A Conversation with Rev. Jordan Warntjes about serving on a Presbytery Committee

Recently, our Communications Manager, Beth Carlisle, chatted with Rev. Jordan Warntjes about why he serves on a Presbytery Committee.

Jordan serves as the Team Leader of the Mediation Team of the Minstry Relations Committee (MRC). Some may know this as the former Committee on Minstry or COM. In the new Book of Order, the work of the team is outlined in several areas, but no longer defined as Committee on Ministry.

To learn more about the work of Ministry Relations Committee, and the various teams that serve our faith communities and ministers, click here.

If you are interested in serving on a Presbytery Committee, but not sure what committee is calling you, click here to learn more about all of the work of the Presbytery.

APEIC New Worshiping Community has first gathering!

ALL PEOPLE ECUMENICAL/INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY (APEIC) is an ecumenical, intercultural, interfaith and international community of worshippers that seeks to claim, live and proclaim the vision of the Pentecost church gathering, (Joel 2, Isaiah 66:18, and Acts 2). APEIC values, incorporates and celebrate differences. It is in fact an intersection where differences meet. People from every nation, tribe and language are invited and welcomed to freely and safely share their different faith journeys in a secure and supportive environment of love and respect.

For long we build churches and worshiping communities of sameness and similarities and yet, a Gospel that intended to be global with the intention of “making disciples of all nations” cannot be limited to one people, one race or one culture. A church that was born globally (Acts 2) cannot be contained in one form of worship or one form of spiritual practice.

How we do this? Well, come and see!

Worship: 5:30pm Second Sunday of each month! (Current) @ Grace Presbyterian Church in Highlands Ranch

New Worship time will start January 2024 will be at 5:30pm the First Sunday of the month!

Questions? Contact Rev. Raafat Garagis at rsgirgis@icloud.com

New Online Directory is launched!

We have a new online, cloud-based directory!

To access, from any browser, simply go to directory.in-c.net/denver/. You will need a personal passphrase to gain access. Please note, this first step cannot be done on smartphone, you must do this initial step to get your passphrase from a desktop or laptop.

Watch the video below to learn how to discover your personal passphrase. Your personal passphrase is unique to you. Please do not share it with anyone, this is how we keep our information secure.

If you need help, please contact Brontë or Beth at the office for assistance! 303.777.2453

*We have learned you cannot do this first step, to discovery your personal passphrase, from your smartphone, but once you have it, you can use the directory from your smartphone.

Fourth New Worshiping Community Incubator Leader is Hired!

Fourth NWC Incubator Leader Hired!

Many of you have had the chance to meet our three New Worshiping Community (NWC) Incubator Leaders that began their work in the first quarter of the year. Bethany, Raafat, and Evan have begun their ministries in our presbytery and we are looking forward to seeing how God continues to use them to gather new communities.

We are happy to announce the hiring of our fourth and last NWC Incubator Leader, Rev. Karla Lara Maldonado. Karla began her work this week and will be focusing on starting a new ministry that primarily reaches the Hispanic/Latino community in the northern part of the greater Denver metro area.

The NWC Incubator initiative is made possible thanks to the generosity of Jane Hays. Thanks to the bequest she left of $1.9 million we have been able to support the salaries of the leadership of existing NWCs, while also supporting the new Incubator Leaders.

We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Lara Maldonado as NWC Incubator Leader. You can read more about her in the bio below. May God continue to guide Denver Presbytery as it seeks to support and create space for new expressions of church in our midst.

Meet Karla

Karla has a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She received the Carl Kilborn Award from the president to the graduated senior with leadership and potential for ministry and academic excellence. She also has graduate studies in Science and Administration in Mexico.

Karla served in First Presbyterian Church in Weslaco, Texas [FPCW], launching several missional and evangelistic projects, from Bible Study to creating a community garden to a food pantry. God blessed her with guidance, creativity, and effectiveness during her service there. 

Commenting on the ministry of FPCW, a seasonal resident of Weslaco said, "I have visited nine other churches in the area, but I prefer to drive 30 min to FPCW because this church is alive and is truly serving. Other churches say, 'Remember us in your will,' but this church focuses on mission and evangelizing its neighbors. I will move my membership from Minnesota to Weslaco."

Born in Reynosa, Mexico, Karla moved to the U.S. with her family due to her husband's job relocation. Orlando and their two sweet daughters, Sarah and Emma, are Karla's best motivation and inspiration.

Karla loves to sing, laugh, and have fellowship. She enjoys having conversations with people from different ethnicities, religions, and walks of life. In Denver Presbytery, she feels called to reach families through dance, exercise, and art that involve making new friends, sharing meals, and meditation. She can be contacted via email at revkarlalara@gmail.com.

Now Accepting Applications for General Assembly Commissioners and Young Adult Delegates

So, you want to be a General Assembly Commissioner...
The General Assembly consists of commissioners elected by presbyteries. Half of the commissioners will be ruling elders, half will be teaching elders. Few will ever have been commissioners to the General Assembly before, but most will have served in one of the other governing bodies of our church: the session, which provides care and oversight of a local congregation; the presbytery, which provides care and oversight of a group of congregations; or the synod which provides care and oversight of several presbyteries. NOW LOOKING FOR GA COMMISSIONERS FOR 226th General Assembly in July of 2024!

Check out this factsheet, What Commissioners and Advisory Delegates Can Expect at the 226th General Assembly (2024).

Being Presbyterian is unique in many ways -- how the church is governed and how decisions are made, and by whom, for example. Watch this quick video below that explains business at General Assembly.

Church Financial Leadership Grants Available Now

If you are a pastor, commissioned ruling elder (CRE), a leader of a 1001 New Worshiping Community or a member of a stewardship team we have Church Financial Leadership Grants available for you. The grants will enable you to institute best practices for church financial leadership, introduce you to new models of giving and stewardship, and offer you new ways to talk about money and form generous disciples within your church.

Who can apply?

• PCUSA pastors

• Commissioned Ruling Elders

• 1001 New Worshiping Community leaders

• Church member attending the event with their pastor

What do the funds cover?

The grants are matching funds to help cover half of the cost of:

• Registration fees

• Transportation

• Lodging

• Meals

• Other expenses

The other half of the funds will need to be provided by the church or another source.

What events can I use the funds for?

• Stewardship Kaleidoscope

• Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF) through the Lake Institute

• Other church financial leadership events (subject to approval)

What is the deadline?

For Stewardship Kaleidoscope, we are asking that applications be sent in by Tuesday, August 15 so that we have time to process the application and send out the funds prior to the start of the event. Applications received after the deadline or for the ECRF program will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Once we receive your application, it may take up to six weeks to process.