that Christ asks us to be! We will not let Tom retire without an appreciation celebration! Watch for information for this event to be held in the fall.

As Moderator of the Presbytery, I write to inform you that the Council has begun transition planning for selecting an Interim Presbytery Pastor. At its June meeting, the Council both suggested names of persons who might serve as members of the Interim Presbytery Pastor Search Committee and considered the most important roles to be expected of interim leadership. The Personnel Committee, moderated by Rev. Bruce Spear, has met to begin the transition process and will submit names of potential Search Committee members to Council soon. Once the Search Committee is approved by Council, they can begin their work.

As a Council, we are moving as quickly as possible to complete our task to nominate for election an interim presbytery pastor candidate to members of Presbytery.  We will take the time needed, however, to move at the tempo of the Holy Spirit as we seek to select an excellent nominee for this important position.

Please pray with us as we work. If you have questions or suggestions regarding the transition process, please contact either Rev. Spear at brucespear57@gmail.com or myself at jeandemmler@msn.com
 
Peace be to you in this time of transition,


Jean Demmler, Moderator
The Presbytery of Denver

Our Presbytery Pastor Announces Retirement Date

Dear Friends,

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          Sixteen years ago this month I began my ministry with the Presbytery of Denver.  Every day of those sixteen years has possessed great joy, dynamic challenges, countless moments of fulfillment, rich and supportive relationships and an undeniable sense of God’s leading and presence.  However, it is now time for the Presbytery, and for me, to prepare for another time of ministry.  Therefore, I have informed the Presbytery Council of my plan to retire from my position as your Presbytery Pastor, effective November 15, 2017.  It is my hope and expectation that in the months ahead the Presbytery will carry out a time of transition and proceed with plans to seek new leadership.
  
          At the same time there are many projects, ministries, obligations and directions that I will continue to address.  Selling the Presbytery Center and moving to a new location are already high priorities for the whole staff and the Presbytery leadership.  New worshiping communities, new mission endeavors, new initiatives across the presbytery  as well as offering pastoral care to all servants of the church, support for congregations, and continued emphasis on our partnership with the Presbytery of Zimbabwe, Highlands and diversity ministries in the Presbytery will claim my attention and enthusiasm every day.  The coming months also will bring our General Assembly Stated Clerk, J. Herbert Nelson, to visit us and the November Leadership Retreat that will lift up the essential need for evangelism in each congregation and in all of our lives.  All of that, of course, is already in process or is being carefully planned because this Presbytery is blessed with committed leaders and a staff that is remarkable in its creativity, intelligence, and love for the church.  

          We will have much time to speak and share with each other in the coming months, but I want to assure you that my primary priority will not be on my personal decision to retire, but on our common ministry for Christ to “Journey with God Together.”   I am immeasurably grateful for and humbled by our service together over the past sixteen years.   Now for the days ahead I remain grateful and always hopeful for all that God is doing in, with and among us.      
    

In Peace,

 
 

The Reverent Thomas Sheffield
Presbytery Pastor
The Presbytery of Denver

 

 

May 23, 2017 Stated Assembly Meeting

Thank you to Rev. Russ Kane, Nick Rossi, Lisa Womack and all the volunteers at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Castle Rock.  Our Stated Assembly Meeting featured emergent worship with Rev. Paul Neshangwe sharing a message of hope from Zimbabwe.

Special thanks to Rev. Russ Kane and all the wonderful volunteers at New Hope for making this meeting run smoothly. Extra specials thank you to Lisa Womack for the photos!

Posted by The Presbytery of Denver on Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Rev. Whit Dempsey begins at First Presbyterian in Georgetown

Dear Friends and Members of the First Presbyterian Church of Georgetown.

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On behalf of Session, it is my pleasure to share with you that we have entered into an agreement with Rev. Whitney Dempsey, to serve as Temporary Supply Pastor for our church, beginning Sunday, May 7th.

In this role, Rev. Dempsey will lead us in worship, will be available for pastoral care, and with our help, provide pastoral presence within our community.  Additionally, he will assist us with our transition steps as we move toward a formal search for our next installed pastor.

The Rev. Whitney Dempsey specializes in pastoral education and interim ministry. Working from a family system and other systems' perspective, Whitney seeks to build and support healthy pastors, chaplains, congregations and organizations.

Rev. Dempsey is a trained interim pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is a member of Denver Presbytery. Most recently he served as the Interim Senior Pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado. Along with parish ministry, Rev. Dempsey serves on the Highlands Camp and Conference committee and on the Board for the Association of Professional Flight Chaplains.  Rev. Dempsey has served as an ACPE Associate Supervisor, and in that capacity, was responsible for the management and development of clinical sites that included hospitals, congregations, hospice centers, and long-term care facilities.
Before coming to Denver, Rev. Dempsey served pastorates in Northern Nevada and in North East Michigan. Along with congregational ministry, Whitney has served as a chaplain in three Level 1 Trauma Centers, including the St. Anthony Hospitals in Denver, Colorado, where he received his CPE Education Supervisory training.

Along with ministry, Rev. Dempsey is an avid runner and has completed seven marathons. Whitney can also be found in the mountains, skiing in the winters, and fly fishing, hiking and climbing in the summers with his family. Whitney is a certified ski Instructor at Keystone Resort.
Rev. Dempsey received a political science degree from Seattle Pacific University, and a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) from the San Francisco Theological Seminary and is currency working on a Doctor of Ministry at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

We are so excited to welcome Rev. Dempsey to our church and for our time ahead together.

Blessings,
  Pam McCoy
  Clerk of Session

Radical Hospitality

Northwest Denver Mission Community

Were you inspired by the words of Joel Adams at the worship service of our March Assembly Meeting?  In case you missed it, or want to hear it again, it is now available by sound recording only, click below.
Thank you to St. Paul Presbyterian Church for recording the service and making sharing possible.

Joel has also provided us with an outline of his:

MISSIONAL INCARNATIONAL PRACTICES

  • Being Sent
  • Being Like Smitty
  • Accepting Invitations
  • Being Interruptible
  • Extending the Table
  • We Party
  • Prayer for others
     

Click here, for a complete explanation of the practices.

 

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