EMerge: The Blog

Call to Presbytery

December 31, 2007 

Dear Presbyters, 

In accordance with Book of Order Form of Government Chapter XI, Section 2, (G-11.0200) and the Bylaws of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (Article I), the Presbytery will meet in Stated Session on Saturday, January 12, 2008, at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55105. There will be an orientation time for first-time elders and new minister members at 9:00 a.m. and a time of fellowship at 9:00 a.m.  Directions to the church are on the back of this document. 

Parking for The House of Hope is in a large parking lot across the street to the North and South of the church.  There will be ample parking, and some street parking is allowed. The building is accessible.  Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon.  Lunch tickets for 200 will be sold at $5.00 per meal, (including 12 meatless meals).  There will be no child-care provided.   

The Presbytery packet materials, which are available, will be online by Wednesday, January 2, and will continue to be posted as they become available.  Due to the holiday and vacation schedule for the office staff, the usual time limits will be much shorter and more strictly enforced, but the staff will try very hard to keep you informed.  The docket will be online as soon as possible. There is no password required to access the Presbytery packet materials, and it is not necessary for you to download or print the materials.  A color coded packet will be ready for you at the meeting. 

There are several items of interest and importance to be included on the docket.  Some are:  final decision on the proposed bylaws changes; presentation by stated clerk of redress of imbalance; reports from Committee on Ministry in answer to the directions from Presbytery concerning the request from Paul Capetz for restoration to the office of Ministry of The Word and Sacrament; update from the executive search committee; final treasurer’s report for 2007; election of General Assembly Commissioners for 2008. May your New Year be filled with blessings.     

Nancy E. Grittman,

Stated Clerk 

From the North
Take Interstate 35E South.  Approaching downtown St. Paul, exit RIGHT onto Interstate 94W towards Minneapolis.

Continue on I-94W for 1.5 miles to the Dale Street exit.  Turn LEFT onto Dale Street.
Turn RIGHT onto Summit Avenue.  Turn RIGHT onto Grotto Street North.  Turn LEFT onto Portland. Parking will be on your right .

From the South
Take Interstate 35W North to Interstate 494 East.  Take I-494 East to MN-5 East.  Take the MN-5 exit and merge onto MN-5 East heading towards St. Paul.  Continue on MN-5 for 6.5 miles.  Turn SLIGHTLY LEFT onto Lexington Parkway.  Continue on Lexington Parkway for 2.5 miles.  Turn RIGHT onto Summit Avenue.  Continue on Summit for about .5 miles.  Turn LEFT onto Avon Street North.  Turn RIGHT onto Portland. Parking will be on your LEFT .

From the East
Take Interstate 94 West towards Minneapolis.  Exit RIGHT at the Dale Street exit, continue one block to Dale Street North.  Turn LEFT onto Dale Street North, continue for .5 miles.  Turn RIGHT onto Summit Avenue.  Turn RIGHT onto Grotto Street North.
Turn LEFT onto Portland. Parking will be on your RIGHT.

From the West
Take Interstate 94 East towards St. Paul.  Exit RIGHT at the Lexington Parkway exit, turning RIGHT onto Lexington Parkway.  Continue for .5 miles.  Turn LEFT onto Summit Avenue.  Continue for .5 miles.  Turn LEFT onto Avon Street North.  Turn RIGHT onto Portland. Parking will be on your LEFT.

Rev. Richard K. Stelter: 1949-2007

Rev. Rick Stelter died on Christmas Eve after a long fight with cancer.   

Rick died of multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer he has battled courageously for twelve years. Diane Stelter, Rick’s wife, said it is a miracle that he has survived this long- when he was diagnosed, he was given two years to live.

Rick’s ministry had an impact, not only in this Presbytery, but throughout the wider world.

Rick had a passion for the elderly and the infirm,  wanting to provide them with the resources they needed to live their final years with dignity and independence. He worked on a model of home chore workers that has been replicated nationally.  “Because of this,” Diane says, “because of him - it is no exaggeration to say that thousands, of seniors have been able to remain in their own homes.”

Another passion was connection people through worship.  He conducted worship services in an apartment complex in Northeast Minneapolis.  Diane noted that while he has not had a congregation to work in for the last 25 years, he has had Northeast Minneapolis as his parish. Diane notes, “He was called upon for many, many funerals for the unchurched and to assist with those of the churched volunteers who worked so zealously with him.  There were weddings and even a baptism.  There were late night phone calls.   He was the unofficial assistant for many of the small congregations in NE - the one called upon to cover when the pastor was away.  One summer we counted and he was in the pulpits of 6 different denominations, encouraging people to reach across the barriers of age and income to know and love their neighbors.  Through Rick adult children, often living far away, were able to hear how mom was doing, to arrange for the donation and installation of an air conditioner, a surprise gift of fertilizer and seeds, a ride to the hair dresser or doctor, an assurance that there was a local and personal interest.”

Rick served the Presbytery in many ways, including:  the Worship Committee, the Urban Strategies Task Force, the Youth Committee, the Council on Congregational Life, the Committee on Aging and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. 

Rick is survived by his wife of 33 years, the Rev. Diane Stelter, his children Philippa Lynne Stelter, Corlin Richard Stelter and Theodore Homer Stelter.  He is a 1971 gradudate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and received an MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1974.  He received his Masters of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in 1977 and was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in October of that year at Oak Grove Presbyterian in Bloomington.  He served as an Assistant Pastor at Grace-Trinity Community Church in Minneapolis and as a Parish Associate at North Presbyterian in North St. Paul.  He was a chaplain at La Salle Health Care Center and the Christian Union Home/Grace Manor for 20 years, and director of the Northeast Senior Citizen Resource Center (NESCRC)  for 27 years.  Upon his retirement from this position, June 6, 2004 was designated Richard K. Stelter Day in Minneapolis. The proclaimation read: 

Whereas, Richard Stelter has provided Northeast Minneapolis seniors with spiritual and physical support that has allowed them to live independently with dignity; and

Whereas, Richard Stelter has dedicated his life’s work to making Northeast Minneapolis a better place to live; and

Whereas, Richard Stelter’s strong faith, indomitable spirit and caring hand make him a role model for us all.

A memorial service remembering the life of  Rick will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville at 1:30pm.  Visitation will take place at 11:30am.  There will also be a visitation on Friday, January 4 from 6-9pm at Cherokee Park United Church in St. Paul.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Rick.

Acknowledge, we humbly pray,

a sheep of your own fold,

a lamb of your own flock,

a sinner of your own redeeming.

Recieve Rick into the arms of your mercy,

into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,

and into the glorious company of the saints of light.

Amen.