The wind of the Spirit has blown...

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The wind of the Spirit has blown once again in my life.  Golden Presbyterian Church has called me to serve as their new Senior Pastor and we have accepted.  All the votes are in and I will start June 16th.  I have been discerning God’s call back into parish ministry for some time and sensed the Spirit’s invitation to apply to Golden.  This is such a great fit and both the church and my family are very encouraged and excited to see what God has for us moving forward!

This means my last working day with the Denver Presbytery as Associate for Congregations will be May 27th.  I will then use some of my continuing education and vacation time before I start with Golden.  

In the meantime, our Council and the Vision Construction team believe it's wise not to search for anyone to fill this position and wait for the Vision Construction Team to assess staffing models. So if you have any pastoral care needs please do not hesitate to contact the Pastoral Care Team led by Honorably Retired Bill Sanders.  Contact information is available on our Presbytery website under the Committee of Ministry tab, click here.  

It has been both a joy and a challenge to serve the Denver Presbytery.  I am grateful for this season and the relationships we have grown together.  And I am also thankful for the ways God has grown and shaped me in this last year and a half.  It is good to know that I will be able to continue to be in the Presbytery and continue these relationships.  We have so many wonderful pastors, and leaders throughout our Presbytery.  You are our greatest asset!

Lastly, as I make this transition back into one of our local congregations, I am very encouraged by the work of the Vision Construction team and like you will continue to hold them in my heart and prayer as they faithfully carry out the work appointed to them.  

See you around!  

Gratefully in Christ,

Joel Adams

Alone in the wilderness: An update from the Vision Team

My daughter had the unfortunate pleasure of being in four different schools in five years. And for a couple months, at the beginning of each year, she needed her mom or her dad to stay with her right up until the bell rang for school. The playground seemed like an uncertain and potentially dangerous place. In that setting the worst thing she could imagine was being left alone.  

It makes me think of the Israelites in the wilderness. They knew what it means to live in uncertainty and potential danger. They left all that they knew in Egypt: shelter, food, water. Even though Egypt wasn’t ideal, the wilderness seemed more perilous still. Perhaps it is not surprising that the last verse in the book of Exodus describes in vivid detail the presence of God among them. “ For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.”

There is an assurance in this text that the very presence of God will abide continually, reliably, enduringly. It is visible and identifiable. It provides the community with the assurance that God’s presence is with them. Even in the uncertainty and unsustainability of the wilderness.

That must have been reassuring. Imagine that every time you faced danger or fear or uncertainty, you could look up and literally see the presence of the one who had delivered you from Egypt right in front of you. The obvious power of God was right there; all you had to do was raise your eyes.

Friends, in the last 10 years I have heard Christians, good, honest, faithful Christian people, proclaim with fear and sorrow in their heart, the death of the Church. Most of us have noticed declining numbers and declining budgets, how the world is changing, how the tried-and-true ways of engaging our world and our neighbor seem ineffectual. It’s an uncertain and potentially dangerous time. It’s almost like we’re in the wilderness.

But we are not anymore alone in the wilderness that the Israelites were. Like the Israelites we are tempted to look back to the place from which we have come and assume that the familiar is where we will find safety. But the place from which we have come is not where the pillar of God leads. The pillar of God is always out in front, taking us on to the Promised Land. And no matter how scary or unknown the wilderness may be to us, God is undaunted. God does not lead us out into the wilderness to abandon us and see if we can survive.

The pillar of cloud signifies God’s presence, but it also signifies God’s leadership and guidance. And in a world that is changing as fast as ours is, we need both. We need the promise of God’s presence. We need the reliable, constant, enduring presence of God. We need that reassurance; we need that comfort. We are transformed and made new by God’s presence. But God never intends for us to sit comfortably in God’s presence. The cloud never settles for long.

Just as we need God’s presence, we need God’s guidance. We need God to lead us into the wilderness, to lead us fearlessly into the unknown. When we rest in God’s presence, we are transformed; when we rise and follow God’s guidance, we participate in the transformation of the world. And the world around us is desperately in need of presence. God’s presence, and ours. So, we, as the Church, must be sure to sink into the presence of God that we can be centered and transformed. And then we must follow the itinerant God, whose home is a tent, out into the world.

I’m excited that God is still out in front, that God’s presence is never behind us, but is always out in front leading us on to the Promised Land. As we seek to discern God’s direction for Denver Presbytery let us never forget to follow that cloud.

Rev. Dr. Christopher Spotts

The Vision Construction Team needs your input!

