Following procedures adopted by our presbytery in August, the Nominating Committee has announced its slate of nominees of commissioners and young adult advisory delegate to the 220th General Assembly:

Ruling Elder Commissioner:  Alan Foutz.  Alan is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Akron, serving as Commissioned Ruling Elder pastor at Kimball Presbyterian Church.  Alan is a past moderator of both the Presbytery and the Presbytery Council.  A former president of the Colorado Farm Bureau, he was recently inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Ruling Elder Commissioner:  Sydney Roosa.  Sydney is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Alliance, Nebraska.  She is in her fifth year of service on the Presbytery Council.  A classically trained vocalist, Sydney teaches voice and is an avid quilter.

Teaching Elder Commissioner: Sue Spencer.  Sue has served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Akron, Colorado for eleven years. She is the immediate past moderator of Presbytery, and has also served as moderator of the Presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission among her extensive church and community service.

Teaching Elder Commissioner: Brad Gustafson.  Brad has served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Scottsbluff, Nebraska for five years.  He is the immediate past moderator of the Congregational Vitality Workgroup.  He is active in regional and ecumenical mission in the panhandle and with the Lakota Sioux community.

Young Adult Advisory Delegate:  Julia Campfield.  A high school junior, Julia is a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church, Wray, Colorado.  Active in both church and community, Julia has enjoyed connecting with other Presbyterian youth through her regular attendance at Highlands summer camps and youth events.

Additional information, including required answers to questions of all nominees, is posted under the "Meetings" tab above.  Additional nominations may be made by submitting completed nomination applications (available under the "Documents" tab) to the Stated Clerk not later than January 26, 2012.  Under our nomination and election policy, nominations from the floor will not be in order.

At its meeting October 29, the Presbytery postponed until May 2012 consideration of a motion to rescind an amendment to the Presbytery sexual misconduct policy requiring ministers and others in pastoral leadership to practice fidelity within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, and chastity outside that covenant.  Parliamentary action was suspended while considering the motion to rescind and a substitute motion which would amend the existing policy to distinguish between abusive behavior and other sexual misconduct.  The Presbytery then engaged in a 75-minute discussion as a "committee of the whole" in which presbyters spoke frankly about issues of sexuality, ordination standards, and presbytery unity.  The motion to postpone emerged from that discussion, leaving the fidelity and chastity amendment in place for now.  The Presbytery decided to hold further dialogue on the issues at the February meeting to further mutual understanding before resuming action on the motions in May. Information addressing the meaning and effect of the amendment to the presbytery sexual misconduct policy adopted in August is now available as part of the Stated Clerk's report under the "meetings" tab above.  

The Board of Pensions has announced a step up in dues over the next two years to address rising costs of health care.  The increase will raise the total pension, major medical, death and disability dues .75% to 32.25% for 2012 and another .75% to 33% for 2013. In its announcement, the Board emphasized that these are exclusively related to increased costs for current plan members and are not (repeat - NOT) connected to the action of the 219th General Assembly proposing extension of coverage to same-sex domestic partners of non-ordained plan members.  That proposal is still under review, and a determination by the Board on its feasibility and costs is not expected until 2013.

Referrals for nomination to service in the Presbytery can now be made using the online submission form.  Simply click the "Nominations" tab at the top of this page.

The 2011-2013 Book of Order, including the new Form of Government and Foundations of Presbyterian Polity is available for free download in .pdf format. Put it on your computer, iPad, smartphone or other device.  Click here to obtain your copy:  http://store.pcusa.org/OGA11010.

Effective July 1, business rate is 55.5 cents per mile.  For more information, please check out www.irs.gov.

Under the documents tab you will find a letter from the Presbytery moderator, Stated Clerk, and Executive Presbyter along with a Frequently Asked Questions paper and information from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.

Letter:  http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/sites/default/files/10-A%20Letter%20to%20Presbytery.pdf 

FAQ:  http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/sites/default/files/10-A%20FAQ%20final_0.pdf 

OGA materials: http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/sites/default/files/10-A%20OGA.pdf

February 10-11, 2012 - Timnath Presbyterian Church - Timnath, Colorado
May 4-5, 2012 - Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center - Allenspark, Colorado
August 11, 2012 - Light Memorial Presbyterian Church - Sidney, Nebraska

October 26-27 - First Presbyterian Church - Akron, Colorado

The Presbytery Mission Center is located at 7257 W 4th Street, Unit #4 in west Greeley. It houses the presbytery offices, resource center, and conference room.
From the West: Take US 34 east from I-25. Exit at US 34 Bus. Rt. (10th St). Proceed east on 10th St. to 71st Ave. Turn left (north) on 71st Ave. to 4th St. Turn left (west) on 4th St. Office is on north side of 4th St., appx. 200 yds from intersection.
From the East: Take US 34 west from US 85 to 71st Ave. Turn right (north) on 71st Ave. appx. 2.5 miles to 4th St. Turn left (west) on 4th St. Office is on north side of 4th St., appx 200 yds from intersection.
From the North: From US 85, turn right (west) on CO 14 at Ault. Proceed to WCR 31. Turn left (south) on WCR 31. Continue appx. 8 miles to 4th St. in Greeley. Turn right (west) on 4th St., appx. 1.2 miles. Office is on north side of 4th St.