Stated Presbytery Meeting

General Presbyter, Matt Skolnik

SMART Goals Update

• CRE Leadership Team Transition
• Area Parish Gatherings (ask Matt to request a regional gathering):

• Prayer Lab Leadership Training: Four pastors are currently trained

Resources in Development

• Worship for churches (without a pastor)
• Righteous Risk Cohorts
• Public Discipleship Discussions

On the Horizon

• MVP Leadership Retreat for Council, Administration, COM, and CPM, on April 28th at Salt Fork Lodge
• Funding for ministry in addition to tithes and donations. Currently developing a steering team made of business leaders.
• Presbytery Partnerships

Stated Clerk, Alison Blondheim RE

[Omnibus Motion]

• APPROVE: Presbytery Minutes: 12-09-25, 01-22-26, 02-02-26
• RECEIVE: Terms of Call Report, addition
• RECEIVE: Presbytery Attendance: 12-09-25, 01-22-26, 02-02-26
• RECEIVE: Minutes for the Commissioning of Don McDonald as a Commissioned Ruling Elder
• APPROVE: The following Ruling Elders from First Presbyterian Church of Millersburg upon completion of Elder Communion Training: Vicki Wile, Joe Edinger, Steven Randy Ruhl, and Tim Allison; and Ruling Elder David Willard from the First Presbyterian Church of Uhrichsville with prayer and celebration.
• APPROVE: The transfer of Rev. Martin Radcliff, retired, from the Eastminster Presbytery back into Muskingum Valley Presbytery with prayer and celebration.
• APPROVE: Rev. Erin Guzman to minister outside the bounds of Muskingum Valley Presbytery with pastoral work in Strongsville, OH which is within the bounds of Presbytery of the Western Reserve with prayer and celebration.
• APPROVE: Rev. Sarah Bahtia, a member of Eastminster Presbytery, to work with hospice as a chaplain within the bounds of Muskingum Valley Presbytery with prayer and celebration.
• ELECT: CRE Jill Warner to serve as the elder commissioner to the Synod of the Covenant
• APPROVE: If the way be clear, Millersburg First Presbyterian Church may purchase 91 South Washington Street, Millersburg, Ohio (Parcel No. 0700304000), for $85,000. The structure and property have been appraised at $110,000. The property is adjacent to the church building and will be converted into green space. Because the church is located in town, it currently has no green space of its own. This purchase would create space for outreach, picnics, play, and similar community uses. A local grant is available to cover the demolition and cleanup of the property. The current structure is beyond reasonable repair.
• APPROVE: Luella Snyder as an elder of Clark Community Church to serve an additional term as an elder to end in December 2028 due to fewer people able to serve as elders.
• RECEIVE: 2025 Necrology Report with prayer and celebration

Additional Information

• I want to thank all of our Clerks of Session, Treasurers, and office staff for their efforts in getting 80% of our congregations to either enter or provide to myself their statistical information for 2025. There is still a small window so that I can enter statistics for any churches that have not been able to supply the information to me as of now.
• Required Boundaries Training for Elders, Commissioned Ruling Elders, and Ministers of Word and Sacrament: More information. Remaining trainings for the year include March 21, April 13, May 17, June 5, October 21, November 2, and December 5.
• Board of Pensions Updates
• 2026 Virtual Benefits Summit for Muskingum Valley, Eastminster, and the Presbytery of the Western Reserve. Monday, April 27, 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Topics you will hear about are: Medical Plan cost trends and changes, Dues package subsidies, Assistance Program enhancements including the new Child Care Support. Registration is required.

Committee On Ministry, Deb Bowsher TE

• APPROVE: Rev. Dr. Chan Sok Park from the Central Presbytery of the Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad (KPCA) to transfer his membership to the PCUSA in Muskingum Valley Presbytery. He serves as Professor at the College of Wooster. Statement of Faith
• APPROVE: As the way be clear, Ro Robinson be commissioned as a Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) to serve the MVPartnership—Church of the Covenant and Minerva First Presbyterian Church—while she completes the ordination process. It is noted that she is serving with and under the supervision of the Rev. Kathryn Ophardt. CPM has also acted to advance Ro from inquirer to candidate as she continues on the path toward ordination as a Teaching Elder. Ro is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and joined the Presbyterian Church during her time in Boston. Statement of Faith
• Note: Rev. David Rice will be retiring in August.

Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Justin Hylden TE

• Seminary students to pray for: Ro Robinson (Candidate), Na Yang (Inquirer), Tim Pollock (Candidate), FeiFei Xu (Inquirer), Jiaxing Young Ouyang (Inquirer), Bee Wang (Inquirer)
• Ro Robinson has advanced from inquirer to candidate.
• Tim Pollock has successfully completed all of his ordination exams.

Commissioned Ruling Elder Leadership Team

Rick Hastings, Mark Nutter, and Tara Mitchell

The leadership team is working with CPM to create our first detailed course catalog and implement rolling enrollment. Our current goal is to develop two commissioning tracks: the regional chaplain/generalist and the congregational pastor, with the understanding that there is always room to create more specific commissions as needed.

Administration

• Motion to RECEIVE: Financial Report, Mike Mast RE
• The GP’s health insurance came in about $10,000 less than the original estimate with a result of an additional $5,000 in savings for MVP.