A note from Pastor Stephanie

Please join me in offering your congratulations and prayers of support to Pastor Michelle who was elected the chair-elect of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board this week. She has served on this board that works with agency staff to carry out the mission priorities set by the General Assembly since 2018 and will be a wise and insightful leader of that board during an important time in its life. In her new role she will be the vice chair of the board for two years starting July 2022, with the expectation that she will chair the board starting July 2024. This is an elected "volunteer" position within the denomination and not a new call that takes her way from FVPC. It offers our church exciting connections to leaders in national and international ministries ofdiscipleship and evangelism, servant leader formation, and justice and reconciliation.

Pastor Michelle's election comes as I am wrapping up my term as the moderator of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA). COGA is a sibling leadership body that works with the Stated Clerk and Office of the General Assembly to carry out the directions of the General Assembly about how we organize ourselves as Presbyterians in order to equip congregations for ministry. One of our major responsibilities is planning and carrying out the biennial national discernment and decision-making assembly that will take place this summer. While my term as moderator comes to an end in July, I will still serve as a member of the committee for two more years.

Service in the larger church is an important part of being Presbyterian, not just for ministers, but for members as well. There are a number of ways "everyday" Presbyterians can be involved in all manner of church bodies that lead and advise on ecumenical relationships, financial investments, health care and pensions, social witness policy, and more. (If you want to find out more, please get in touch with Pastor Michelle or me.) When pastors are ordained and installed some of the promises we make to the local and larger church is that we will be involved in the connectional nature of the denomination. Pastor Michelle and I, along with the leaders of our agencies who greeted you in worship in the last year, thank you for your support of our involvement in our national church life. This congregation and community benefit from the relationships we make, the lessons we learn, and the expertise to which we have access.

Congratulations, Pastor Michelle, and may God bless your continued service with the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board and Fox Valley Presbyterian Church!

Peace,
Pastor Stephanie