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REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK AND EXECUTIVE241ST SYNOD OF THE MID-ATLANTIC

March 12-13, 2018

Welcome: Ruth Brown – Mission Co-Worker; Sy Hughes – PMA Engagement

Excuses: Ruling Elder Ed Terry – BAL

Omnibus Motion: On Tuesday Morning, during Plenary Four, the Assembly will address an OmnibusMotion or Consent Agenda. If any Commissioner wishes to remove an item from this motion, please letthe Clerk know by noon today.

Communications: The Stated Clerk’s Office communicated with stated clerks and presbytery executivesconcerning the per capita updates, the need to fill vacant commissioners and synod committee spotsand to encourage presbyteries and churches to apply for Synod Peacemaking Funds.

Two ReferralsKate B. Reynolds– The KBRT Certification Committees submits amended guidelines for synod action. Asthe Trustees, Wells Fargo Bank, Legal Department has reviewed the edit without objection. Additionalupdates will be done to the guidelines with the assistance of a lawyer. This matter was referred to theAdministration Committee.

Massanetta Springs Camps and Conference Center has submitted its Articles of Incorporation for actionby the Assembly. Massanetta’s Board of Trustees approved a change to its Articles of Incorporation andnow needs the approval of the synod as indicated in its By Laws. The matter was referred toAdministration.

Compliances - Presbyteries have been extra slow in providing synod commissioners who are to begintheir term in 2018. Their inaction has impacted the office and the nominating committee’s ability toassign Designated Committees members. The following presbyteries are out of compliance with thesynod Standing Rules and the clerks of each presbytery will be notified of such:

NAT has provided two ruling elders instead of one teaching and one ruling elder

NHO has provided two teaching elders instead of one teaching and one ruling elder

PEA has provided two teaching elders instead of one teaching and one ruling elder

SAL has provided only one commissioner. A second commissioner will be forthcoming aftertheir March Presbytery Meeting

Per Capita – All but one presbytery completed 2017 per capita giving. Peaks Presbytery adopted a policyseveral years ago prohibiting it from paying per capita for churches who requested that no per capita besent to the synod and general assembly. The Synod Stated Clerk has discussed this matter with PeaksTransitional General Presbyter who is researching it further. The Book of Order G-3.0106 offersguidance on per capita. "Each council above the session shall prepare a budget for its operatingexpenses, including administrative personnel, and may fund it with a per capita apportionment amongthe particular congregations within its bounds. Presbyteries are responsible for raising their own fundsand for raising and timely transmission of per capita funds to their respective synods and the GeneralAssembly. Presbyteries may direct per capita apportionments to sessions within their bounds, but in nocase shall the authority of the session to direct its benevolences be compromised." The synod is gratefulto each presbytery for meeting its commitment. Synod Per capita for 2018 is $ .85.

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Minutes Review – Copies of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Minutes and Records from the 2016 and 2017Stated Meetings have been submitted for General Assembly review. The Synod Stated Clerks will meetMarch 5-7, 2018 in Dallas Texas to complete the review.

Leadership in Transition - The Synod contains 14 presbyteries. Between mid-2017 thru the end of 2018,nearly 80% of presbytery leaders will or would have retired or relocated to new calls.

1. Abingdon Presbytery – Vacant since 20162. Atlantic Korean American Presbytery – The Rev. David Kang was elected Executive/Stated Clerk

and began service January 1st

3. Baltimore Presbytery – The Rev. Jackie Taylor is entering the second year of service4. Charlotte Presbytery – The Rev. Jan Edminston will begin service May 1st. The Rev. Betty

Meadows is retiring in March5. Coastal Carolina Presbytery – The Rev. Bill Reinhold is retiring in October. A Search Committee

is at work6. Eastern Virginia Presbytery – The Rev. Liza Hendrix is entering her fifth year of service7. James Presbytery – The Rev. Carson Rhyne is retiring at the end the year8. National Capital Presbytery – The Rev. Wilson Gunn will retire by the end of the year9. New Castle Presbytery – The Rev. Jessica MacMillan will be elected the Connectional Presbyter

in March. They continue the search for a Missional Presbyter. Jim Moseley will move to a newcall

