Leaders from Elizabeth Presbytery and Newark Presbytery have recently gathered for informal conversations. Leadership has included council, trustees, and key committee representation.The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) called on every synod to make a clear and accurate assessment of what is working and what could work better. In recent months, presbytery leaders in the Synod of the Northeast have set several conversational spaces for presbyteries to re-imagine their future. On May 13th, the Synod Council met with presbytery leaders and the GA Middle Governing Body Commission, to discuss how our synod could better serve our presbyteries.

In May, Palisades Presbytery’s council expressed their desire to join Elizabeth and Newark in these preliminary conversations, too. If the progress moves ahead, each presbytery will be asked at some point to consider establishing a formal process to develop a multi-presbytery ministry model.

What do you think?
1. Can multi-presbytery collaboration more effectively equip every pastor and session for transformational ministry?
2. Can we significantly reduce the per capita by creatively combining our staffs and office functions?