Synod Commissioners

New Mission Statement 2008
The Synod of the Sun is a missional body which exists to glorify God as it encourages and supports presbyteries within its bounds and as it provides a connection to the whole Presbyterian Church (USA).
Download "New Missional Design" document (6 pgs.) or read below. Short cut to "Working Group Assignments"
New Missional Design 2008
Background In 1998, the Synod of the Sun was described by some as a very large, out-dated steamship which needed to change direction. As that change began to take place, it became clear that, in addition to changing course, the Synod needed to look more like a catamaran than a steamship. Much has been done to achieve this vision over the last nine years. In 2001, the Synod identified three mission priorities: Higher Education Ministries, Multicultural Ministries, and Resourcing Presbyteries - which helped to focus and clarify the Synod’s work. The Communications and Operations Divisions undergirded these three mission areas, supporting and enabling their work. These priorities were the "right answers" for the Synod at that time, and the Synod’s presbyteries, institutions, agencies, and ministries have benefited from these priorities. As the Synod continues to adapt to an ever-changing context for ministry and declining financial resources, we must begin to ask, "What is the next right answer?" How might the Synod better enable the ministry of its partners rather than doing ministries of its own? How might the Synod recast its vision and purpose for a day in which words like network, resource, facilitate, partner, and broker have become part of the vocabularies of the Synod’s partners in ministry?
	^top
The beginnings of a new design Seeking input from its partners in ministry, the Synod first invited its commissioners to answer a series of questions at its April 26-28, 2007, Synod Stated Meeting. Following that meeting, each of the Synod’s presbyteries was invited to respond to the same questions during May and June. The questions were: • What do you value about the Synod of the Sun? • If the Synod could only be involved in two ministry or mission areas, what two would you suggest? • Is there any other message you would choose to send to the Synod leadership? Then, on July 17-18, the Synod convened a consultation around this same theme. Participants included the Synod Executive Committee, the Synod’s Executive Presbyter Forum, and one additional representative from each presbytery.
	^top
Responses were recorded and a writing team was appointed to help identify areas of consensus and to develop a new Synod design which embodied the values and dreams expressed over the last several months. The three priorities for the Synod’s work emerging from that consultation were: • attention to constitutional responsibilities, • the desire for a more robust communications network, • and a focus on enabling mission. The resulting mission design was presented to each of the July convocation participants for comment and reviewed by the Synod Executive Committee on September 12-13. A final report will be submitted to the Synod at its October 26 meeting.
	^top
A new vision of Synod emerges The Synod of the Sun endeavors to be a missional body because the Church as a whole is built up not only by "doing mission," but also by equipping people as disciples and sending them as missionaries of the grace we have received in Jesus Christ, our Lord.1 The Synod’s primary constituency is its member presbyteries. The Synod best serves that constituency by facilitating resource sharing and relationships both among its member presbyteries and between its own presbyteries and the larger Presbyterian Church (USA). The Synod currently sponsors or participates in a number of vital ministries and partnerships. In many ways, these ministries are the "face" of the Synod. Where it serves the effective ministries of its presbyteries and gives witness to the value of our connectional Church, the Synod encourages and will continue to support such programs and events. The Synod may do so by initiating creative responses to new opportunities for ministry or by providing vital support for presbyteries in ministry together.
	^top
A new Synod mission design The Synod must be flexible in order to adapt effectively to a rapidly changing mission context. In the desire to be accountable to both its constitutional responsibilities and the needs of its own members, the work of the Synod as a governing body will be accomplished by a Synod Assembly, consisting of four commissioners from each of the Synod’s eleven presbyteries. The presbytery executives will be seated as corresponding members, unless elected as commissioners by their respective presbyteries. Presbyteries need to take note of the need for balance and fair representation among those four persons. The Synod Assembly will meet three or four times per year and will serve the functions of both the current Synod assembly and the Synod Executive Committee. As is currently the practice, a Moderator and Moderator-elect will be selected from among the Synod’s commissioners. The Synod Assembly will be divided into working groups to accomplish the work of three primary Synod functions (described more fully below). In addition to these primary functions, the Synod Assembly may as necessary appoint task groups for ongoing administrative functions as well as new and developing needs. The Synod Assembly will commit itself to address substantive issues facing the Church and to support mission networks formed to address current and emerging needs within the Synod. Among the substantive topics which the Synod Assembly might address during its plenary meetings are issues such as leader development, social justice ministries, cross-cultural ministries, and the interpretation of the actions taken by and facing the larger Church.
	^top
When the Synod Assembly gathers, part of its time together will be spent in working groups reflecting its three primary functions: • Mission: In the new Synod design, mission is centered on the work of synod mission networks, which are mission or ministry projects sponsored by two or more presbyteries within the Synod. Current Synod multicultural processes, ministries and partnerships may continue as the new Synod Assembly or multiple presbyteries continue to affirm their importance. New ministries, such as the developing border ministries, may become synod mission networks as two or more presbyteries petition the Synod Assembly. Similarly, the Synod Assembly may identify emerging mission and ministry needs and challenge presbyteries to engage those needs. Resources available to synod mission networks could include seed grants, grants for travel and meeting expenses, organizational support (through Synod staff), the use of the Synod’s website and other communications vehicles, and access to the Synod Assembly and the wider network of support represented by its members. Each mission network will have at least two members of the Synod Assembly to facilitate communication and networking. • Communications: The communications network will provide resources for ministries within the Synod; encourage community and connections between the Synod, its presbyteries, its institutions, and multicultural groups; and serve as vital link to the larger PCUSA. In addition to traditional forms of communication, the Synod must develop new and more interactive vehicles for electronic communication, including the use of the Synod’s website and other forms of electronic communication. • Governance: The Synod will accomplish each of the functions mandated by the Book of Order, aided and guided by the Stated Clerk. Among those necessary functions are Nominations and Representation. In addition, this working group will address administrative issues including a planning team to develop themes and dockets for Synod Assembly meetings; personnel; finance and budget; and institutional relations which includes covenants with Synod institutions and agencies. Persons serving on Synod-related institutions and the Synod Permanent Judicial Commission need not be Synod commissioners. Each commissioner (except the Moderator and Moderator-elect) will participate in one of the three Synod working groups. At least one person from each presbytery will serve on each working group (working groups and their moderators will be assigned annually by the Stated Clerk, in consultation with the Synod Coordinating Team, described below). Additionally, commissioners may participate in one or more mission networks. The Synod Assembly may, as needed, form additional task groups to organize and accomplish its work.
