URGENT APPEAL TO THE CHURCHES AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESBYERY OF TAMPA BAY
FROM THE FUTURE OF THE PRESBYTERY TASK FORCE
Good Friends: Your presbytery is in a very serious financial situation, and faced with making decisions that will significantly impact how we do our ministry.
Enclosed is Part 1 of the report of the Future of the Presbytery Task Force. It outlines recommendations for the implementation of measures that your committee believes our presbytery must take immediately -at the May 28 meeting- if we are to stay financially solvent. Much of the budget of our presbytery is based on mission funds sent to the presbytery. We are in need of $200,000 in order to balance the budget for 2009.
The Presbytery of Tampa Bay, in light of the serious financial situation of the presbytery, voted at the December meeting to direct Moderator Helen Huntley to appoint a task force to report back to the May, 2009 presbytery meeting on three specific issues: a vision for who we will be as a presbytery, a recommended staffing model needed to support this restructuring and a recommended balanced budget for the remainder of 2009 to fund this vision.
Those appointed to this task force are: John "Mike" Loudon (chair), Steve Negley, Al MacKenzie, Pat Shiflett, Becky Burton, Will Davidson, Rebekah Maul, Bob Keith, John DeBevoise and Jean Reed.
On Tuesdays, the staff of the Presbyery of Tampa Bay meets for their weekly staff meeting and begins with a time of prayer. We pray for specific churches in our presbytery on a rotating basis as well as staff at the Louisville denominational offices. We include those minister members of presbytery celebrating birthdays, as well as prayer concerns of which we are made aware for those in our worshipping community.
A "Fair Trade Zone" has been established in the Presbytery Resource Center. A display area containing merchandise with accompanying literature explaining the benefits of fair trade is waiting for your visit. Examine the craftsmanship of SERRV products produced by third-world artisans. Learn more about the Equal Exchange program and their partnership with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Support Palestinians through the purchase of olive oil and the Import Peace program. We're waiting for you! . . .
