The Mission Study Report is now available on our website for your review. Click here to view or download our Mission Study Report (MSR).
Transitions Page
On January 18, 2012, Rev. W. James Gerling informed the Session, Board of Deacons, and the Presbytery that it is his intention to retire from active ministry as of December 31, 2012. This page is dedicated to provide you with the latest updates on our transition to a new minister.
PNC Update, May 22, 2013
The Session “unanimously and enthusiastically” approved both the Mission Study Report and the Ministry Information Form at its May 15 meeting.
Implementation of the new Ministry Information Form has been delayed at the national level until August, so the Pastor Nominating Committee will reformat some of the information to fit the more familiar Church Information Form.
This is expected to be completed in time for presentation to the Presbytery Committee on Ministry meeting on June 4.
The Mission Study Report will soon be posted on this website.
PNC Progress Chart
Below is a chart that shows the progress of our Pastor Nominating Committee. The PNC will be updating this chart periodically.
Pastor Nominating Committee Update, April 11, 2013
The Pastor Nominating Committee met April 11 with the Rev. Dr. Joelle Davis, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Geneva. Also present were Diana Becker, a ruling elder at Seneca Falls Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Amy Loving, pastor of Seneca Number Nine and Bellona Memorial Presbyterian churches, representing the Presbytery Committee on Ministry (COM). They will serve as liaisons to our PNC. Most of the meeting was a review of the steps the committee will be taking, and an introduction to some of the forms they will be using. The next step will be to begin work on the Ministry Information Form (a new version of the Church Information Form), which describes our congregation and some of the characteristics, gifts, strengths and attributes we’re looking for in a pastor. This form will be presented to Session for approval, and then to the COM. We hope to have these approvals completed by early June, and then we can post the form on the PC(USA) website and begin receiving resumes from interested candidates. Jennifer Morris and Tim Merwarth co-chair the committee, which includes Sandy Ansley, Rick Bley, Heather DeMoras, Bill Fox, Fred Schühle, Cathy Thurston and Donald Wertman.
Pastor Nominating Committee Slate of Candidates
The Nominating Committee, with Session approval, is proposing this slate of 9 candidates to be elected and authorized by congregational members. They will be responsible for searching for a new permanent pastor. The entire slate will be presented as a single motion for election at the next Congregational Meeting (March 17, 2013).
Sandy Ansley
Member since 1960. Her family represents multi-generational involvement from her husband’s parents and her own, to their three children. Ordained as a Deacon and an Elder, served many times including a current term on Session. Chaired the Membership Committee, Interpretation & Stewardship Committee/campaign; currently chair of Personnel; served on Mission, TPNC as well as numerous others. Taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, has been involved with the SERRV shop since its beginning nearly 40 years ago.
Rick Bley
Rick and Fay were members of North Church since 1978 prior to the merger. All three of their children were raised in the Presbyterian Church and attended Sunday School through high school. Rick has been an elder serving many terms. He has served as chair of the Christian Ed, Personnel, and Property committees over the years and currently is chair of the PCG investment committee.
Heather DeMoras
Attending for the past 5 years, joined with husband Mat last year. Enjoys being a part of the Adult Ed group, worship services and church activities with Mat, parents Faith & Dexter Benedict and Aunt & Uncle, Ruth Benedict & Jerry Rose. Their son Ben just turned 13 and is a regular in church school, bell choir and a member of Youth Group. Heather and Mat own and run an interior design consulting business in Rochester. Heather brings the perspective of an active parent who is seeking spiritual enrichment for herself, her family and her community.
Merrill (“Bill”) Fox
Bill and Paula have been members since late 80s. Parents of Elliot and Carrie who were raised here with the help of friends and the Church. Drawn to a community of faith that by intent shares that faith with the entire community. Served previously on Session and Deacons; currently on Session and serving on Mission and Social Concerns, Property, and Adult Education committees, Chair of Village Links, sings in Choir. Behavioral health therapist and administrator. Passionate about “serving all who come” and will bring that perspective to the PNC.
