Congregational Life Commission

2023

• Rev. Phyllis A. Heffner, Teaching Elder        
• Rev. Kathleen A. Nice, Teaching Elder Transitional General Presbyter        
• Mrs. Patricia Gardner, Ruling Elder     
• Dr Yvonne Gustafson, Chair, Ruling Elder
• Mrs. Jennifer Pieratt, Ruling Elder 
• Mr. Mark Stansbery, Ruling Elder                           

2024

• Rev. Justice A. Ofosuhene, Teaching Elder
• Rev. John Birkner, Teaching Elder
• Ms. Natalie Alter, Ruling Elder
• Rev. Phyllis Heffner, Teaching Elder                                                                                      

2025

• Ms. Rebecca Bostrom, Ruling Elder
• Mr. David Howell, Ruling Elder
• Rev.  Heather Thum Gerber, Teaching Elder
• Rev. Linda Mercadante, Teaching Elder

The Congregational Life (CCL) support team provides assistance to church congregations. This team provides the following:

• Initial contact point for congregations for assessment, support, and or referral to another. When a need for deeper support is identified the CCL team will work cooperatively with the congregation and/or team for resolution.
• Mediation and support (MAST) – The Church Professional commissions members can assist or counsel a session in the resolution of difficulties within the congregation to restore its peace and harmony. This may include, but not be limited to, the removal and discipline of teaching elders by the church professionals.
• Train session in conflict resolution and leadership.
• Facilitate relationships between and within congregations and the presbytery.

Session Record Review Dates

• Sunday, August 20, 2-4 PM – First Presbyterian Church, 210 W 5th Street, Marysville, OH 43040
• Sunday, October 22, 2-4 PM – First Presbyterian Church, 12 Mead Dr, Chillicothe, OH 45601
• Saturday, October 28,11 AM-2PM – Glen Echo Presbyterian Church, 220 Cliffside Dr, Columbus, OH 43202

The Commission for Congregational Life wants to assist clerks of session to
adequately record the life and ministry of congregations through the minutes of their session. Session record review is required by the Book of Order, G-3.0108a. We would like to make reporting and reviewing as easy and enjoyable as possible.

We invite you to attend the review session that is most convenient for you. If you are not personally able to come to a review session at any of these times, someone else may bring the books with the completed review forms. If that is not possible, please contact me to make another arrangement. All reviews must be completed by the end of October, so please contact me as soon as possible if none of the sessions listed above work for you. Please plan 30-45 minutes to complete the review.

We will formally review the session minutes for calendar year 2022. The review form has been revised. Please bring with you two completed copies of the two-page review form to expedite the review; the specific steps in the review procedure are here.

Through the Commission for Congregational Life, the Presbytery of Scioto Valley encourages and supports the development of churches in a variety of ways, including the initiation and participation in new church programs, fellowships, and new church developments.

• New Ministry Initiatives: Development and initial implementation of imaginative efforts to fulfill the Mission and Vision of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley
• 1001 Worshipping Communities: Working in tandem with PC(USA) denominational structures and resources to identify, develop, and strengthen new communities of worship and ministry in our area. https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/1001-2/
• Transformation: Consulting with existing congregations that are willing to undergo changes in their mission emphasis (such as merger, relocation, closure, and definition of ministry, etc.) which should re-direct their spiritual and numerical growth.

The journey to finding new pastoral leadership can be exciting, tedious, joyful, spiritually fulfilling, frustrating, inspiring, lengthy, and purposeful. The process is one of discernment and will challenge the congregation to listen closely for the will of God for its mission and ministry in this new stage of the congregation’s life.

This is a new step of faith that will bring your congregation together around the common goal of identifying who God is calling to serve your congregation.

Following is a list of resources to assist congregations in pastoral transition:

• On Calling a Pastor: A resource for pastor nominating committees and mid councils, prepared by Church Leadership Connection and the Office of the General Assembly: PC(USA) Media Uploads
• A series of training videos is available at: OGA PC(USA) Mid-Council Ministries
• The Church Leadership Connection (CLC) is the Internet-based matching and referral system of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). A system of login IDs and passwords helps guarantee security and confidentiality within CLC.