Greetings Denver Presbyterians & Friends,

We are in the process of listening to how God is moving among us in order to focus on God's vision and help us participate with God's mission. To do that the Vision Construction Team of Denver Presbytery requests 10-15 minutes of your time to respond to this survey.

IMPORTANT! We want broad input to help listen closely for God's mission for DenPres! If you lead a congregation, new worshipping community, task force or ministry partner would you please forward this survey link (available in English and Spanish) to anyone in your ministry who you consider a servant leader--elders, staff, deacons, leadership team members...

SPANISH VERSION https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/spanish4800
ENGLISH VERSION https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DP4800

We will be reporting aggregate themes and key insights that result from this survey. We will not use anybody's identity without requesting your permission and you granting us permission to do so

THANK YOU!! in advance for your valuable attention and meaningful contribution to the present and future of Denver Presbytery!

Your Vision Construction Team,
Rev. Paula Steinbacher, Church of the Eternal Hills
Daphne Rice-Allen, Peoples Presbyterian Church
Rev. John Yu, True Light Community Church
Rob Habiger, Central Presbyterian Church
Rev. Russ Kane, New Hope Presbyterian Church
Kendal Mullins, Wellshire Presbyterian Church
Rev. Lemuel Velasco, Divino Salvador
Rev. Chris Spotts, First Presbyterian Church, Brighton

Followership An Update from Rev. Dr. John Yu from the Vision Construction Team

팔로월쉽

“나를 따라오라 내가 너희를 사람을 낚는 어부가 되게 하리라”(마 4:19). 예수님께서 부르셨습니다. 베드로와 안드레가 먼저, 그리고 야고보와 요한, 그 외에 여러 사람들이 예수님을 따랐습니다. 그리고 이 세상은 완전히 변했습니다.

리더쉽은 중요한 덕목입니다. 그리고 많은 사람들은 리더가 되고자 노력합니다. 단체들은 리더쉽이 강한 사람들을 찾습니다. 나라는 좋은 리더가 있어야 번창할 수 있습니다. 스포츠 팀이 우승을 하려면 선수들을 하나로 묶고 인도 할 리더가 필요합니다. 교회도 열매 맺고 부흥을 하려면 좋은 리더가 필요합니다. 성공을 하려면 좋은 리더가 반드시 필요합니다.

기독교 리더쉽은 팔로월쉽이 먼저여야 합니다. 잘 따라야 좋은 리더가 될 수 있습니다. 우리의 참된 리더이신 예수 그리스도를 잘 따를 수 있어야 좋은 기독교 리더가 될 수 있습니다. 예수님께서 가시는 곳을 따라 가야합니다. 예수님께서 보시는 것을 보고, 예수님께서 들으시는 것을 들을 수 있어야 합니다. 예수님의 마음을 아프게 하는 것이 우리의 마음을 아프게 해야 합니다. 예수님을 따르는 것이 기독교인의 삶의 근본적인 모습입니다.

우리 비전팀은 덴버 노회가 앞으로 나아갈 방향이 예수님께서 원하시는 방향이 될 수 있도록 분별하며 나아가고 있습니다. 매주 토요일마다 모여서 어떻게 하면 우리의 리더이신 예수님을 잘 따를 수 있을까 고민하고 있습니다. 팀원들은 다 각자의 생각을 가지고 팀에 들어왔습니다. 교회를 사랑하고 덴버 노회를 위해 헌신하는 마음으로 주인의식을 가지고 들어왔습니다. 하지만 우리는 주인이 아니라 청지기입니다. 교회도 노회도 다 예수님께서 주인이십니다. 그렇다면 우리가 가져야 하는 비전은 바로 예수님의 비전이어야 합니다.

많은 생각과 아이디어를 가지고 이제 노회의 비전과 미션, 그리고 가치를 정리하는 일을 비전팀이 이제 하고 있습니다. 여러분들이 나눠 주었던 이야기들을 듣고 함께 예수님의 비전을 같이 품을 수 있기를 소망합니다. 지금까지 나눠 주셨던 것처럼 앞으로도 많이 나누고 기도해 주시기를 부탁드립니다. 그래서 함께 분멸하고 예수님을 따를 수 있기를 소망합니다.

계속해서 비전팀을 위해 기도해 주시기 바랍니다. 그래서 우리 비전팀이 예수님께서 보시는 것을 보시고 들으시는 것을 들을 수 있기를 소망합니다. 그리고 예수님께서 가시는 곳을 갈 수 있는 덴버 노회가 되기를 소망합니다. 우리 모두 우리의 참된 리더이신 예수님을 따라갑시다.