	^top
A Synod Coordinating Team will serve as a coordinating body between Synod Assembly meetings. It will be comprised of the Moderator and Moderator-elect plus the moderators of the three working groups, with the Synod Executive and Stated Clerk serving as ex officio members. The purpose of the Coordinating Team will be to consult with and advise the Synod staff regarding matters which develop between meetings. Staffing: The emphasis for Synod staff will move from being specialists and programmatic support to being generalists and resource brokers. Budget: As the new Synod design is fully employed, the budget will move from multiple, established budget categories to grants for synod mission networks.
	^top
Transition notes: There are several unresolved questions in this new design. One is the impact of the design on the Synod’s presbyteries. The Synod urges presbyteries to provide for effective communication, interpretation, networking, and participation in the life and work of the Synod. The relation between presbytery nominating processes and the Synod’s nominating process needs to be clarified and strengthened. Preliminary staffing and budget notes will be presented to the Synod along with the new mission design in October; however, more work on job descriptions and the Synod budget for 2008 and 2009 needs to be done. One staffing question includes the Synod’s agencies and institutions - how will fewer executive staff relate to all of the Synod’s covenant partners? A proposed staffing model: See Appendix A. There is a great need for education as we move toward this new design. For current ministries and new ministries alike, there will be questions of access to funding (how to write a grant proposal), organization (how to seek sponsorship by presbyteries), and support (what kind of staff resource or access to Synod communications may be expected). A job description for Synod commissioners should be developed.
	^top
Therefore, it is recommended that: • the Synod endorse the new missional design for the Synod of the Sun (seventh draft, September 13, 2007); • the current Synod Bylaws (April 2005) sections 2 (Meetings, Commissioners, and Representatives) and 3 (Divisions) be suspended for 2008 and that each presbytery elect one elder and one minister commissioner to the class of 2008 and one elder and one minister commissioner to the class of 2009; • a diverse working group be appointed by the Executive Committee to develop new bylaws and to report to the October 2008 Synod meeting; • the current Synod staffing continue through June 2008, with some changes beginning July 1, 2008, and with the new Synod design being effective January 1, 2009; and that at the October 2007 Synod meeting, each division name one person to serve with the 2008-2009 Synod Moderator as a transition Personnel Committee which will develop position descriptions, outline potential search processes, and report to the April 2008 Synod meeting; • the October 2008 Synod meeting focus almost entirely on transitional issues and orientation to the new mission design, and that new commissioners in the classes of 2009 and 2010 be invited to attend; • the 2007 Synod Executive Committee continue to serve as needed, with coopted members to ensure diversity, throughout 2008 to address additional transitional questions; and • presbyteries develop effective channels for communication between synod commissioners and presbyteries.
	^top
Further comments The Synod of the Sun has an opportunity to serve our presbyteries and congregations in new ways for years to come. The proposed mission design recognizes the decreased need for hierarchical models of church government and values instead a mission-centered model which at the same time both values traditional ministries and "de-layers" our governing body system. Presbyteries will have a vital role in that they provide direct support for congregations and church professionals. The Synod will provide a support role for presbyteries, a necessary regional ecclesiastical body between presbyteries and the General Assembly, and a vital communications and interpretation link between the Synod, its presbyteries, and the General Assembly.
Appendix A	^back to "Transition notes"
NOTE: Synod is ahead of the plan for staffing due to the early departure of two synod staff members who have taken new positions. The plan represents changing staff positions including a reduction from 6.5 full-time equivalent positions to 5.25 full-time equivalent positions.
2007 STAFFING Executive Staff Executive Assoc Exec - Multicultural Assoc Exec - Communic. Stated Clerk (part-time) Professional Staff Higher Ed Coordinator (pt) Support Administrative Assistant Receptionist Bookkeeper Part-time staff 6.5 Full Time Equivalents	2008 STAFFING (Jan-June) Executive Staff Executive Assoc Exec - Multicultural Stated Clerk (part-time) Professional Staff Dir of Communications Higher Ed Coordinator (pt) Support Administrative Assistant Receptionist Bookkeeper Part-time staff 6.5 Full Time Equivalents
2008 STAFFING (July-Dec) Executive Staff Executive Assoc Exec - Gen’l (½-time) Stated Clerk (part-time) Professional Staff Dir of Communications (* no institutional resp’s) Support Administrative Assistant Receptionist Bookkeeper Part-time staff 5.75 Full Time Equivalents	2009 STAFFING Executive Staff Executive Assoc Exec / Stated Clerk Professional Staff Dir of Communications Support Administrative Assistant Bookkeeper Part-time staff 5.25 Full Time Equivalents
	^back to "Transition notes"
"*no institutional resp’s" : As a member of the professional staff, rather than executive staff, the Director of Communications will have no direct responsibility with the Synod’s institutions or agencies. This position will focus more on strengthening the Synod’s communications network.
Working Groups	^top
New Working Group Assignments Projects and events listed below represent current activities, 2008. Future funding for Mission will not be static. It will be based on need, interest and accountability.

	^top