• COMMISSIONS | COMMITTEES | MATTHEW 25

Co-Chairs: Patty Brandts and Keith Lohse – Budget & Finance (B)
Brian Jones – Personnel (P)

Class of 2026
Patty Brandts (B)
Bea Hayen (P)
John Williamson (B)

Class of 2027
Steve Anderson (P)
Anne Veldhuisen (B)
Liz Windingstad (P)

Class of 2028
Brian Jones (P)
Norma Cook (B)
Sherry Myers (P)

Membership:
Nine Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders

The Vision for the Commission:
Our vision is to ensure accountability to the councils of the church.

The Commission of Presbytery Operations:

  1. Between the meetings of the presbytery, take actions on behalf of the presbytery to approve particular congregation’s property selling, encumbering, and/or leasing (G-4.0206)
  2. Provide oversight for the presbytery’s budgeted and designated finances, according to the presbytery’s Fiscal Accountability Policies (Manual of Operations: Article V, Appendix 1)
  3. Provide oversight for the presbytery’s property (Manual of Operations: Article V, Appendix 1)
  4. Act as Trustees of the presbytery in accordance with the presbytery’s Fiscal Accountability Policies (Manual of Operations: Article V, Appendices 1, 2 and 3)
  5. Provide oversight of the presbytery staff and implement the presbytery’s approved personnel policies (Article V, Appendix 10, including G-3.0110):
    • Hiring and dissolving relationships with presbytery employees and other contracted services.
    • Conducting annual reviews of the Executive Presbyter and stated clerk
    • As necessary hire additional temporary leadership staff to fulfill the presbytery’s mission.
  6. Be responsible for maintaining communications with the Synod of Lake and Prairies and the General Assembly (G.3.0302: c, d, and e)
  7. Receive proposed changes to Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Operating Procedures and recommend action to presbytery.
  8. Act on grant/scholarship requests from congregations seeking support:
    • for new, collaborative mission and ministry initiatives
    • for well-articulated growth-oriented goals (Isaiah 43:19)
    • for upgrading technologies
    • for conferences, workshops, other learning opportunities
  9. Support the relationship with the Presbyterian Clearwater Forest Camp and Conference Center
    and Lakeshore Center

Co-Chairs: Andy Davis and Louella Voigt

Class of 2026
Mark Ford
Cory Germain
Michael Hartwell
Budd McCulloch
Anna Williamson

Class of 2027
David Lick
Laura Messer
Darin Seaman
Louella Voigt
Steven Voris

Class of 2028
Sonya Alexander
Andy Davis
Kathy Knips
Leanne Thompson
Galen Smith

Membership:
Fifteen, as close to an equal number of Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders as possible

The Vision for this Commission:
Our vision is to come alongside pastoral leaders, and those preparing for pastoral leadership roles, as they live out their call to ministry and mission.

The Commission on Leadership:

  1. Provide support, resources, and care for our Pastoral Leaders (teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders) including the delegated presbytery authority to:
    • Approve terms of calls (G-2.0504, G-2.08 and G-3.0109b3)
    • Approve temporary pastoral relationships and contracts (G-2.0504b)
    • Examine for presbytery membership and determine the category for membership (G-2.0503, G-2.0505, G-2.0506, G-2.0507, G2-0508)
    • Appoint Administrative Commissions for installation and/or ordination (G-3.0109 b2)
  2. Work with congregations and Pastoral Leaders in all areas of their relationships, including pastoral transitions including the delegated presbytery authority to:
    • Dissolve pastoral leader’s relationships (G-2.09)
    • Appoint Session Moderators (G-1.504)
  1. Act on grant requests from individuals seeking support for conferences, workshops, other learning opportunities
  2. Develop relationships with and among the presbytery’s congregations with a commitment to their overall health and well-being.
  3. Work with inquirers and candidates on behalf of the presbytery as they move through the process of preparation for ministry as outlined in the Book of Order (G-2.06 and G-2.07) and the Advisory Handbook on Preparation for Ministry from the General Assembly
  4. Provide for the training, examination, and nurture of ruling elders seeking to be commissioned to pastoral service assuring that the training meets Book of Order guidelines (G-2.10)
  5. Work with congregations in exploring non-traditional staff models
  6. Support the leaders of New Worshipping Communities

