I have been a Synod Commissioner for many years. I was a commissioner for the Synod of the Trinity (PA/eastern OH/WV) for almost 8 years. I finished my terms 8 years ago- hard to believe! Now I find myself a Synod commissioner once again. My first year was last year- filling a second term of a pastor who left the Presbytery. This is the 2nd of the two years he had left on his remaining term. I can re-up for 3 more years after this year. Our Synod is the Synod of Lincoln Trails covering Illinois and Indiana. There are 8 presbyteries (including Southeastern IL Presbytery) in our Synod. Including Puerto Rico, there are 18 Synods in the US. A Synod is one of the two middle-governing bodies of our denomination (PC(USA)). The other is our presbyteries. The “highest” governing body is the General Assembly.

Even though thinking about our Synod may not be the most adventurous, enthralling topic it is important to members and friends of our church to understand more about how we govern ourselves. It is important to note that we are a representative body as a denomination. Important decisions come from commissioners (elders and pastors of our church) at each governing body “level” not from some head person(s) at the top of a pyramid.

The Mission of our Synod is as follows:

Our mission of the Synod of Lincoln Trails (PCUSA) is to develop, nurture and support leaders in partnership with our presbyteries and congregations, and to coordinate Presbyterian mission strategy within the Synod.

The eight presbyteries of the synod each elect two elders and two ministers to serve as commissioners to the Synod. Commissioners serve as members of either the Standing Committee on Leadership Development or the Standing Committee on Mission Coordination and Administration. Four commissioners are appointed to serve also on the Standing Committee on Personnel and an additional four to serve on the Synod's Board of Directors. The Synod Nominating Committee is composed of six commissioners: two ministers, two women elders and two men elders. Synod meetings are held quarterly, in January, April, July and October. I am on the Standing Committee on Mission Coordination and Administration.

Our last Synod meeting was January 16 from 10am-4pm at the Philo Presbyterian Church. I so very much appreciate knowing about the larger church. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own church needs that we forget we are a connectional church. We are not in this alone. We can go other places for resources, assistance, counsel, resource persons and the like. And, we remember that together we are the Body of Christ praying for one another, coordinating our efforts and being good stewards by sharing resources. Having observed and participated in all 3 “higher” governing bodies, I believe our PC(USA) system of governing to be a very good system with checks and balances and in the spirit of the Body of Christ.

At our January meeting of the Synod of Lincoln Trails: 1) we introduced ourselves to each other (for our benefit and new commissioners coming on); 2) together we joyfully worshipped God and shared the Lord’s Supper as a great way to start off a meeting- in the correct frame of mind; 3) we heard from the Synod’s Administrative Commission to the Presbytery of Midwest Hanmi, a non-geographical Korean Presbytery, working with both the Presbytery and a church in conflict in an extremely difficult situation; 4) we enjoyed fellowship around table and a yummy lunch; 5) separating into our standing committees we did that business which included my nomination/election as Vice Chair of my committee which may well lead to being the Chair next year; 6) a first reading of the budget was handed out for approval at the April meeting; 7) the other committee- Leadership Development- will offer a $500 scholarship to the PC(USA) to each presbytery in the Synod for Youth Triennium; 8) we had our corporate meeting and noted that income was down for the Synod which left us several thousand dollars in the red; 9) we shared what we thought best and/or most helpful about the meeting and adjourned with prayer. IT’S GOOD TO BE CONNECTED!

The Synod of Lincoln Trails is very active (like the Synod of the Trinity that I was formerly a part of) and more so than many other Synods. Some contend, and there are several overtures to this summer’s General Assembly meeting to the effect, that Synods are no longer useful and draining of resources- that isn’t true for our’s as it is extremely active in helping/support/caring for our presbyteries and churches. It would be a huge upheaval to our system were Synods to vanish but it may happen some day.

Our Synod offers Interim Pastor training (of which this church has benefited); clergy emergency financial support; distributes funds from the Lilly Endowment Planning Grant in the area of exploring and responding to economic challenges; helps with retirement planning for church workers, assessment for candidates to the ministry, in-depth career counseling for church workers, and professional development; supports and/or helps implement campus ministries, Wee Kirk Conferences, Commissioned Lay Pastor Training (of which John Robson is now a part), the Middle School Retreat,

Youth Triennium, Synod School, pastors conferences and supports Committees on Representation (racial/ethnic/gender diversity) and more.

Good stuff!

Written by Rev Laurie Williams