Tim Merwarth
Tim & Sandy have been members for three years, having relocated from the Lehigh Valley, PA. The church, and the church community, have always been very important and they feel very blessed to be members of such an active and giving congregation. Serves on Session, Steering, I&S and Adult Education committees; co-chaired TPNC last year. Career in agriculture and real estate development, with many years serving in business and community organizations, the church community, and as an elected public official.
Jennifer Morris
Member for nearly 25 years. Now in third term as Elder, has chaired Worship & Mission committees in the past, currently serves on Nominating, chairs Membership, co-chaired TPNC last year. Was a choir member in the past and very much enjoys the music program. Retired librarian with experience in administration and hiring. Loves the welcoming, inclusive nature of our church – as does her husband Jim who joined last year. She was very pleased at how well the TPNC worked together and would be honored to serve again.
Fred Schühle
Joined the congregation of North Church in the early 1980s, and has served on the Deacons and Session, where he chaired Memorials & History and Personnel committees. He was part of the first Pastor Nominating Committee of the united congregation, which called the first Associate Pastor. He has been an Assistant Scoutmaster with Boy Scouts Troop 4 since January 2001. He is pleased with how welcoming and open the congregation is, and has promised to keep his mind, his eyes and his ears open as a PNC member.
Cathy Thurston
Member since 1991 after transferring from the Presbyterian Church in King Ferry, New York. She has taught Sunday school for 16 years and Confirmation Class for three years. Currently on the Board of Deacons and the Parish Health Ministry committee. Served on the TPNC. She has two children who were baptized and confirmed in the PCGNY. She and her family regularly attend the 8:15 service.
Donald Wertman
Member for 34 years. Served on Session, is a long-time choir member, served on numerous committees including Stewardship and the recent endowment campaign. Has conducted Sunday worship services when asked. Recently served on TPNC which selected Pastor Deb.
Transition: A Time for Courage & Stepping Forward in Faith
Greetings! As you may have heard, I am the Rev. Dr. Deborah Lind-Schmitz, your transition minister at Presbyterian Church in Geneva. You can call me Deb or Pastor Deb. Thank you for welcoming me on January 20, 2013. I am looking forward to knowing you better and I hope to learn about your spiritual journey as we step into the future.
The months of December and January were time of farewells and greetings for all us.. These changes are both exciting and unsettling. For me, it is comforting to turn to God’s assurance in Isaiah, “Fear not for I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you.” (Is. 41:10a) Transitions are easier when we rely on God, who calms our fears and strengthens our spirits; especially when we journey in uncharted territory. Stepping into the future requires an adventurous and fearless faith.
With that in mind, I have two visuals for you to contemplate during this transition. First the sign above says “End”. However, the small figure in the background is walking along a path, not well defined and not heavily traveled. He or she has not taken that sign as a directive to stop her/his journey. Courage is reaching the end and yet continuing on the spiritual journey…regardless of someone else’s label that this is the end. So, have courage and carry on. Step forward in faith.
The young skateboarder to the right is adventurously airborne. We hope he will find solid ground safely. But, for a moment he is flying. So it goes for those who are adventurous to take a leap of faith. Tom Teller explains stepping faithfully into the unknown as follows:
When you come to the edge of all the light you see,
And you must take a step into the darkness of the unknown,
you must believe one of two things:
Either you will find something firm to stand on,
Or, you will be taught to fly.
During this next year, God willing, we will learn to fly and land safely.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Deb
February 2013 Preaching Schedule
Questions of Faith based on the Lectionary listed above
February 3 “What is the Good News?
February 10 “Is this Really about Rejection?
February 13 ASH WEDNESDAY “From Your Mouth to God’s Ear”
February 17 First Sunday in Lent: Pastor Suzanne Preaching
February 24 Second Sunday in Lent: “Ice Fishing?
Update from the Transitional Pastor Nominating Committee, October 18, 2012
We are right on target with the process of hiring a Transitional Pastor. Session approved and has a signed contract with a pastor who will serve for a period of one year, starting January 15, 2013. We cannot yet share full details, as there are two more approvals to get through. But we can tell you we are very pleased and excited!
Our new Transitional Pastor has been ordained for over 20 years in PCUSA , serving in both installed and transitional (interim) ministry positions. She has a great deal of experience in short-term transitional pastorships. In fact, she has served 10 congregations as a transitional pastor.
