May HYBRID Assembly Highlights

The May 23rd Stated HYBRID Assembly was held On-line via Zoom and On-Site at First Presbyterian Church of Brighton.

Thank you First Presbyterian Church of Brighton for your hospitality and welcome. Special thanks to Meril, Linda, and Margaret along with Joe and Julia and many others for providing a wonderful meal and hospitality. 

The Revised Ominbus was passed. 

August Assembly will be in person on August 19, 2023 and the Location is coming soon!

Our tech crew was AMAZING and made the magic happen at Assembly! Thank you to First Presbyterian Church of Brighton crew Bill and Tom along with DenPres Team–Beth, Brontë, Steve, Fernando, Chuck, Dee, Kenny and Bethany for their help behind the scenes!

Worship
In the Spirit of Pentecost, worship was woven throughout our time as we heard the Word (Isaiah 55:8-11, Romans 11:33-36) and sang Amazing Grace in many different tongues including Korean, Kikuku, Spanish, Twi, and Vietnamese, Thank you Pastors Evan Amo, Jemimah Ngatia, Tu Minh Bui, Lemuel Velasco, Louise Westfall, George Wilson, and John Yu, for their leadership among us. 

Generative Activity | Dee and gretchen
What we know is we come to presbytery meetings for a variety of reasons, whether it be work, worship, inspiration, or connection.  One way we explored connection with one another was through presencing- a way of communicating what was  going on with us in the moment.  Presencing is a way we placed our voices in the room, where we saw each other and they saw us. The invitation was to notice what we were feeling or thinking, and make a sound that matched what we were noticing in our bodies and spirits. This sound was shared with our neighbors. This was a way that we connected, communicated, and noticed one another.

Lead Presbyter Report | Rev. Dr. Dee Cooper
There is great excitement about the ways in which Denver Presbytery is living into being a Matthew 25 Presbytery in many ways.  The Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA)  has released a video and commercial that is in national syndication on PBS, CNN, and other channels about the PCUSA and Matthew 25. The videos can be found here and at the end direct viewers to local Matthew 25 congregations. We shared yard signs for our Matthew 25 congregations, as an additional way they could be recognized.

Agency Review Task Force Report | Rob Habiger 
The Servant Leadership Development Committee (SLDC) would love you to consider serving. We invite you to fill out a Passion Discovery Form (PDF) about your gifts. Thank you to the SLDC members who were with us to answer any questions and connect with folks about serving. 

Servant Leadership Development Committee (Committee on Representation) | Sarah Pascoe
At the February Assembly we voted in the leaders of the Ministry Relations Committee Core Team, however Rev. gretchen Sausville is no longer able to serve in that capacity as she is our Stated Clerk. The Servant Leadership Development Committee brought forth a motion to elect Joanna Douglass to the Ministry Relations Committee as leader for the Resources and Discovery Team, which was approved.

Finance & Property | Pat Queen
Generative time was with a lens of our  Mission, Vision, and Values and Matthew 25. One of the tenants of being Matthew 25 is eradicating systemic poverty.

The motion to sell a parcel of land by the First Presbyterian Church of Brighton, to the Brighton Housing Authority in order to build low income housing, was inspiring.

We watched a NBC Today show segment about how communities of faith are being the body of Christ as they eradicate systemic poverty. We heard from Rev. Dr. Chris Spotts about the discernment process for his congregation to come to this faithful decision. We had expanded discussion time together using the Committee of The Office of General Assembly Equity Minded Decision Prompts.

The Assembly approved the First Presbyterian Church of Brighton’s request to sell 5.822 acres of their property to the Brighton Housing Authority for not less than 90% of the assessment for $1,150,000 payable in 2 installments. 

The Finance and Property Committee brought two motions in order to establish a line of credit for cash flow purposes. 

The Assembly approved a line of credit be established with PILP (Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program) at a rate of 5.4% (variable) for the amount of $200,000 to cover cash flow issues. 

The Assembly approved the required collateral for the line of credit be Denver Presbytery Grant Street Proceeds fund invested with Gill Capital Partners currently valued at $3,165,243.

