Stated Meeting Highlights
Highlights of the November 12, 2022, Stated Meeting
The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta gathered for its November Stated Meeting on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Korean Central Presbyterian Church. 198 people joined us for our first fully in-person meeting since February 2020. What a joy it was to be together outside of the Zoom boxes that have both connected and constrained us!
The Presbytery continued our two-year exploration of the Seven Marks of Vital Congregations as we lifted up the importance of “Empowered Servant Leadership” in a number of ways. We remembered the saints who have gone before us in the faith as we shared the 2021 necrology of ruling elders and ministers. We elected 53 leaders to our Presbytery committees for the coming years to guide us through the days ahead. We heard the Word proclaimed from Ephesians 4 and Psalm 1 by Rev. Ben Kane from New Hope Presbytery, who joined the Presbytery along with several other guests for the installation of our new Stated Clerk, Rev. Andy James.
The Presbytery examined and approved three new minister members:
Jae Eun Hwang, a candidate of Coastlands Presbytery, who is serving in a validated ministry as a Spiritual Health Resident at Emory DeKalb Hospital
Kyounghun “Isaac” Keum, a candidate of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, who has been called as a contract call associate pastor at Korean Community Presbyterian Church
Bruce McRae, a minister transferring from the Presbyterian Church in America, who has been called as designated pastor at Monroe First Presbyterian Church
The Presbytery celebrated new pastoral roles in two of our congregations, among a number of other pastoral transitions in recent months. Rev. Michael Sanchez was introduced to the Presbytery as he begins service as associate pastor at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church. Rev. Lucy Strong was approved to transition from a contract call to an installed associate pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta.
The New Church Development Commission offered insights into their work, four new church learnings for the current moment, and stories from three of its new worshiping community leaders, who shared how their experiences in new worshiping communities that focus on immigrants can inspire and guide the work of the broader church in this season.
Upon recommendation from the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, the Presbytery approved two new candidates for ministry:
Kevin Lacson, a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
Morgan Burge, a member of North Avenue Presbyterian Church
The Presbytery set the per capita rate for its congregations for 2023 to be $28.35 per active member, with $17.00 supporting the ministry of the Presbytery, $1.50 going to the Synod of the South Atlantic, and $9.85 going to the General Assembly.
The Bills and Overtures Committee presented the first of several proposed amendments approved by the General Assembly this past summer for the Presbytery’s vote. The Presbytery voted in favor of Amendment 22-GG, which replaces the current Rules of Discipline with a new Church Discipline section of the Book of Order. Other amendments will be considered at the February 2023 stated meeting.
The meeting offering benefited Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and their important work of supporting long-term recovery after hurricanes this fall.
The Presbytery joined in the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, led by Executive Presbyter Rev. Aisha Brooks-Johnson, Stated Clerk Rev. Andy James, and Pastor of Korean Central Presbyterian Church Rev. Byeong Cheol Han.
Following the meeting, presbyters enjoyed a sumptuous lunch of Korean fusion food provided by our wonderful hosts at Korean Central Presbyterian Church. Many also joined the celebration of the inauguration of the Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo as the 11th President of Columbia Theological Seminary later in the afternoon at Decatur Presbyterian Church.
The next Stated Meeting of the Presbytery will be held in-person at Covington First Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 11, 2022, beginning at 9:00am.
Previous Meeting Highlights and Minutes can be found here.