Presbytery Leader Search

The Presbytery Leader Search Team wants to insure that members of Presbytery are kept as informed as possible regarding this work. In addition to reports at Presbytery meetings updates on the process will be posted at least monthly. Watch for these updates.

The first search team meeting was held on April 15th, and there have been three additional meetings since then. Please keep the Presbytery Leader Search Team in your prayers and in the prayers of your churches in the weeks and months to come.

Church Information Form (CIF) for the Presbytery Leader position

Update: September 2

The Presbytery Leader Search Team is moving along in its process of seeking a new Presbytery Leader.

While we have received and reviewed many PIFs and resumes from a number of clearly gifted people, we have decided to extend the deadline for receiving applications in order to make certain that we select the most qualified person possible.

So, we once again appeal to you to consider whether you might know of someone with skills and qualities outlined in our CIF. If you do, please send that person’s name to anyone on the Search Team.

And as always, please keep the Search Team and all of the candidates who have indicated their interest in leading this presbytery in your prayers.

Yours in Christ,

Presbytery Leader Search Team (plsearchteam@gmail.com)

Rev. Roula Alkhouri (Batavia, First)
Elder Cathy Foerster (CLP serving Dansville)
Elder Lyle Lehman (Geneseo Central)
Rev. Kathy Madigan, Search Team Chair (Honorably Retired)
Elder Kay Van Nostrand, Presbytery Moderator (Lyndonville)
Rev. John Wilkinson (Third)

Rationale for Presbytery’s Staff Design

Our vision is to Know Christ, Live Christ and Share Christ. We look to the staff of our Presbytery to work with us in giving life to this vision. Therefore, the staff of our Presbytery is to live this vision through their own personal experience with the Risen Christ and their own sense of call to serve the Church of Jesus Christ. But they cannot do it alone, nor are they the “Presbytery”. We, the pastors and congregations, are the “Presbytery”. It is our duty, right and responsibility through our committees, task forces, ministry teams, administrative commissions, stated meetings and gatherings to be the Presbytery of Genesee Valley.

As we fulfill our callings to be followers of Christ and to live those calls through our congregations and Presbytery, we engage our Presbytery staff to assist us by providing focus and resources. We look to them to fulfill their call to serve Jesus Christ by inspiring, informing, advising and challenging us in our ministries and missions. However, they are not expected to do our ministries. We are to do them. Working with our Presbytery staff we seek to create the strong, vital, growing churches we envision for our Presbytery, and to reach out to our communities and the world in Christ centered mission.

Given what we require of our Presbytery staff they are to be as efficient, effective and accessible as possible while they seek to serve with intelligence, energy, imagination and love. The following is designed to achieve that purpose.

Presbytery Leader—full time
Presbyter for Mission and Education—full time
Presbyter for Pastoral Support and Development—15 hours/week

Design of the Leadership Model

At our Presbytery meeting on March 27, 2010, we unanimously approved a new and dynamic leadership design for the Presbytery of Genesee Valley. As we have journeyed through the process of identifying a new approach to leadership for our presbytery, we, as your Council and Design ministry team, have tried to be as transparent and responsive to you, the members of our presbytery. At this time we thought it might be helpful to provide you with an update and estimated time line for the implementation of our new leadership design.

We continue to be available to answer any questions and concerns that you might have as we move forward. The relationships with the members of the presbytery as we have processed this design have been open and forthcoming with valuable suggestions, which have been greatly appreciated.

May our open and transparent communications continue as we look forward to a dynamic new direction to serve Jesus Christ and further the work of the Church through the Presbytery of Genesee Valley.

The Presbytery Leader Search Committee held its first meeting April 15th. They will continue to meet weekly and will keep the Presbytery advised of their progress.

Our General Presbyter, Linda Badger Becker, will conclude her work with this Presbytery on July 31. As she has vacation/study leave time remaining and will be attending the 219th General Assembly, her last day in the office will be June 30th.
The Acting Presbytery Leader Search Team expects to have identified a candidate and, with Council approval, have that person in place as of July 1.
The Acting Presbytery Leader will serve a six-month contract with the possibility of an extension, if needed, to coordinate with the arrival of a new Presbytery Leader. This person will operate on a modified version of the Presbytery Leader’s job description.
Susan Orr, Coordinator for Educational Resources, will transition to the full-time position of Presbyter for Mission and Education as of September 1, 2010.
Beth Streuver, Presbyter for Pastoral Care, will remain in her current position until the end of her contract on December 31, 2010. A search committee will be formed for filling the new position of Presbyter for Pastoral Support and Development prior to that date. Beth has indicated that she does not wish to be a candidate for this new position.

Applications

Personal Information Forms may be sent to plsearchteam@gmail.com.