Foothills Presbytery
99th Stated Meeting
Supplement
April 24, 2016
Committee on Ministry Supplemental Report
April 24, 2016
The Committee on Ministry reports:
1. That it heard a report of the C.R.E. Subcommittee, and that it approved a new CRE
Stated Supply Contract Form and that it approved an extension for Ruling Elder
Elizabeth Jones (Mt. Zion) to complete her training. There will be a drop-in for
current and perspective students on Sunday, August 28th at 2 p.m. at the Presbytery
Office.
2. That it heard a report from the Manual of Operations Subcommittee. COM will
present a revised section of their portion of the Manual with specific Commission
Powers to the August Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
3. Approved Rev. Michael Sullivan and Rev. Lerone Wilder to be on the Pulpit Supply
List and approved them to celebrate the Sacraments at Nicholtown Church where
they are the primary Pulpit Supplies. Rev. Sullivan was ordained by the Crosstown
Missionary Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan in 1980. He has served pastorates in
Michigan and Canada, and has retired to Greenville. Rev. Wilder was ordained by
the Mt. Moriah Church in Spartanburg in 2012 and is currently enrolled in PhD
Studies. Rev. Beverly Kelly continues to be the Moderator of the Nicholtown
Session.
4. Approved the request of the Good Hope Session to close their Installed Pastoral
position and to seek a Part-Time Stated Supply.
5. Approved Will Nickles as the Moderator of the Varennes Session.
6. Reviewed the Interim Report of Steve Vance’s service in Greater Atlanta Presbytery.
Faithfully submitted,
Mike Johnston, Chair
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Foothills Presbytery
Nominating Committee Report
April 24, 2016
Committee on Preparation
Rev. Terri Price (1) (Providence)
Ms. Judy Pearson (1) (First Greer)
Class of 2018
Class of 2018
South Carolina Inn at Montreat Board
Ms. Kitty Daniels (1) (First Simpsonville)
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Equipping the Saints
To Equip, Nurture and Connect the churches in Foothills Presbytery
Since our last report to Presbytery, the Equipping the Saints team has…
The Leadership Development team successfully facilitated and lead two regional events.
 Foothills Presbytery in partnership with the Anderson School of Theology for Laypersons
hosted Diana Butler Bass: Grounded, March 4 & 5 at Central Presbyterian Church in Anderson. An
average of 100 people attended one or more of four presentations made throughout the weekend.
 Leader of Leaders (SC 5 Presbyteries) Annual Event was March 8 in Columbia. 50 Ministers,
Educators and church leaders cam to hear the Rev. Jan Edmlnston facilitate a conversation around
Culture, Strategy and Change in the Church.
In addition the team has been in conversation with Gail Strange (GA Presbyterian Mission Agency office of
Communications) to host a workshop/gathering. “Communications Game Plan”. Focus/goal is to help
congregations as they create policy, best practices, game plan and strategies to implement/educate.
The Peer Groups/Region groups continue to gather:
 Women Clergy Group – meeting 4x a year
 Children’s Christian Educators in the large church
 Youth Leader Roundtable – monthly check-in and book study (Sustainable Youth Ministry)
 Spartanburg Area Clergy – every 6/8 weeks
 Greenville Area Clergy – every 6/8 weeks
 Lake Cluster/Panera breakfast group every 6/8 weeks
We continue to work with the Presbytery staff on a bi-monthly Joys and Concerns email with prayer
needs and celebrations of Ministers, Professional church staff, Elders serving Presbytery, etc.
Our Hospitality & Welcoming team (in co-operation with Exams/COM) has welcomed new Minister
members, Educators and Youth Directors into Foothills Presbytery: Leslie Lang, Gordon Turnbull, Jan
Culpepper, and Cassie Wolfe.
The Technology & Communication team continues to partner with the Presbytery staff to update our Web
Site, facebook pages, twitter account, and ENews newsletter. In addition we hope to work with the
Leadership Development team to create/offer another series of PresbyXPress, “What does it mean to be a
Connectional Church” in 2016.
Our Curriculum, & Resources team continue to review and evaluate the use of our Presbytery Resource
Center. Purchase of material continues to lean toward conservative spending. We were delighted that the
Small Church Notebook Brigade had their last meeting in the resource center and were made aware of the
wealth of resources available to their churches.
The Shared Mission (once known as the Mission Team) is delighted to report the success of ENGAGE
event. The Rev. Ray Jones joined Foothills Presbytery Feb 14-16. He facilitated a luncheon, 2/15 for
Presbytery leaders about evangelism and church transformation, preached at the Stated Meeting of
Presbytery (on our web site: http://foothillspresbytery.org/engage-ray-jones-mission-event/) led a packed
house for an afternoon Workshop and ended the day with a workshop with special focus on evangelism in
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the Small(er) Church. Every Church in Foothills Presbytery was given a Leaders Guide and Participant
book for the ENGAGE Gospel curriculum.
