Mission Communication Unit (MCU)
Description (According to the Presbytery's Standing Rules)
This Unit is to encourage and support mission among the congregations of Presbytery and provide for the effective flow of communication within the Presbytery toward dynamic mission. It is to identify opportunities for mission within the Presbytery and beyond, encourage mission partnerships, and take an active role in recruiting participants for mission involvement. It is to develop and maintain effective tools for multi-lateral communication within the Presbytery (web-site, newsletter, new technologies, etc.,). It is to provide sufficient budget to develop and maintain mission communications among the churches and provide funding for mission projects and/or partnerships beyond our Presbytery.
These several responsibilities are summed up in this Unit’s own mission statement: “To be the circulatory system of the Body of Christ in the Presbytery of the Palisades.” According to the Chairperson, this Unit currently tries to fulfill its mission by helping churches to
In the past year, this Unit has a) provided training to members of congregations to help them define their mission and be able to express that through various media, including the Internet, and b) begun to establish a network of “mission communicators” in the Presbytery among those who have been trained.
MEMBERSHIP: The Mission Communications Unit is to have nine (9) members. Currently, there are six (6) members: three clergy, two elders and one unordained layperson. Three members of the Unit are in the Class of 2009 and one is in the Class of 2010. This leaves at least one vacancy in the Class of 2010 (a two-year term) and the need for two candidates for the Class of 2011.
In addition to elected members to this Unit, there are volunteer “staff” who assist with managing the Presbytery’s web page, with other media and with mission interpretation.
MEETINGS: Meetings are usually held the third Wednesday of the month at the Presbytery office, beginning at 12, noon, and last one and a half hours. Additional discussions may be held online through email, bulletin board (forum), or chat.
