Welcome
to
        The Synod of the Mid-Atlantic

Phone:
(804) 342-0016
Toll Free:
(800) 743-7670
Fax :
(804) 355-8535
Toll Free Fax:
(877) 259-4441

      E-Mail: 

jchick@synatlantic.org

TRI-SYNOD LATINO LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

The Synods of the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Trinity have entered into partnership in the development and support of the "Eastern Tri-Synod Latino Leadership Initiative," the purpose of which is to identify, train, nurture and develop mature Hispanic leaders.  The participants may, in the course of their training, experience God's call to service as elders with increased competence and commitment; some may experience a leadership commitment that leads towards comprehensive language-specific training as lay preachers, or even as Commissioned Lay Pastors.  The initiative is being developed in Spanish by a Design Team, with implementation strategies being coordinated by an expanded Steering Committee composed of synod and presbytery staff.  In the Mid-Atlantic, the Design Team members are the Rev. Cesar Carhuachin of Charlotte Presbytery and the Rev. Eduardo Moreno of Coastal Carolina Presbytery. Others from our synod are the Rev. Jim Moseley, Executive of New Castle Presbytery and Synod Executive David McKee.

Since presbyteries have the sole authority for certification processes and for commissioning, one of the next steps involves engaging presbyteries in a review of the training being proposed.  The presbytery consultation responsibilities belong to the Steering Committee.  Rather than stepping on the toes of presbyteries charged with authorizing leaders and commissioning lay preachers, it is hoped that the processes being developed will assist presbyteries in providing high quality training that meets the needs of the Presbyterian Latino Community. 

The initiative, funded through a one-time grant from the Heiserman Fund of the National Mission Partnership, will have a three-three year implementation period.  The total program includes sixteen basic courses conducted in Spanish, including the basic eight areas of knowledge required of Commissioned Lay Pastors by the Book of Order.  Additional elements in the initiative include coach training for those working with emerging leaders, and annual retreat gatherings for leader skill enhancement.  In addition to leadership and pastoral skill development, goals include an increase in participants’ awareness of specific cultural circumstances and corresponding strategies to respond positively as PC(USA) ambassadors of Jesus Christ through theology and appropriate church governance.

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  Highlights of the 225^th Stated Meeting of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic

• Concur with the Overture to the General Assembly, submitted by the Synod of the Southwest, regarding the appointment of a special committee to conduct a comprehensive study of middle governing bodies in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
• Adopt revised Personnel Policies and Practices, which have been in process for more than a year.
• Renew the lease agreement with the Presbytery of the James for office space for one year, commencing in October, as per the original lease agreement of September 2007; and to authorize the Synod Executive to explore other options regarding the synod’s office space and building, reporting to the Administration Committee as soon as feasible.
• Invite Carlos Malave, Ecumenical Relations Coordinator for the General Assembly, to address the next Synod Assembly and offer an educational presentation on ecumenical relations of the PC(USA).
• Set a governance budget for 2011 of $420,650; to retain the synod per capita rate for 2011 at $1.45, and to direct that interpretive information be made available to Synod Commissioners for sharing with their presbyteries.
• Explore the feasibility of allocating the cost of the Finance Manager position proportionately between the governance and investment functions.
• Amend the application procedure to allow the three synod caucuses (Korean, Hispanic and Black Caucuses) to make application directly to the Presbytery Initiatives Committee for support of mission or program activities.
• Approve several funding requests recommended by the Presbytery Initiatives Committee:
• $2,500 for printing additional Massanetta Springs 100^th Anniversary histories (Shenandoah and Peaks)
• $3,000 for various appurtenances for a new chapel in Kikuyu, Kenya (New Castle and Shenandoah)
• $2,000 in scholarship aid for additional participants in Synod Men’s Kenya Mission Project (Shenandoah and New Castle)
• $5,000 for the Haiti Orphanage and Fish Farm (James and Peaks)
• Approve a $10,000 grant to the National Black Presbyterian Caucus to assist youth and young adults to attend Youth Leadership Development conferences this spring and summer.
• Hear a progress report on an initiative in leadership development with Hispanic/Latino populations in three synods, Mid-Atlantic, Trinity and Northeast, made possible by the Heisermann Fund and the start of a similar initiative for African-American leadership development in two synods, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
• Approve several grants recommended by the Grants & Awards Committee:
• $2,500 to Mountain Presbyterian Chapel, Shenandoah Presbytery
• $2,500 for HVAC repairs and upgrades at Ampthill Church, Presbytery of the James
• $2,500 for repairs and remodeling, Milford Church, Presbytery of the James
• $2,500 for building design costs, Unity Church, Salem Presbytery
• $2,500 for basement renovations, Dongsan Church, Atlantic Korean Presbytery
• 15 scholarship grants for seminary students, (from the Euler Fund) totaling $43,000 and 3 for students at Presbyterian colleges (from the Stultz Fund) totaling $5,700
• Elect members to serve in new classes on several committee/commissions, and ratify the election of Bill Parish (Abingdon) as the at-large member of the Executive Committee.
• Hear a report from Fred Holbrook, Massanetta Springs’ Executive Director on the activities of the Center, its 100^th anniversary celebration this year, and the fact that the Center was able to finish the year 2009 $44,000 in the positive.
• Adopt a resolution of profound thanks to the Richmond Korean Presbyterian Church for their outstanding hospitality as hosts for this meeting.

