April 2008

Dear Commissioner or Advisory Delegate to the 218th General Assembly (2008):

Greetings to you from the Office of the General Assembly.

To date, four individuals have been endorsed by their respective presbyteries to be a candidate
for Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008). This letter is being sent to you to detail the
process for the election of the Moderator, as well as provide you with information from the
candidates.

Election of the Moderator

The Manual of the General Assembly (Standing Rule H.1.b) provides direction for the election
of the Moderator as follows:

1. Each person nominated to serve as Moderator of the General Assembly must be a

commissioner to the General Assembly. Action by presbyteries to endorse candidates for
Moderator of the General Assembly shall not take place until after the adjournment of the
immediately preceding assembly. The Office of the General Assembly shall provide
resourcing and orientation for Moderatorial candidates.
2. Ordinarily, no later than forty-five days prior to the convening of the assembly, the
Moderatorial candidates will announce the name of a commissioner each has selected to
offer to the assembly to confirm as Vice Moderator.
3. The following campaign procedures shall be observed:
a. Candidates should budget campaign spending of no more than $1,500,
excluding travel and meeting expenses related to their candidacy. Each
candidate shall submit to the Stated Clerk an itemized statement of expenses,
including travel and meeting expenses related to his/her candidacy and in kind
contributions. This statement shall be submitted to the Committee on the Office
of the General Assembly prior to the convening of the General Assembly. This
information shall be distributed to commissioners and advisory delegates prior
to the election of the Moderator. The statement of expenses of all candidates
shall be kept on file in the Office of the General Assembly following the
meeting of the General Assembly. The Office of the General Assembly shall
not reimburse a candidate for campaign expenses, but shall assume expenses
involved in printing and distributing material submitted for information packets
as outlined in Standing Rule H.1.b.(3)(e).
b. In order to encourage reliance on the leading of the Holy Spirit in the selection
of the Moderator, no candidate shall send a mailing of any campaign materials,
 print or electronic, to commissioners and/or advisory delegates or permit such a
mailing to be sent, nor shall candidates or their advocates contact
commissioners and/or advisory delegates by telephone.
c. Distribution of written campaign materials at General Assembly outside of the
candidate’s room shall be limited to printed materials placed in mailboxes.
d. On the day of the convening of the General Assembly, the Stated Clerk shall
provide a room for each candidate where commissioners and advisory delegates
may meet and talk with the candidate.
e. Not less than fifteen days before the convening of the General Assembly, the
Stated Clerk shall publish for commissioners and advisory delegates an
electronic information packet containing the following material regarding each
candidate for Moderator who is known to the Stated Clerk and who wishes to
be included:
(i) A photograph, a biographical sketch, a personal statement by the
candidate that includes a statement regarding the candidate’s sense
of call to the office,
(ii) A written presentation by the presbytery having jurisdiction over the
candidate, if that governing body has endorsed the candidate,
(iii) An announcement of the commissioner each candidate has selected
to be presented to the assembly for confirmation as Vice Moderator
if the candidate is elected,
(iv) The responses of the candidate to a questionnaire developed by the
Stated Clerk.
The layouts for the presentation under this standing rule (as outlined
above) may be chosen by the candidates, but all material including
photographs submitted for each presentation shall be provided in
electronic format as well as print. The material shall be submitted to the
Stated Clerk no less than forty-five days before the convening of the
General Assembly for reproduction and distribution, and shall be
accompanied by a statement indicating the willingness of the candidate to
serve as Moderator, if elected.
Each proposed Vice-Moderator candidate who wishes to be included may
send biographical information and a photograph in electronic format.

4. The Moderator of the General Assembly shall be elected in the following manner:
a. When the General Assembly is ready to elect its Moderator, only one speech
shall be made placing in nomination the name of each nominee. The speech
shall be made by a commissioner to the General Assembly. Such speech shall
not exceed five minutes in length. There shall be no speeches seconding the
nomination of any nominee. The order of speaking shall be determined by lot,
the drawing conducted by the most recent Moderator attending the General
Assembly.
b. After nominations are closed, each nominee shall be afforded an opportunity to
address the General Assembly for a time not to exceed five minutes, expressing
 the concerns that nominee feels to be the most important for the church. The
nominees shall speak in the same order as the presentation of nominating
speeches.
c. At the conclusion of all the presentations by the nominees, they shall respond to
questions from the floor. The first question shall be addressed to the nominee
who spoke first in the original presentation, and the same question shall then be
put to the other nominees in the same order in which they spoke earlier. The
second question shall be directed to the second nominee in this order and then
to each of the other nominees in sequence. Each nominee shall be afforded an
opportunity to answer each question. This process shall continue for a period
not to exceed the number of nominees times fifteen minutes, or for one hour,
whichever is shorter, unless terminated earlier by vote of the General
Assembly.
d. Where there is only one nominee for Moderator, the election may be by
acclamation. Where there is more than one, the election may be by secret ballot
in one of the following ways:
(i) Each commissioner shall vote by means of an electronic voting system.
The Stated Clerk shall advise the Moderator of the totals. The
Moderator shall announce the result of the vote as tabulated. If no
nominee has received a majority of the whole vote, another vote shall be
taken in the same manner. When one nominee shall have received a
majority, the Moderator shall announce the result and declare the
nominee to be elected.
(ii) If the assembly votes to use paper ballots, the Stated Clerk shall provide
ballots and assign no fewer than ten commissioners to act as tellers,
collecting and counting the ballots. The results shall be given to the
Stated Clerk who shall report the totals to the Moderator who shall
announce them to the assembly

In order to implement item 3(e)(iv) above, we submitted questions to each of the persons who
has been endorsed for Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008). The candidates’
answers are on the following pages. Also reproduced in this booklet is the material we have
received pertaining to each candidate. The material is listed in alphabetical order and includes
the name, photograph, and one-page biography for the commissioner each candidate has selected
for Vice-Moderator.

For your information, each candidate has been assigned space in the San Jose Convention Center
in San Jose, CA, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2008, and again at 8:00 a.m. on
Saturday, June 21, 2008, to meet commissioners and advisory delegates.

Cordially yours,

Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
 QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
FOR MODERATOR OF THE 218th GENERAL ASSEMBLY (2008)
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.)

Using no more than 500 words for each response, please answer any five (5) of the following ten
questions.

1. Our church’s Ecumenical Vision Statement reminds us that, “The unity of the Church is both
God’s real gift and God’s effective calling.” How would you work for unity within the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and how would this contribute to the unity we seek with other
churches and Christian communities?

2. The 208th General Assembly (1996) affirmed the goal of increasing racial ethnic membership to
10 percent by the year 2005, and to 20 percent by the year 2010. How do you assess the
Presbyterian Church’s progress toward the fulfillment of this goal and what would you do during
your moderatorial term to move the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) closer to realizing or exceeding
this goal?

3. The General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations held a Consultation on the

Ecumenical Stance of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and identified ten priorities for our
ecumenical commitment in the next ten years. What do you understand to be the greatest
ecumenical challenge and ecumenical resource before the church in the next decade?

4. The General Assembly will be asked to act on a proposal to take the first step toward adding the
Belhar Confession to The Book of Confessions. How do you think this addition to The Book of
Confessions would impact the confessional and spiritual life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?

5. What suggestions do you have for identifying new directions for partnership between
congregations, presbyteries, seminaries, and the General Assembly in preparation for ordained
ministry?

6. In what new ways can the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its congregations place a focus on
ministry to and with youth and young adults to ensure a church for future generations?

7. What is your sense of where God is leading the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at this time in its
history?

8. What should be the role of the Moderator during times of deep disagreements in the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) about matters of faith and practice?

9. We are living in a war-torn world. What might the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its
congregations do to strengthen its ministry of peacemaking at this time?