10. New Hope Presbytery – The Rev. Ted Churn is entering his sixth or seventh year of service11. Peaks Presbytery – The Rev. Carl Utley began service as Transitional General Presbyter in May

201712. Salem Presbytery – The Rev. Steven Scott will begin service as the Transitional General Presbyter

March 1st

13. Shenandoah Presbytery – The Rev. Bronwen Boswell began service in October 201714. Western NC Presbytery – The Rev. Bobbi White will retire at the end of the year

Office of the General Assembly – Stated Clerk James Herbert Nelson II was hosted by the North CarolinaPresbyteries for a day of fellowship, conversations and lunch. Salem Presbytery took the lead withrepresentatives of both clergy and laity from Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, New Hope and Western NC.

AKAP – Concerns continue to be expressed about the life, health and vitality of the ministry of theAtlantic Korean American Presbytery. There are two Judicial Complaints before the Synod PermanentJudicial Commission which will go to trial possibly in April. Work of SPJC was halted in 2017 because ofcivil court charges being filed by the complainant and respondent. At least one additional civil chargewas filed in Maryland District Court in December or January. Consultations have been held with KoreanStaff from the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Office of the General Assembly and the Director of theNational Korean Caucus. Recently, members of the Synod Executive Committee met via ZoomConference Call with the Synod Stated Clerk and Executive of Southern California and Hawaii to share itsconcerns and to discuss possible ways to move forward. A few more consultations will be held whichwill include leadership in AKAP in order to help the synod determine the best way to address the needsand state of AKAP. The Executive Committee will provide an update during its reporting time.

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The Stated Clerk/Synod Executive has been involved in Ecumenical Service and has assisted at otherlevels of the PCUSA. Those activities include:

In collaboration with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, he signed a letteracknowledging that more than 240,000 working Virginians make too much to qualify forMedicaid, but too little to afford health coverage, yet they need health coverage. The VirginiaHouse Appropriations Committee unveiled its budget, which includes tapping the federalMedicaid dollars to expand health care. We recognize that the proposal outlined by SpeakerCox and Appropriations Committee Chair Jones is the result of much work and negotiationbetween the House leadership, the Governor and many long-time champions of Medicaidexpansion. As the Speaker’s press release says, “This budget includes a responsible path toincreasing healthcare funding for low-income Virginians while ensuring long-sought andconservative reforms to Medicaid.” We want to thank everyone involved.

Warren was one of eight presenters during the June 11 News Conference sponsored by theVICPP. Speakers represented the Episcopal Diocese of VA, VA Annual Conf of the UnitedMethodist, General Baptist Convention, VA Catholic Conference, The Islamic Center of VA, theJewish Community and the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic.

Through the Virginia Council of Churches I sit on the General Minister’s Search Committeecharged with finding an abled candidate to follow the very accomplished tenure of retiringGeneral Minister, the Rev. Dr. Jon Barton, who will retire in June 2018 after serving the councilfaithfully and effectively.

The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board approved the nominations of Joe Morrow to theposition of chair and Warren Lesane to the position of chair-elect for the 2018–20 term. Theywill take office at the conclusion of the General Assembly in June. Warren will serve as vice chairfor 2018–20, and then become chair following the 224th General Assembly (2020).

The Stated Clerk concluded work on the Virginia Council to Bridge the Nutritional Divide. BishopJames Mauney, retired Bishop of the Virginia Synod of the ELCA, and I represented the VirginiaCouncil of Churches on the Governors Council. It was chaired by the former First Lady ofVirginia, Dorothy S. McAuliffe. Accomplishments of the Council are attached.

Signed on to a joint statement issued by the National Council of Churches and the World Councilof Churches grieving the lives in the mass shooting that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada onOctober 1, 2017.

