Presbytery Meeting Summary – November 12, 2024
The last Stated Meeting in 2024 for the Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey took place on November 12 at 7pm via Zoom. It was a memorable evening, especially the new and continuing signs of God’s grace among us.
Following “Pastors in New Roles,” always a hopeful time of seeing new faces in familiar places, the Presbytery shared in one of its most joyful responsibilities. In September, Sanctuary & Seed was authorized as a New Church Development. At the meeting later, Lissette González Sosa was examined and approved for ordination, to serve as the Executive Director and “Wild Seed Pastor” at that same Sanctuary & Seed! Until her ordination she is a member La Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana Bet-el in Vineland, NJ, and under care of the Presbytery for Southern New Jersey, but it won’t be long until we welcome her as a colleague in ministry in Highlands Presbytery.
Worship was woven throughout the meeting, led by the Revs. Nancy Young (Branchville), Steve Shussett, and Mary Beth Mardis-Lecroy (Old Greenwich), each providing times of quiet and reflection. The text of the day, Romans 12:1-6, was the focus of Dwelling in the Word, as we continued our year-long consideration of our God-given gifts and how we are called to use them. This was a message continued by outgoing moderator Ruling Elder Sue Cail (Ringwood) in her closing comments.
A moment both poignant and full of promise came as the Rev. Sarah Cairatti (Whippany), Moderator of the Administrative Commission of the First Presbyterian Church of Hanover, brought to the assembly a motion for the sale of Hanover’s parish house and manse to East Hanover Township.
After celebrating what was and anticipating what we hope will be, God at work in the present took center stage. This meeting’s installment of Sharing Our Stories featured the Andover Presbyterian Church in a video hosted by church member Sandra Wozniak. Sandra shared that despite their size, the outreach of this “Small Church with a Big Heart” has only increased, thanks to partnerships with other community services and volunteers from the Church and beyond. Andover has a food pantry and thrift shop, and provides holiday gifts and school supplies, including a key role in the donation of over 100 tablets to area students.
Seeing how God was, is, and will be at work was a natural segue to providing those in attendance with what their congregation could be doing. Rev. Nick Hatch (Alexandria) may have provided the needed spark as he spoke on behalf of the Church Development Team and the Presbytery’s “Who is My Neighbor?” grant program. Those interested can contact Steve Shussett for a free MissionInsite demographic study, thanks to Presbytery underwriting. With those results, follow the “Who is My Neighbor?” program and get a $1000 grant from the Presbytery to make your new vision happen!
The Administration and Coordinating Team report, presented primarily by Ruling Elder Pete Peterson (Clinton), included several significant elements. The 2025 budget was adopted with few changes from its first reading, and the dates for the year’s Presbytery Meetings were shared. In accordance with the recent Book of Order mandate that every council (session, presbytery, synod, and General Assembly) Highland Presbytery’s Anti-Racism Policy was approved and those assembled were reminded of Larissa Kwong Abazia’s recent presentation to help congregations draft their own. The video of that presentation can be found here. Finally, Rev. David Harvey (Blairstown) presented the Personnel Team’s recommendation that Steve Shussett’s contract as resource staff be renewed, and that he be elected as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Highlands for a second three year term, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027. This motion carried.
The November meeting of Highlands Presbytery marks a major turning point annually, as the Nominating Committee presents its slate for the upcoming year. While celebrating the contributions of so many committee members whose terms are concluding, it is also a time to vote and pray for those who will participating in the ministry of the Presbytery for years to come. While many were voted into new or continuing roles, there are still vacancies for which new members are being sought. If you feel called to participate in the life of Highlands Presbytery, please contact the Presbytery Office.
New participation at the committee level is not the only turning point of the November meeting. The outgoing moderator received thanks throughout the meeting for the gifts and leadership she has demonstrated over the year. Even so, she had one final stated responsibility to complete: presiding over the installation of the Rev. Chad Rodgers as Moderator and the Rev. Ryon Herin as Vice-Moderator of the Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey. The last stated meeting of the year ended with prayer for the leadership that will guide the Presbytery into the new year.
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Pastors in New Roles
Rev. Carol Howard,
Covenant Supply Pastor, Presbyterian Church of Madison
Rev. Pamela Osborne, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of the Stanhope and Andover Presbyterian Churches
Rev. William “Tex” Culton,
Interim Pastor, Lower Valley Presbyterian Church, Califon
Rev. Tom Brown
Pastor, Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township
Preaching God’s Word in the World
Everyone has at least one good sermon in them —and there are people eager to hear God’s Word through you!
Preaching God’s Word in the World is a weekly class for any ruling elder who has thought they had a sermon in them. Or who thought, “That was a good sermon, but I heard something different.” You’ll be ready to preach at your church if needed – and maybe another church as well!
For more information, or to register for this exciting opportunity, contact Steve Shussett
Highlands Presbytery is forming a delegation to attend the national Presbyterian Youth Triennium!
Talk with your high school youth about this life-impacting event. We will provide bus transportation departing for Louisville KY on Sunday evening, July 27th and returning late Thursday night, July 31st .
The estimated cost for each participant to attend is $500, thanks to financial support from the Presbytery of the Highlands.
Official registration will open early in 2025. For now, we are gathering names of youth and adult chaperones who are interested in attending Triennium. There will be room on the bus for approximately 16 youth and 2 chaperones from the Presbytery of the Highlands. So talk it up!
Since changes to the Book of Order required boundary training for session members, the Presbytery has been seeking a way to meet this important requirement in a way that for your church is both easily accessible and financially feasible.
Thanks to our new partnership with MinistrySafe, your church can set up a free account that is usually $400 annually. This provides access to boundary training for session members and others for whom your congregation requires it, background checks, and tracking all participants.
2025 Stated Meetings
March 11, 7PM, Zoom
May 13, Time TBD, Hybrid
September 9, Time TBD, Hybrid
November 11, 7PM, Zoom
General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission
In the case of the Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey versus the Rev. Ryan Irmer, the Presbytery received the Decision of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, dated October 20, 2024.
While previous Decisions of the Synod Permanent Judicial Commission were upheld, the GAPJC did render a significant Decision in favor of the Presbytery’s position.
The Clergy Care Fund
The Clergy Care Fund assists pastors in times of crisis and emergency. Gifts may be given
online by
- using the QR Code below
- going to the Highlands Presbytery website here
- texting “PRESBY Meeting” to 73256
or sending a check to Presbytery of the Highlands, 390 Route 10 West, Randolph, NJ 07869, and putting “Clergy Care Fund” in the Memo Line.