10. The Form of Government Task Force was created by the 217th General Assembly (2006) to
propose a revised polity that would be more flexible, more foundational, and more appropriate for
a missional Reformed Church in the 21st century. What do you think about these proposals?
Carl Mazza
Pastor / Director, Meeting Ground
A faith community and partnership with and
among persons and families who are
experiencing homelessness or living at the
margins.
www.carlmazza.org
www.meetingground.org
Carl Mazza is a Presbyterian Minister, who
has served since 1982 as Pastor / Director of
Meeting Ground in Cecil County, Maryland,
a ministry which he founded. The focus is on
the building or relationships and community
with and among all who come: we all sit at the
same table. Meeting Ground offers
friendship, worship, Bible study and prayer,
emergency and transitional housing, meals
and an extensive support network to end
homelessness in the lives of all who come.
Meeting Ground is a faith community.
It has been a strongly supported mission cause
of New Castle Presbytery for over 25 years.
Hundreds of Presbyterian Churches from
various parts of the country have participated
in the mission trip program, as have scores of
Presbyterian college and seminary interns.
Family and Education
- Born December 22, 1946 Philadelphia, PA
- Joined the Presbyterian Church in 1963
- Married Marsha Young on June 10, 1973
- Father of Alessandra (28) and Kristen (20)
• M.Div. - Princeton Theological Seminary
• B.A. - Nyack College, Nyack NY
• Graduate - Moody Bible Institute, Chicago IL
Professional
• Founder - Pastor / Director of Meeting Ground
1982 - Present
• Stated Supply Pastor - First Presbyterian
Church, Chesapeake City, MD 1985 - 1989
• Interim Pastor - Calvary Presbyterian Church,
Wilmington, DE 1981 - 1982
• Pastor - Christ Presbyterian Church,
Springfield, MA 1978 - 1981
• Ordained into ministry of Word & Sacrament,
Hudson River Presbytery, 1978
Service to Church and Community
N Board of Directors, National Coalition for the
Homeless
N Organizing Task Force of the Speer Trust,
New Castle Presbytery
N Member of the Speer Trust Commission
N Mission Committee
N Peacemaking Task Force
N Commissioner to Synod of Mid-Atlantic
N Member, Cecil County MD Homeless
Collaborative
N Founding Partner, Cecil County Men’s Shelter
N Founding Partner, Elkton Community Kitchen
N Founding Partner, Friendship House,
Wilmington, DE
N Founding Partner, BorderLinks, Tucson, AZ
Meeting Ground Accomplishments
• Provided 500,000 bed-nights of emergency and
transitional housing in 27 years of ministry
• From an all-volunteer partnership to an
extensive program of 5 unique locations with
a budget of $800,000, over a thousand
volunteers, and in-kind donations of goods and
services of $750,000 / yr.
• Hosted over 600 mission trips
CARL MAZZA: PERSONAL STATEMENT
I was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1946.
My family background is Italian from the
neighborhood in south Philadelphia. My early
home life was insecure and troubled, and I learned
early on and firsthand the raw needs of the
community I serve in my ministry.
It was through Presbyterian Mission that
I was introduced to a living God. My first
exposure to Presbyterians was as a teenager,
having been homeless, angry and alienated. A
group of young people, their youth leader, and a
dedicated pastor befriended me - their witness and
love introduced me to a warm and vibrant personal
faith in God through Jesus Christ. I owe a great
debt of love to these persons, and to Trinity
Presbyterian Church, Clifton Heights PA, the
congregation which nurtured all of us.
In my ministry I have tried to return to the
church, and to others who are experiencing
alienation and homeless, the same blessing of
hope which was extended to me in my need. I can
offer a unique perspective on the importance of
mission and evangelism - it is a deeply rooted part
of my heart and my personal faith journey.
My zeal to witness led me to New York
City when I was 16, and I worked at St. Paul's
House, a mission in the Hell's Kitchen
neighborhood of Manhattan youth and family
ministry and street evangelism. We also welcomed
homeless folk for meals and fellowship. I entered
Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, from which I
graduated with a diploma in Biblical studies and
Christian Education.
I completed my college work at Nyack
College (NY), graduating in 1974. I met and fell
in love with Marsha Young there. Our first date
was speaking together at a street meeting in
Manhattan! We were married in 1973, and Marsha
has been my partner in ministry at Meeting
Ground from the beginning. Our daughter
Alessandra was born in 1979, and Kristen in 1988.
While at Nyack I served as worship
assistant at the Ramapo Presbyterian Church,
Hillburn, NY. The congregation strongly urged
me to seek further education and training for
ministry, and I entered Princeton Seminary,
graduating in 1978. I was ordained in Hudson
River Presbytery at Harrison (NY) Presbyterian
Church, where I had served as a summer intern.
This congregation gave me strong encouragement
to enter the ordained ministry. Their friendship
and love guided me through days of doubt to a
sure footing of knowing I was called.
The call of my life is to serve in pastoral
ministry with and among persons who are
homeless or otherwise marginal and alienated.
When I graduated from Princeton, I could not find
a model of this needed ministry to which I felt
such a powerful leading. I accepted a position as
pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Springfield,
MA. This was a struggling congregation to which
I came as a part-time stated supply in 1978 and
left as a full-time installed pastor in 1981. I loved
the ministry there, but my desire to do a new form
of parish was too strong to ignore. In June, 1981
we moved to Maryland and worked with others to
begin the community and ministry of Meeting
Ground where I continue to serve as Pastor.
Meeting Ground brings together persons
from all walks of life to sit together at one table,
learning from and with each other. Our
partnership is with and among persons and
families experiencing homelessness. The joy and
glory of our fellowship is our table, at which it is
common to find a mayor or congressperson, judge
or academic sharing a meal and conversation with
a homeless teen or a single mother.
.
The wonder of our ministry is that God, in
Jesus, sits at table with us. The power of
redemption has never failed us, nor the promise of
our Lord: Be strong and courageous. Do not be
terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord
your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
A CALL TO SERVE

I
t started with a phone call in August, 2006. broadly, making eye-contact with excited
A woman in our community, who has energy... like a kid happy to be home.
struggled with homelessness since her
childhood, called in anguish to tell me that our She was sharing the grandeur of redemption.
local government had just bulldozed a homeless The small attentions of kind people, words of
camp in the woods behind a shopping center, care and light, loving touch – even the simple
loading their possessions into a dump truck. One assurance of shelter in a church hallway – had
man, a disabled veteran, pleaded to be able just moved her deeply, and she found hope alive
to retrieve the only picture of his late mother again. In the warmth of her smile and grateful
and was threatened with arrest if he tried. embrace she spoke all this reassuringly to me as
Identity cards, letters, and clothes were trashed if I were the one in need, as indeed I was. We
along with Bibles and blankets. It was cruel needed her.
response to complaints that the
homeless were taking food from Together we were church – Together we were church –
nearby dumpsters. confirmed through the beauty confirmed through the beauty of
of a living sanctuary of a living sanctuary of gathered
The incident was so shocking, souls, and the awareness of
gathered souls, and the God’s presence, pressed dearly
that even churches who had little
commitment to mission were awareness of God’s in human relationship, revealed
moved to respond. Meeting presence, pressed dearly in almighty power – though we
Ground was asked to organize in human relationship were 2, 3, or 20 gathered, in our
the overwhelming desire of midst. I am compelled to know
churches of every denomination this as a new and vigorous
across the county to open their doors to those moving of God’s Spirit in the Church, and I
who had been so treated. Churches who had long to be part of this stirring.
never considered justice as an issue of faith
began to advocate for persons they now knew The role of Moderator is pastor and servant-
by name. It was a movement of the Spirit which guide to the General Assembly as it seeks its
dazzled us in its possibility for the Church. heart and voice. It is also to share the voice of
this body with the Church over the next two
The call to stand for Moderator began to take years. I stand in the hope and desire that our
hold of my soul on a winter night when I walked Assembly will be open to the fire of the Holy
into a church fellowship-hall-turned-shelter. An Spirit. It can be that the very hush of God, in
older woman arrived with nothing more than the singular mercy, will inspire us together to:
clothes on her back. Bent over and sullen, she
was bewildered, ragged, sick, and withdrawn. ! Bring us to respect and honor each
She had been “shipped” in a taxi from a church other in love, different as we are and hope to be,
70 miles away. She needed us. and open us to the authentic space of
relationship and dialogue among ourselves and
Shelter volunteers befriended her and did what with the world.
they could to help, including getting her into a
hospital for emergency treatment. When she ! Create among us a “new thing,”
returned, I went over to greet her and reached confirming a revival of that great spirit of
out to shake her hand, but she instead flung out mission and justice in a desperate world,
her arms and bear-hugged me with gusto. Even discovering in our vulnerability and need a most
though quiet-natured, she talked and smiled amazing grace and unity.
Question 1. Our church's Ecumenical Vision Statement reminds us that, "The unity of the
Church is both God's real gift and God's effective calling." How would you work for unity
within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and how would this contribute to the unity we
seek with other churches and Christian communities?

Answer 1.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their
message, that all of them may be one ... that the world may believe that you have sent me.
- John 17:20-21

Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:17-18

I believe the key to this question is first to ask: Why should we work for unity?

Jesus makes clear in his prayer that unity is necessary to accomplish our mission –
witnessing to the truth of the Gospel and to the power of Jesus own ministry. Thirst for unity
must come from a desire to do mission in the world.

I would work together with all for unity motivated by our passion for proclaiming
the Gospel and our strong and urgent need to be deeply engaged in Christ-centered
mission. This unity is highly important in the work of Meeting Ground, as we work together
with scores of churches from many denominations. We work diligently for this “one-ness” for
the sake of the energetic ministry we serve together, often bridging deep differences in theology
and practice.

Unity can be difficult, even impossible, if the emphasis is on the nuances of doctrine,
culture. and tradition which separate us. Yet, if the reason for our unity is the passion of our
work together in mission, the differences become a basis for strength. Real unity is only
accomplished in the formation of personal relationships, and venues for dialogue, across
lines that historically have divided.

I was at a church dinner, when one of the pastors whose congregation is part of our
rotating winter shelter leaned over to tell me an amazing thing: “We are hosting our week with
the church across the street from us,” he said, “in 200 years of mutual history we can’t recall a
single project in which our two churches have ever worked together. Now we are partners in
mission to provide hospitality and fellowship to folks we both care about so much. It’s
remarkable!” Doing mission together seals or unity as a community in Jesus.

The tools are the same, whether among Presbyterians or ecumenically:

• Active listening, hearing others

• Build candid, open, caring relationships with persons different from ourselves
• Discover together a new understanding of who Jesus is, among and with us
• Innovative mission toward the building of new community in the world
• Sacred space, a place of safety and togetherness to speak from our hearts
in whole terms
Question 5. What suggestions do you have for identifying new directions for partnership
between congregations, presbyteries, seminaries and the General Assembly in preparation
for ordained ministry?

Answer 5.
As a young minister, my strong call to serve as a pastor to persons who are homeless,
outcast and marginal in our society, and not connected to the church. I had to gather people, find
support, and establish a new community – there were few venues for a person who had my
desire. In my 27 years of this ministry I have had the privilege of coming to know many
persons who have similar calls – a heart to serve in ministry which is beyond the traditional
parish. Yet, the opportunities for this kind of pastoral service remain scarce.

In this assembly, we commissioners will be asked to approve recommendations of the 2-

year study of The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, “From Homelessness To
Hope: Constructing Just, Sustainable Communities For All God's People.” In this study: The
church is called to create communities of hospitality that assure all members of society,
including persons experiencing homelessness, a right to basic economic and social well-being,
including safe, affordable housing. It is my hope we will not just approve the document, but
carry its spirit and challenge home in our hearts to our congregations and Presbyteries.

Congregations are especially important in this direction. A grassroots movement is

rapidly emerging that is calling churches and individuals who take seriously the mandates of
Scripture, and the call of Jesus, to proclaim the good news to the poor and to love and establish
justice. This missional movement calls for new leadership with the skills to organize and lead
innovative, new Christian communities – not just to serve soup and services, but to serve God to
one another and to the whole church. Developing and supporting this leadership will call all
judicatories to work together with seminaries and congregations.

