Many of you know by now that Arabella Meadows-Rogers died Thursday, December 17, at 4:30 AM. Her husband Rob and her sister were with her. She declined quickly over the last few weeks but even so, for as long as she could be, she was alert and communicative. A memorial service will be held for her after the first of the year at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Arabella was the EP in NYC Presbytery until she left the position during the summer on disability.

I invite all who would like to comment on Arabella and her many gifts. We can give her a tribute in this blog. She was a friend of mine, someone who encouraged me and empowered me to bring my leadership gifts to the table. She was wise and funny, strong and compassionate. But it was her faith that affected me the most. That faith could be seen as she found fullness of life even in the face of cancer. She lived with joy and as Jill Hudson noted, we could see that joy in the brightly colored headscarves she wrapped around her head. She was simply vibrant. Her whole life spoke boldly to life in this world and the next. I will miss her. We will miss her.

You can email her husband, Rob, at rmr@nyc.rr.com.
Or you can send a note to Robert Meadows-Rogers: 70 Haven Avenue, Apt. 2C, New York, NY 10032-2609.

Betty Meadows, President
Association of Executive Presbyters

Monthly Letter and Updates from AEPS

Dear Members of the Association,

Advent greetings!

On October 2 and 3, 2009, you helped create one of the best Association meetings in recent history. You brought your energy, your ideas and your wisdom to the meeting. We voted on many changes to the By-laws, one of those being that membership is open to Synod Executives. The Steering Committee, whose names are seen below, wanted more inclusiveness and openness as we move into our future with God, a future that includes much change from what is to what will be. The fact that the church is changing does not escape anyone. These changes can be seen and felt in the downsizing of the General Assembly, in the various ways presbyteries are led, in the titles for people in the role of executive, and in the myriad of changes in congregations, especially how congregations are birthed.

One of the most important roles today in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is the role of the presbytery. How presbyteries help congregations be vital, train leaders, birth new churches, and interpret the work of the General Assembly Mission Council and the Office of the General Assembly are just a few of the significant responsibilities that presbyteries have. And how Executives lead is vital. We are to lead in such a way from our crucial point in the system that the PC(USA) is strengthened for Jesus Christ.

The purpose statement you voted on is this: We believe God gathers middle governing body leaders who are at the church's fulcrum point, and who serve as connectors between congregations and the larger church, to be a learning community that resources and supports both each other and the church as a whole. Through scripture, prayer and dialogue we seek to discern a way forward amid the pressing issues and opportunities of the Presbyterian Church (USA). This community offers its unique perspective to the church in order to challenge and inspire us to a more faithful and fervent witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.

God bless you! And thank you for who you are and for what you do in the name of Christ.

Betty Meadows
President

Tom Evans
President-Elect

Association of Executive Presbyters - 2010 officers
President- Betty Meadows - Mid Kentucky - bettym29@bellsouth.net
President-Elect - Tom Evans - Sheppard's and Lapsley
thomasevans2000@gmail.com
Past-President - Graham Hart - Peace River - graham@peaceriverpresbytery.org
Secretary/Treasurer - Sue Coller - Minnesota Valleys - sue@minnesotavalleys.org

Steering Committee:
Jim Moseley - New Castle - jmoseley@ncpresbytery.org
Kevin Yoho - Newark - Kevin@newarkpresbytery.org
Phil Barrett - Des Moines pby1@presbyteryofdesmoines.org [co-opted]
Corey Schlosser-Hall - North Puget Sound - corey@npspresbyterians.net
Mary Newbern Williams - John Calvin - revmarynw@johncalvinpresby.org