Meet Rev. Joel Adams - Presbytery Associate for Congregational Development
Joel remembers at the age of seven, his mother taking him and his sister into College Hill Presbyterian Church in Easton, Pennsylvania. Little did he know, being raised in this church would influence him in profound ways eventually leading him into the church as a pastor, then to seed a new community here in Denver and now to serve as the Associate for Congregational Development with Denver Presbytery.
Joel moved to Denver in 1993 and fell in love with the city and the wild-land throughout the state. When he walked into First Presbyterian Church in Golden he knew he had found a home and began to participate in their life and mission. He met his wife Juli while working as a front line counselor at Denver Children’s Home. The two both wanted to try working in wilderness ministry and were wondering if they should go to seminary. So for a few years, they led ministry based wilderness trips for youth throughout Colorado before heading off to Fuller Seminary for theological training. Joel had no intention of being a pastor, but as God works, through many classes, professors, friends and spirit-led experiences Joel discerned the call to become a pastor. The session at First Presbyterian Church in Golden took him under their care and he began the ordination process with Denver Presbytery.
Upon finishing his education he found a wonderful internship serving the urban, diverse congregation of what was then, North Presbyterian Church. His first call took him to a rural, traditional congregation as their solo pastor for six years in Southern Illinois. These experiences formed and shaped him in deep ways as he began to learn the art of pastoring. And then along with friends, and in partnership with Denver Presbytery and First Pres. Golden, they plotted an adventure of living out their faith in tangible ways here in Denver West Highland neighborhood to see what God might be up to. Out of this mission experiment, a small gathering of misfits, many who came from outside of the church, formed and still worship in member’s homes most Sunday evenings.
Joel is excited about this opportunity as it fits his passion to see churches thrive in this rapidly changing world. He will be able to use his gifts and experience to come alongside existing churches to resource, coach and encourage. Simultaneously, he will work to create infrastructure, cultivate a culture and develop leaders for seeding more, new faith communities throughout Denver Presbytery.
Joel still loves to get out into the mountains when he can, and loves spending as much time as possible with his kids and wife. He enjoys movies, seeing live music, learning to make plants taste great and talking about Jesus. He has three teenagers, Gabriel, Kate and Micah and an English Springer Spaniel named Bella.
Celebration of Ministry of Rev. Amy Mendez
Dear Presbytery Friends and Colleagues,
You may have already heard the news, but I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I am leaving my position at the Presbytery of Denver to a new opportunity to serve as the Associate Director of Racial Equity and Women's Intercultural Ministries for the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church USA in Louisville, KY.
Serving the Presbytery of Denver for the past fourteen years has been an honor. I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you. I sincerely appreciate your support, prayers and the spirit of collaboration to serve the One who calls us to love God and our neighbor. I have loved working on our workgroups, mission partnerships and joining mission trips with you. I will miss you all and I do not say goodbye because I am sure we will cross paths again.
Pray for me as I will pray for you.
Paz, peace!
Rev. Amy Mendez
A Note from Denver Presbytery Vision Team
A Note from Denver Presbytery Vision Team
Denver Presbytery Vision Team is a group of Ministers, Ruling Elders serving and worshiping in our Presbytery. Led by Transitional Presbytery Pastor, Rev. Dana Hughes, we meet monthly to discern God’s vision for the future of Denver Presbytery. In 2020, a member of the team will share something with you about the work we are doing and ask for your prayers. I, Rev. Susan Boucher, Pastor of Church of the Hills in Evergreen, begin this effort with the following brief report.
We are reading Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger; this has prompted lively and profound conversation and reflection about the future work of Denver Presbytery. There are no “new” decisions, but there is tremendous energy, intelligence, and dialogue that will lead us into a vibrant future. The cord struck for me is our immediate need to pray for those that are currently in leadership, specifically the Council. During this time of transition, both within our culture and the life of Denver Presbytery, they are diligently striving to lead us with intelligence, imagination, and love.
Please join me in praying for each member of Council, their work together, and their families as they lead. Their names are listed below.
