Session Records Review

Everything should be done decently, with respect and in proper order. Brothers and sisters, keep in your attention the Good News I preached, which you received, in which you stand and in which you are being saved, if you hold on to its message. -1 Corinthians 14:40-15:1

To: Clerks of Session and Moderators of Session of lake Erie Presbytery Congregations
From: Rev. Dr. Tim Harmon, Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Lake Erie

It is that time of the year again—Record reviews! I want to take this opportunity to tell you that as a fellow presbyter and moderator/pastor, current Presbytery Stated Clerk, and a former clerk of session myself, I appreciate and pray for your ministry every day. I think the order and record keeping we all do is a way to minister to the history and describe the current ways our congregations bring the Good News. It is also a key way that we are all connected together. I hope you see these upcoming reviews not as just mandatory but as a way for us involved in this ministry to learn from, support, and extend the ministry we each do throughout the Presbytery. It also helps all of the clerks of session get to know their colleagues and build a support network.

There has been a number of significant changes to the Book of Order since the last General Assembly in the Summer of 2022. If you have not already bought a new Book of Order, you may call Melinda at the Presbytery Office or go to PCUSA Store (pcusastore.com). They are $10 for a printed version or a free pdf download. We will talk about some of these changes including resources already available or coming from the Presbytery and OGA.

I think it is important that we meet in person and review our minute books and registers together. There will be 4 gatherings throughout the Presbytery in October and I am asking that you come with your books to one of them. The following congregations have agreed to host our meetings—feel free to go to the one closest and/or at the best time:

Sat, October 7th at Conneaut Lake Presbyterian (145 S. 5th Street Conneaut Lake, PA) from 10am – noon
Sat Oct 14th at Polk Presbyterian (729 Main Street Polk, PA) from 10am – noon
Sat Oct 21st at North Warren Presbyterian (200 S. State St North Warren, PA) from 10am – noon
Sun Oct 22nd at First Presbyterian-Waterford (112 W. 3rd Street Waterford, PA) from 4pm – 6pm

Included in this mailing and on-line at the presbytery website (https://pbylakeerie.org) under the resources tab are the required worksheets that will be the basis of our reviews. Please fill these sheets out prior to your coming, citing page numbers or notes. We will fill out similar sheets at our reviews, but if you do them for your own books prior the process will be faster. Remember, the work of the clerk is important, but reviews such as this are not aimed at you personally. You do important work, but so does your moderator and the other elders. These are not “your” minutes … they belong to the full session! I get my minutes, including the record of these reviews, reviewed at the Synod Level as well, and we use a similar peer review process for the same reasons. As Greg used to remind us, “A solid review of minutes of one level of councils by another level of council helps to guide each other, head off omissions or irregularities which could mushroom into big problems later, and lets some of your presbytery partners know of the joys and concerns each session and congregations face.” Finally, remember to ask questions, seek help especially in interpreting the Constitution, and walk together. I certainly do that with other Stated Clerks and with the Office of the General Assembly, and I hope we can do that together.

I am available for support, to answer questions, and to walk with you in this ministry. Call or email me! See you all at the reviews.