Campus Ministry Gathering - John Rogers coordinated 13 campus ministers and campus ministry boardmembers who gathered for 24 hour of conversations on visioning and best practices. Ministries andpersons present included John Rogers-Campus Minister at UNC Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC; DonBoulton - Board President and retired Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UNC Chapel Hill in ChapelHill, NC; Shannon Waite- Campus Minister at The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA;Katie Todd- Campus Minister at UKirk Greensboro, NC; Molly Roach- Campus Minister at VCU inRichmond, VA; Shelly Barrick Parsons- Campus Minister at WVU in Morgantown, WV; Nona Holy-Campus Minister at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE; Steve Cheyney- Campus Minister at UNCCharlotte in Charlotte, NC; Holly Ulmer- Campus Minister at the University of Maryland in College Park,MD; Ethel Hornbeck- Campus Minister at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV; Ashley-AnneMasters- Campus Minister at Raleigh Presbyterian Campus Ministry in Raleigh, NC; Ina Siler- previousboard member at Faith Point Fellowship in Greensboro, NC (serving Bennett College for Women andNorth Carolina State A&T University); and Warren Lesane- Synod Executive for the Synod of the MidAtlantic Richmond; Jess Cook and Claire George Drumheller-Davidson College Presbyterian CampusMinistry.

Highlights from the February 2018 Presbyterian Mission AgencyBoard meeting to help you share the good news of the Mission

Agency.

Governance Task ForceThe PMAB approved the Governance Task Force’s recommendations to send a newManual of Operations and Organization for Mission to the General Assembly for approval.There were some amendments: adding two ecumenical advisory members to the PMAB ascorresponding members, and continuing deployment of Board members to the GeneralAssembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations (GACEIR). The sectionsregarding Board Operations, Staff Operations and Relationships with Other Bodies do notrequire General Assembly action, and they will come back to the Board for approval inApril.

Per CapitaThe PMAB voted to approve an increase in per capita funding and forward it to beconsidered by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly 223 (2018) this summerin St. Louis. This would increase the per capita from the current $7.73 to $10.71 in 2019and $11.45 in 2020, and provide funding for additional Board meetings as approved in theGovernance Task Force recommendations.

Way ForwardDiscussion was held with Mark Hostetter, moderator of the Way Forward Commission,about the group’s expected proposals and specifically the removal of the A Corp from thePresbyterian Mission Agency’s responsibilities. PMAB member Joe Morrow engagedHostetter in a question-and-answer session to learn more about how the Way ForwardCommission sees the process being implemented.

Governance Task Force co-chairs Conrad Rocha and Melinda Sanders presented a list offive options set before the PMAB:

Do Nothing — PMAB should be passive and let GA process run its course

Stay the Course — PMAB should ask GA to give time for its own internal reforms tobear fruit rather than implementing additional change at this point

Collaborate with Way Forward/All Agency Review on a proposal that addressesPMAB concerns

Seek a separate outcome through PMAB/COGA conversations

Ask GA to deliver PMA as a separate mission-focused corporation

After discussion the Board decided to continue to pursue each of the options, and to bringa recommendation to a specially called meeting of the Board on Friday, Feb. 16.

Personnel and Nominating CommitteeThe Board approved the nominations of Joe Morrow to theposition of chair and Warren Lesane to the position of chair-elect for the 2018–20 term. They will take office at theconclusion of the General Assembly in June. Warren willserve as vice chair for 2018–20, and then become chairfollowing the 224th General Assembly (2020).

Program and Administrative Committee leadershipnominations were approved as follows:

Audit — Sinthia Hernandez-Diaz

Personnel and Nominating — Mark Brainerd

Property/Legal — Melinda Sanders

Resource Allocation and Stewardship — Conrad Rocha

Nurture the Body — Patsy Smith

Outreach to the World — Shannan Vance-Ocampo

These individuals will also take office following the General Assembly session in June. Arecommendation was approved to rename the Executive Committee of the PMAB to theCoordinating Committee, in keeping with its role of coordinating the activities of the othercommittees. Gina Meester was appointed to the Mission Responsibility Through Investment(MRTI) Committee for a four-year term. The Board approved a 3 percent salary increase pool forthe staff of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, effective April 1, 2018, with a standard percentage of3 percent and a 0 percentage merit increase pool, contingent on year-end results and their impacton budgets.