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Presbytery of West Virginia 

Once Again Tops the List 

for Support of National and International

 Hunger Ministry 

in the PCUSA!

Peaks Presbytery in the top ten!

Read More

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OVERVIEW OF SYNOD OF THE MID-ATLANTIC

Over the past ten or more years, our synod – and indeed all synods throughout the PC(USA)- have undergone major and significant changes. Whereas for many years our synods were quite similar in most respects, now each one is working to adapt its life and work to realities that continue relentlessly changing. In the Mid-Atlantic, through the work of several task forces, we have intentionally down-sized the staff, rearranged programmatic responsibilities, and altered the organizational structure of synod.

All work on restructuring is intended to allow us to listen for, discern together and then respond to God’s specific and very particular call to faithful service in this part of God’s kingdom.

Among the many facts and bits of data about our Synod, here are several that may be helpful in gaining perspective about who we are and what we do:

• A synod is one of the two Middle Governing Bodies in our Presbyterian Church (USA) structure (the other "MGB" is the presbytery). There are 16 synods altogether in our denomination.
• Our synod is made up of 14 presbyteries in five states (Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and several counties in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia). There are some 1,450 congregations with approximately 300,000 confirmed members within that area.
• Each of those presbyteries elects two commissioners – one clergy and one laity – to serve three-year terms. Every reasonable effort is made to maintain, among the 28 commissioners, good balance in terms of gender, age, racial and ethnic identity, etc.
• A Stated Synod Assembly meeting is held twice each year. These are held in different places across the synod (e.g., Union Seminary, Montreat, Massanetta Springs), and are overnight meetings, in part to allow for both working and fellowship times.
• Each commissioner is asked to serve on one of four Designated Committees: Administration, Finance, Grants & Awards, and Presbytery Initiatives. Much of the synod’s actual work is done by these committees; they meet in person during the two Synod Assemblies, and at other times via telephone conference calls.
• There is an Executive Committee which functions as a planning and coordinating body. It is authorized to conduct any necessary synod business between assemblies, and consists of the Synod Moderator, Vice-moderator, Designated Committee moderators, and one member-at-large.
• There are also three Permanent Committees: Committee on Representation, Nominating Committee, and Permanent Judicial Commission. These are mandated by the Book of Order; their members are non-Commissioners from different presbyteries.

DIRECTIONS TO THE OFFICE OF THE SYNOD OF THE MID-ATLANTIC

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