Radical change, that which restores our roots, won’t happen unless we act to make
it happen. This requires an intentional development and spiritual formation of our next
generation of leaders: pastors and mission workers skilled in promoting the growth of
community in new and innovative ways:

• Ministry that is evangelistic, Christ-centered, and creative in focusing on relationships,

and developing forms and structures for community which is centered in this

• Ministry that is multi-cultural and brings persons together for strength in their diversity

• Ministry that builds community and partnership with and among persons who are poor
and struggling at the margins of our society

• Ministry that draws a faith community together around “righteous action,” making a
difference in neighborhood and the world
Question 6. In what new ways can the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its congregations
place a focus on ministry to and with youth and young adults to ensure a church for future
generations?

Answer 6.
At this critical time in our history, our youth and young adults offer indispensable
insight as we move into the future. Are we as the Church prepared to change as we accept
their leadership, though it radically challenges and alters our forms of worship, life-style
and time-honored practices? Special focus on developing their leadership is a high priority for
the Church.

Our young members place strong emphasis on results, on faith that leads to real
action which makes a difference in the world. In our ministry with Meeting Ground, we share
life and work with several hundred Presbyterian youth every year through our mission trip
program. These dedicated young people give us a week or more of their vacation time to do
mission with and among persons experiencing homelessness. They are far more likely to move
past and through our social and theological barriers – inspiring, leading, and giving us hope for
the future of our Church.

One of our homeless residents was an older woman with a serious mental illness. A
lifetime of hurt had left her angry, isolated and deeply disturbed. She resented professional
helpers, counselors and especially the church, by which she felt betrayed and abandoned. We
couldn’t reach her, though we longed to help. One evening I was startled to find her in the
dining hall laughing and talking happily. She was washing dishes together with a 15-year-old
girl from the visiting mission group. This young evangelist had taken an interest, made contact,
formed a spiritual and genuine relationship, and found a path to the woman’s soul which we had
not before imagined possible. She created “church,” and spiritual communion where she was.

Like this young woman, our young members can offer the Church a breakthrough
of vision, a fresh new creative spark of an emerging generation: New ways of addressing
stubborn dilemmas. So many of our present problems as a Church, including those that our
precipitating our record membership losses, are at a logjam, seeming insoluble. We are also a
Church whose median age is 58 years for members and elders, and we are trending older.
Transforming our way of being church is not an option, it is an imperative.

If elected Moderator I will do the following:

! Working together with all, I will strongly encourage our youth by attending their gatherings as
a priority, emphasizing Bible study, Christian discipleship, and innovative mission. I will
especially visit churches and places where young people are actively involved in doing mission.

! I will work together with young leadership to engage our ways of being a church,
emphasizing the need for candid, authentic, and sincere building of relationships and seeking
communion among us as a people. Also to help the Church to put all forms, traditions, and
ways on the table, and to take what is best and meaningful as the basis of new ways of being
church and doing mission.
Question 7. What is your sense of where God is leading the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
at this time in its history?

Answer 7.
I believe we must continue courageously to move forward toward our own roots.
Specifically we should challenge ourselves and the larger Christian community by
reclaiming our historic energy in creative, Christ-centered mission.

" We are called to align our values and obey the radical [rooted] challenge in our
Book of Order: The Church is called to undertake this mission even at the risk of losing its life,
trusting in God alone as the author and giver of life, sharing the gospel, and doing those deeds
in the world that point beyond themselves to the new reality in Christ. [G-3.0400].

" Our model is Jesus, who built authentic and loving relationships with and among
diverse followers, welcoming all persons as they were and trusting that by being in his company
their lives would be forever transformed.

" Building loving, justice-centered community through our work in the world is
what speaks most loudly. We are called to model justice, as the Gospel requires, in our
personal lives and in our church.

" God is at work in the world through Jesus, and through us – this is the unique gift
we offer to humankind. Establishing justice in the world begins with us as individuals and
congregations. manifesting the truth of our gospel in lifestyle-witness, “prayer and righteous
action.

On a night last winter at our rotating church shelter we were gathered in a circle for grace
before supper. An eleven-year-old girl, homeless with her family, asked to pray. She spoke
vibrantly, not in church-words but in most sincere heart: “Thanks, God that we have a place to
sleep and food, and for the nice people here, and that’s about all I can think of... I’ll say
good-bye for now, but I’ll be talking to you later before I go to sleep.”

It was the simple and warm prayer of a young girl who conversed with God as if it were
the very hand she held next to hers. We had a half dozen denominations represented in the room,
and some strong theological differences among us, but as we looked up from her prayer there
were few dry eyes. This child had literally taken us by her hand to the abode of God. In that
moment we shared a commonality that we were being loved. It felt good. But more than
anything, it made us experience one another in the vulnerability of what it is to be human, and if
only for a brief moment, to understand our unity not through common opinion, but through the
fragile and tender nature that we share together, so powerful in its claim upon our hearts and so
infinite in its possibility to turn our world upside down.

Maybe, in her young soul, she knew the meaning of Paul’s great desire: For I
determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is our
choice: To move into our future, rooting ourselves in the values of Christ among us.
Question 9. We are living in a war-torn world. What might the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) and its congregations do to strengthen its ministry of peacemaking at this time?

Answer 9.
Martin Luther King’s prophetic words continue to speak vigorously to the church in
today’s world: True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice....
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear... Peace is not merely a distant
goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.

There is a lot of talk in our world today, and a lot of anger. There is also a rising
conviction that no one is listening to words anymore, only in what is done is there clarity and
conviction. The faith that will be alive and effective is that which will make its creed real in
action and lived values.

- Our strength in peacemaking is that which is done by congregations as evangelism

and the direct fulfillment of our mission to share the gospel. Our model of evangelism is the
parable of the Good Samaritan – 14 separate acts of mercy, all done without words to an
individual in dire need. Further, the parable raises key questions of social justice and its
requirement as a response to violence. Our individual actions create peace, and their effect tends
outward like ripples on a pond to change neighborhood and culture. Strengthening our ministry
of peacemaking begins with educating ourselves to do peacemaking as an extension of
congregational life:

• Doing peacemaking that brings congregations into community and personal

relationship in a context of economic, cultural, and ethnic diversity. Mission that
centers on“meeting,” building “neighborhood,” and promoting dialogue among all
participants. We all sit at the same table in ministry one to another.

• Doing peacemaking in a way that transforms us all. In the words of sister Lila
Watson:"If you have come here to help me, then you are wasting your time…But if you
have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."

Last summer a Presbyterian inter-generational mission group came to Meeting Ground to

paint a building. At lunchtime I noticed that “Joey,” an eight-year-old boy in shelter with his
mother and sisters, was covered with paint. He had been described as “deeply troubled” by the
social worker who made the referral to us – not surprising given the chaos of his broken family,
homeless and struggling.

Proudly, he announced to everyone that he had to eat lunch fast because “they needed
him to paint.” His confidence was a mile high. That morning, the Presbyterians had seen him
standing alone, and called him to help. As they guided his brush they came to know him, and he
them. As he got covered with paint, so he learned the way of peace. It changed his life. Not to
say that all is instantly well. He still faces major hurtles in life. But these peacemakers had
shared with him the gift ineffable which is the hope of the world, one dear and precious life at a
time. It is our call, and our mandate.
 THE PRESBYTERY OF SAN FRANCISCO
SYNOD OF THE PACIFIC PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.)

January 16, 2008

The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202-1396

Dear Cliff,

It is with great pleasure that I inform you that at last night's meeting of the Presbytery of
San Francisco, the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, was enthusiastically and overwhelmingly
endorsed to stand for election as Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008).

In doing so, the Presbytery celebrates and lifts up one of its own. Bruce grew up in the
Presbyterian family; he is a son of the Church. He knows and loves our Reformed
tradition, yet sees the fresh ways that our tradition is being called to new vistas of ministry
and mission in today's world. Bruce is the founding pastor of the Mission Bay Community
Church, and his passions in ministry are clearly evident in his service. He shares the good
news of Jesus Christ through a welcoming hospitality to those unchurched and
overchurched, and he leads an engaging ministry that addresses the real needs of people on
the streets of San Francisco and beyond.

The unified support of liberal, moderate, and conservative ministers and elders is a
testament to Bruce's proven ability to bridge the theological divide, and the high regard
and trust they have of him.

In addition to the extensive leadership and vision he shares with us in San Francisco, Bruce
has been active at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offering considerable
leadership in areas of youth and young adult ministries, strategies for church growth, and the
church ecumenical. (To learn more about Bruce, visit: www.mod.reyeschow.com and Facebook
community, "Bruce Reyes-Chow for PC(USA) Moderator".)

Bruce is a committed husband and father of three beautiful daughters. His immediate and
extended families, and his Presbytery family are united in desiring Bruce to serve our
beloved Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as Moderator. We pray that it may be so.

Sincerely,

Rev. Katherine J. Runyeon, Stated Clerk

cc: Ms. Joyce Evans, Assistant to the Stated Clerk and General Assembly Moderator

kjr/nop

2024 Durant Avenue Berkeley, California 94704 (510) 849-4393 (510) 849-4398 (fax) www.sfpresbytery.com

NURTURED BY THE PAST
EMBRACING THE FUTURE
What does it mean to be
Presbyterian today? Do we matter?
Are we bringing the world into a
closer understanding of and
relationship with Jesus Christ in any
significant way? Should we place any
energy into ensuring there is a
Presbyterian Church for future
generations? If so, why? If so, how?
These are the some of the
questions that we need to answer
because, honestly, we are wandering.
We are wandering and we are tired.
We are tired of the fighting, tired of
the blaming and tired of living in a
church that is filled with fear of the
unknown and worship of the past.
This may seem harsh, but we have
seen the results. In the face of this
reality, some grasp onto perceived
power and influence, some stay off
the radar and others simply give up
and walk away. The world around us is
chaotic and anxious enough. When
the place we turn to for peace of heart
mind and spirit does not provide the
calm and comfort promised in Christ,
we feel lost. Worse yet, while we sit in
the midst of our own inner turmoil,
REV. BRUCE
REYES-CHOW
pastor
dad
techie
follower of christ, and
candidate for moderator
the world is in pain, and we are unable
to do anything about it.
But there is a movement of hope in
our church. I am fully convinced that
the PC(USA) is in a time of joy-filled
transformation. People are excited
about ministry, they are engaged in
the mission field and folks are
committing their lives to the calling of
Christ with great passion,
thoughtfulness and optimism.
With this growing energy and
excitement, it is important that the
PC(USA) find ways to effectively seek
out, nurture and support these
movements. This task will require us
to let go of a great many things from
our past, hold onto that which is good
and embrace the transformational new
life that may be in our future.
No one knows what the PC(USA)
will look like in the future, but if
elected moderator, I commit to
instigate, encourage and support
those interactions and movements
that will help us discover what that
future may be. Most importantly, I
commit to doing this together, which,
after all, is the Presbyterian way.

