 Association of Presbyterian Tent Makers |
|
Tent Talk February, 2008 APT MODERATOR’S MESSAGE A Covenanting We Will Grow
Making the move as a Tentmaking PCUSA minister to one with “dual standing” serving a UCC church full time has been an exciting adventure in faith. It may even require less hours! Part of that process has involved preparation in the congregational tradition where I have come to appreciate some differences and commonalities with respect to Presbyterianism.
I am reminded of the “3 C’s” that are helpful in remembering the hallmarks and strengths of our Presbyterian heritage; those being our 1) constitutional, 2) connectional, and 3) confessional way of being.
Today, I would like to commend to you a fourth C from Congregationalism. One that speaks well to the challenges, goals, and opportunities that lay ahead for us this year – covenantal. And remember, it was a group of early Presbyterian settlers to this country who organized and called themselves “covenanters” as well. Although this is a term pregnant with meaning both theological and biblical, Webster boils it down to “an agreement between parties for the performance of some action”.
Being a denominational, all volunteer organization that meets annually, it is easy to be sidetracked by disparate geography, time constraints and availability once the “glow”of our annual get together fades. To maintain the flame of excitement about our plans for 2008, that word covenantal, as a necessary component of our vitality keeps coming back to me.
Covenantal this year means sharing the good news denominationally and ecumenically with those who would like to know more about APT - at our annual APT Conference, General Assembly, via our website ( www. ) and newsletter ‘Tent Talk’, through seminary and college visits, or by e mail contacts or phone calls from any of our membership Covenantal, reaching out in the spirit of hospitality to network with like organizations with whom we share common interests. Covenantal, in honoring Gods promise of “doing a new thing”: offering the biblical model of bi-vocational ministry for a church and denomination(s) in need of timely alternatives. Covenantal means each of us in leadership and membership signing on to further one of the APT tasks for which we have a passion
At our Portland confab, in noting our goals and plans for the year, Ross Blount referred to these as “another item to be put in bucket.” As your Moderator this year, it is my hope and plan that we would covenant with one another responsibly to shoulder the various loads so that the bucket is lighter and emptier.
As always, I know it will be a joy to splash around with you all in wonderful fellowship. May we grow together covenantally in 2008.
Jeff Scott, APT Moderator
APT WEB SITE During 2007 tentmaker Rev. Ralph Wright, Jr. has set up a web site for the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers. At first he attached the web site to the web site for his church, the Yaphank Presbyterian Church. Recently he has located the web site under the domain name “pcusatentmakers”.
The web site includes the APT purpose and officers, current and future activities, proceedings of past conferences, books and research reports on tentmaking/bivocational ministry, and links to other tentmaking web sites.
This project has been funded with a $750 grant from the General Assembly National Ministries Division. As of 1/31/08 $490 had been spent on setting up the web site. The remainder of the grant will be spent on future expenses.
The maintenance and use of this web site will help in providing current information to any who seek to learn more about the opportunities that tentmaking ministry can provide. Many thanks to Ralph Wright for making this project a reality.
Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers Annual Meeting
Present: Ross Blount, moderator, Moderator elect, Jeff Scott, Fred Bunning, Treasurer, Kathy Johnstone, Secretary pro tem, Phil Aspinall (Chrism Representative), William Dodge, Lois Dodge, Carolyn Hampton, Phil Tom (GA representative), Lorena Blount, Virginia Bunning, John Hasenjaeger, Emily Guess (guest and tentmaker searcher), Charity Kamau.
Opened with prayer at 10:32 a.m. by moderator Ross Blount.
Minutes from last years annual meeting read and approved.
Nominating Committee Report: Presented in nomination: Moderator: Jeff Scott Moderator elect: Don West Treasure: Fred Bunning At Large: Kathy Johnstone Slate approved by acclamation.
Service of installation – Moderator Ross Blount.
Thanks to John Hasenjaeger for his organization of the meeting.
Financial Report by treasurer Fred Bunning: Presented financial report for 2005. Opening balance $5,942.43 Income 5,720.00 Expense 6,505.82 Closing balance 5,1561.61
Phil Aspinall commented on the lack of expenses for the executive committee. Executive committee now meets in cyberspace, so there is no cost for these meetings. Other expenses have not been submitted to the treasurer for payment. It is the will of the body to have the expenses listed, even if donations are made. Approval of 2005 financial report was moved, seconded and approved.
Report on the 2006 year to date: For next year there is a change of designated monies for the web site and a seminary project. Report accepted: Moved, second, Approved.
Treasurer presented the list of members, accurate to the minute. Memberships are by calendar year. Membership is $50 per year.