She was selected as one of four applicants from a pool of more than 40 for an extensive phone interview. We then brought her to Geneva for a face-to-face interview over the Labor Day holiday and were impressed with her people-skills and her passionate Christianity. She in turn loves our strong commitment to mission and our welcoming hospitality.
The approvals we seek now are at the Presbytery level. The Presbytery Committee on Ministry (COM) reviewed the contract on October 2, and asked us to address some concerns. We have done this and now expect to get approval at their next meeting on November 6. The appointment also needs the formal approval of Presbytery on November 17. Then we will be able to “go public” with full details.
The TPNC is co-chaired by Jennifer Morris and Tim Merwarth; other members are Sandy Ansley, Chris Smart, Cathy Thurston, Don Wertman and Paul Salisbury from COM.
Church Information Form
The Church Information Form (CIF) is the official document used by the PC(USA) as an essential part of the pastoral call process. It is posted online on the PC(USA) website under the Church Leadership Connection, an online matching and referral system. “CLC is not a job placement service but is more like an internet dating service where people with complementary skills and interests are brought together to get acquainted.”
Thus prospective pastors can search for opportunities and submit their own Personal Information Form (PIF) to us to be considered.
We are also posting the CIF here on our website for other interested and qualified people who might not have access to the PC(USA) process. Click here to see our Church Information Form (CIF).
The CIF was completed by the members of Transitional Pastor Nominating Committee (see previous posting for names). We are asking that candidates submit their PIFs (Personal Information Forms) in response by July 30. The TPNC will review the PIFs and select applicants to interview in late summer and fall. We expect to recommend a candidate to the Presbytery Committee on Ministry, the Session and the Presbytery for approval in November, with the expectation that our new transitional pastor can begin in early 2013.
TPNC Report for June 10 Congregational Meeting
Transitional Pastor Nominating Committee
Report for June 10 Congregational Meeting
The TPNC has been meeting since early April. Committee members are Tim Merwarth and Jennifer Morris, Co-Chairs, Sandy Ansley (Chair of Personnel), Chris Smart, Cathy Thurston, Don Wertman, and Paul Salisbury from the Presbytery Committee on Ministry (COM).
The charge to the TPNC is to search for and hire, with Session approval, a Transitional Pastor to begin serving in January 2013, for up to one year. This will be a contractual relationship with the Congregation through the Session.
We have a number of helpful documents we are working with, including a comprehensive manual called Calling a Pastor. Our first task is to fill out a detailed Church Information Form (CIF) that will be posted online for prospective applicants.
The CIF includes our mission statement, job description, salary range, skills required (from a checklist) as well as some narrative questions which we will use to tell more about ourselves and why we are looking for a short term Transitional Pastor rather than a more typical 3-year Interim Pastor. We plan to limit our initial search to NY and PA, with the expectation that we may very well have a commuting relationship with this pastor.
The CIF was approved at the May session meeting. The Presbytery Committee on Ministry then reviewed it at their June 5 meeting, and made a few suggestions to enhance it. Once these suggestions are incorporated and approved – we hope during this coming week – we will post it online using the PCUSA website. We will also post it on our own church website.
Candidates will have until July 30 to submit their PIFs (Personal Information Forms) in response.
We will select applicants to interview in late summer and fall and expect to recommend a candidate to the COM, the Session and the Presbytery for approval in November, with the expectation that our new transitional pastor can begin in early 2013.
In June, the Nominating Committtee will propose to Session that a nine member Pastor Nominating Committee be created. This was recommended by the Transition Steering Committee. Appointments to the PNC will be made over the summer and the search for a permanent pastor will begin in early 2013.
Save These Dates
With the onset of Jim’s retirement, a committee has been formed to plan and execute two parties to honor him.
What I am asking you to do now is to save the dates if you wish to participate.
The first event, a Dinner/Roast will be held on Friday, November 9 at the Belhurst, in the evening.
The second will be at the church on Sunday, November 18, in the afternoon.
More information will follow as the plans are developed.
Bette Schubert, Chair
