Presbytery of Kendall

Stated Meeting Highlights

March 2024

The Stated Meeting of Kendall Presbytery, held via Zoom on March 2, 2024, highlighted the service 

of Ruling Elders. Guest speaker, Ruling Elder and Certified Christian Educator Martha Miller, PCUSA 

staff for leader formation, emphasized spiritual leadership as one of the essential 

responsibilities of ordered ministry. She provided a list of resources available through the PCUSA 

to support and encourage the ministry of church leaders.

The presbytery voted to renew the commission to pastoral service of three Commissioned Ruling 

Elders: Steve Atkinson, Community Presbyterian Church, St. Anthony; Ed Wagner and Jim Perry, 

Community

Presbyterian Church, Rigby. Moderator Nathan Sobers, Stated Clerk Cathy Chisholm, and Ministerial 

Relations Committee Chair, Rick Spielman led the service of commissioning.

Reverend Pamela Mayes offered prayers in a liturgy of thanksgiving for the service of 71 Ruling 

Elders who had served in churches in the Presbytery of Kendall and joined the Church Triumphant in 

the years 2016- 2023. A list of those dedicated servants of the church is available from the 

presbytery office.

Kevin Dutcher, Director of Camp Sawtooth, reported on plans for summer youth camps, noting that 

registration is open on line. Volunteers are invited to help with the work of preparing the camp 

for the season over the Memorial Day weekend as well as the

preceding weekend. Kevin will be requesting time for him to speak to each congregation in the next 

few weeks.

Presbytery approved the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and Council to eliminate the 

position of Minister of Care, effective July 1, 2024. The action was taken because of changes in 

the

presbytery’s needs and resources since the position was initially created. Vice Moderator Mark 

Crothers thanked Rhett Downing for his years of service as Minister of Care and expressed 

appreciation for his ministry and devotion to the presbytery.

Cathy Chisholm reported that the focus of the Synod Presbytery Task Group is now on the two Idaho 

Pres- byteries, Boise and Kendall, with Eastern Oregon deciding to pursue other options. Using the 

story of Ruth and Naomi as a guide for discernment, the Two Presbytery Task Group met in February 

with renewed

energy. The conversation is proceeding to test the premise that the two will merge as some point in 

the future. Members of the Task Group are available to meet with sessions and other groups to 

discuss the process. As part of exploring possibilities for shared ministry a weekly prayer guide 

featuring stories from churches in each presbytery will be distributed for use beginning Easter 

Sunday and continuing through the summer. Nancy Pearson is serving as coordinator for this project.

The next Stated Meeting with be in person, July 13, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, Idaho 

Falls.