Celebrate Black History Month

Since 1976, African American History Month (also known as Black History Month) has been observed each February in the United States.​

How will you observe this celebration?

Start broadly, learning about African American History Month through the documents, photos, audio and video files, and collections compiled by the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.​

The 2019 theme for African American History Month is “Black Migrations.” Learn more about this theme from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The forced migration of 12 million Africans in the slave trade is a historical reality many are aware of, but this year’s theme invites us to focus on migration from the 20th century onward.

Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration*explores the journey of six million African Americans out of the southern U.S. to the northeast, mid-west and western U.S. She includes broad realities of the Jim Crow laws and pervasive discrimination and violence, but also tells the story of the Great Migration (1916–1970) by focusing on three individuals (with different socioeconomic experiences) and their journeys (to three different parts of the U.S.). Her amazing blend of storytelling and historical context has garnered a number of awards for this book, and it will doubtlessly become a classic for understanding race in the U.S. For a shorter introduction, try Isabel Wilkerson’s article for the Smithsonian, “The Long-Lasting Legacy of the Great Migration," which highlights how the Great Migration shaped the lives of actor James Earl Jones, writer Zora Neale Hurston, baseball great Jackie Robinson and others.

Share this topic with young readers in your life with Jacqueline Woodson’s This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration*;One Crazy Summer* by Rita Williams-Garcia; and Bud, Not Buddy* by Christopher Paul Curtis.

The Great Migration allows us to look at black migration with a historical perspective and clarity. But black migration is still very much a reality, so the ASALHsuggests looking at more recent migration “from spatial and social perspectives, with attention to ‘new’ African Americans because of the burgeoning African and Caribbean population in the U.S.; northern African Americans’ return to the south; racial suburbanization; inner-city hyper-ghettoization; health and environment; civil rights and protest activism; electoral politics; mass incarceration; and dynamic cultural production.”

Mary Church Terrell–educator, political activist, and first president of the National Association of Colored Women. Library of Congress

Cover of Black History Bulletin (Vol. 81, #2), Black Migrations. ASALH.

Many of these are topics and concerns of Presbyterian Women (PW) and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

• Download a brochure that describes redlining and current racial segregation and the recent PW Gathering march that raised awareness about these topics. Consider how you can investigate, bring awareness and work for justice on this topic in your community. 

• Learn more about the Poor People’s Campaign, and the ways the PC(USA) supports this activism.  

• Find out about how Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been supporting the Presbytery of Lake Huron in their work to ensure safe drinking water for people in Flint, Michigan who are suffering the effects of lead-contaminated water. Also, keep a lookout for PDA’s upcoming documentary, Flint.

• Explore resources for engaging mass incarceration.

Or if you’d like to make your observance Presbyterian-focused, read a (timeless!) short article about the ways African Americans have shaped the denomination.

Then watch Looking Back to Move Forward, a 17-minute video that highlights the witness and legacy of African American women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessor denominations. (Try the accompanying puzzle to see how much you remember!) 

Or perhaps you’d like to explore multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults, and educators.

Stated Clerk of PCUSA visit Denver - "We are not dying- WE ARE REFORMING!"

The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II (Stated Clerk) and Rev. Tricia Dykers Koening, Associate Director of Mid-Council Relations came to First Presbyterian Church in Brighton on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. Over 80 people from Denver and Plains & Peaks Presbytery, Utah and Wyoming Presbyteries, sat down to share a meal before engaging in the listening and question/answering session with the Stated Clerk of PCUSA. Rev. Nelson encouraged our minister, elders and churches to “GO!” Go out and make disciples. Being the frozen chosen isn’t going to work anymore. Church is happening outside the walls of our churches. We need to go out and meet people where they are.

“We are not dying, we are REFORMING!”

Matthew 28:16-20 The Commissioning of the Disciples

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

224th General Assembly - 2020 - Are you interesting in being a Delegate?

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA will meet in Baltimore, Maryland June 20 – 27, 2020. Denver Presbytery sends four Commissioners (two each Ministers of Word and Sacrament and two Ruling Elders) and one Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) to each assembly, with the selection of these candidates beginning in the summer of 2019.

Being a Commissioner or YAAD is a wonderful opportunity to serve Christ’s church and to enrich your theological, social and spiritual life. However, it will entail some hard work. There will be extensive advance preparation for the Assembly, possibly as much as 80 hours of reading and study. Nearly all reports, agendas, dockets and other documents will primarily be available electronically. You will need the skills and electronic devices to access these materials. We will ask each Commissioner and YAAD to attend the entire eight days of the General Assembly sessions. We will also expect Commissioners and YAADs to report on the General Assembly at an appropriate meeting of Presbytery and speak upon request to forums, congregations and Sessions.

Additionally, there is other criteria for each category of commissioners. Ministers should be an active or at-large member of the presbytery for at least two years by the time of the election by the presbytery to the General Assembly, and must have been ordained for at least three years by the time of the General Assembly. A minister should have attended six out of the last ten Presbytery assemblies.

Ruling Elders must be a member of one or more of Denver Presbytery’s churches for at least two years by the time of the Assembly. The church of the elder’s current membership should have had commissioner representation at six of the last ten Presbytery assemblies.

All sessions will be invited to submit an endorsement of a young adult, who is age 17-23 on the date the assembly convenes, who meets the GA age eligibility. The young adult will also submit a self-nomination.

In the near future a separate announcement with details on how to apply for this important service opportunity will be sent out to the entire Presbytery. We ask that you give prayerful consideration to seek becoming a General Assembly Commissioner or Young Adult Advisory Delegate. Commissioners and the YAAD will be elected at the October 2019 Presbytery Assembly. The Denver Presbytery policy governing applications can be found at this link.

