THE PRESBYTERY OF LAKE ERIE
SETS SAIL IN A NEW DIRECTION

In April of 2003 led by God, and confirmed through the vote of the presbytery, a significant action was taken.  At that April Presbytery Meeting the commissioners voted to adopt a document entitled "The Lake Erie Manifesto".  Attached to the Manifesto were “Bold Initiatives” which the Presbytery is undertaking in new ways.  You will find that information below, along with the Presbytery of Lake Erie Mission Statement”.  There is a forward-looking excitement to the action of the presbytery.  Faced by many challenges in this world we believe God is calling the Presbyterian Churches of this region to engage the culture but also to transform the culture.  The task is not easy but it is a calling far greater than any mere human calling.  Read it over for yourself – and join in this great calling with other believers in Christ.

The Lake Erie Manifesto

The Presbytery of Lake Erie, as a governing body within the Presbyterian Church (USA), serves Jesus Christ. We connect and equip congregations, leaders, and persons to carry out the Great Ends of the Church (G- 1.0200).

1. Increase fellowship, worship, and educational opportunities for commissioners, leaders, and individuals of the member congregations.

2. Communicate and promote Presbyterian purpose, mission and ministry among the congregations, leaders, and individuals of the Presbytery of Lake Erie.

3. Strengthen partnerships within and among all elements of our connected church.

4. Ensure that the institutional elements of Presbytery (Council, committees, and staff) empower a passionate, meaningful, and flexible mission and ministry.

1. Jesus Christ is Head of the Church.. Ultimately all of our statements, actions, and procedures as a governing body should in some way bear witness to this core belief.
2. Focus on congregations. We endorse the sentiments expressed by the 211^th General Assembly (1999) that the primary organizational focus of the life and work of the PC (USA) is on developing, encouraging, equipping, and resourcing its congregations and their leaders as the Living Body of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the primary focus of the life and work of this Presbytery is to enhance the effectiveness of its congregations.
3. Presbytery service is an opportunity, not an obligation. We seek to create a structure where Presbyterians will embrace the opportunity to serve God through participation in the larger church, develop and exercise new leadership skills, and gain a renewed appreciation for the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
4. A variety of gifts and a multitude of commitments. We need to recognize the vast array of skills and talents among our clergy and lay leaders and be more conscientious about matching those gifts with the tasks of the Presbytery. Likewise we need to honor the desire of our clergy and members to participate at various levels of involvement in the Presbytery given their other commitments to congregation, family, vocation, and community service. In that spirit we encourage all committees to identify, whenever feasible, projects or activities that can benefit from the contributions of short-term volunteers.
5. An investment in effective committees. Recognizing that no human institution is perfect, we believe that committees can be effective vehicles for deliberation and action provided they are well-designed and supported by strong leaders and adequate resources. Consistent with this principle, special care must be taken to identify effective committee moderators, to nurture them, and to provide opportunities for them to grow in their leadership abilities.
6. A commitment to accountability. We wish to be known as a Presbytery that insists on responsiveness, open communication, and a spirit of mutual encouragement within committees, within the Council, and in our relationship with congregations. We expect all committees to develop clear and creative ways of interpreting their work, and of conveying Information about decisions, activities, and the use of financial resources. Inasmuch as possible, we also urge committees to frame their activities in terms of well-defined goals with measurable outcomes.
7. Presbytery leadership as "servanthood." The Presbytery does not exist for its own sake and should not allow itself to stray and connecting it to the larger church. Presbytery leaders are not figureheads but ambassadors from the presbytery to the local church and from the local church to the presbytery. If a Presbytery leader is seen as the "person in charge" then it needs to be from the position of servanthood and not vested authority. People in those positions must be willing to wash feet.