The Synod Mission and Ministries Commission meets quarterly between biennial Synod Assemblies.
It is charged with conducting the business of the Synod between assemblies. The Commission is composed of a members from each of the 22 presbyteries and elected representatives of racial ethnic caucuses and Presbyterian Women. In addition, a rotating third of our presbyteries are able to send a Youth Advisory Delegate. Term limits are a maximum of three two-year terms.
How are Commission members selected?
The Standing Rules of the Synod state:
“In order to fulfill the Synod’s value of diversity, the Leadership Team shall nominate to the Synod Assembly names of those to serve on the Synod Mission & Ministries Commission in the following fashion: each presbytery shall be encouraged to nominate three (3) persons of diverse backgrounds from which the Leadership Team shall select one name to submit to the Synod Assembly.”
This process helps the Commission to better reflect the rich diversity of our Synod Community, allowing us greater flexibility to achieve balance between ruling elders and teaching elders, as well as with age, race/ethnicity, and other diversities.
We recommend this because it is easier to achieve diversity within the commission when there is the opportunity to select people across the 22 presbyteries. If presbyteries elect only one person, it is much more difficult to achieve balance between ruling elders and teaching elders, as well as with age, gender, race/ethnicity, and other diversities.
What is the deadline for submitting the three names?
We ask for It is helpful to have nominations from presbyteries sixty (60) days in advance of the Synod Assembly to allow in order for the Leadership Team to select those to forward to the Assembly for election.
Can a presbytery submit one name instead of three?
Yes, however, when presbyteries submit only one nominee, the Commission is less likely to reflect the full diversity we know is present in the Synod of the Northeast.
Can our current commission member continue to serve?
Yes. Synod Mission & Ministries Commission members are allowed to serve a total of six (6) consecutive years, or three two-year terms. (We reset the clock and began tracking terms at the 2014 Synod Assembly.)
For 2017-2019 will there be a new set of YADs serving on the Commission?
Yes. The standing rules call for one-third of the presbyteries on a rotating basis to directly elect a young adult age 17 – 22 to the Synod Mission and Ministries Commission. We are rotating presbyteries in alphabetical order. For 2017-2019 the presbyteries eligible to elect YADs are: Hudson River, Long Island, Monmouth, New Brunswick, New York City, Newark and Newton.
How are Young Adult Advisory Delegates Selected?
The Standing Rules call for one-third of the Synod's presbyteries to elect a young adult (ages 17-22) to the Synod Mission & Ministries Commission. Electing presbyteries are rotated on an alphabetical basis, according to the following schedule:
2014-2016
Albany
Boston
Cayuga-Syracuse
Eastern Korean
Elizabeth
Genesee Valley
Geneva
2017-2019
Hudson River
Long Island
Monmouth
New Brunswick
New York City
Newark
Newton
2020-2022
Northern New England
Northern New York
Palisades
Southern New England
Susquehanna Valley
Utica
West Jersey
Western New York
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Current members of the Mission & Ministries Commission
Albany
vacant
Boston
RE David Dorer
Cayuga-Syracuse
RE Charlie Smith
Eastern Korean
RE Hu-Nam Nam
Elizabeth
RE Alan Ford (Synod Treasurer)
RE Maryjane Finne
Genessee Valley
TE Anne Waasdorp
Geneva
RE Virginia Champlin
Hudson River
Long Island
Monmouth
RE Crystal Garcia
YAD Josh Ramos
New Brunswick
vacant
African American Caucus: TE James Reese
Hispanic/Latin@ Caucus: TE Carmen Rosario
New York City
vacant
RE Jacinth Hanson (Synod Moderator)
Newark
vacant
RE Warren McNeill (Commission Moderator)
Newton
Northern New England
vacant
Northern New York
vacant
Palisades
TE Fran Thiessen
Southern New England
vacant
Susquehanna Valley
vacant
Utica
TE Jeff Courter
West Jersey
RE David Watts
Western New York
TE Leslie Latham (Synod Moderator-Elect)
Presbyterian Women: RE Lisa Gray
Chaplain: vacant