What is a “Transitional Presbyter”? We are all learning the many dimensions of that calling. The position description put it this way: “To guide the Presbytery into becoming an independent entity from the former partnership of three Presbyteries. And to guide the Presbytery as it discerns its purpose, direction and focus for the coming years, in accordance with established Presbytery policies and procedures.”

How do I do this? The first responsibility is described as: “provide leadership, support, and guidance as the Presbytery seeks to determine its purpose, direction, and focus for the future.” So, I seek opportunities for “listening and discerning together God’s vision for the Presbytery of Sacramento by meeting with congregations (youth to older adults), sessions, pastors, committees, other groups of Presbytery, and by participating in Presbytery Meetings.” Those are some of the official “marching orders” you as a Presbytery have given me.

What does this mean for me, and you? I am to be a “presby exec” in a way that will be different, and will not meet the expectations of some. Most “presby execs” are managers of the affairs of the presbytery, trained to provide answers to organizational problems. As Gil Rendle describes it, I am prepared by God to ask questions of identity (who are we?) and purpose (what is God calling this presbytery to be and do?) and context (who is my neighbor?). According to an exercise designed by The Gallup Organization that I took recently, my strengths are asking questions and learning, feeling connected to others and seeing patterns.

So, I look forward to being in meetings and listening, to being a “non-anxious presence” in groups where we are concerned about the future of this presbytery and our congregations, to asking questions that help us face our problems together rather than worry separately. I look forward to using words and images that I hear from you and put them into hopes and visions for what God is calling the Presbytery of Sacramento to be and to do together. Transitions are hard work, but God has called us into these times.

Welcome to “Building Bridges”! Thanks to Marie Segur, the Presbytery of Sacramento newsletter has a name. Thanks to all of you who offered your creative ideas. Why “Building Bridges”? Marie shared a poem that was special to her and that struck a chord with others given the life of our presbytery. That poem is printed below. The past year or more has seemed to many that we, as in the poem, are also facing “a chasm vast wide and steep” with changes in staff and organizational structure. Presbyterians value being connected with one another, among congregations, across the globe, as we seek to be an expression of God’s love in all the places we find ourselves. Bridges are ways of connecting us across those distances – geographical, cultural, theological. As the poem challenges us, we are building bridges not simply for ourselves but for those who come after us.

In our newsletter and on our new web site, we will use images of many bridges that are within the bounds of Sacramento Presbytery. See if you recognize them, and can identify what they are connecting. I am inspired by all the gifts God gives to us to share and so be knit together as a healthy Body of Christ, living bridges of God’s love and justice in this place.