Many of the clerks of session of Highlands Presbytery gathered by Zoom on October 4 for their annual workshop, led by Stated Clerk Steve Shussett.
For his opening devotion, Steve shared a story he learned over the summer at a World War II reenactment. In certain prison camps, officers, which included chaplains, were separated from the enlisted men. But that didn’t stop them from their ministry. The chaplains would take pieces of paper they had managed to hide, and write their sermon on it, and then wrap the paper around a rock to throw it over the fence to their sheep. After their congregation read the sermon, they would throw rock and paper back to the chaplains so that they would have the other side of the paper for the next week’s sermon.
More specific to the work of the clerk, the chaplains would write down the baptisms and the deaths among the flock, and bury the information in a discarded can on camp grounds. When Liberation Day came, they dug up the cans and shared the information with the men’s families and churches.
The work of a clerk is often unsung, but always important.
The morning was spent reviewing changes to the upcoming 2025 session minute review (taking place in 2026), asking questions of each other, and sharing ideas. The video and accompanying slides will highlight the changes, and share the information for those who missed the event or wish to review it. Plus the form is available, for those who wish to get a jump on it!
As always, if you have any questions about the clerk’s work, including the minute review, don’t hesitate to contact Steve Shussett.