Class of 2026
Sue Goebel, Co-Moderator, Year Two
Bill Stegemann, Co-Moderator, Year One
Laura Messer, Vice-Moderator
Douglas Dent, Past Moderator

The Mod Squad Commission:

  1. Plan engaging, informative and celebratory presbytery meetings, including the commissioner briefing and receiving the four church wide offerings.
  2. Provide vision and strategy for the ongoing life of the presbytery
  3. Develop presbytery-sponsored events – both regionally and presbytery-wide – to enrich the lives and enhance the ministries of our congregations
  4. Appoint and dissolve administrative commissions (except for administrative commissions for ordination and/or installation of teaching elders) if need arises (G-3.0109b)
  5. Appoint people to Investigating Committees (D-7.05a)
  6. Nominate members to serve on the Committee on Representation
  7. Appoint Triennium registrar and task force.

Team
Sue Goebel, Co-Moderator, Year Two
Bill Stegemann, Co-Moderator, Year One
Laura Messer, Vice-Moderator
Douglas Dent, Past Moderator
Patty Brandts, Chair of Budget & Finance
Brian Jones, Chair of Personnel
Andy Davis, Co-Chair of COL, Chair of COR
Louella Voigt, Co-Chair of COL
Beth Buckwalter-Miller, Executive Presbyter
Pamela Prouty, Stated Clerk

Members: This team consists of the chairs of each Presbytery commission and committee (except for the PJC), also the Mod Squad, the Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk.

Purpose:

  1. For communication amongst Presbytery commissions and visioning
    for the presbytery.

Class of 2027
Candace Adams
Karen Anderson
Elaine Boyd

Class of 2028
Mike Butler
Deb Hess

Class of 2029
Bev Brock
Dan Honetschlauger

Membership: Seven

The Permanent Judicial Commission:
Fulfills the constitutional responsibilities assigned to it in the Book of Order

Chair: Andy Davis

Class of 2026
Andy Davis (first term)
Open

Class of 2027
Kathy Knips (second term)
Elaine Boyd (second term)

Class of 2025
Ronelva Dauer (first term)
Nick Sonsteby (second term)

Membership: Six

The Committee on Representation:

  1. Fulfills the constitutional responsibilities assigned to it in the Book of Order
  2. Serves as the nominating committee of the Presbytery, striving to fulfill Presbytery’s mandate of diversity and inclusivity

Rev. Dr. Candace Adams – pastor of our New Worshipping Community, The Compassionate Way, Candace serves marginalized people in our jails, living in group homes, and in recovery from addiction. Funds will be used for the work she does.

Scattering Seeds of Compassion

To donate, write the check to Lakes Area Presbyterian Church with The Compassionate Way in the memo line and send to:
Lakes Area Presbyterian Church
Attn: Candace Adams
7761 Excelsior Rd
Baxter MN 56425

Pastor Elizabeth Tot – pastor of our South Sudanese Fellowship in St. Cloud, Elizabeth serves primarily single mothers in the South Sudanese community who are struggling to make ends meet. She is a pastoral presence to the Nuer people in St. Cloud and Mankato. Funds will be used to help her care for her community here and in Ethiopia and South Sudan. PDF Link

To donate, write a check to First Presbyterian Church with “Pastor Elizabeth Tot” on the memo line and send to:
First Presbyterian Church
340 5th Ave S
Saint Cloud MN 56301

Mr. Thijin Gatwech – leader of the Nuer Professionals Network (NPN) with a degree in business. Thijin lives in St. Cloud and is networked to South Sudanese people throughout the region. He helps his people receive mental health education, as well as move toward financial independence and home ownership.

NPN Links:
https://youtube.com/@nuerprofessionalsnetwork
https://facebook.com/nuerprofessionalsnetwork
https://instagram.com/nuerprofessionalsnetwork

To donate, write a check to First Presbyterian Church with “Thijin Gatwech, NPN” on the memo line and send to:
First Presbyterian Church
340 5th Ave S
Saint Cloud MN 56301
OR
Zelle: info@nuerprofessionalsnetwork.org