Welcome to the Synod of the Sun! The Synod of the Sun is a network of Presbyterians: 4 States 11 Presbyteries 843 Congregations 190,000 Members

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1 Rev. Dr. Gerry Tyer, Transitional Synod Executive 6100 Colwell Boulevard, Suite 200, Irving, TX (214) (office) (727) (cell) Welcome to the Synod of the Sun! The Synod of the Sun is a network of Presbyterians: 4 States 11 Presbyteries 843 Congregations 190,000 Members Mission Statement The Synod of the Sun is a missional body which exists to glorify God as it encourages and supports presbyteries within its bounds and as it provides a connection to the Presbyterian Church (USA). 1

2 Synod Leaders Rev. Dr. Don Hogg is Moderator of the Synod. His term as Moderator is Don is pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas (Grace Presbytery). He is a graduate of Houston Baptist University, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Dubuque Theological Seminary in Iowa. Elder SarahLee Morris is Vice Moderator. In she will become Moderator of the Synod. SarahLee is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, Texas (Palo Duro Presbytery). A Certified Associate Christian Educator, she is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and the Academy for Spiritual Formation. She retired after 27 years of church service, and is now a consultant in spiritual direction and Christian formation. Rev. Dr. Gerry Tyer is Transitional Synod Executive. He retired after twenty years in pastoral ministry and nineteen years as the presbytery executive in Tampa, Florida. Gerry is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Princeton Theological Seminary and Boston University. He began interim service with the Synod in August He is leading a discernment process to help the Synod decide upon its future mission, budget and staffing. Elder Valerie Knox is Director of Administrative Services and Assistant Stated Clerk. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas. Valerie is responsible for the administration of the Synod, including event registration (Synod Youth Workshop, Solar under the Sun, Interim Pastor Training, and other synod gatherings); supervision of the bookkeeping services (provided by Texas Presbyterian Foundation); and management of the synod office in Irving, Texas. Elder Ernie Higginbotham is Stated Clerk. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. Ernie is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Texas School of Law. He is responsible for the minutes of Synod assemblies, maintenance of all official records, management of the judicial process (JPC), and administrative review of the eleven presbyteries. He is an attorney with UnitedLex having worked previously with Strasburger & Price and Nortel Networks. 2

3 Synod has Covenant Relationships with 8 Educational Institutions Austin, Texas Kerrville, Texas Kingsville, Texas San Antonio, Texas Clarksville, Arkansas Batesville, Arkansas Sherman, Texas Tulsa, Oklahoma 3

4 Synod has Covenant Relationships with 6 Service Institutions Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries provides homes and services for persons with disabilities in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. Goodland Academy is a Presbyterian related K-12 school in Hugo, Oklahoma especially for Native American children. Presbyterian Children s Homes and Services is a Texas based program which provides services for children and families, adoption assistance, and residential care. Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest is an Austin, Texas based program which advocates for the preservation of Presbyterian Church history. Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest Presbyterian Mo Ranch Assembly is a conference center which offers programs for youth and adults in a unique setting in the Texas hill country near Hunt, Texas. Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home and Family Services is a program in Arkansas which provides help to children, youth and families in crisis. 4

5 Synod Mission Projects, Programs and Ministries Solar under the Sun This program trains members of congregations to install solar power units for fresh water wells and other electrical needs in third world nations. Synod Youth Workshop This is a youth conference held at Tulsa University each year which reaches over 300 high school young people. A number of these youth have gone into pastoral ministry and other forms of Christian vocation during the last 30 years. Financial Grants Mission Network Grants Scholarships for Seminary Students New Church Development Grants Campus Ministry Grants Ministry to Children Grants Older Adult Ministry Grants Racial Ethnic Ministries Leadership Development Hispanic Women s Conference International Partnership with Mexico Multi-Cultural Youth Conference Committee on Representation Scholarships for Continuing Education Leadership Development First Call Pastors Conference Interim Pastor Training Presbytery Leadership Training Committee on Ministry Preparation for Ministry Committee on Representation Network/Community Building Presbyterian Women of the Synod Executive/General Presbyter Forum Presbytery Staff Convocations College Chaplains and Presidents Conference College Connection Conference This is an annual a retreat for campus ministry student leaders and chaplains. 5

6 Synod of the Sun Presbyterian Foundation The Synod of the Sun Presbyterian Foundation raises and grants funds for various ministries, programs and missions of the Synod of the Sun. Endowments given for Synod mission over the years are invested by the Foundation. Currently the Foundation has over $11 million of donor-restricted endowments. In 2011 the earnings from these funds enabled Synod to grant over $300,000 to support many causes, including: new church development, evangelism, racial/ethnic ministries, emergency assistance, rural church ministry, campus ministry, older adult ministry, orphanages, leadership training, and scholarships for Presbyterian seminary students from the Synod. Synod of the Sun Organization Synod Assembly Voting Members: 4 Teaching Elders and 4 Ruling Elders from each presbytery, 6 at-large racial/ethnic representatives Non-Voting: Representatives of mission networks, Executive and General Presbyters, and synod staff. Communication Working Group Encourages community, connections, relationships Oversees synod website Governance Working Group Nominating Representation Assembly Agenda Planning Personnel Finance & Budget Institutional Relations Mission Working Group Mission networks Seed grants Grants for network meetings, travel, & organizational support thru staff and website Committee on Representation Advises synod on matters of inclusiveness Consults with Nominating Committee Reviews the synod Coordinating Team Consults with staff between synod meetings Appoints Personnel Committee Recommends job descriptions & Personnel Policies to Synod Assembly Appoints Committee of Counsel as needed for JPC actions 6 Nominating Committee Nominates persons to fill vacancies for synod elected positions Maintains pool of racial/ethnic commissioners

7 Synod of the Sun is in Transition The Synod is in the midst of change. The staff of the Synod was significantly reduced in Funding has declined from $1,300,000 in 2000 to $630,000 in Our long-tenured Synod Executive retired in July In October 2011 the General Assembly Commission on Mid Councils recommended that synods be either dissolved or changed from governing bodies to mission/program agencies (mission partnerships of presbyteries). The Transitional Synod Executive is working with the Transition Team to develop a proposal for the future mission, funding and staffing of the Synod. Below is a flow chart outlining the discernment process: January 2012 May 2012 Focus Groups discuss priorities and options for the future, including groups from: 11 Presbyteries 15 Covenant Institutions Racial Ethnic Groups Presbyterian Women January 2012 May 2012 An online survey concerning priorities and options for the future is completed by Focus Group participants. May 2012 July 2012 Transition Team assembles the data and a plan is prepared, including: A new Synod mission focus A funding plan A staffing model Implementation steps August 2012 The plan is posted on the Synod website and circulated throughout the Synod. September 24, 2012 The plan is discussed by Synod. October 31, 2012 The plan is voted on by Synod. November 2012 April 2013 The plan is implemented, including: search for new staff if needed transfer of programs if needed transfer of covenants if needed assignment of assets 7

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