We continue to get reports and updates from Thornwell Home for Children. In addition, we are exploring
ways to make sure updated information and resources about Presbyterian Disaster Relief (PDA) are
available to our Congregations. Special thanks to the Rev. Matt Matthews for writing the annual article for
the Presbyterian Mission Yearkbook: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/yearbook/april-4/
Outdoor Ministry continues to be a focus of ministry and education in Foothills. The 2016 Summer
Camp Program Committee reported in late February the hire of our Summer Camp Program Director
Jordan Meggs. The committee has met twice a month since the new year to create a working budget, focus
on safe practices, schedule the summer camp schedule, recruit and hire staff, coordinate with site
manager/team (preparation for summer), develop staff training, schedule camp job fairs, craft a game plan
for communications, recruit Chaplains, write curriculum plan and schedule two Camp Fairs and more. In
addition, the team is working on alternative locations to host Outdoor Ministry events such as week long
day camp or daily events at churches in our Presbytery. For more about Summer Camp 2016
http://bucoutdoorcenter.org/summer-camp/
Members of Equipping the Saints continue to partner with the Small(er) Church leadership team to host
presbytery-wide gatherings: January 19th, February 16 (Ray Jones), February 20th
(Notebook Brigade) and April 14th. Our next gathering is scheduled for Tuesday July 19th, 6.30 at the
Piedmont Church.
Connections Report:
 Susan Tompkins (Educator First Greer) continues her work toward becoming a Certified Christian
Educator. In partnership with the COM, the EtS team looks forward to celebrating with Susan, her
reference group, First Greer and the Presbytery the culmination of her work.
 In partnership with the COM need to develop a game plan for two things:
o Boundaries/Ethics Training
o Create/Update Foothills Presbytery’s Child Protection Policy
o It was reported that the Foothills Moderator of Presbyterian Women met with our
Presbytery Pastor and Associate Pastor to discuss ways to better communicate and
connect the resource and work of PW in Foothills Presbytery.
There are no needed actions or recommendations for Presbytery at this time.
Equipping the Saints Committee
Class 2016
Class 2017
David Howell TE (1)
Pressley Cox TE (2) CHAIR
Allyson Helvie TE (1)
Beth Neidenbach RE (2)
Jennifer Walker, Educator (1)
Pat Shufeldt, Resource Center
Ginna Lister, Educator
Ken Schafer, RE (1)
Class 2018
TJ Ramaley, TE (1)
Deborah Broadwell TE (2)
Matt Matthews TE (1)
Whitney Moss, Educator (1)
(filling vacancy)
The Revs Mashoon/Rose Nance
Ann Coleman RE (1)
Julie Meredith TE (1)
Pulpit Supply Salem (1)
Ex. officio: Presbytery Staff, Debbie Foster and Aaron Ochart TE
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2016 Summer Camp Program Committee
The Summer Camp Program Committee is currently meeting on a weekly basis to prepare for the
upcoming summer.
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The theme for the summer is “Heroes of the Faith” focusing on how God uses
ordinary people in the Bible to do extraordinary things for our faith.
o The summer curriculum is being written by Ginna Lister and Jennifer Walker.
Staff: The committee has held several interview days and looks forward to hiring a full
staff. Male counselor applicants are still needed. Cook and Assistant Cook have been
hired.
Chaplains for the summer include Pressley Cox, Ginna Lister, Stephanie Norton, and
Jennifer Walker.
New this summer
o Middle School Mission Week- June 19
 This summer we are designing an amazing week just for Middle School
students. Get ready for a week of service that is meaningful, memorable
and fun. Our counselors and staff will guide the group as they build
friendships with other participants and work with skilled technical staff to
oversee the projects done on site and in the local community. Each
participant will have a chance to explore the underlying lessons of what it
means to serve and love others as Christ has loved us.
o Pick-a-day option for individuals or groups (groups contact LeAnne White to
register
 A one day camp experience (Complete 5K-4th grade) 9:30am-4pm at Buc
Outdoor Center. Includes: Hiking, low-ropes, swimming, lunch, games,
craft, Bible Study and a $75.00 discount coupon(per camper) for a week at
camp later in the summer. June 21, June 23, June 28, July 12, July 19,
July 26
 The committee is organizing a Sunday afternoon Camp Fair, 3.30-5pm
at Central Presbyterian in Anderson on May 1. They hope to organize one
at a Greenville area church also. The Camp Fair will be an opportunity for
elementary age kids and their parents to get a taste of the camp experience.
The event(s) will include games, crafts, snacks, camp songs and a
question/answer session with Summer Camp Director Jordan Meggs.
Pressley Cox – Chair, Justin Cazel, Jennifer G. Walker, Diane Durham
Jordon Meggs – Camp Director
Debbie Foster – Presbytery Staff
LeAnne White – Camp Registrar
Ginna Lister (ex. officio)
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