ABOUT BRUCE
An ordained minister since 1995, I
am a 38 year-old Northern California
native and the founding pastor of
Mission Bay Community Church, a new
church development of San Francisco
Presbytery. My first call was as the
pastor of Covenant Presbyterian
Church, also in San Francisco.
My formative years were spent in
Sacramento and Stockton where I was
raised by a close family and church
village. I am the grandson of Filipino
and Chinese immigrants and my home
church is Trinity Presbyterian Church
in Stockton. Through my family and
my church I was taught the
importance of tradition and heritage,
service and social justice and shown
the imperative to live one’s life with a
deep sense of gratitude for the
reconciling nature of the life, death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In 1990 I graduated from San
Francisco State University with a
special major in Asian American
Studies, Sociology, and Religion. I
graduated from San Francisco
Theological Seminary in 1995.
Over the past 20 years I have had
the privilege of serving at all levels of
Presbyterian Church (USA). I have also
had great opportunities to provide
leadership at a variety of events and
conferences.
I have lived in San Francisco for the
past 20 years with my wife, Elder
Robin Pugh, and three daughters,
Evelyn (11), Abigail (7), and Analise
(4). My free time is filled with hanging
out in cafes, cheering on the awesome
Oakland Athletics and riding my
motorcycle whenever I get a chance. I
have even been known to blog and
hang out on Facebook on occasion ;-)
BRUCE REYES-CHOW
nurtured by our past . . . embracing our future
SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
General Assembly Highlights
 Member, Young Urban Pastors
Gathering, Present
 Vice-Chair, National Asian
Presbyterian Council, 1998
 Advisor, General Assembly Youth
Advisory Delegates, 1997, 1998,
2001, 2002
 Delegate, National Council of
Churches General Assembly, 1997
 Member, GA Church Growth
Strategy Team, 1995
 Member, Committee on Higher
Education (COHE), 1991
 Youth Advisory Delegate, GA, 1990
Presbytery Highlights
 Member, Presbytery Executive
Search Committee
 Member, Strategic Review Comm.
 Member, Healthy Congregations
 Chair, Urban Strategy Team
 Chair, Congregational Mission
Study Team
Global Highlights
 Delegation to Cuba, 1989
 Delegation to Nicaragua 1990
LETS KEEP TALKING
In the next few pages, I answer a
few questions that will help you get to
know me. I have arranged them in a
way that I think moves through a
progression of knowing who we are to
who we may become. I also hope my
responses give you some insight into
the kinds of conversations that would
take place during my term as
moderator should that be what God
has in store for us all.
Please feel free to eMail me
[breyeschow@gmail.com] or comment
on my blog [www.reyes-chow.com].
FIND OUT MORE
www.mod.reyes-chow.com
 BRUCE REYES-CHOW
nurtured by our past . . . embracing our future

WHO ARE WE? traditions, heritage and beliefs, in a

way that does not demand worship of
What is your sense of where God is our past, but allows us to remember
leading the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at that our common past is what
this time in its history? provides the foundations for God’s
Contrary to much that is being transforming Spirit to be unleashed.
said, I believe that denominational We will only be able to move into
health is crucial to the future of the these conversations if we make the
church and culture at large and that sacred space in which to have them.
we are in a pivotal time in our life. We must create space where we can
Unfortunately, the focus of our energy speak the truth in love and can share
is being placed upon winning and who we are without fear of hostility
losing issues; we are ignoring the and retribution. Then we can begin to
realities of a shifting find those places within
world to our own each of us that must be
detriment. We are . . . we are forgetting how
submitted to God for the
forgetting how to to gather together as good of the greater
gather together as people yearning for church and the
people yearning for relationships with a movement of the Spirit.
relationships with a common belief in the life Though these ideas
common belief in the death and resurrection of may seem lofty, overly
life, death and
Jesus Christ as the hopeful and even naive,
resurrection of Jesus
foundation and center of it is clear that there is a
Christ as the
our faith and community. movement. The PC(USA)
foundation and center
is seeing conversations
of our faith and
about these shifts all
community.
around us. Assumptions about
With that said I believe now is the structure, leadership, mission and the
time for the PC(USA) to confront these very nature of being church in today's
realities and unashamedly move culture are being challenged all
towards a new day and new life. around us. I believe that we are ready
It is time to embrace the chaos and to bring this discourse out into the
ambiguity of the day with a solid open and grapple with the difficult
belief that it is through a centered questions and realities that are being
walk with Christ that we find peace of raised. Only through embracing these
mind, body and spirit for ourselves kinds of transparent, honest and
and for the world. This is not the time authentic interactions can we discover
to legislate our way into unity, but to and discern our future together.
engage in the difficult work of These are the kinds of interactions
building relationships that are not that we must have as a denomination
about convincing and persuading but if we are to move beyond an inward
rather about the authentic discovery focus on “How will we save ourselves?”
of the voice of Christ within one to an outward focus on,
another. Now is the time to embrace “How will we serve God?”
where we have been together: our rich
FIND OUT MORE
www.mod.reyes-chow.com
 BRUCE REYES-CHOW
nurtured by our past . . . embracing our future

WHO ARE WE BECOMING? young people and they will flood into
the church.
In what new ways can the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) and its congregations place Upholding tradition is not bad,
a focus on ministry to and with youth and but upholding tradition for
young adults to ensure a church for future tradition’s sake is sure isn’t good.
generations? One of the mistakes we make is to
First we must decide if we truly wish assume young folks do not value
to be a church for future generations. tradition, ritual and heritage. Tradition
I am not sure that we see our roles as and ritual are important aspects of
preparers for the future, but rather we one’s faith development, but only if
are more focused on our done with meaning and not simply
role as caregivers of the because it has always
now. To be compelling To be authentic, we must been done that way.
to young folks would embrace these realities We lose credibility
require us to admit that and find joy in the ways when we worship
others discover, connect future generations tradition more than we
with and live out their worship God.
experience the church.
faith in Christ in ways Not an easy task, but The internet is not
different than our own. just a method, it is a
transformation is not
To be authentic, we way of life.
always easy.
must embrace these To reach a
realities and find joy in generation that lives
the ways future generations and breathes online, we must abandon
experience the church. Not an easy the assumption that technology and
task, but transformation is not easy. social networking have no place in
Here are three realities that we discovering, nurturing and/or living out
must embody if we are to be a church community. Just as the arrival of the
that is a meaningful place for future printing press, telephone and
generations to grow into all that God automobile changed the culture of
intends for them to become. church, technology must also be
DISCLAIMER: I offer these few embraced and utilized faithfully.
characteristics as general descriptors Respect is given, but authority is
and not absolute truths. One of the earned.
pitfalls we often fall into in our well- Lastly, we must realize that the
intentioned zeal to reach young people church no longer holds authority of
is that we believe that young people faith by simply being the church. We
are a homogenous lot and there is only must earn our authority by living a life
one way to share the gospel of Jesus consistent with the life Christ. We must
Christ. We have fooled ourselves into humbly acknowledge the brokenness
thinking that all we have to do is of our humanity and boldly accept the
discover the “secrets” to the lives of forgiveness Christ offers to us all.

FIND OUT MORE

www.mod.reyes-chow.com
 BRUCE REYES-CHOW
nurtured by our past . . . embracing our future

HOW WE CAN GR OW We must move towards

appreciation and interaction with
Our church's Ecumenical Vision the other and away from tolerance
Statement reminds us that, "The unity of the for and debate with the enemy.
Church is both God's real gift and God's
We must move beyond mere
effective calling." How would you work for tolerance and being nice to our
unity within the Presbyterian Church enemies. What we must be able to do
(U.S.A.), and how would this contribute to is appreciate/love the other, so much
the unity we seek with other churches and so that we have room to shift in our
Christian communities? opinion or at the least, to believe that
In order to maintain larger Christian others discerned their positions with
unity, let alone denominational just as much faithfulness as we. We
commitment, we must approach our must listen to one another without
communal life in new ways. first thinking about how to change
minds and/or thinking the only reason
We must move towards organic
someone believes something contrary
movements of collaboration and
is due to a lack of intelligence. It goes
away from mechanistic
to the idea of Truth and
structures of regulation.
If we, the church, who holds it. Too often we
We can no longer believe that it is we, and
structure or legislate our cannot live into
only we, who hold the truth
way into community. At the hope that now and forever.
one point in our culture, Christ offers, we
We must move towards
legislating from above was might as well engagement driven by
needed and responded to pack it in and go hope and away from
in concert with grassroots home. reactions based on fear.
movements, but now the
way people perceive We can no longer
authority changes the way people operate as if new life and hope are not
receive and react to mandates from on realities. Too many of us only know
high. how to feel useful if we are in a
climate of fear and desperation. We
We must move towards
only know how to play the role of
committed relationships built on
malcontent and/or gatekeeper and do
values and away from mandated
not know how to operate within a
loyalties to camps or pre-
climate of hope. Jesus did not come to
determined agendas.
bring despair, but hope. If we, the
We can no longer rely on loyalty to church, cannot live into the hope that
ideological camps. Whereas past Christ offers, we might as well pack it
generations pledged loyalty to a in and go home. Movements of hope
particular ideology. We can no longer do not demand ease and smooth
assume buy-in to one ideological sailing, but a common understanding
platform. Folks may now be willing to that through struggle and communal
overlook some disagreements IF there hard work, there is new life ahead.
is a sense of aligned values, even if it
means crossing traditional camp lines.
FIND OUT MORE
www.mod.reyes-chow.com
 BRUCE REYES-CHOW
nurtured by our past . . . embracing our future

