Task Force 2000 Summary Report

***** Note: ..................................................................................................
This information is outdated. It is available here
as the history behind the year 2000 reorganization
of the Presbytery. *****

Task Force Purpose

In October 1996, Huntingdon Presbytery formed a Task Force, reporting directly to Presbytery as part of the Research and Consultation Department, to lead Presbytery in the following purpose:

To evaluate our present mission structure and staffing patterns;
to more clearly define our Presbytery's long-term and short term mission priorities
and to determine the best structure and staffing pattern to accomplish that mission.

Summary of Process

After gathering information and demographic data about the Presbytery and contracting with the Rev. Jim Cushman as consultant, the Task began this process:

VISION > MISSION > PRIORITIES > STRUCTURE > STAFFING

1. Seek God's vision for Huntingdon Presbytery.
   We recognize that the uniqueness of the vision statement is not in the words themselves but rather if it becomes a guiding force for our Presbytery by what we do in respose to it. Our vision is: "Huntingdon Presbyery: Loved by Jesus Christ, Called to Love All Others."

2. The vision leads to mission.
   If vision is what we see, then mission is what we do to arrive at the vision.
   The mission statement adopted by Huntingdon Presbyery states what we believe God wants us to be doing because we are "loved by Jesus Christ" and "called to love others."

3. The mission statement points us toward our priorities.
   Of all that we can do as part of our mission, our priorities emphasize what we believe God is called us to emphasize now and for the next few years. Our first two Presbytery priorities are to: * Equip and strengthen churches for ministry * Build a sense of connectedness in Presbytery

4. Our mission and our priorities drive our Presbytery structure.
   Our new Presbytery structure, to be fully implemented in the year 2000, seeks to organize the gifts of our members to do the mission and priorities of our Presbytery. The structure attempts to preserve fundamental elements while providing flexibility to respond to changing needs and future priorities. As Jim Cushman reminds us, "the purpose of structure is to enable a Presbytery to do its mission and ministry."

5. By identifying what the new structure needs to function effectively, we propose a staff design.
   Full details of a proposed staff configeration will come in a future separate report.

Presbytery listening, dialog and discussion

The Task Force seeks to discern God's voice through the voices of God's people as well as through prayer, reflection and meetings.

In the past two years, the Task Force has conducted church listening session, minister listening sessions, Presbytery committee listening sessions, Session surveys and discussion groups among members at Stated Meetings of Presbytery.

Recommendations at each stage (vision, mission, priorities, structure) have been presented for discussion and "first reading" at one Presbytery meeting with revisions and a followup vote at the following Presbytery meeting.

At seven Presbytery mettings in the past 15 months (September 1997 through November 1998), the Task Force has given presentations and/or led discurrions averaging 45 minutes to one hour at each Presbytery meeting.

Key Presbytery listening, dialog and discussions ahve included:

• 19 Congregational Listening Forums with Bible reflections held from May--July 1997.
  More than 350 congregations leaders and members from 40 of our 54 churches attended, telling:
  (1) Good things that happened in their church as a result of being part of Presbytery
  (2) Disapointments about being part of Presbytery
  (3) Needs of their particular church
  (4) Two new things they would like Presbytery to do
  (5) How we can change Presbytery from being "them" to being "us"

• 3 Clerby Listening Forums held in June 1997
  A total of 34 ministers attended clergy listening lunches held at the Presbyterian Homes, telling:
  (1) What expectations they had of Presbytery when they came to it
  (2) What resources Presbytery could provide to help congregations and ministers
  (3) How Presbytery could be organized to proved pastoral support
  (4) What Presbytery could do to enhance their continuing education
  (5) What vision they had for Presbytery and how it could become a reality

• 100 Commisioners discuss "Living out God's vision" at November 1997 Stated Meeting
  Some 100 Presbytery commissioners formed small discussion groups to reflect on Romans 12: 1-21 as it applied to the needs of Huntingdon Presbytyery and to consider what 4 or 5 essential things Huntingdon Presbytery must do to live out the vision statement proposed by the Task Force of "being loved by Jesus Christ, Loving Others." (This vision statement later was expanded to be: "Huntingdon Presbytery: Loved by Jesus Christ, Called to Loved All Others.")

• 7 Presbytery Committee Listening Sessions held in December 1997
  Each programmatic, research and administrative committee, the Committee on Ministry and Presbytery Council explored the topics noted above at Presbytery plus discussing:
  (1) What are the most important things your committee does?
  (2) If your Committee did not exist, what would have to be done in some other way or by someone else?

• 100 Commissioners discuss proposed mission statement at January 1998 Stated Meeting
  Responding to a proposed mission statement for the Presbytery offered by the Task Force, some 100 Presbytery commissioners formed discussion groups to explore:
  (1) Does each section of the mission satement reflect who we are and/or who we want to be as a Presbytery
  (2) What would change if we did this?
  (3) What are we letting go if we did this?

• 33 Church Sessions discuss two proposed Presbytery priorities in May 1998
  After Presbytery adopted a vision statement and mission statement at the March 1998 Stated Meeting, the Task Force identified two priorities to help Presbytery focus its energies and resources: * Eduip and strengthen churches for ministry * Build a sense of connectedness
  In May 1998, a total of 33 sessions evaluated and discussed these two proposed priorities. Theiry assessment was reported at the June1998 Stated Meeting.

• 100 Commissioners assess implications of Presbytery priorities at June 1998 Stated Meeting
  After voting to adopt two proposed priorities, some 100 commissioners met in small groups to discuss:
  (1) If we are loved by Jesus Christ and we are called to love all others, what does it mean to be connected as churches?
  (2) If one of your church's major responsibilites is to share your gifts beyond your church, what would it mean and how would you do it?
  (3) If one of your major responsibilites as an elder or minister is to share gifts beyone your church, what would that mean and how would you do it?

• More Presbytery Committee Listening Sessions held in Octover 1998
  Task Force members discussed with Council and with the programmatic committees most affected by the new structure what tasks most needed to be continued and safeguarded in teh reorganization.

Huntingdon Presbytery Actions

Below is a review of the actions at Stated Meetings of Huntingdon Presbytery in 1998.

Depending on God's timing and the guidence of the Holy Spirit, Task Force 2000 hopes its part of this process may be completed by early summer 1999.

Huntingdon Presbytery Vision and Mission Statement

Huntingdon Presbytery Priorities