Resource Allocation and Stewardship Program CommitteeIn September 2017, the PMAB approved the transfer of PMA’s Congregational MinistriesPublishing (CMP) to the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC). At this meeting, grants derivedfrom funds being managed by the Foundation that were earmarked for Christian Education andnot currently being used were approved with allocations for 2018, 2019 and 2020 to completeand ensure the efficient transfer of personnel and assets required for PPC to assume the functionsof CMP.

Nurture the Body Program CommitteeThe PMAB approved the Presbyterian Intercultural Network (PIN) resolution on Declaring anImperative for the Reformation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in being a TransformativeChurch in This Intercultural Era for submission to the 223rd General Assembly (2018) and requestthat staff incorporate in the resolution previously approved Presbyterian Mission Agency Boardactions, such as the recommendations of the Belhar and World Mission InterculturalCompetencies Ministerial Teams, as appropriate, in consultation with these ministerial teamchairs.

They also recommended that the General Assembly affirm the continued institutional relationshipwith Presbyterian Women, and to recognize and affirm the list of Presbyterian-related racial-ethnicschools. The committee also presented the Women of Faith Award nominees to be forwarded toGeneral Assembly 223.

Outreach to the World Program CommitteeThe Outreach to the World Program Committee approved recommendations to the GeneralAssembly from Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) that included affirming the needfor urgent and robust responses to the threat of climate change, a report on MRTI’s engagementswith companies in the past two years and affirming guideline metrics to measure progress withcorporations.

Stony PointThe Stony Point Sustainability Task Force provided a progress report,which revealed that Stony Point’s “hospitality, interfaith and justiceministries are sustainable on an operational basis.” At the April 2018meeting, the board will be asked to work through a series of fundingquestions to determine next steps.

Power and Privilege Ministerial TeamThe PMAB approved recommendations from the Power and Privilege Ministerial Team to ensuretraining opportunities at each Board meeting, continue with an ongoing Power and PrivilegeWorking Group to work in collaboration with Advocacy Committees to develop criteria andbenchmarks for evaluation, and create reporting mechanisms through the Executive Director or hisor her designee at each Board meeting.

Mission Work PlanA proposal for the PMA Mission Work Plan was approved by the executive committee, with a focuson vital congregations, poverty, and systemic racism and white privilege for the 2019–20 period. Itwill provide the framework for budget development. In April a budget will be approved, and boththe budget and the Mission Work Plan will be forwarded to GA for adoption.

Thank You for Your Support$1,209 was received during the opening worship to support One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Dates:April 25–27 — Board Meeting: CincinnatiJune 16–23 — 223rd General Assembly: St. LouisSept. 26–29 — Board Meeting: Louisville, Kentucky

“A recent Hospital Association poll showed that 83 percent of Virginia voters support Medicaid expansion. I suspect if you polled people of faith – especially those active in their churches, synagogues and mosques – the support would be even higher. Why? We love our neighbors. ... We believe Medicaid expansion is an opportunity and we have a great chance to make it happen this year.” – Ms. Kim Bobo, Executive Director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

“Deuteronomy 22:3 says that if you find anything that someone has lost and you have found, you are obligated to return it. Jewish tradition has interpreted that verse to apply to health as well. We are obligated as a society, because you and I have coverage, to help return that lost item to those who are entitled to it rightfully and humanly. And this is the hour and this is the moment.” – Rabbi Gary Creditor, Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Beth El in Richmond

“I stand today unapologetically and unashamedly advocating for the poor, the marginalized and all of God’s children asking the legislature to vote for full Medicaid expansion in the state of Virginia. God calls on us to do justice, to love mercy and walk humbly with our God. Expanding access to healthcare is a moral imperative. It will improve the quality of life for everyone.” – The Rev. Warren LeSane, Executive and Stated Clerk of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic of the Presbyterian Church

