Presbytery of Elizabeth Executive Presbyter Report

Vision 2014 The Presbytery of Elizabeth, as a community of churches, is experiencing, enjoying, and sharing the love of Christ. We are equipping and engaging our congregations to work together on evangelism and mission.

A Community of Churches From Clinton/Pittstown to Elizabeth to Perth Amboy south along the Raritan River and north along the Watchung Mts. from Summit to Bernardsville 15,087 members 49 “established” (chartered) churches 1 Brazilian New Church Development 1 Hispanic Mission Worship in 7 languages

A Community of Churches Largest Congregation: Westfield—1715 members Smallest Congregation: Greystone—20 members Under 100 members: 12 churches members: 9 churches members: 12 churches members: 3 churches members: 1 church members: 4 churches * Some churches did not submit 2005 reports

Six Churches Reporting Growth Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church* First Presbyterian Church, Cranford* Siloam Hope Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth* Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church Townley Presbyterian Church, Union First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge* * Growth included increase in racial/ethnic persons

Other Racial Ethnic Statistics 18 congregations who reported showed increases in racial ethnic membership The General Assembly Research services reports 25% of our congregations as racial ethnic or multicultural 15 congregations who reported showed decreases in racial ethnic membership Increases in diversity were greater than decreases overall in the presbytery

Percentage of Racial Diversity

Pastors in the Presbytery 41 Churches are served by one pastor (80%) 10 Churches are served by more than one 38 Congregations (75%) have changed permanent pastors in the last 9 years; 15 churches (29%) have transitional ministries until permanent calls are made 60 Pastors serve churches full-time; 5 serve part-time 25 of 125 Pastors are racial ethnic (20%) We have pastors from Korea, Columbia, Brazil, Scotland, Germany, South Africa, and Indonesia

Pastor’s Service Following the Formula for Agreement we had (2006) a Lutheran and have a United Church of Christ pastor serving in our churches, corresponding pastors from the Uniting Church of South Africa and the Nazarenes, plus we presently have two PCUSA pastors serving a Reformed Church and one a United Church of Christ. We have pastors in specialized ministries as military and hospital chaplainries, interfaith and parachurch organizations, a college, and the Board of Pensions of the PCUSA

Congregations Re-direction of Presbytery Mission to resourcing and equipping congregations Emphasis on more partnerships, co-ministry, and relationships Mission-oriented locally and globally Executive Presbyter: Redefined role for congregational emphasis

Our Communities 51 congregations in 38 municipalities 4 Counties:  Union (whole county) – 29 churches  Middlesex (northern part of county)—12 churches  Somerset (northern part of county)—8 churches  Hunterdon (eastern part of county) – 2 churches Presbytery-area Population: 1,764,115 people

Percept 2004

The Word became flesh… “To become located and lodged in a particular fragment of human history, with a particular people, is the only way, God knows, to enter history redemptively.” James E. Dittes Yale Divinity School

God works within the language and culture of those to whom salvation is offered. God uses one’s tribal, cultural, racial, or ancestral identity as legitimate gifts, means of revealing love and justice to the world. All Christians, regardless of color, class, size, or gender are chosen people. They are saved, transformed into communities of praise, and sent forth to share the good news of God’s love with people of all nations. R/E Report

The nation is becoming increasingly multicultural, especially in its urban communities. The Church of Jesus Christ can neither ignore nor avoid responding to this growing national diversity. The challenge to all Christians is to learn how to share the gospel in an increasingly diverse culture, a culture that features a rich variety of languages, music, styles, and modes of worship, ministries, and witness. R/E Report

The reality is that a predominantly Anglo, suburban, and middle class denomination like the Presbyterian Church (USA) must be very intentional in its planning and providing the resources if its going to be serious about attracting a more diverse membership. Racial Ethnic Church Growth Report Adopted by the 211 General Assembly

Question: Can Elizabeth Presbytery become a community of churches who wants the diversity of people in its neighborhoods to experience and enjoy the love of Christ?

Will we do what is necessary to equip and engage our congregations to work together in evangelism and mission so that our neighbors— whomever they be--may experience and enjoy and share with us the love of Christ? That is our Presbytery Vision.

What are we doing toward this? Mission studies and congregational transformation address engaging the local community/population Encouraging outreach to, and inclusion in our congregations, of new immigrant populations Discussing the challenge of being bi-lingual and multi-cultural congregations Assist Anglo congregations making commitments to racial ethnic recruitment Inviting men and women, and of diverse races, to lead our congregations into the 21 st century

What else could we be? Congregations who want to start new PCUSA outreach/churches locally People who want to lead into our communities to share the love of Christ Teams that meet around common ministries and missions and partner with each other to see these succeed faithfully

Stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews “The most important way Scripture can break into our world and invite us into its world is by being read and reread in light of God’s transforming work in human lives. Hebrews, like all Scripture, seeks to turn our attention less to itself as revelatory than to the bodies of men and women in and through which God’s Holy Spirit constantly surprises us with new and powerful witness.” Luke Timothy Johnson Interpretation. A Journal of Bible & Theology July 2003