여러분의 기도의 빚진 자
유지훈 목사
참빛교회
덴버 노회 비전팀

Followership

“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people” (Matthew 4:19, NRSV). Jesus called. Peter and Andrew first, and then James and John, and several others later followed Jesus. The world would never be the same again.

Leadership is a valued characteristic. Many people desire to be leaders. Organizations seek after candidates with leadership qualities. Nations need quality leaders to lead the country through the good and the bad. Sport teams need a leadership bring home the trophy. Churches need leaders to take them down the right path – path that leads to fruitful and vital ministries. Many of us desire to be that leader to bring “success” to our communities.

But Christian leadership begins with followership. It begins with following our one true leader – our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever Jesus goes, we need to follow. Whatever Jesus sees, we need to see. Whatever Jesus hears, we need to hear. Whatever breaks Jesus’ heart, those things need to be break our hearts. Following Jesus is what our lives should be all about.

As Vision Construction Team continues its work, we are discerning where it is that Jesus wants to take the Denver Presbytery next. As mentioned in previous updates, the team has been meeting every Saturday to discern together how we may follow our leader. Some of us had our own ideas about how to make Denver Presbytery better or where we would like to see Denver Presbytery go. We made commitment to this process, because this our Presbytery and we want to take ownership of it. But ultimately it is Jesus’ church. It is Jesus’ presbytery, and we are but stewards. We need to follow Jesus’ vision.

The VCT is starting to put our ideas and thoughts concerning the vision, mission, and values into words. We want to thank you all for your prayers and your input through Bright Spotting exercise and other means. We will continue to listen to your ideas and input as we move forward. This is all part of discerning together how we may best follow our leader.

Please continue to pray for the Vision Construction Team to be able to see and hear what Jesus is seeing and hearing, and go wherever Jesus is going. Let us follow our great leader together.

Indebted in your prayers,

Rev. Dr. John Yu
Pastor – True Light Community Church
Vision Construction Team

Faithful Thursdays goes Virtual!

Faithful Thursdays like everyone else during the COVID pandemic, has gone virtual this year. Their focus to advance a moral economy, equity, and the eradication of racism through social witness to our Colorado legislators is well underway. To comply with the need for social distancing, they have been posting weekly videos outlining faith based social witness positions on their website.

You can view these calls for faithful justice effort from their web site click here or directly on their YouTube channel, click here. You’ll find our past moderator, Jean Demmler, providing the March 25th video highlighting issues surrounding equity for refugees and immigration.

We believe threatening a person for their immigration status is racism," explains Nursen Konuk of the Mosaic Multicultural Foundation in this week's Faithful Thursdays video. "If the system injures individuals doing the right thing, then the system is broken. People should feel safe to report a crime without the fear of deportation." Check out this week’s  video to learn more about advocating for immigrant rights in our community. 

Listen! An Update from Ruling Elder Rob Habiger of the Vision Construction Team

Listen!
When Jesus wanted to teach his followers a truth, he often preceded his teaching with an imperative to listen. For example, in Matthew’s account of the parable of the sower (13:3), Jesus starts by saying “Listen!” He finishes his teaching by challenging them, saying (13:9) “Let anyone with ears, listen!”.

Reverend Russ Kane challenged us to “see” in our last report. In this report, I want to challenge us to “hear”, and not just hear in a passive way, but to hear by listening.

Bright Spotting at the March Assembly
The Vision Construction Team was overwhelmed and energized by the way attendees in the March Assembly embraced the bright spotting exercise. We compiled your input and are now into the analysis of this rich data. This was a great opportunity for the Vision Construction Team to listen to people in the Denver Presbytery. This was also an opportunity for members of the Presbytery to listen to each other in the 17 different breakout groups. Thank you to the facilitators, scribes, and most of all to you who highlighted so many bright spots.

The Vision Construction Team
I believe we are really coming together as a Vision Construction Team. This cannot happen without listening to each other. The love each member of the team has for our Presbytery, the passion about completing our work, the respect we have for each other, and our desire to unite in a common purpose becomes clearer each week as we meet every Saturday morning and listen to each other. We are in the Curate and Generate stage, which requires a lot of data collecting and a whole bunch of listening.

Listening to the Holy Spirit
Please pray for your Vision Construction Team to listen to the Holy Spirit so that the vision for the Denver Presbytery will become clear. Please also pray for all people in the Denver Presbytery, that we might unite in ideas we share, and respond with love and listening when we disagree. Jesus promised in Matthew 18:20 that “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Consider the wisdom and power that can be unleashed as together we listen to the Holy Spirit and to each other.

Together in service to Christ,

Ruling Elder Rob Habiger
Vision Construction Team