Rev. Dr. Gerry Tyer, Transitional Synod Executive
6100 Colwell Boulevard, Suite 200, Irving, TX 75039
(214) 390-1894 (office)
(727) 560-7235 (cell)
gtyer@synodsun.com
Welcome to the Synod of the Sun!
The Synod of the Sun is a network of Presbyterians:
4 States
11 Presbyteries
843 Congregations
190,000 Members
Mission Statement
The Synod of the Sun is a missional body which exists to glorify God as it encourages and supports presbyteries within its bounds and as it provides a connection to
the Presbyterian Church (USA).
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Synod Leaders
Rev. Dr. Don Hogg is Moderator of the Synod. His term as Moderator is
2012-2013. Don is pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth,
Texas (Grace Presbytery). He is a graduate of Houston Baptist University,
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Dubuque Theological Seminary
in Iowa.
Elder SarahLee Morris is Vice Moderator. In 2014-2015 she will become
Moderator of the Synod. SarahLee is a member of Covenant Presbyterian
Church in Lubbock, Texas (Palo Duro Presbytery). A Certified Associate
Christian Educator, she is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and the
Academy for Spiritual Formation. She retired after 27 years of church service,
and is now a consultant in spiritual direction and Christian formation.
Rev. Dr. Gerry Tyer is Transitional Synod Executive. He retired after twenty
years in pastoral ministry and nineteen years as the presbytery executive in
Tampa, Florida. Gerry is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Princeton
Theological Seminary and Boston University. He began interim service with
the Synod in August 2011. He is leading a discernment process to help the
Synod decide upon its future mission, budget and staffing.
Elder Valerie Knox is Director of Administrative Services and Assistant
Stated Clerk. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas. Valerie is
responsible for the administration of the Synod, including event registration
(Synod Youth Workshop, Solar under the Sun, Interim Pastor Training, and
other synod gatherings); supervision of the bookkeeping services (provided by
Texas Presbyterian Foundation); and management of the synod office in Irving,
Texas.
Elder Ernie Higginbotham is Stated Clerk. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. Ernie is a graduate of Princeton University and
the University of Texas School of Law. He is responsible for the minutes of
Synod assemblies, maintenance of all official records, management of the judicial process (JPC), and administrative review of the eleven presbyteries. He is
an attorney with UnitedLex having worked previously with Strasburger &
Price and Nortel Networks.
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Synod has Covenant Relationships with 8 Educational Institutions
Austin, Texas
Kingsville, Texas
Kerrville, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Clarksville, Arkansas
Batesville, Arkansas
Sherman, Texas
Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Synod has Covenant Relationships with 6 Service Institutions
Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries provides
homes and services for persons with disabilities in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Goodland Academy is a Presbyterian related K-12 school in
Hugo, Oklahoma especially for Native American children.
Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services is a Texas based
program which provides services for children and families,
adoption assistance, hospice services and residential care.
Presbyterian Historical Society of
the Southwest is an Austin, Texas
based program which advocates for
the preservation of Presbyterian
Church history.
Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest
Presbyterian Mo Ranch Assembly is a conference center which offers
programs for youth and adults in a unique setting in the Texas hill country
near Hunt, Texas.
Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home and Family Services is a
program in Arkansas which provides help to children,
youth and families in crisis.
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Synod Mission Projects, Programs and Ministries
Solar under the Sun
This program trains members of congregations to install solar power units for fresh
water wells and other electrical needs in
third world nations.
Synod Youth Workshop
This is a youth conference held at Tulsa
University each year which reaches over
300 high school young people. A number
of these youth have gone into pastoral
ministry and other forms of Christian
vocation during the last 30 years.
Financial Grants
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Mission Network Grants
Scholarships for Seminary Students
New Church Development Grants
Campus Ministry Grants
Ministry to Children Grants
Older Adult Ministry Grants
Racial Ethnic Ministries
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Leadership Development
Hispanic Women’s Conference
International Partnership with Mexico
Multi-Cultural Youth Conference
Committee on Representation
Scholarships for Continuing Education
Leadership Development
 First Call Pastors Conference
 Interim Pastor Training
Presbytery Leadership Training
 Committee on Ministry
 Preparation for Ministry
 Committee on Representation
Network/Community Building
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Presbyterian Women of the Synod
Executive/General Presbyter Forum
Presbytery Staff Convocations
College Chaplains and Presidents
Conference
College Connection Conference
This is an annual a retreat for
campus ministry student leaders
and chaplains.
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Synod of the Sun Presbyterian Foundation
The Synod of the Sun Presbyterian Foundation raises and grants funds for various ministries,
programs and missions of the Synod of the Sun. Endowments given for
Synod mission over the years are invested by the Foundation. Currently
the Foundation has over $11 million of donor-restricted endowments.
In 2011 the earnings from these funds enabled Synod to grant over
$300,000 to support many causes, including: new church development,
evangelism, racial/ethnic ministries, emergency assistance, rural church
ministry, campus ministry, older adult ministry, orphanages, leadership
training, and scholarships for Presbyterian seminary students from the Synod.
Synod of the Sun Organization
Synod Assembly
 Voting Members: 4 Teaching Elders and 4 Ruling Elders from
each presbytery, 6 at-large racial/ethnic representatives
 Non-Voting: Representatives of mission networks, Executive and
General Presbyters, and synod staff.
Communication
Working Group
 Encourages
community,
connections,
relationships
 Oversees
synod website
Committee on
Representation
 Advises synod
on matters of
inclusiveness
 Consults with
Nominating
Committee
 Reviews the
synod
Governance
Working Group
 Nominating
 Representation
 Assembly
Agenda
Planning
 Personnel
 Finance &
Budget
 Institutional
Relations
Coordinating Team
 Consults with staff
between synod
meetings
 Appoints Personnel
Committee
 Recommends job
descriptions &
Personnel Policies to
Synod Assembly
 Appoints Committee
of Counsel as needed for JPC actions
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Mission
Working Group
 Mission
networks
 Seed grants
 Grants for
network
meetings, travel,
& organizational
support thru staff
and website
Nominating
Committee
 Nominates
persons to fill
vacancies for
synod elected
positions
 Maintains pool
of racial/ethnic
commissioners
Synod of the Sun is in Transition
The Synod is in the midst of change. The staff of the Synod was significantly reduced in 2009.
Funding has declined from $1,300,000 in 2000 to $630,000 in 2011. Our long-tenured Synod
Executive retired in July 2011. In October 2011 the General Assembly Commission on Mid
Councils recommended that synods be either dissolved or changed from governing bodies to
mission/program agencies (mission partnerships of presbyteries).
The Transitional Synod Executive is working with the Transition Team to develop a proposal for
the future mission, funding and staffing of the Synod. Below is a flow chart outlining the
discernment process:
January 2012 – May 2012
Focus Groups discuss priorities
and options for the future, including groups from:
 11 Presbyteries
 15 Covenant Institutions
 Racial Ethnic Groups
 Presbyterian Women
January 2012 – May 2012
An online survey concerning
priorities and options for the
future is completed by Focus
Group participants.
May 2012 – July 2012
Transition Team assembles
the data and a plan is prepared, including:
 A new Synod mission focus
 A funding plan
 A staffing model
 Implementation steps
August 2012
The plan is posted on the Synod
website and circulated throughout the Synod.
September 24, 2012
The plan is discussed by Synod.
October 31, 2012
The plan is voted on by Synod.
November 2012 – April 2013
The plan is implemented, including:
 search for new staff – if needed
 transfer of programs – if needed
 transfer of covenants – if needed
 assignment of assets
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