HOW W IL L WE BE LEAD hanging out with those who have

entered the Presbyterian “care
What suggestions do you have for
process.” While each seminarian’s
identifying new directions for partnership
experience will obviously be different,
between congregations, presbyteries,
it seems like most are trying to
seminaries and the General Assembly in
reconcile a deep commitment to serve
preparation for ordained ministry?
Christ with joy, hope, and relevance
I must admit it feels odd to walk and the rapidly changing nature of
into rooms of clergy these days and be church, call, and pastoral ministry.
one of the “old guys.” At the ripe old
While seminary nuts-n-bolts
age of 38, no longer am I the young
training is important, as we prepare
turk that I had once been ;-) It is
folks for ministry I believe that we
wonderful to see so many young adults
should focus on providing
starting to move into professional
opportunities for seminarians to
ordained ministry. These folks are
develop spiritual disciplines that will
grounded with a solid theological
allow them to have a high level of
education, open to the
pastoral agility in order
movement of spirit and
. . . most are trying to to thrive in a changing
ripe to lead our
reconcile a deep world and church.
denomination into the
next stage of our life commitment to serve When it comes to
together. Christ with joy, hope specific focus areas, I
and relevance and the think each entity involved
There also seems to
rapidly changing nature in the process should
be a shadow side to the
consider the following:
young clergy experience, of church, call, and
aspects of their pastoral ministry. Encourage spiritual
preparation for ministry maturity by drawing out
that seem somewhat out where God is giving life
of alignment with the greater culture rather than operating solely as a
from which they have come. There is regulatory entity.
a disconnect between who young Encourage covenant community
clergy are culturally and the institution by developing relationships of mutual
to which they are being called to serve. trust and honest feedback based on
In the face of this situation, young regular and on-going interactions
clergy are left with few options: rather than sporadic task deadlines.
change, deal or leave. Encourage self-reflection by
Something must give. limiting gate-keeping postures and
instead exhibiting humility and
Something must change.
flexibility throughout the process.
I suspect it is the institution.
If we are able to do these few
Over the last few years I have had things, I am certain, clergy of the
the privilege of supervising interns, future will serve with longevity and joy.
speaking at seminaries and generally
FIND OUT MORE
www.mod.reyes-chow.com
 BRUCE REYES-CHOW
nurtured by our past . . . embracing our future

F UNCT ION A ND F ORM? ordination exams.

The Form of Government Task Force was As I begin to work my way through
created by the 217th General Assembly (2006) the 114 pages of the report, peruse
to propose a revised polity that would be more the internet chatter and explore the
flexible, more foundational, and more denominational resources, I am
appropriate for a missional Reformed Church cautiously optimistic about the
in the 21st century. What do you think about possibilities that the FOG offers.
these proposals? There is still a great deal of
First, I wish to express my deepest discernment that needs to happen if
respect and appreciation for those this is going to move forward. Voices
who received and accepted the call to of critique must be heard and taken
serve on the Form of Government Task seriously, explanations must be given
Force. Thank God for with humility and all
those whose call and involved must make
joy lie in grappling with . . . as a new church themselves open to the
the intricacies of our development pastor striving movement of the Holy
constitution. to be an effective and Spirit.
While I consider faithful witness to the life, With that said, as a
myself an effective death and resurrection of new church pastor
moderator, pastor and Jesus Christ in a unique, striving to be an
presbyter, I am far urban environment I am effective and faithful
from a polity wonk. encouraged. witness to the life,
Still I think the Book of death and resurrection
Order is filled with of Jesus Christ in a
language, images and direction that unique, urban, setting, I am
are vivid and compelling. My encouraged. If 3.0107 is any
approach to the BoO is that it is to be indication, we may just be “getting it.”
used in a way that allows us to Mission determines the forms and
discover what God may have in store structures needed for the church to do
for our lives rather than to restrict our its work. Administration is the process
experience of the movement of the by which a council implements
Holy Spirit. decisions. All administration should
I do realize that there are other enable the church to give effective
experiences of how the BoO has been witness in the world to the new reality
used. Some have used the BoO as a of God in Jesus Christ.
legalistic weapon of control; others This small portion of an immense
pick and choose depending on shift in our polity and structure should
particular needs and interests and, be encouraging to any community
sadly, yet others simply view it from hoping to effectively share and live the
afar as it sits on a bookshelf, just a Gospel in the world today.
simple reminder of seminary days and

FIND OUT MORE

www.mod.reyes-chow.com
 Bruce Reyes-Chow has chosen
REV. DR.
BYRON WADE
as candidate
for vice-moderator
FROM BYRON
My hope for the Presbyterian Church
(USA) is that we continue to be about
the mission of Jesus Christ in the
world today. Despite waning interest
in organized religion, changes in
society, and various theological views
within the church, I believe that God’s
witness in the Scriptures and the
ABOUT BYRON
Current Call
 1996-Present, Pastor
Davie Street Presbyterian Church
Raleigh, NC
Education
 Doctor of Ministry, McCormick
Theological Seminary, 2007
 Master of Divinity, Johnson C.
Smith Theological Seminary, 1995
 MA in Christian Education,
Presbyterian School of Christian
Education, 1994
 BA in Biology
University of Redlands, CA, 1985
Personal
 Born December 17, 1963 in Los
Angeles, CA
 Married to Regina Fleming Wade in
1999; one son, Andrew (6)
 Active in many local civic and non-
profit organizations
believers who are the body of Christ
called the church continue to be
relevant. Through this we have the
blessing and opportunity to minister
to all of God’s people in new and fresh
ways. With the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, I look forward to engaging in
this ministry with you.
Presbytery of New Hope
 Current Vice-Moderator,
Committee on Prep. for Ministry
 Co-Moderator, Campus Ministry
Committee, 2002- 07
 Moderator, Black Caucus, 2002-04
 Moderator, Committee on
Examinations, 2001-2007;
Denominational
 Planning Team, 2009 National
Presby. Pastors’ Sabbath Conf.
 Elected Member, General Assembly
Council, 1993-1999;
 Board of Directors, National Black
Presbyterian Caucus, 1988-1990
 Advisory Comm. on Youth and
Young Adults (UPCUSA), ‘81-‘84
 Planning Teams: Montreat Youth,
Triennium, Massanetta Springs
Middle School, 7% Young Clergy
and Peacemaking Conferences
DR. LOWELL T. KNAUSS
INTERIM EXECUTIVE PRESBYTER HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY
lowellk@homesteadpres.org 249 CHERRY HILLS BLVD, SUITE 2-3
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 68510-2645
THE REV. DONALD R. STEINER 402/474-0612
STATED CLERK
dons@homesteadpres.org
Synod of Lakes and Prairies
BARBARA HIPPLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.)
MISSION OUTREACH COORDINATOR
barbarah@homesteadpres.org

KRIS PETERSON
Office of the Stated Clerk February 20, 2008
INFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
MEDIA & RESOURCES
“HOMESTEADER” EDITOR 100 Witherspoon Street
krisp@homesteadpres.org
Louisville, KY 40202‐1396
WILLARD J. BOUWENS
TREASURER
3634 SUMNER STREET
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 68506
402/488-7829 Dear Dr. Kirkpatrick:
wb90102@alltel.net

It is our privilege to transmit to you the results of an extremely important and significant action of
Homestead Presbytery. At its stated meeting on February 16, 2008 there was a unanimous approval
of supporting Elder Roger Shoemaker for the office of moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
anticipating his election at the 218th meeting of the General Assembly in San Jose, CA.

Throughout the years of lay‐ministry within the presbytery Roger has demonstrated a deep concern
for the life of the local congregation which, of course, is composed of people, not structural
“machinery.” On many occasions he has been very visible and vocal in encouraging ways and means
of enabling the ministry of the church’s membership from the standpoint of the particular church, as
well as that of the presbytery and its part in the connectionalism of the more inclusive Church, to the
very stage of decision making at the doorstep of the Office of the General Assembly there in the
Center.

Roger has demonstrated a willingness to be seen and heard in supporting the life of the individual
congregation including its leadership. As the Church continues to face some significant decisions in
the near future, making preparation to build bridges “over troubled waters”, Roger stands ready to
provide the leadership he possesses and the motivation of his primary leader, even Jesus Christ as he
understands the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In seeking the “peace, unity, and purity” of His Church,

Donald R. Steiner, Stated Clerk
Homestead Presbytery
Roger Shoemaker
Elder
Southern Heights Presbyterian Church
Lincoln, NE

Personal
Born December 12, 1933, Wyoming, Illinois
Married Sue, April 19, 1960
Four Children Deborah, Bruce, Glen and Elizabeth
Five Grandchildren

Education:
Graduated Wyoming Community High School 1951
Wyoming, Illinois
Graduated Culver City High School 1951
Culver City, California
Graduated Ventura Jr. College 1954
Ventura, California www.rogershoemaker.com
Graduated Fresno State College 1958
Fresno, California
Degree Industrial Engineering

Church Background:
Community Presbyterian Church in Ventura, California 1960
Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Ventura in 1966.
Church organizing committee
Ordination as an elder
Moderator pastor nominating committee.
Eastridge Presbyterian Church 1969
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1974
Deacon, Elder, Christian education, youth work including Sr. High Ski
instructor.
adult education and teaching, steward ship committee, outreach committee,
building and grounds, corporation president, and youth pastor nominating
committee.
Sister church partnership planning committee for Lutheran Church in Lohmen,
East Germany.
Southern Heights Presbyterian Church 2006
Adult Education, Trustee
Homestead Presbytery:
Commissioner, council member (more than once) nominating committee chair
and Camp Calvin Crest committee moderator and vice-moderator and then
moderator of Homestead Presbytery.
Synod of Lakes and Prairies:
Commissioner: personnel committee, interim executive search committee and
a year as Vice Moderator.