“Traveling around to our 1,079 churches, many of which have healthcare ministries, we see first-hand the challenge that people have. We find people working two or three jobs who still cannot afford health insurance. ... We realize that there is a great need to expand healthcare. There is no reason not to do it. We hope that our legislators will realize that they can do this, should do this which in many ways would be a core value to us, to proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord..” – The Rev. Eli Burke, Baptist General Convention of Virginia

“Genuine healthcare protects and heals these lives, each created in the likeness and image of God, each possessing a human dignity that cannot be measured. At its core, healthcare is for all, not a commodity that is within reach for some and out of reach for others. Virginia’s law-makers should seize the opportunity they have this year to close the coverage gap and affirm what healthcare truly is: not a privilege, but a right.” – Mr. Jeff Caruso, Executive Director of the Virginia Catholic Conference

“The Muslim community of Virginia believes that healthcare is an essential, basic human right. It’s not a matter of charity to extend healthcare to people who do not have it, it is an act of human decency. It reflects on our mortal status as citizens of Virginia. Having a healthy population is essential to every one of us. It’s a matter of faith. I urge all of our legislators to look seriously at this issue which will bring a new life and a new meaning and purpose to Virginia.” – Imam Ammar Amonette is the Imam of The Islamic Center of Virginia

“It’s not a matter of politics, but a matter of faith, morality and conscience. Few times with-in a person’s life is an individual are presented with the opportunity to do something for the common good. To take an action that will so positively affect the lives of tens of thousands of people. … This is one of those times.” – The Rev. Tom Joyce, Assistant to the Bishop of the Virginia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

“Jesus’ commitment was so strong that at times he broke religious laws in order to give the gift of health. He particularly healed men, women and children who were poor and had no other chance to find healing. ... Closing the gap will cost the Commonwealth relatively little. It has the potential to bring jobs to the Commonwealth, to save hospitals in small commu-nities and to help us better address the horrific opioid epidemic in Virginia.” – The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff is Bishop Suffragan for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Virginia faith leaders comment on healthcare expansionat a Jan. 11 news conference sponsored by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

A Joint Statement by the World Council of Churchesand the National Council of the Churches of Christ inthe USA

WASHINGTON and GENEVA: The World Council of Churches and the National Council ofChurches of Christ in the USA grieves with the families of those who lost their lives in the massshooting that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the night of October 1, 2017. We pray forthose whose lives have been shattered by this senseless act and lift up those who will berecovering years to come.

We find ourselves again in shocked disbelief that so many people have been killed and injuredby a lone gunman with an array of powerful weapons, with 58 people killed and more than 500injured in Sunday night's attack on a crowd of concert-goers.

Just fifteen months ago, the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting was referred to as “the worstmass shooting in our nation’s history.” Today’s news of an act that brings an even higher deathtoll is indeed devastating.

“I have been watching the news out of Las Vegas and have been praying for the victims andtheir families,” remarked Jim Winkler, General Secretary and President of the National Councilof Churches (USA). “I cannot imagine why anyone would carry out such an act nor why it wouldbe legal for ordinary citizens to own such lethal weapons. May we unite as a nation to ensuresuch terrible acts do not take place again.”

"We are again shocked and saddened by this latest act of brutal violence. Any violence destroyshuman lives, but nobody is born to be violent,” stated Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, GeneralSecretary of the World Council of Churches. “This tragedy calls for empathy and prayers, butalso more efforts to build quality of relations of justice and peace, so that we may have life andlife in abundance. As churches, we have a shared responsibility to work for a culture ofnonviolence in all societies.”

We do not believe the presence of more weapons will prevent future tragedies like this one inLas Vegas and others in Newtown, Orlando, and countless other places, from taking place. Wecall upon the U.S. Congress to enact common-sense legislation banning assault weapons andhigh-capacity magazines. We recommit ourselves to working for a society in which acts ofviolence like these are unheard of, and that people can live, work, and enjoy restorative timewithout fear.

View the statement at our website.