Presbytery Meetings
A Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Columbian Presbyterian Church, corner of Route 11 and Route 20, LaFayette. Registration and fellowship will begin at 9 a.m.
Requests to be excused should be sent to the Stated Clerk (statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org) by Friday, November 15, 2024.
Please read all supporting documents prior to the meeting. We look forward to a productive time together!
A copy of the Guide for Commissioners can be found here: https://bit.ly/GuideForCommissionersPCS
Papers for this meeting can be found below:
September 16, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Committee on Representation Meeting Notes
Additional Papers will be available soon.
A special presbytery meeting was held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024 on Zoom
The highlight of the meeting was the examination of Elder Dr. Shavonn Lynch for ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on September 15, 2024. This was unanimously approved! Congratulations on the next step, Shavonn! “What a good day for the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse!!
The meeting also featured the Commission of the Commissioners to the 226th General Assembly:
Marissa Saunders
Ruling Elder
Park Central Presbyterian
Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
Minister of the Word and Sacrament
Scipioville Presbyterian Church
The meeting lasted just under 1 hour. See papers below for more details:
Papers from the meeting can be found below:
Docket
January 22, 2024 Minutes
February 29. 2024 Minutes
May 6, 2024 Minutes
May 18, 2024 Minutes
Statement of Faith
A Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse was held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at First Presbyterian
Church of Liverpool. Here are the highlights:
Rev. Anna Gheen (Cazenovia) led the body in a powerful worship service using First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament and drawing on her family’s heritage as members of a Cherokee tribe.
Rev. Luke Choi, Board of Pensions liaison, will hold two question and answer Zoom meetings for members of presbytery regarding all the new options for medical coverage for pastors beginning in 2025.
Approved a motion by the Hannibal Administrative Commission to transfer the Hannibal church property to the American Baptist Church of New York State. Approved a motion to receive the AC report and dismiss the AC with thanks at the conclusion of this transaction.
Elected Rev. Michael Hill (Skaneateles) as Moderator for a 2-year term. Elected 14 others to serve on various committees and commissions.
Approved a PILP loan to First Presbyterian Church of Liverpool for a roof replacement project.
Approved using $15,000 of unspent budget in the Resource Presbyter personnel line for a grant to be given to Interfaith Works-CNY for their Refugee Resettlement program.
Approved a $2,000 grant to Westminster Church-Auburn from the Vanderkamp Sale Proceeds Fund to be used to support the creation of a “Prayground” in their sanctuary.
Approved a request from the Korean Church of Syracuse to sell a piece of property with the proceeds to be dedicated to a mission project in the Lodi Street area.
Approved a request from the First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport to sell a portion of their land with the proceeds to be used to support the ministry of the church.
Discussed proposed policies on Anti-racism and Anti-harassment. Policies will be refined and brought to the next stated presbytery meeting.
Amended the Stated Clerk contract to run from May 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025.
Heard from Moderator Garrett Anderson on meetings held between leadership of Cayuga-Syracuse, Susquehanna Valley, and the Synod regarding a possible merger between Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley. During a time of discussion, Rev. Anderson invited and noted questions, concerns, and insights offered by the body which will be considered by Presbytery’s council. A motion regarding merger is planned for a special called meeting to be scheduled in June.
Discussed proposed draft of Bylaws Article III (Members and Other Participants in Meetings) and Article V (Meetings), and Standing Rule (SR) 5 (Administrative Action Committee), SR 6 (Congregational Development and Presbytery Connections Committee), and SR 7 (Coordinating Committee). Questions were raised, amendments offered, and draft approved as amended.
Per Bylaws Article III-c, effective immediately each church session is entitled to send one commissioner to presbytery with voice and vote.
Resource Presbyter Kathy Dain was thanked for her year of service and presented with a gift card. Kathy concludes her service on June 15.
Presbytery learned that Shavonn Lynch, Candidate Under Care, received her Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) degree in a commencement ceremony at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester on May 18. Congratulations to Dr. Shavonn Lynch! Shavonn has received a call to serve as Temporary Stated Supply Associate Pastor at Northminster Presbyterian Church and will be examined on the floor of presbytery at a special called meeting in June in preparation for answering that call.
Outgoing Moderator Rev. Garrett Anderson conducted the installation of Rev. Michael Hill and Rev. Paul Rack as Presbytery Moderator and Stated Clerk, respectively.
Updates compiled by Linda Russell with much gratitude!
Visit our Facebook page for photos and more updates from Karen Chamis and Susan Wonderland.