National: Sister church partnership with the Lutheran Church in Lohmen, Germany
Czech Working Group of GAC.
Czech Mission Network as convener.
PCUSA Representative. Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren Synodical
 2

My sense of call

Sharing the Love: Listen with your ears and understand with your heart.
I am called to be in dialogue with our congregations to hear of their concerns and
hopes so that we may, together find new paths to rediscover the foundations that
give us hope and strength and hold us together as a denomination. We are
called as children of God, through our baptism, to work as a whole family with
one vision rather than one splintered by words. Our call, as was Abraham’s is to
live into the discomfort of our faith, to be a people willing to love one another
warts and all. In John 10 Jesus talks about his sheep knowing his voice, yet we
seem to be unwilling to listen to one another and to debate as necessary in order
to find the love into which we are called: to hear the voice of Jesus amidst the din
and roar of each other’s rhetoric.

Following the Call: Spiritual and Foundational growth.

In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus’ parable tells us about a man who built his house on a
foundation of sand. I believe we have done just that with out recognizing it as
such. As membership ebbs and flows through our churches, we focus on
bringing in new members, new sand, to build up the membership base of our
congregations rather than building foundations of spirituality that strengthens the
church. We need to strengthen our understanding of the Biblical, Confessional
and polity components that define us as Presbyterians. .

Body of Christ: “Looking for the lost sheep”

People come to our churches because we are friendly, or the pastor is wonderful,
or they think the music program is extraordinary, or the church school is just right
for their children, or we want to be married or buried. When these things no
longer fit, like the sand in Jesus parable, the people are swept away by the same
winds that brought them to a particular church. We are not Good Shepard’s who
know how to care for the flock. Are we secure enough, in our own faith, to go out
looking for those who have strayed away and are lost? We have failed these
brothers and sisters and their children. According to the statistics for 2006 there
were 2,267,118 members in the denomination and 65% of the members go to
church every week. This equals 1,473,667 attending members. Where are the
other 793,451 members on Sunday?

Mission: “Feed My Sheep”

Our Call to love one another is a call to us as individuals and as Christian
community to be in mission by feeding those who lack food for both body and
spirit, clothing those in need with cloth and respect, healing those who are sick
and seeking justice for those who are denied justice. It makes no difference
whether or not it is local, national or international for all are our neighbors.
Historically Presbyterian mission has been focused on long-term commitments
not short-term sprints that seem to be in vogue. We are called to work together
as family to share God’s love and care for all. Networks, partnerships and
shared resources are the emerging paradigm for the church’s mission.
 3
There are no easy answers and I have no magic words that will bridge the gaps
but if we will be open to listening to one another and truly believe in God’s call
and His claim on our lives, answers will come. God’s peace will reign for those
whose hearts are for listening and whose eyes are open to see the wonders that
prevail. I believe I am called, as a servant leader, to listen in the hope that
together we will find ways to be faithful to our denomination and God’s call for our
lives as the body of Christ.

Questions for Candidates for Moderator

Roger Shoemaker
1. Q Our church's Ecumenical Vision Statement reminds us that, "The unity of
the Church is both God's real gift and God's effective calling." How would you
work for unity within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and how would this
contribute to the unity we seek with other churches and Christian communities?

1. A. My focus is to be in touch with and in visits to congregations as much as

possible. Unity is a product of common vision or focus of energies to accomplish
a given task. An example is the continuing arguments over the GLTB issue. It
seems to me like two groups of kids throwing mud balls at each other over a solid
wood fence, even if they cant see each other, now and then they hit some one on
the other side the battle goes on until one side or the other gets called home for
dinner and things are quiet. I think there needs to be a face-to- face discussion
on the subject in a venue other rather than General Assembly or news media.
There is no solution until these groups come to some consensus of
understanding and at that point the church may be able to find a solution. Until
then there are other issues the church needs to deal with. The resulting strength
of understanding as to who we are and whose we are would lead to a stronger
witness within the church.

I hope that this change within the PC (USA) would strengthen our willingness to
reach out to churches of other denominations, to address community needs, and
become partners in mission, especially in communities with smaller populations. I
would hope that we would continue to strengthen relationships with other
denominations to enable partnering within all church communities. Church
growth is dependent on local congregations because our real growth comes from
the ground up.

2. Q. The 208th General Assembly (1996) affirmed the goal of increasing

racial ethnic membership to 10 percent by the year 2005, and to 20 percent by
the year 2010. How do you assess the Presbyterian Church's progress toward
the fulfillment of this goal and what would you do during your moderatorial term
to move the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) closer to realizing or exceeding this
goal?
 4
2.A The statistics from 2001 and 2006 show only a 1% change in racial /ethnic
members so I would think that we have not gained much in light of the goal. My
experience with Hope Church Chicago, an African American congregation, tells
me that it is possible to work on projects together but it is another thing to do
church together. We helped with their feeding program and rebuild the front
steps of a members’ house but I wish I could show you a video taken during a
worship service at Hope Church. The hymn was familiar and the congregation
was moving to the music except for the four visitors standing in the back row.
There is a need to better understand the culture of the racial ethnic communities
and their needs in order for the denomination to nurture racial ethnic churches.

By understanding their needs we become enabled to help them reach out to their
communities. Even though their worship may not look like what we might expect
or their leadership conform to all of our rules we need to become partners with
racial/ethnic congregations. For example: If people were members of a
Presbyterian Church in the Sudan, how can we enable then to be a Sudanese
Presbyterian Church in America? As moderator I would want to find ways to lift
up and nurture the racial ethnic church communities. There needs to be flexibility
with and acceptance of the racial ethic church communities. God will find a way
to fill in the gaps.

5.Q. What suggestions do you have for identifying new directions for
partnership between congregations, presbyteries, seminaries and the General
Assembly in preparation for ordained ministry?

5.A. God calls people to ministry, seminaries create theologians, the

denomination is the employment agency, the presbyteries ordain and churches
call according to their needs and the guidelines for calling a pastor. There needs
to be a common vision for what is needed to provide leadership for the churches.
Working together as partners we can accomplish these goals. Since our
seminaries have a broad geographical placement I would like to see
consultations, at the congregational level within their geographical areas. These
consultations would include the seminary, PCUSA, local presbyteries and
congregations to develop this vision for the church leadership. Our common goal
must be to meet the pastoral needs of our churches both large and small.

7.Q. What is your sense of where God is leading the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) at this time in its history?

7.A. There are times when I think Jesus is standing and looking at us as he did
when he approached Jerusalem according to Luke 19: 41-42 “As he came near
and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, If you, even you, had only recognized
on this day the things that make for peace.” I believe that as long as we continue
to debate the Book of Order we are blinded to the reality of God’s call to love one
another and to care for the poor and hungry, the down trodden and exploited.
The comfort of our possessions and wealth cause us to not hear God’s call for it
asks us to give up both pride and possessions so that the God’s kingdom may
grow within our hearts. Each time I read about the dissention going on with in
 5
the denomination, whatever the issue, I can hear the crowd yelling Barabbas!
Barabbas! and the hammer striking the nails as they are driven into the cross.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 13: and hear Paul’s words concerning Love. Part of what is
said is “ Without love I may be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal or with the
ability to move mountains, I am nothing’. Yet out of Gods Love and Grace the
church has survived, but it survives because of the work of the churches and
their faith. Our disunity is like an ocean in a storm, the waves roll and crash and
build again and the wind blows with great fury on the surface, but in the depths
the water is calm and undisturbed. These disagreements effect a portion of the
church community, yet the disagreements have a negative effect in
accomplishing the work of the rest of the church. If you need another example
would be Paul and the disagreement with the Jerusalem Church over
circumcision of Gentiles. God will be patient and lead us to where God wants at a
point God thinks appropriate.

8. Q. What should be the role of the Moderator during times of deep

disagreements in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) about matters of faith and
practice?

8. A. Times of deep disagreement call for times of deep love and a willingness to
be in dialogue within the depths of the disagreement. The roll of the moderator is
that of a servant leader who is willing to be at risk for the sake of our Lord Jesus
and for witnessing to Gods love. In question one I suggested that the disputing
sides get together and discuss their differences. The Moderator should be willing
to be there as moderator, not mediator for such a gathering. As Moderator you
become a Shepard to look after all the membership of the church with love and
compassion.
 6

Roger Shoemaker has selected Rev. Peter de Vries as a Vice-Moderator candidate

Rev. Peter de Vries

104 Cashdollar Road
Mars PA 16046
devries@zoominternet.net

Peter de Vries grew up in Boswell, a coal mining community in

western Pennsylvania, and in Covenant Presbyterian Church, a
congregation of about 60 members. He earned a bachelor’s
degree in history at Penn State before attending Princeton
Theological Seminary, where he received his M.Div. in 1988.
Peter served as the pastor for a yoked parish of two rural
congregations in Kiskiminetas Presbytery for five years before
moving to his present call. For the past fourteen years he has
been the pastor of Old Union Presbyterian Church in Mars, a 200 member congregation of
Beaver-Butler Presbytery, located just beyond the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh.

Peter is a Ph.D. student in religious studies at the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently

completing his dissertation and expects to earn his degree next spring. His studies have focused
upon interpretive theory, philosophy of language, and how these fields can be used in New
Testament studies. His dissertation uses the hermeneutic theory of Paul Ricoeur to advance an
understanding of Jesus’ apocalyptic discourse of Mark 13. Peter has made presentations at
regional, national, and international academic conferences.

Peter’s relationship with Presbyterian partners in Ghana began in 1989, and in 1997 he and his
family traveled to Ghana for the first time. His continuing visits to Ghana focus primarily on
leadership training. Peter has been the convener of the Ghana Mission Network since its
inception in 2002, and he led a recent partnership meeting for US and Ghanaian Presbyterians.