New Worshiping Communities at the Presbytery of Denver

In 2012, the Presbyterian Church (USA) reframed New Church Development to New Worshiping Communities at the National New Church Development conference in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida, during the Mid Council Strategies track to discern how to start new worshiping communities.  Consequently, a church wide movement was formed stirring God’s people to do new things.  God’s Spirit is moving to reach out to new people, and is sparking new energy by transforming communities.  The PC (USA)’ 1001 New Worshiping Communities has expanded what was New Church Development to broaden involvement in starting new worshiping communities with leaders who want do missional work in new forms.   

According to the Presbyterian Church (USA), the definition of a New Worshiping Community is:

New

• Seeking to make and form new disciples of Jesus Christ

• Taking on innovative forms of church for our changing culture

Worshiping

• Gathered by the Spirit to meet Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament

• Sent by the Spirit to join God’s mission for the transformation of the world

Community

• Practicing mutual care and accountability

• Developing self-sustainability in leadership and finances

As the Pastor for Church Development and Multiracial Ministries, I have been commissioned by the Presbytery to come alongside Racial Ethnic entrepreneurial leaders who feel called to start new worshiping communities not only church planting, but also new exploring church growth.  For example, Racial Ethnic Ministries at Denver Presbytery is moving forward with work on strategies of sustainability in leadership and finances.  We have learned that each ministry has its own DNA and ways to develop.  We have been blessed with committed bi-vocational Presbyterian leaders starting new worshiping communities in creative ways.  We have also been blessed with several churches and sessions that have joined the journey to come along as partners with new worshiping communities and leaders committed to follow God’s call.   

The Presbytery of Denver celebrates the ministry of the following new worshiping communities: Divino Salvador in Aurora, Rev. Lemuel Velasco; Myanmar Christian Community in Englewood, Pastor Andrew Thang; Neema African Fellowship in Aurora, Rev, Jemimah Ngatia; The Vietnamese Presbyterian Fellowship in Denver at Bethel, Pastor Tu Duc Bui; Northwest Denver Missional Community at homes, Rev. Joel Adams; Pree ‘n Pree Worshiping Community in Denver at Central, Rev. Tim Mooney; Wild Village New Worshiping community in Denver, Rev. Dan Dolquist.

 As Presbyterians we have a lot to learn, but one thing we cannot underestimate is our witness to the Gospel by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Church growth can only happens when we invite others to come along.Church growth really happens when we make space at the table for others.I want to extend an invitation to have coffee with me to anyone who feels called to explore the possibility of starting a new worshiping community initiative. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has Seed Grants available and the Presbytery of Denver will match those grants. You can reach me at the Presbytery center.

Rev. Amy Mendez
Pastor for New Church Development & Multiracial Ministries

News from the Stated Clerk of Denver Presbytery

 “All too many others have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows” 
― Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail

 This is a busy time of year for Clerks of Session. In large part, the Session Clerk is a congregation’s keeper of church history and order. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S. A.) is a gift that “reaffirms the historical principles of church order”, that provides that every congregation is to have a Council as an expression of unity of the church existing “to help congregations and the church as a whole be more faithful participants in the mission of Christ.” (F-3.01, G-3.0104)Book of Order 2017-2019. The ministry of the Session Clerk is vital to this mission, charged with recording transactions of the council, keeping its rolls of membership and attendance, maintain required registers, and preserving its records. 

 My thanks to the thirty-three (33) Clerks of Session who have just completed the Presbyterian Mission Agency Clerk’s Annual Questionnaire 2018.  All Clerks of Session should now be busy completing Statistical reporting with a deadline of February 7, 2019.  The goal for this year is that 100% of churches comply with this Constitutional requirement in contrast to the 41 of 47 congregations in 2017.  Currently planning is for 2018 Record (minutes) and roll review to be held in mid-March 2019. 

 As a connectional body, I am encouraging all Ministers of Word and Sacrament, Sessions, Clerks of Session, and all Leaders and disciples in the Presbytery to attend and participate in the Conversations with the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on February 19, 2019, at First Presbyterian Brighton, 11:30 – 2:30 – and please register on-line.

In Christ’s service,

Rev. Olivia L. Hudson Smith, JD
Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Denver

Why do we have to pay per capita?

I’ve heard this question at least a thousand times, and in spite of the number of times the question is asked, the answer is always the same.  “Because.”   That’s easy to say, but the rationale behind per capita giving is more involved. 

Per Capita literally means “for each head,” and it’s essentially a “per-person” fee paid to the denomination to keep the denomination running.  For a lot of folks, that seems like carrying coal to Newcastle.  Why does the denomination need our money? What difference does it make if our church does or doesn’t give to this fund?

The denomination needs the giving of every church because giving is an act of faith.  Yes, there are endowments and investments and a whole lot of churches pay their per capita without fail, and yes, the giving by a lot makes up for the lack of giving by a few.  But it’s important to remember that per capita is the primary source of funding for the Office of the General Assembly, and it is through participation in per capita giving that nearly 10,000 PCUSA congregations equitably share the costs of the work of the wider church.

Giving is a holy discipline.  When the disciples went out into the world to share the Good News, they relied upon the generosity of the churches they planted to support their work.  Furthermore, they encouraged those new churches to set aside a collection for the widows and orphans, the hungry and helpless, the broken and bereft.  It is our call as Christians and as Presbyterians to share in the ministry of all our churches, to fairly pay those who serve Christ at all denominational levels, and to offer compassion and support to our sisters and brothers in need.   

Why do we have to pay per capita?  Because we care about the future of our churches.  Because we care about each other.  Because we are still being sent into the world to share the glorious Good News of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  Because we are under grace, and it is from there that we can see how dynamic our graciousness can be.

Transitional Presbytery Pastor
Rev. Dana Hughes