Generative Time 

As a Generative activity we did a word cloud from Aha slides answering “what we love about springtime in Colorado”.

Stated Clerk Report | Rev. gretchen Sausville
The Church Leadership Connection (CLC), the call system for pastors and congregations, has an updated platform that the leadership will begin training on. If you need help, please contact us. 

Rev. Richard Aylor, Pastor of Church of the Hills, will be installed on June 3, 2023 at 2pm, all are welcome!

Partnership of Zimbabwe and Denver Presbyteries
The PZDP delegation was commissioned for service to Zimbabwe with liturgy and laying on of hands. Thank you to JoAnn Goss and Julia Henderson for your words and prayers, to our delegation for your service, and to our assembly for raising your voices in song.

Dee Cooper | Lead Presbyter
Kim Graber | Nakai Task Force from St. Paul PC
Rob Habiger | Central Fund from Central PC 
Celeste Habiger | Mission Partnership from Central PC
Deanna Heyn | Zimbabwe MP and Orphan Care Center from New Hope PC
Josphat Ombacho | Central Fund and Mission Partnership from Neema

Meeting was adjourned with prayer.

How can you help?

We are hearing of hundreds of migrants arriving in Denver and the city is struggling to provide services for them.

Did you know our own Denver Presbytery Mission Partnership, Journey With Migrants, is collaborating with non-profit agencies to provide food and shelter?

How can you help?

Please consider giving a donation to continue this emergency mission by clicking button below.

THANK YOU!

Donate Now to Help Migrants

Meet your Visionary Leadership Commission

The Visionary Leadership Commission is a strategic and decision-making body. It is the keeper of Denver Presbytery’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

The Commission promotes and supports programs and actions that are consistent with being a Matthew 25 Presbytery. It provides the strategic direction and oversight for the operation of the Presbytery and the support of its ongoing and future programs.

March 28th Assembly Highlights

The March 28th Stated ONLINE Assembly was held via Zoom.

Denver Presbytery Assembly, Vice Moderator, Pat Queen lead the Assembly in a land acknowledgement.

It is important to introduce the Presbytery of Denver by recognizing those who lived here before the presbytery came to be, those who were the first stewards of the land. The first people who offered the first prayers and sang the first songs. All land has a tribal story, and so we must remember it as the home to many indigenous people. Then and today these are diverse communities of those who have never left, those forced to relocate, those who walked on a trail of tears to a different land and those who disappeared before we could ever know their names. 

New Voting System
Communication Manager, Beth Carlisle, with assistance from our new Administraive Assistant, Brontë Shedden, explained the new voting system using a QR code or link to access. The new "AHA Slides", will be used onsite and online for voting members to register their vote at Assembly and allows for our New Worshiping Communities to have an Advisory Vote. The Assembly was provided with an opportunity to practice prior to voting on the Omnibus Motion.

Worship
Rev. Bethany Peerbolte, a New Worshipping Community Leader (Our Tapestry) used Zoom reactions and the new voting system to interact with the Assembly, including an opportunity to move to breakout rooms to connect with new folks.  Bethany's message was based on Philippians 1:4 using the New Living Translation. 

Necrology Recognition Video
John provided opening remarks as we remembered our Minister of the Word and Sacrament colleagues who transitioned in 2022. Click here to view video.

Lead Presbyter 
Lead Presbyter, Dee Cooper, showed us a video about the intentionality of launching a ship. She invited us to recognize if we were on the boat (this new structure ) sailing into this new expression of ministry and asking us how are we appreciating those on the shore and all they brought to building the boat to today? And for those on the shore, how we were sending our prayers, blessings, intentions, and support of success as we sail? Click here to watch the video.

Recognition and Appreciation
Dee recognized and expressed appreciation for all the former agencies in the Presbytery that have completed their work as the new structure is being phased in and implemented. Click on here to view the video.

Visionary Leadership Commission  
The Assembly voted to approve the dissolution of Trinity Presbyterian Church and Arvada Presbyterian Church effective April 1, 2023.

