the following is a bullet by bullet account of the Presbytery of Northern Plains meeting Feb 5-6.

• the meeting has been called to order; the host congregation has welcomed us to First Pres Grand Forks
• agenda change: presentation by Presbyterian Clearwater Forest tomorrow
• silent auction for Chogoria Partnership Ministry Team, our partners in Africa
• Report by Interim Executive Presbyter, Steve Minnema –>  really pushing upcoming CLP training event on Presbyterian stuff.  Also good for non-PC(USA) folk serving our churches
• fascinating: First Pres of Colgate granted permission to dispose of old building in any way they can. valued at $0.  no discussion.  property in these parts is very different than others.
• over $6,000 given to Haiti relief in memory of former EP, Arabella Meadows-Rogers
• wow, love this. several churches owe the presbytery on loans.  e.g. First Pres Minot borrowed $1500 in…the year 1913!
• discussion on-going about churches withholding per capita. 2009 total is $55,000 or so.  not good, not bad comparatively?  the big question seems to be why people are withholding, or do they just not have the ability to pay?  [wow, i just asked if we knew why any were withholding.  nobody knew any reasons.  we're working on it, which is dandy.]
• Council Report–lots of changes to bylaws and junk.  just approved putting a lot more presbytery info — manual and such — online. passed. cool.
• Beginning Planning/Visioning Process led by our interim EP.  Title: Renewing Our Vision/Discerning our Priorities. Our vision, btw, is to be: “A vibrant, informed, Presbyterian community which nourishes ministry and joins in Christ’s mission.”  /  starting w/ scripture — good idea, steve

Renewing Our Vision/Discerning our Priorities process:

• beginning questions: what tempts you to lose heart and what helps you not lose heart?
• four speakers presenting statements on our presbytery vision statement.
• small groups with discussion.  someone says specifically that we do not nurture well.  i totally agree — have had very little support from presbytery so far
• nice break w/ really tasty cookies and fruit.  thanks FPC Grand Forks!
• priorities in this order: 1) discern priorities, 2) utilize gifts, 3) re-organize presbytery and all the time 4) engage congregations in the process.
• shout out to technology and how there’s a need for educating our leaders as to how to use it for mission
• some great small group discussion and good visioning; people really seem to want to work together and study with one another rather than presbytery just being about procedure
• gotta take off early before discussion of overture; update tomorrow…

Sat Morning Session:

• Prior to gavel at 8:30 a.m. I’ve had lots of curious comments about technology this meeting. there seems to be a huge interest by presbyters in how they might use it in their churches.  there’s lots of challenges re access, but it’s also a hopeful sign i think.  overall, the meeting yesterday allowed us some really good discussion and planning in small groups.  hopes the positive vibe continues today.
• starting 10 mins late — glad to see that it’s not just the meetings I run in Hallock
• agenda time for free for all sharing of “good news”
• Doug Kelly from the Board of Pensions is making a report; our plan is still 100% funded which is pretty crazy good compared to what’s going on out there.
• announcement that the overture on Genetically Engineered Food failed last night
• COM moves that Trained Lay Pastors be given voice at all presbytery meetings (can’t be given vote as well, though some had hoped.)
• COM report approved; my pet peeve — how we introduce new pastors who are called to the presbytery.  i wish we could have a bio and faith statement in the packet, plus an email announcement before. a new pastor joined the presbytery since last meeting and we know nothing about him, our new presbyter Rick Kargard
• Committee on Prep for Min report: Paul an inquirer is up to become a candidate; great statement on his call to ministry!  taking some questions on his call journey and experience at Dubuque Seminary. nice break to talk about the PC(USA) call process and breaking down of the steps towards ordained ministry. thanks madam moderator for slowing us down in a really helpful way. passed. congrats Doug.
• Committee on Nominations report: several nominated and elected to COM, and Comm on Nom, Clearwater Forest Board slot not quite filled yet
• Presbyterian Clearwater Forest report. lots of cool camp pictures of life without snow. the adult sea kayak camps on lake superior look really cool. lots of great opportunities for youth, and even a Grands Camp for seniors. awesome lake opportunities, high ropes course, great stuff.  Awesome: they have a building called The Hermitage that is free for church workers to use as a personal retreat.  sounds awesome.
• Self Development of People report. Doing some great stuff w/ grants for the Immigrant Development Center in Fargo-Moorehead (w/ growing immigrant community). Powerful speaker on the projects–gardening for sustainability, entrepreneurs training, business idea support project.  presentation of $15K grant to this project from national office, I think. [Wow, I'm sort of a PCUSA junkie but have never heard of Self Development of People and its national projects. curious.]
• plug for General Assembly 219 in Minneapolis. Want us to be volunteers and, if do so officially, you seem to work for 2 hours a day then get a name tag and several other perks. curious.  hope the GA website gets some major work. a little quirky at the moment. oh, and what’s the hashtag for GA219?
• report from Chogoria Partnership Ministry Team — hoping to bring six from the Chogoria presbytery (that’s in Kenya, btw) to visit our presbytery in the fall,  planning “major cooperative mission project” for the poorest in the Chogoria area in 2011. good hopeful report.
• Youth Connection Report:  Spring Youth Retreat April 9-11, Triennium July 19-26 hoping for 2 youth from each congregation.
• dun dun dun:  Belfield Church has been closed as of Dec 20, 2009.  Sadness, but looks like they made some really generous financial decisions. we voted to dismiss the closing commission, but i wonder if we needed to do so.  Doesn’t a commission just automatically disappear after its work is done?  As opposed to a committee?
• Synod Report: gave $14K of synod peacemaking offering funds to water pump project in Haiti.
• closing worship service and installation of new officers. ahead of schedule! adjourn w/ worship and such.