Website: Website is provided by a grant from General Assembly. The web address is currently www.yaphankpc.org. Web master Ralph Wright is searching for a domain name which is unique to the organization. Costs should be around $450 to $500 for the initial year. Continuing costs should be $50 per year. The executive committee is discussion a blog or forum. Nathan Hampton, son of Carolyn Hampton has a business that could provide technical assistant also. Jeff prayed for this ministry.
Tent talk: Tent Talk is the newsletter for the organization. The editor, Steve Hammond, has resigned. Carolyn Hampton asked how often it is published. She would be available at some times to update this. The group discussed using the website to publish a newsletter. Ralph Wright has volunteered to do the web master. Executive committee will discuss the content of the website.
Seminary presentations by tentmakers: GA gave a grant to do seminary presentations to discuss the vision of tentmaking with seminarians. Links need to be made with seminarians, ethnic pastors, CLPs and bi-vocational students.
2008 Conference: Fred Bunning reported we don’t yet have our location. Dubuque was suggested but not a good place because distance from the airport is difficult. Phil Tom shared the efforts of GA in regard to conferences. They are supporting regional conferences, which seems to be more effective since networking can be sustained. The Executive Committee will continue to work on this. A decision should be made by General Assembly so brochures can be distributed at that time.
New immigrant ministries: Charity Kamau reported the strength of the conferences for new immigrant ministers. Moderator Ross Blount commented that the immigrant ministers are often tentmakers. There is an annual CLP conference for immigrant CLPs. We talked about holding the Tentmaking meeting close to this meeting. Ross Blount challenged us to find money to bring immigrants to conferences.
General assembly: Fred and Virginia Bunning will be responsible for the table at General Assembly with the intent of sharing space with Phil Tom from GA and his office if possible. If other members are present, help in manning the table will be appreciated.
Contact with colleges: We should be contacting colleges to offer a new look at bi-vocational options. Gary Luhr is the GA associate for colleges.
Presbyterian Camps and conferences Association: We should also contact the Association of Camps and Conferences. Jeff reports that 20 to 30% of the camp directors are tentmakers. This is also a time when we contact students. Jeff Scott will contact Don West to try to make contact with PCCCA Board members while they are at their upcoming Conference (Camp Calvin, Georgia).
Tentmaking DVD: Moderator Ross distributed DVDs about tentmaking.
Reports: Charity Kamau asked if there will be a final report of this group.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. with prayer.
Respectfully submitted, Kathy Johnstone
Stories of Tentmakers Kathy Johnstone Mineral, Washington
This November Mineral Presbyterian Church celebrated 100 years of
ministry in Mineral, Washington. For 5,200 Sundays, people have
gathered to sing, pray, and listen to God's word. The current pastoris
tentmaker Kathy Johnstone. Kathy came up through the ranks at Mineral,
participating as a member, elder, and lay reader for 14 years before
becoming pastor. www.mineralpresbyterian.org
Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers Directory Moderator Jeff Scott hildsctt@netscape.net PO Box 481 Creede, CO 81130 719-658-3082
Moderator—Elect Don West donaldjosephwest@hotmail.com PO Box 2684 Thomasville, GA 31799-2684
Past Moderator Ross Blount allerton-blount@yahoo.com 405 N. Central Allerton, IA 50008-8606 641-873-4242
Treasurer Fred Bunning vcvlbunning@msn.com 1035 SW 20th Loveland, CO 80537 970-667-4853
Member at Large Kathy Johnstone kayjay@myhome.net PO Box 194 Mineral, WA 98355
G.A. Liaison Phil Tom ptom@ctr.pcusa.org 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202 888-728-7288, ext 5845
Board of Pensions Philip Gehman Contact Person pgehman@pensions.org Board of Pensions 2000 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-3298 800-773-7752 ext. 7482
Tent Talk Editor Vacant
Website Ralph Wright, Jr. rbwright1@aol.com
Report on TENTMAKER CONTACTS WITH SEMINARIES January 31, 2008
During 2007, discussions within the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers have lead to the following plan for action in 2008.
The APT Moderator and Past-Moderator have covenanted to do “trial runs” with each making presentations at a seminary and reporting back to the APT assembled at the 2008 Conference.
Contacts will be made through appropriate seminary staff who are sympathetic to tentmaking as a valid form of ministry.
Seminary gatherings will hopefully include all in the area involved in tentmaking/bivocational ministry: seminary students already involved in tentmaking, students interested in tentmaking, new immigrant pastors in the area who are tentmakers, Commissioned Lay Pastors in the area, tentmakers /bivocational pastors from other denominations.
An effort will be made to assemble resources useful for such a seminar and with the help of participants, to assess the value of such resources for future seminars.
This project has been funded with a $2000 grant from the General Assembly National Ministries Division. No funds were spent in 2007.
- Ross Blount
Tentmakers and The Board of Pensions
Tentmakers often ask whether they are eligible for benefits from the Board of Pensions. Since the circumstances among tentmakers vary so widely, I find that I must ask each person three questions before I can respond to the inquiry. Feel free to ask them of yourself!!