The Assembly approved the dismissal of the Arvada Trinity Administrative Commission, with gratitude for their ministry in merging two congregations into a new faith expression, constituted as Community of Grace.

Finance & Property
The Assembly approved of the sale of Genesis Presbyterian Church to Abiding Hope Lutheran Church for not less than 90% of the $2,250,000.00 listing price and that Genesis be authorized to lease back the Sanctuary for Worship. 

Ministry Relations Committee

Richard Aylor
Rev. Richard Aylor is serving Church of the Hills as a Temporary Supply Pastor. The congregation voted to call him as the next installed pastor, which requires an Assembly vote. The Assembly approved to install Richard at Church of the Hills. 

Richard comes to Colorado from Wilmington, North Carolina, but is originally from Roanoke, Virigina. Richard attended Emory & Henry College not too far from there. It was in college that he felt a call to ministry. Richard received his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2015 and then moved to Wilmington.

In his spare time, Richard has already gotten involved in the community. He sings bass in the Evergreen Chorale and has joined the Evergreen Rotary Club. While he’s not working, he enjoys hiking 14ers on his Sabbath and being outside photographing nature and the beautiful Colorado landscapes. Congratulations to Richard and Church of the Hills!

Introduction of New Worshiping Committee Incubator Leader
Nathan Heimer introduced Raafat Girgis, New Worshiping Committee Incubator Leader who spoke on his vision to begin a new multicultural faith community based on diverse vocations.

Before arriving in Denver, Raafat served as a Lead Pastor for New Rehoboth-Greenville and Pisgah Presbyterian Churches located in two counties in Pennsylvania. Previously he served as a Mission Agent in the Presbyterian Mission Agency as Associate Director for Evangelism and Racial/Cultural Diversity. Welcome Raafat!

Stated Clerk Nominating Committee
Moderator John Yu announced that Ruling Elder Diane Ritzdorf will serve as Stated Clerk, pro tem, for the duration of the meeting. Stated Clerk Olivia Hudson Smith left the meeting.
 
Stated Clerk Nominating Committee Chair, Judy Jensen, introduced the report from the committee. She and the other committee members, Jon Sutterlin, Jill VanderWal, and James Fouther explained the work of the committee, their processes, and their choice. The nominee, gretchen Sausville, explained why she applied for the position. After questioning, gretchen was moved to a breakout room. The Assembly had discussion and voted to elect, Rev. gretchen N. Sausville as Stated Clerk for a three-year term, beginning April 1, 2023, and effective through March 31, 2026, according to the Terms of Call included in the Assembly packet. 

gretchen is a 2002 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado (in Greeley) with a BA in Performing and Visual Arts, with minors in European History and Women’s Studies.  She earned a Master of Divinity, with Women’s Study emphasis, from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2007.

Rob Habiger, Moderator of the Visionary Leadership Commission, dismissed the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee with great appreciation for their service. Welcome gretchen! 

Appreciation and Celebration of Olivia

Next Assembly will be Tuesday, May 23, 2023 HYBRID First Presbyterian Church in Brighton

Action Alert on Immigration-related Colorado Assembly Bill HB23-1100

The Journey With Migrants Mission Partnership and the Colorado Council of Churches’ Voices For Justice (VFJ) seek your support for HB23-1100, titled “Restrict Government Involvement in Immigration Detention” being considered in the Colorado Assembly. 

As Christians, Christ’s teaching to treat one another with hospitality and compassion is primary, especially when someone is a “stranger.”  We are called to “welcome the stranger,” especially individuals and families who face extreme poverty and violence in their home nations.

After passing the House, this bill will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee.  You can easily voice your support for HB23-1100 with your Senator by clicking here and take action under “Tell Your Senator to Support Keeping Families Together.” Enter your name and address. Using your zip code, a draft note to your Senator will appear on screen. You may customize your note before you send it (always a good idea!) It’s a quick and effective way to take the opportunity to advocate for our neighbors. 

TAKE ACTION | EMAIL YOUR SENATOR
For more detailed information, click here.  

