The 200th meeting of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley was highlighted by worship led by the Rev. Carol Wickersham, from the Presbytery of Lakes and Prairies. She challenged the Presbytery to think about peace also to work for it in large and small activities.
New pastors, James Gear (Columbus Brookwood), Leigh Holder-Bobo (Columbus Hoge Memorial), and Michael Phillips (Washington Court House First) were introduced.
At the request of the Presbytery of San Jose, Brett Swanson (pictured) was examined and approved for ordination. He has been called to be associate pastor at the Columbus Boulevard church.
In other pastoral transitions, Charlotte O’Neil has moved from 1/2 to 3/4 time at Delaware Old Stone and Donald Coleman has become associate pastor at Delaware Liberty. New interims are Tim Jones at Grove City First, Alex McDougall at Galloway, and Paul Van Horn at Nelsonville First. Jeff Connar will serve as commissioned lay pastor at Columbus Calvin, Dwayne Lee will serve as CLP at Frankfort First, and Linda Plummer will add Oak Hill Horeb to her CLP duties at Oak Hill Bethel. Marian Redding is now stated supply pastor at Iberia. November 1st will see Jeffrey De Yoe begin as pastor at Worthington and Stuart Ritter become interim at Columbus Broad Street. Phil Hazelton and Rawley Boone were granted honorably retired status.
The proposal from the Mt. Gilead church, presented in September 2006 and postponed to this meeting, asked that the Presbytery take the position that “compliance with the standards for ordination adopted by the whole church in the Book of Order is an essential of Reformed polity” was defeated.
The mission partnerships report noted that the major upcoming activity will the week-long Presbytery’s joining in the Mission Challenge ‘07. Ted Wright, area coordinator for central and southern Africa, will be in the Presbytery October 20-26th andz will meet at area gatherings, including Presbyterian Women and Hanging Rock.
The Presbytery Resource Center was granted permission to proceed with the organization of a partnership network of Presbytery Resource Centers in Ohio, in the Synod of the Covenant.
A well done video presentation on the Youth Triennium was presented.
A lay pastors class of 4 Presbyterians and 3 UCCs were welcomed at the September 2007 Presbytery Meeting.
This marks the completion of our first class partnering with our United Church of Christ colleagues.
The Trustees announced that they had concurred with the Committee On Ministry oversight committee for Worthington Highlands to grant the church $30,000 for September 2007 through August 2008 and not do the projected funding for the third year of the original plan.
A motion was referred to Presbytery Council to have the presbytery meetings scheduled at the same time on consistent dates.
CORRECTION: The next presbytery meeting will be at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Columbus on Tuesday, November 20, at 10 a.m.