Are you in a called and installed position (pastor, co-pastor, associate pastor or designated pastor)?
If you are in a called and installed position, you must be enrolled in the traditional Benefits Plan in accord with the Book of Order, G-14.0534. If you are not in a called and installed position, you are not required to participate in the Benefits Plan.
If you are not in a called and installed position, is your church employment for 20 hours a week or more?
If your church employment is for 20 hours a week or more, you are eligible for coverage from the Board of Pensions. If your church employment is for less than 20 hours a week, you are not eligible for coverage from the Board of Pensions.
If you are not in a called and installed position and your church employment is for 20 hours a week or more, do you desire benefits coverage through the Board of Pensions?
If you do desire benefits coverage from the Board of Pensions, you may choose one of these options:
Traditional Benefits Plan (includes healthcare, pension, disability and death coverage). Affiliated Benefits Program (limited to healthcare coverage or to healthcare, death and disability coverage).
To explore these options further, please go to Board’s website, www.pensions.org, or call the Board of Pensions at 1-800-773-7752 to request an enrollment packet and have your questions answered.
One further note: all church workers, clergy and lay, who are employed for 20 hours a week or more are eligible to participate in the Board’s 403(b)(9) Retirement Savings Plan, whether or not they have other benefits through the Board of Pensions.
As always, thank you for your faithful ministry to the congregations and tents that you serve!
Phil Gehman The Board of Pensions’ Liaison to APT
Tentmaking in Texas First Presbyterian Church Duncanville, Texas
I am presently serving on staff as choir director, and
Tentmaker Position Open France Memorial Presbyterian Church Rawlins, Wyoming Our church is looking for a 1/2 time pastor who sees himself/herself as a fellow traveler. He/she should be a Christ-centered person with a strong, professional work ethic and a relaxed, interpersonal style. Good communication skills, personal warmth, and a sense of humor would all be good descriptors of the pastor we seek. Also, a person who enjoys fellowshipping with others, who is caring and sensitive to the needs of a multi-generational congregation, and who is a flexible, dependable, positive thinker willing to try new ideas. Together we can learn and grown in Christian faith in order to fulfill Christ’s mission of service.
Major employers in Carbon County, where Rawlins is the county seat, are: two school districts, the Union Pacific Railroad, BP Amoco, Sinclair Oil Corp., Wyoming State Penitentiary, several natural gas companies, the Bureau of Land Management, the hospital and the county itself. Many jobs are also available in the hospitality industry, which includes motels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. The boom we are currently experiencing has created a job market loaded with opportunities for a tentmaker.
Rawlins is located on the high plains of south central Wyoming on the !-80 corridor. Our wide open spaces, magnificent vistas, and snow capped mountains in the distance, make it a special place to enjoy God’s creation. We are known for our hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities, both winter and summer. Check out all our area has to offer at the following web sites: www.rawlins-wyoming.com www.wyomingcarboncounty.com www.geocities.com/presbyterianchurch/fmpc http://www.pcusa.org/clc/
For further information, please contact: Ruth Hood, PNC chair 2307 Inverness Blvd. Rawlins, WY 82301 307-328-1743 (phone) 1-775-206-0288 (fax) rrhood@bresnan.net
Or the church office at:
P.O. Box 786 1506 Nevada Street Rawlins, WY 82301 307-324-3031
COVENANT ANNUAL REPORT Submitted January 31, 2008
Covenant between the National Ministries Division (NMD) Of the General Assembly Council (GAC) Presbyterian Church (USA) and The Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers (APT)
Statement of Purpose The Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers (APT) is an association of ministers, members, congregations, and governing bodies of the PC (USA) who are either tentmakers or have an interest in tentmaking ministry. Tentmakers are pastors who divide their work between two or more vocations – at least one of which is a ministry validated by presbytery and at least one of which is a secular vocation. The purpose of APT is to provide support for tentmaker, tentmaking congregations, and advocates of tentmaking in the PC (USA); and to promote tentmaking within the PC (USA). Officers Moderator – Jeff Scott Moderator Elect – Don West Treasurer - Fred Bunning Member at Large – Kathy Johnstone Past Moderator – Ross Blount Newsletter Editor - Steven Hammond
Activities During 2007 Annual Conference held at Portland, Oregon October 26-28, 2007. Publish APT Newsletter: TENT TALK. Set up APT web site (see report attached). Clearinghouse for information about tentmaking/bivocational ministry.