LEARN MORE
HB23-1100, titled “Restrict Government Involvement in Immigration Detention,” passed the Colorado House (41-22) on February 27th. The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency responsible for overseeing and implementing policies related to immigration detention, contracts out a portion of its detention capacity to state and local governments. State and local governments may then subcontract with prisons or immigration detention facilities that are owned, managed, or operated by private entities to house or detain individuals for federal civil immigration purposes. Currently, also, state and local government entities may enter into agreements directly with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to house or detain individuals for federal civil immigration purposes. This bill prohibits state and local governments from entering into or renewing contracts that would house or detain individuals for federal civil immigration purposes.  Sponsors of this bill are Rep. Naquetta Ricks, Rep. Lorena Garcia, Sen. Julie Gonzales and Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis.

This bill does not impact the GEO detention facility in Aurora because it is the federal government (not Colorado governmental entities) that contracts with that privately owned facility.  There are, however, county jails in Colorado, primarily in rural counties, that have contracts to house migrant detainees. Because this bill would prohibit the renewal of agreements regarding detaining migrants for civil offenses in those jails, there may be strong opposition to the bill in the upcoming committee hearing.

February 21, 2023 Called Assembly Highlights

The February Called Assembly was full of generativity and joy!

The Presbytery of Denver is transitioning into its new agency structure! In addition to the Vision Leadership Commission (VLC) and the Servant Leadership Development Committee (SLDC) being populated and moving toward full function, a third agency, Ministry Relations Committee (MRC) is now populated and ready to begin its ministry.

Nancy Dixon, Moderator of Servant Leadership Development brought the slate of Ministry Relations Committee Leads

Ministry Relations Committee Team Leads Elected

 The Ministry Relations Committee (MRC) Moderator, Rev. Sheri Fry, and Vice-Moderator, Commissioned Pastor Sandy Safford, were elected at the January 24, 2023, Stated Assembly. At the Called Assembly, the Servant Leadership Development Committee (SLDC) brought the following slate to serve as the core committee and team leaders with their focus areas for the Ministry Relations Committee (MRC): Beth Hewlett, Relations and Connections Lead; Bill Sanders, Pastoral Care Lead; Don Shrumm, Transitional Lead; gretchen Sausville, Resources and Discovery Lead; and, Jordan Warntjes, Mediation Lead.

At the January 25, 2022, Assembly, the Council of the Presbytery recommended that the Assembly approve the affirmative votes of the Congregations of Arvada Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church on January 9, 2022, to merge and become one new church corporation. Further, the Council recommended that that the Assembly approve the formation of an Administrative Commission (AC) to conclude church operations of Arvada Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church and form a new church corporation in the Presbytery of Denver, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) consisting of the merged congregations.

Community of Grace, a Presbyterian Church | Charting Service to be held March 26, 2023

The Administrative Commission (AC) is in the final stages of concluding the elements necessary to merge and create a new congregation with a new vision, mission, and values.  Supporting the Administrative Commission, the Assembly approved constituting a new church, “Community of Grace, a Presbyterian Church” from the merger of the Arvada Presbyterian and Trinity Presbyterian churches as having completed the tasks on the document from the Stated Assembly of January 25, 2022 to become a new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation with the Charting service to be on March 26, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at the former Trinity Presbyterian Church building with the following organizing commission: Rev. Dee Cooper, Lead Presbyter; Rev. Bill Davis, Interim Pastor, Ruling Elder Diane Ritzdorf, Vice-Moderator Committee on Ministry; Ruling Elder Ann Butcher, Co-Moderator Administrative Commission (Arvada); Ruling Elder Michael McLane, Co-Moderator Administrative Commission (Trinity); Ruling Elder Cathy Futch, Clerk of Session Nominee; Rev. Olivia Hudson Smith, Stated Clerk; Rev. John Yu, Presbytery Moderator, Ruling Elder Pat Queen, Presbytery Vice-Moderator.

GENERATIVE

Brontë Shedden, the new staff Administrative Assistant walked the Assembly through a practice test for voting using cell phones and a QR code. Presbytery staff will assist those needing assistance on an individual basis.