Congregational Ministries
Congregational Ministries concerns itself specifically with empowering and enlivening the ministry of every congregation of the Presbytery.
2008 Congregational Ministries Grants
Application Deadline: Friday May 23
The Congregational Ministries Committee is accepting grant applications for projects in ways to:
- Equip congregations to discover and expand their call to mission and ministry,
- Identify and empower specific congregations for revitalization or transformation,
- Promote partnerships and linkages between congregations, and to
- support Congregational Leadership, PLUS
- A special opportunity for small churches (fewer than 100 attending Sunday worship) for capital projects.
Grants range in size from $750 to $1000 each. Regardless of your size or circumstance, please consider enriching your church's ministry by applying. We are seeking to be partners in ministry with all of our congregations. Mission contributions by churches to the Presbytery make these grants possible.
Youth Mission Madness
It’s Mission! It’s Madness!
It’s Ministry for Others!
Mission Madness is a “hands-on” mission workday.
Whether it is washing windows, cleaning up a basement or yard, playing with children, visiting the elderly, feeding the hungry, or filing papers, it is done in the spirit of caring.
We do God’s work of sharing and caring while having fun with other Presbyterians
Mission Madness is on Saturday April 26.
Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism
Through a Presbytery Partnership Grant from the Synod of the Northeast, in conjunction with GraceNet, we are rolling out the Real Life Evangelism Series here in the Presbytery of Genesee Valley.
We are looking for 8–10 congregations interested in studying their faith and watching what happens from there. The program involves professional coaching, workshops and regular prayer.
The Congregational Ministries Committee of the Presbytery is looking into New Church Development. Several Presbyters have been meeting to discuss possible options, but are still at the beginning of the process.
This small ministry team is looking for a few people who have energy around evangelism and helping new faith communities get started. Please consider this opportunity and other church leaders and members know about it.
If you know anyone who might be gifted for this ministry, please contact the ministry team. Thank you for your prayerful commitment to this important effort.
Natural Church Development
Training Your Leaders to Develop Healthy, Growing Churches
The Natural Church Development community, based in Germany, includes over 40,000 churches in 60 countries around the world committed to being healthy, growing congregations.
The NCD survey profiles the church’s health in eight key areas of church health, and the NCD resources guides the congregation through a process of increasing the quality of its health, often increasing the quantity of its growth. Visit their website for more information at www.ncd-international.org.
The Congregational Ministries Committee happily supports your efforts to be healthy, growing churches.
Here’s how we can help.
- Churches in our Presbytery may purchase Natural Church Development books at a 40% discount (plus shipping).
- Churches in our Presbytery may order the survey tool through the Presbytery at a reduced rate of $100.
- Churches in our Presbytery are eligible to receive their second follow-up survey free.
To take advantage of these offers or for more information, contact
at 242-0080.
The Committee is working to develop a network of coaches in the Presbytery. Meanwhile, churches who have specific coaching needs should contact Jimmy Reader, NCD Coach and Church Consultant, at 256-3384.
See also:
Program Subcommittee
Presbytery Elder Commissioner Orientation Packet- Helpful material designed to assist new Elder Commissioners in understanding their role.
Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake-
Camp Whitman is a boys and girls Christian summer camp on 117 expansive acres at the shore of Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region of Western New York.
The Presbyteries of Geneva and Genesee Valley have designed a type of camping experience in which ten young people and two counselors live, plan and celebrate together in a family group for a week.
Development Subcommittee
Link2Lead- Link2Lead.com is a web site for pastors and lay leaders that provides the latest demographic information about the community, hands-on tools to better understand and develop your own capabilities and a variety of additional resources to assist you in leading your congregation into the new world of opportunities awaiting us in the 21st century.
- Simply log on to Link2Lead and register as a user at no cost. Follow the instructions on the site and begin a new adventure into the information world that will assist you and the leaders of your church in planning for mission and ministry!
- Mission and Ministry Study Guidelines for Churches
- In the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, there are times during the life of a congregation when a study and the preparation of a Mission and Ministry Study are both necessary and helpful. It is recommended every three to five years and is required to guide the work of a Pastor Nominating Committee.