Peter has been involved in youth ministry locally and at the presbytery, synod, and national
levels. He has served at presbytery and synod camps and conferences, and in evangelism at the
presbytery and synod level. He has recently served as chair of his presbytery’s nominating
committee. Peter has taught at Chautauqua Institution, served as a Bible Hour speaker at New
Wilmington Missionary Conference, and spoke at an interfaith town hall meeting sponsored by
Pittsburgh’s Muslim community.

Peter is the son of Dutch immigrants and is the youngest of four children. Peter has been married
for fourteen years to his best friend Becky, a counselor and school psychologist. He has three
stepchildren: Shari, who has just graduated from Boston University, Devin, who is a student at
Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and Trevor, who will begin studies at Duquesne in the fall.
Peter enjoys bicycling, motorcycling, downhill and cross-country skiing, kayaking, playing
guitar, and throwing boomerangs.
 WILLIAM “BILL” TENG  www.BillTeng.com
PASTOR
HERITAGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TengPresby@aol.com
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA

MINISTRY IN OUTLINE
2006 – Present
Parish Ministry Planning & Evaluation
2001 – Present Committee
Heritage Presbyterian Church
Alexandria, VA 2006 – Present
Pastor/Head of Staff Nominating Committee

1999 – 2001 2004

Chinese Community Church Commissioner to 216th General
Washington, DC Assembly, Vice Moderator of GA
Senior Pastor Comm. on Evangelism &
Higher Education
GRATITUDE AND HOPE

1996 – 1999
Union Church Hong Kong 2004
Hong Kong, China Moderator
Minister 2003
1990 – 1996 Vice Moderator
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Satellite Beach, FL 2002 – 2006
Pastor of Pastoral Care and Worship Bills and Overtures Committee
1987 – 1988 2002
Emmanuel English Church, Hong Kong, China Commissioner to the 214th General Assembly
Interim Pastor
2001 – 2005
1986 – 1990 Council Member and Chair (2005)
Alliance Bible Seminary, Hong Kong, China
Founding Chair of Department of Church Music 2000 – 2002
Director of Public Relations and Development Worship & Theology Committee, Co-Chair (01-02)
1983 – 1986 Central Florida Presbytery
Arlington Alliance Church 1995 – 1996
(Christian & Missionary Alliance) Council
Arlington, TX
Associate Pastor 1994 – 1996
Committee on Theology & Worship, Chair (95-96)
1979 – 1983
Simpson Memorial Church
PC(USA) Ministry
(Christian & Missionary Alliance)
2003 – 2007
Nyack, NY
Presbyterians For Renewal, Board of Directors
Minister of Music
President (2007)
Presbytery Ministry
Ecumenical Ministry
National Capital Presbytery
2006 – Present
IN

2007 – Present
Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington
Permanent Judicial Commission
Board of Directors
BILL TENG
2002 – Present 2000 – Present
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (USA) WRC-TV / NBC4, Washington, DC
Board of Directors Community Advisory Board
1998 – 1999 1999 – 2001
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (Hong Kong) Mayor's Faith Advisory Council
Founding Board of Directors, Chair Washington, DC
1998 – 1999 1976 –1978
Hong Kong International Airport Nyack Symphony
Chaplaincy Advisory Board Music Director & Conductor
Protestant Representative
Education
1996 – 1999
1983 Master of Divinity
Hong Kong Alpha Committee
Alliance Theological Seminary
1996 – 1999 Nyack, NY
Hong Kong Walk to Emmaus/Cursillo Steering
1979 Master of Arts
Committee, Spiritual Director
City College of New York
1996 – 1999 New York, NY
Hong Kong Christian Council
1975 Bachelor of Music
Executive Committee
Nyack College
1992 – 1996 Nyack, NY
Indian River (Florida) Via de Cristo/Cursillo
Spiritual Director Ordination
July 21, 1985
Community Ministry
2003 – Present
Personal
Civil Air Patrol (Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force)
Born in Hong Kong – December 30, 1953
Chaplain (Major)
Married to Karen Koster – March 24, 1985

SENSE OF CALL
My sense of call in standing for the around the world. As a cross-cultural
Moderator of the General Assembly comes Christian, it would be my joy to expand
from the fact that I love the church — the vision of the PC(USA) into the
especially the Presbyterian Church (U. S. vibrancy of the global Church.
A.). I long to see our denomination face the
I am the product of Presbyterian
challenges and opportunities of the 21st
mission. I owe much of my spiritual
Century with hope and vitality.

“
heritage to American Presbyterians who
Many tend to talk about stagnant brought the good news of Jesus Christ to
I long
to see congregations within a shrinking China.
our denomination. Meanwhile God is inspiring a
denomination face • Presbyterian missionaries introduced
vibrant global Church of which we are a
the challenges and my great-grandfather to Jesus Christ in
part. In many ways, my own life is evidence
opportunities of the the late 1800s. He became one of the first
21st Century with of the deep connections Presbyterians share
ordained Presbyterian elders in China.
hope and vitality.”
“
BILL TENG
• My grandfather was one of the first experienced God’s grace at work. I know
I graduates from the first university in China no greater fulfillment than seeing people
know — founded by Presbyterian Missionaries. of all ages and ethnicities encountering
no He became an ordained Presbyterian the transforming power of Jesus Christ
greater fulfillment minister in China’s Shantung Province. and growing in Christian discipleship.

than seeing people of

• My father had the opportunity to receive If elected, I want to help an increasingly
all ages and
his theological education at New College, diverse denomination understand that
ethnicities University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was cross-cultural ministry can be much
encountering the ordained a minister of the Word and more than just multi-cultural ideas!
transforming power Sacrament in Hong Kong and served there. Finally, as much as I love the church and
of Jesus Christ and
I have a deep sense of gratitude and the gospel ministry, I love even more the
growing in Christian
“gospel debt.” If I am given the opportunity Lord of the church and gospel ministry,
discipleship.”
to serve my beloved Presbyterian Church the “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) and
(U.S.A.) as Moderator, I’m willing and able! his Word. I want to bring a message of
hope back to our denomination!
At the same time, ministry begins in the
intimacy of local communities where the For too long, the PC(USA) has been
good news of Jesus Christ is shared with distracted from our primary calling as
our lives as well as our lips. Christ’s Church by divisive and
contentious issues. We need to reclaim
Hands-on ministry has been my life. I have our primary calling: mission — sharing
loved serving God in the United States and God’s justice and mercy without pride or
overseas. I have found ministry rewarding, prejudice, and our greatest joy:
exciting, educational and above all, evangelism — having an answer when

“
meaningful — serving God and God’s people astonished people ask us why we care.
We need from suburban New York to the Southwest,
to from the international city of Hong Kong to It is my hope that, as Moderator, I’m able
reclaim
coastal Florida, and now in our nation’s to lead our church back to these basics.
our primary calling:
mission — sharing capital. Over and over again I have — soli Deo gloria!
God’s justice and
mercy without pride
or prejudice, and our
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR MODERATOR
greatest joy:
Question 1. Our church’s Ecumenical Vision Statement reminds us that, “The unity of the
evangelism —
Church is both God’s real gift and God’s effective calling.” How would you work for unity
having an answer within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and how would this contribute to the unity we
when astonished
seek with other churches and Christian communities?
people ask us why we
care.” My understanding of unity is first and 17:23).
foremost informed by scripture where Jesus
prays that we may all be one, as the Father To accomplish this, I believe we must do
and the Son are one (John 17:22). And the what Paul has instructed us, that we are
reason for that is, “So that the world may to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or
know that you have sent me and have loved conceit, but in humility regard others as
them even as you have loved me” (John better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
BILL TENG
“
In order to work for unity within the
In order Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I believe we
to listen must first learn to listen to each other,
to each especially among those who may disagree
other, we must first with one another on certain issues. In my
believe that we opinion, humility has to start with the self-
have something to realization that “I may not have the corner
learn from each on the whole truth and so I must learn to
listen to others, just in case they could shed
other, so that we
some light on the truth!” And maybe that’s
could find common
why Paul adds “regard others as better than
ground with one yourselves.”
another and build
trust among one In order to listen to each other, we must
another to foster first believe that we have something to learn
unity.” from each other, so that we could find
common ground with one another and build
trust among one another to foster unity.
For the last five years or so, I’ve had the
privilege to be in a small group of pastors
from within National Capital Presbytery,
intentionally drawn from both sides of the
proverbial aisle, to meet on a regular basis
— to share with one another our respective
faith journeys, our concerns for the church,
our varying views on different issues, and to
Question 2. The 208th General Assembly (1996) affirmed the goal of increasing racial
ethnic membership to 10 percent by the year 2005, and to 20 percent by the year 2010.
How do you assess the Presbyterian Church's progress toward the fulfillment of this goal
and what would you do during your moderatorial term to move the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) closer to realizing or exceeding this goal?
It’s true that the Christian church today is
no longer mainly a White Anglo-Saxon faith
or a Western cultural expression. When the
World Council of Churches was first
organized sixty years ago, some eighty
percent of the world’s Christians were in
Europe and North America. Today, the
opposite is true, where only twenty percent
“
of the world’s Christians are in Europe and
North America.
Even in
The continent of Africa now has the fastest
North
growing Christian population with eight
Amer-
new congregations being started every
ica, the fastest week. Tens of millions of Pentecostal
growing churches Christians are now found in South America.
seem not to be Indonesia, though mainly a Muslim
Anglo congrega- country, now has the most Christians
tions, but ethnic among other Southeast Asian countries. As
ones: such as South Korea claims over half of its
African, Asian, population as Christian, China — in its past
Hispanic, etc.” sixty years under communist rule — has
pray for one another. In the process, we’ve
learnt to look past our theological and
ideological differences and come to respect
one another’s views. We have built trust
among ourselves that we don’t have to
demonize or label one another just because
we may not agree on a certain issue. And
we have pledged to support one another in
prayer and to find common ground to do
ministry together.
I’m humbled to say that two pastors from
this group, one from each side of the
“aisle,” made nominating speeches at a
presbytery meeting to support my
moderator candidacy.
When we are able to demonstrate this
ability to listen to and respect one another
in the PC(USA), we can then offer what we
do as an example to the larger church
community. I also believe that some form
of organic union among the various
denominations maybe helpful as well, so to
fulfill Jesus’ prayer that the world would
know God’s love in our unity!
seen a tremendous growth in its Christian
population: while the official figure puts it
at 30 million, a conservative reality is more
like 100 million. When I visited the
Chinese city of Kunming in Yunnan
Province back in 1998, I was told that there
were some 800,000 Christians there alone
(but with only 66 ordained pastors among
them).
Even in North America, the fastest growing
churches seem not to be Anglo
congregations, but ethnic ones: such as
African, Asian, Hispanic, etc. If this is true,
then how do we, as Presbyterians, move
closer to realizing or exceeding our goal of
increasing racial ethnic membership to
twenty percent by the year 2010?
As someone who has pastored both
international and ethnic congregations, I
believe first we must reclaim that original
BILL TENG
Pentecostal power and learn to share the Christian expressions and/or principles.
Good News with our neighbors, with many This will free us to share with them the
of them immigrants. When Peter preached most basic Christian truths.
on the Day of Pentecost, he appealed to the
fundamentals of the Christian message — Thirdly, as God’s people, we must live in
that we all need to call on the name of the unity, learning to sacrifice for one
Lord, be baptized in Jesus’ name and another’s needs and living in such a
proclaim Jesus as Lord (Acts 2:21-38), and faithful way that the world around us
3,000 people were baptized on that day. I would get a foretaste of the future
believe in order for us to be able to kingdom, of what heaven is like. That was
articulate our faith, we must be educated; precisely what the early Christians did
and Christian education must be intentional and “day by day the Lord added to their
and deliberate. The bottom line is: we number” (Acts 2:42-47).
cannot share what we don’t know. If elected, I want to help an increasingly
Secondly, we must develop a post- diverse denomination understand that
Christendom mindset — stop assuming that cross-cultural ministry can be much
we still live in a Christian culture and that more than just multi-cultural ideas!
our neighbors and friends are familiar with

