Mission
From The First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles
| Extra Commitment Mission |
We are called from different walks of life to continually grow in commitment, to meet the needs of societal change, locally and with partnerships throughout the world.
Presbyterian Mission Locally and Around the World The First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles is a local congregation (within the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse, within the Synod of the Northeast) of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Presbyterian comes from a Greek word meaning connected from the local in partnership as the larger body. As such, this church financially and prayerfully provides its fair share of support for the Presbyterian mission of Jesus Christ (in excess of 20% of the Operating Budget), in and around Central New York State, the Northeastern United States, and throughout the world.
Mission Identity In our earliest identity as the Schaneateles Religious Society, this congregation served this community as the local courts, the local schools, and as a community of worship/prayer and Bible study.How different, if the Faith Community were still responsible for the Courts, rather than focusing on punitive damages, pain and suffering, the focus of these early Church Courts was on "forgiveness" and "Redemption" and what was needed to re-accept one another as members of this community.
Local Witness When we rebuilt the facilities in 1998, the church committed to using the building as a community resource, to provide space for what we as a church would want to provide but do not need to own or control. Today, this church is home to Art Shows and Music Festivals, Education programs, Co-ops, and Community based youth programs far greater than the church's own budget and staff could provide, which also could not exist in this community without the mission and witness of the First Presbyterian Church. The church does enforce an Abuse Prevention & Response Policy, requiring that all church programs and building uses will have leaders trained in recognizing symptoms of abuse, having criminal background checks, and following procedure, in order to make this resource available and safe as a place of Sanctuary.
Presbyterian Manor The church owns and operates Presbyterian Manor, as a 501(3)c non-profit residential home for the “well-elderly”. This renovated boarding house provides a private bedroom, private sitting-room and bathroom, shared living spaces, meals and utilities for a very modest monthly rent. In addition to owning the facility, providing maintenance and improvements, and a Board of Directors for operations, members of the church serve and share in the Sunday noon meal with the residents.
The Lost Boys Clinic in Southern Sudan The First Presbyterian Church is has worked diligently creating a Primary Health Care Clinic in Southern Sudan. The 501(3)c John Dau Foundation [1], previously known as ACFS: America Cares For Sudan, has provided basic health care in a location where there were no doctors for a 75 mile radius, where there are no roads, no electricity, no clean water. First our Pastor in April 2005, then Contractors, Retired persons, Doctors and Nurses have each gone to volunteer in the isolated conditions of S.Sudan, each returning repeatedly. At the Clinic, we are now treating Dehydration, Pneumonia, Measles, Malaria, Malnutrition, Potts Disease, TB, and a host of parasites. This Church has created essential relationships with indigenous leaders, to create a permanent Clinic building, with electricity, internet communication, a vehicle for transportation, refrigeration for vaccination, clean water, partnerships with other NGOs, a Doctor, Nurses, 25 Midwives, Counselors, Lab Technicians and Pharmacists, as well as the medicines and vaccinations to follow through with care. While we have been able to give the people medicine, water, electricity and a permanent building, the clinic has taught all of us about the power of human touch and caring. This has truly become an ecumenical community-supported mission, as friends and partners have served in fund raising, public relations, construction and medical operations. In an isolated, war-ravaged, part of Sub-Saharan Africa, we have changed circumstance from 8 out of 10 children and their mothers dying in labor and delivery, to a time and place of hope, where every mother receives pre-natal and post-natal care, every infant is inoculated against preventable diseases; and where we can diagnose and treat Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and STIs.
Mission Workweeks Since 1999, the church has annually sponsored a summer mission workweek for youth. These adventures allow the youth to do in service for others, while living independently from family, in an intentional Christian community. Recent trips have been to Heifer International Farm, to Ministry in the North Country NYS, and working with Habitat for Humanity in Cleveland. The youth of the church routinely serve at the Syracuse Rescue Mission and other local mission projects.
Sudanese Refugees Read about our work with Sudanese Refugees here.
Locally Designated Mission Local Mission is Divided Between Four Current Mission Priorities:
- Local Basic Needs
- Personal Crises
- Local Children’s Needs
- International Medical Outreach
In 2010 this has developed further, into a fund of the nurses of a public school in an impoverished neighborhood to draw upon as needed to provide for children who otherwise had no access to Dental Care, Eye Glasses, or a Medical Doctor's treatment. The Church has no knowledge of who received what care, the persons receiving help have no knowledge of who provided assistance. When persons were in need, we were there, for the greater glory of God.
