1. What is a presbytery?

A presbytery is a group of congregations who work together in ministry, mission and to advance the cause of Christ in a specific region.

2. What is the make up of the Presbytery of Lake Erie?

Lake Erie Presbytery is composed of 61 congregations with about 11,700 members - all members of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The 61 congregations that are included in Lake Erie are spread across 7 counties - 1 in Chautauqua County, New York with the other 61 in Pennsylvania. Two are in Forest County, 4 in McKean County, 6 in Warren County, 13 in Crawford County, 13 in Venango County and 22 in Erie County.

3. What does Lake Erie Presbytery "do" together?

The 61 congregations band together to do mission. (You can find out more about the mission endeavors of the presbytery under the Mission FAQ section on the Ministries page.) In addition the presbytery works together to assist churches in transition, aid those who are discerning a call to full time Christian service, provide evangelism and Christian Education support, and a host of other products that help congregations fulfill ministry in their local settings.

4. How does the presbytery provide assistance to churches in transition?

Every church is always experiencing transition. Communities change. Clergy leadership comes and goes. Financial decisions press upon congregations. The presbytery includes people who can help churches think through these tough issues. For instance, every few years the Congregational Life Committee encourages churches to do a mission study to determine if they are, in fact, serving their community as effectively as possible. Or when a pastor announces he/she is leaving a parish the Committee on Ministry assists in providing short term (or interim) leadership as well as providing support as the church searches for a long term installed pastor. Or if a church faces the need to renovate a building the Trustees of the presbytery stand prepared to help them develop plans, borrow money and plan for the future in a healthy manner.

In each of these areas the presbytery can be of assistance in order that the church can embrace a healthy future.

5. Our church is small. What can a presbytery do for us?

Presbytery is more than meetings, although the presbytery does meet five times a year to worship and conduct business for the common good. But a presbytery can assist congregations in looking to the future. There are many challenges to being the church. Especially when numbers dwindle it is difficult to maintain enthusiasm and momentum. But the presbytery provides training to more effectively serve - especially in smaller congregations. The presbytery, through your mission dollars, maintains a Resource Center. Hundreds of videos and books are available. You can use them free of charge for your educational programs. Or you might want to learn more about the Commissioned Lay Pastor program to help provide consistent, ongoing leadership for our congregations. As of the spring of 2004 a total of 6 of our 61 congregations are served by Commissioned Lay Pastors (CLPs). These are men and women who have not attended seminary but have undergone training to serve on a part time basis in churches. It may be an increasing ministry in our presbytery. Ten more people from our presbytery have begun CLP training recently.

6. Those ideas can be helpful but what about growth?

Growth is elusive. What it comes down to is all of us sharing our faith with enthusiasm. Contact the Congregational Life Committee for some ideas on evangelistic outreach (although that may involve stretching a church in ways that are uncomfortable). Think about sponsoring a child to attend a church camp. Or consider attending a Christian Education training event.

7. Tell me more about church camps.

The Presbytery of Lake Erie, along with three other presbyteries, owns two church camps - Camp Lambec on Lake Erie near the Ohio border and Westminster Highlands near Emlenton. (You can learn more about these camps if you look at the Links page.) The Highlands provides year round camps and conference opportunities while Lambec is available only in the warm weather. The most popular programs are week long camps in the summer where people can come to know Jesus in a new way, or perhaps for the very first time. Surveys indicate that in camp settings is where many people make a first time commitment to faith. Some churches cannot maintain youth programs but this is one that is available regardless of church size.

8. What staff does Lake Erie Presbytery maintain?

The presbytery maintains a small office at the Elmwood Avenue Presbyterian Church in Erie. Staff is relatively small because it is the belief of the presbytery that ministry occurs most effectively in local congregations. At the presbytery a General Presbyter, Rev. David S. Oyler, is employed to work with committees, assist with connecting people with the appropriate resources and encourage the clergy. His position is full time. Sheila Kelly is the full time Administrative Assistant. Her position is full time as well. And Tammy Achille is the part time bookkeeper. Joy Link volunteers her time as Resource Center Director and editor of The Breeze, the presbytery newsletter. Bill DeWitt volunteers his time as the presbytery treasurer.

9. What does the future hold for the Presbytery of Lake Erie?

Members of Lake Erie Presbytery believe passionately that the hope of the Gospel if crucial in every age. There is a desire on the part of all 61 congregations to share the Good News in the communities in which we live and worship. Particularly in this first decade of the 21st century there is a desire to pursue bold new initiatives - to push ourselves to share the Gospel in new ways in a post-modern era.

10. What one truth is the Presbytery of Lake Erie eager to carry forward into the 21st century?

The Presbytery is eager to say - loud and clear - that Christ transforms lives. We desire for you to join in our efforts to share that Good News with others around us!