In the peace of Christ,
Susan
Evan Amo | Wanda Beauman | Sharon Blackstock | Georgia Comstock | Jo Culbertson | James Fouther | Kim Graber | Peter Hulac | Michael McLane | Kendal Mullins | Sue Pilcher | Pat Queen | Justin Spurlock | Paula Steinbacher
Fifteen Delegation Members from Denver, Wyoming & Heartland Presbytery visit The Border
Fifteen delegation members from the Denver, Wyoming & Heartland Presbytery have just returned from a trip to the towns of Agua Prieta, Sonora & Douglas, AZ. under the leadership of Frontera de Cristo, a PC(USA) Mexican- US border ministry. This border ministry is a partnership of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico & the PC(USA). Our purpose was to learn the realities of life in the borderlands among migrants, asylum seekers & communities. We walked & prayed along the U.S. side of the border wall as sun set behind the mountains. We experienced the very welcoming hospitality & worship with our host, the Lirio de los Valles Presbyteriana Church in Agua Prieta. We met with the staff and clients of the ministries of Frontera de Cristo & its partners serving asylum- seeking families- Douglas/Prieta Trabaja (a self sufficiency model for families living in poor neighborhood of Agua Prieta), CRREDA-a drug rehab center of addicts helping addicts and CAME- a hospitality center for migrants where we heard their stories. We walked in the desert where migrants have travelled encountering the waterless terrain, as well as had time with the US Border Patrol. We participated in Agua Prieta festivities & ended our time with Robert Uribe, the mayor of Douglas talking about the joys & challenges of life on the border. This PC(USA) border ministry encourages compassionate giving, receiving, learning, growing & spiritual illumination. We encourage you to experience it for yourself!
Denver Presbytery gets a New Board of Pension Regional Representative
Our new Board of Pensions representative is Kristin Leucht, church consultant for the Synods of the Southwest and Southern California and Hawaii, and part of Synod of the Rocky Mountains (presbyteries in Colorado and Utah). Kristin can be reached by email kleucht@pensions.org or call her at 267-815-1329.
Clayton Cobb has retired.
2020 Minister Minimum Compensation and Pulpit Supply Increases
At the October 22, 2019 Assembly, Committee on Ministry proposed an increase in the minimum salary for ministers in Denver Presbytery. It was approved by Presbytery.
The changes are as follows:
The 2020 base minimum salary and housing in Denver Presbytery shall be$51,078 (3% increase of $1488/yr.) NOTE: These are revised each year.
When a manse is furnished for the pastor’s use, the annual minimum for 2020 shall be $37,188 (3% increase of $1083/yr.)
The "study leave" period minimum shall be two weeks, including 2 Sundays, maybe cumulative for 3 years.
The "continuing education" minimum shall be $1000 per year (increased 2019).
The annual vacation minimum shall be 4 weeks, including 5 Sundays.
Churches shall be instructed on the importance of meeting pastor ministry and mileage expenses through an accountable reimbursement program.
Churches in the Presbytery whose ministry location puts them in the area of extreme housing costs, are encouraged to find ways to face this burden. Such approaches may include "equity share" investments to reduce the cost of a monthly mortgage payment, purchase of a manse or other creative financing approaches.
The funding of Board of Pension dues for plan participants should be determined by each congregation working with plan participants who elect optional coverage.Financial tools such as IRS Part 125 plans (healthcare reimbursement accounts,Health Flexible Spending Account, Health Reimbursement Arrangement, etc.) or other tools discussed in IRS Publication 969 may be useful to both parties as well as contacting the Board of Pensions.
The Presbytery strongly recommends that each Session and installed pastor plan for a Clergy Renewal. If there is no plan for a Clergy Renewal, there are resources available to assist that conversation, and if the congregation has a Clergy Renewal (Sabbatical) Plan, it should be reviewed each year to be sure session, congregation and Minister are “on track”.
Approved: October 22, 2019
PULPIT SUPPLY INCREASE
During a recent Committee on Ministry meeting, changes to the guidelines for supply preaching were amended to recommend $175 to conduct of one worship service a Sunday and $225 for conducting two worship services on Sunday.