Activities Planned for 2008 Annual Conference to be held in South Carolina or Chi cago area. Publish APT Newsletter: TENT TALK. Appoint Editor Clearinghouse for information about tentmaking/ bivocational ministry. APT Web Site. Initiate Tentmaker Contacts with Seminaries. (see report attached) Develop Data Base Network with other General Assembly Entities: Rural Ministry, New Immigrant Ministry, CLPs, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Transformation Establish Contacts with Presbyterian Camps and Conference Association
A Letter from Rick
Friends,
I've been thinking of you and keeping your gathering in my prayers over the past week as all of the final preparations have come together. I'm sorry that I can't be with you, though grateful to have kept faith with my wife and son on cutting back on my travel. I'm one week into a six-week period at home - the longest time without travel for the church since I was elected moderator.
I've been watching your emails all year, and it seems as if you have made significant progress on many of the ideas we discussed last year in Colorado. I'm very excited to hear about your continued interest in making inroads with folks in the New Immigrant Fellowship network, and about your success in developing outreach methods intentionally reach out with seminaries.
I remain totally convinced that you are modeling a way of "doing church" that will become increasingly important over the next generation. Though I know it sometimes must feel overwhelming to try to imagine spreading this way of doing ministry on top of your already full lives, I am so grateful to each of you for both the work that you do for an in the church each day, and also for your broader witness as well.
My own thinking this year has run toward the possibility of trying to create a way for both lay folks and pastors to offer a deeper level of commitment to living the radical gospel in the world than is typically afforded by local congregations. It would look something like an "ecumenical order for peace and justice" and would revolve around members taking a vow to engage in vocational peace and justice work and all that it takes to nurture the spiritual disciplines that will sustain that work. It would be a dispersed community (kind of like Iona), and would encourage what I've been calling "bivocationalism" that many of you are already practicing.
Anyway, just wanted you to know that your witness continues to inspire me, and we need to grow it as intentionally as possible.
Many blessings as you deepen your connections and community this weekend.
Peace to you,
Rick Ufford-Chase Director, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Even Fulltime Parish Ministry Can be Ducky
The feathered adage goes something like “if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck…it must be a duck”.
Now, since making the jump and crossing the line and accepting a fulltime call pastoring at the Creede Community Church, UCC in Creede Colorado the question looms, ”Can I still be a tentmaker?” I took this deep ecclesiastical quandary to our Moderator Ross Blount and he assured me that I could seek and would likely find absolution among my colleagues. \
Since taking the position as acting minister in February and the permanent fulltime position with my installation in Creede (August 19), I’ve wondered whether I could effectively paddle in the same pond among fellow tentmakers. Not to mention the powerful message of last year’s conference – “integrity”. In effect, don’t waddle, rather, take flight (Is. 40) and ‘integrate’ your vocations, ‘tent’ (secular employment) , and church work passionately. But I have always found APT to be wonderfully inclusive.
Today, I have no business to run, nor camp directing and yoked churches to juggle as part of my call. I feel like I’m flying with a few less feathers but a bit lighter and freer. Resisting the resignation of ugly duckling syndrome, I puff myself up and find myself quacking,
“I hope everyone knows I still think like a tentmaker!”
So the apologetic word from your Moderator-elect is “I may be fulltime but I really do still feel and act like one of you.”
You may squawk, “So where’s the proof?”
The initial draft sounded too inward, too pastor-dependent, too old school. What seemed lacking was a sense of teamwork and mutual accountability between and flock and pastor. That covenantal “we’re in this together” sense that is the hallmark of tentmaking.
What emerged in the process was an energizing discussion about our corporate life together, what constitutes a healthy congregation, the body of Christ realized. See if you see the essence of tentmaking in some of the desirable outcomes we set down.
A Spirit-filled place: A positive spirit and energy about the Church, its mission, and everyone’s involvement as a place of risk and transformation. Delegation and discipleship: Increase and develop mentoring, levels of lay participation, and new levels of leadership and discipleship. Mutuality: Foster a spirit of teamwork, mutual ministry among members, committees, and groups within the Church family so that we all truly are co-laboring as “ministers” in solidarity. Equipping the saints: Understanding a tentmaker’s mindset with church as the priesthood of all believers – an empowered congregation discovering/implementing their gifts.
As we prepare to reserve our flights to the West side of the pond together in Portland this October, it is just such discussions that typify us. We may be fledgling newcomers, old crows and wise owls but none of the ministry we practice is quackery. As many of us know, sometimes we are a herd of cats. More often than not we are a gaggle in pretty good formation.
May we all be birds of a feather as we come to share, seek, learn, and laugh as God’s faithful in the church of the future - Jeff Scott (written in a “preconference” frame of mind)
Membership Form for the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers Name
Address
City State Zip Code
(For Individual Members) Church Position
Denominational Affiliation
Your Tent
For Institutional Members Designated Representative
Enclosed Annual Membership ________$50
Please make checks payable to the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers Mail to : Fred Bunning, 1035 SW 20th, Loveland, CO 80537 |