Question 6. In what new ways can the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its congregations
place a focus on ministry to and with youth and young adults to ensure a church for
future generations?

There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind looking for authentic models to follow and
that today’s young people need Christ just so we must provide them with an
as much as older folks do, but yet it is authentic gospel message of Jesus Christ

“
blatantly obvious that the missing element — not a watered-down version — but a
in most of our Presbyterian congregations full-bodied vibrant message of salvation.
I truly
across our land is that of youth and young
believe adults. While in many homes, young people today
only are not seeing godly examples in their
when we begin However, it is not to say that we don’t have parents, a good mentoring program in
showing genuine excellent examples of effective youth church would provide necessary models of
concern for the ministries in some of our congregations! integrity for them to follow. Young people
spiritual well-being of For example, University Presbyterian can tell the difference between genuine
our youth and young Church in Seattle has a thriving college-age concern for them and unreal platitudes in
adults that they will ministry. People like Anthony Ceder at First a heartbeat, and so we must not offer
respond by showing Presbyterian Church in Houston can teach insincere clichés and jargons but the
us a thing or two about how to reach our living water of God’s Word.
interest in what we
youth. How is it that upwards of 5,000
have to say as a
students would gather every Tuesday I truly believe only when we begin
church!”
evening at Texas A&M University for Bible showing genuine concern for the spiritual
study? How do they do that? well-being of our youth and young adults,
will they respond by showing interest in
I believe young people today are always what we have to say as a church!

Question 8. What should be the role of the Moderator during times of deep
disagreements in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) about matters of faith and practice.

As stated in Standing Rules of the General
Assembly, H.1.a.(4), the job description of
the office of the Moderator of the General
Assembly sounds simple enough: “When
the Moderator presides at the assembly, it is
to be a sign of the bond of unity,
community, and mission in the life of the
church. During the period between
assemblies, the Moderator serves as an
ambassador of the unity of the Spirit in
the bonds of peace, telling the story of the
church’s life and upholding the people of
BILL TENG
“
God through prayer.”
But
The term “unity” seems to be predominant in
most
this statement to indicate that the role of the
Moderator of the General Assembly is to
importantly, the point attention not to oneself but to the
role of the presumptive unity of the church. In other
Moderator of the words, the Moderator is not to be a
General Assembly controversial figure but to be a gracious and
is to be a prayer wise arbiter in times of conflicts and deep
warrior — disagreements in our church.
bringing our joys
and concerns to I believe the Moderator of the General
the throne of Assembly is Moderator of the whole church
and not just part of the church and therefore
grace and to
needs to be fair and judicious when it comes
intercede for
to matters of faith and practice. I believe the
healing in our PC(USA) is a table large enough that people
brokenness in our of many theological persuasions should be
church!” able to have a seat at it and to listen to and
Question 10. The Form of Government Task Force was created by the 217th General
Assembly (2006) to propose a revised polity that would be more flexible, more foundational,
and more appropriate for a missional Reformed Church in the 21st century. What do you
think about these proposals.
First of all, the Form of Government Task
Force must be commended in their selfless
commitment and dedication in the last 1½
years to the tedious but important work of
revising our Book of Order. They had been
given an almost impossible task to produce a
new form of government in a relatively short
time, and they have done so admirably!
There are some very excellent ideas in the
proposed polity revision. For example, I like
the idea that the first four chapters of our
current Book of Order be separated out to
form altogether a new section entitled,
“Foundations of Presbyterian Polity.” I also
like the idea of going back to using the terms
of “ruling elder” and “teaching elder” to
delineate clearly the distinct role and
function of each office.
I especially like the idea of using the term
“council” in place of the current “governing
body,” when referring to the various entities
that oversee and make decision about the life
of the church. The proposed change to
replace the current terms of “office” and
“officer” with “ordered ministry” and
“ordered minister” also has a nice
ecclesiastical tone to it!
However, after saying that, I also have some
learn from one another.
The main role of the Moderator of the
General Assembly during times of deep
disagreements in the PC(USA) therefore is
to be a peacemaker among those who may
disagree with one another, to bring a word
of healing and encouragement to the
wounded and desperate, and to lift up best
practices from our congregations across the
land and the world for those who need good
examples to follow.
But most importantly, the role of the
Moderator of the General Assembly is to be
a prayer warrior — bringing our joys and
concerns to the throne of grace and to
intercede for healing the brokenness in our
church!
reservation and concern about many of the
proposed changes. For example, while the
current Book of Order begins appropriately
with Jesus Christ as “the Head of the
Church,” the opening paragraph of the new
“Foundations of Presbyterian Polity” seems
to have a misplaced emphasis on “God’s
Mission” instead of the “Missioning God.”
Also, in an attempt to make the new form of
government more flexible and foundational,
the lack of specificity and clarity in many
details that our current polity has seems to
make us less “connectional” and lead to
more confusion which, in turn, would lead
to more disunity and mistrust.
My one major concern about this new
proposal is in its timing — I don’t believe
there is enough time for most
commissioners to be able to read and digest
this large amount of important information
in such a short time. To approve such a vital
document in a rush would not serve the best
interest of our church well. I believe the
best way forward is to postpone final
consideration of this document until the
219th General Assembly in 2010, so that
more time could be devoted to soliciting
feedbacks from the whole church!
 Bill Teng has selected Tamara Letts as a Vice Moderator Candidate

TAMARA A. LETTS CANDIDATE

ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR MINISTRY MOBILIZATION
FOR
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH VICE MODERATOR
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

I had the privilege of growing up in a loving, faithful, Christian home in Colorado

Springs, Colorado. Both of my parents were active in Young Life, a
nondenominational Christian ministry outreach to high school kids. My family was
involved at First Presbyterian Church, where my father taught a large adult education
class for many years. Because of them, I got it…every one of us is wonderfully unique and desperately loved by
God. My parents’ passion to share Jesus Christ in and to a youth culture that was foreign, uncomfortable,
hurting and misunderstood, so that each person might know the love of God, became foundational to my life.
During my high school years, I felt pulled toward youth ministry. That “pull” led to a year as an intern in
Stuttgart, Germany (through a recent partnership that had been established between Young Life and the
German Evangelical Church). While in Germany, I worked in a program with special needs kids, mostly
victims of thalidomide. My experience with them taught me that real joy is found, not in what we can do for
ourselves, but what we can do for others by God’s grace. It was a powerful cross-cultural experience which has
been instrumental in the shaping of my ministry. In 1981, after graduating from the University of Colorado in
Boulder, with a German degree, I attended Fuller Theological Seminary where I was surprised to find myself
being called to the pastorate. I felt undeserving, and yet I could not escape the sense of call. I had no choice
but to respond by serving God’s church.
In seminary I met my husband, Tom, and we had the joy of not only graduating together but also being
ordained together back at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs as Co-Associate Pastors for Student
Ministries. Since then we have served as a clergy couple in a variety of ways. We have worked side-by-side in
very large churches, small churches, resort-type churches and rural churches. I still have a special heart for
youth and young adults. My specific congregational experience stretched to include adult education, women’s
ministry, lay leadership ministry, small group ministry, missions, and children’s. I have especially enjoyed
working with the Wee Kirk Ministry, a distinctive ministry that reaches out to the leadership of churches with
125 members or less. My work in small churches has brought me to realize and champion the significant, vital
role they play in God’s mission.
I have served as chair for the Committee on Ministry (Yellowstone Presbytery) and Church In Society (Pueblo
Presbytery). Our family moved to Alaska three years ago from Montana, where we served a small church for 11
years. I currently am chair of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry in Yukon Presbytery which also
oversees the training and equipping of 14 Commissioned Lay Pastors, many of whom serve in remote Native
Alaskan villages above the Arctic Circle. I served on the board of Presbyterians For Renewal from 1992-1999,
and I currently volunteer on the leadership team for National Presbyterian Women in Leadership.
We have two wonderful, gifted daughters: one a freshman in college and one a sophomore in high school. I
enjoy fly-fishing, hiking, skiing, old-school jazz, films and books.