OCTOBER 24, 2023

Information for ministers, educators, church administrators, clerks, and congregations

The presbytery office will be closed Tuesday, October 31, for staff training. Please save your visit or phone call for another day.

Recording and Resources from Presbytery Meeting Available

Thank you to Westminster Church for hosting the 115th presbytery meeting on October 21. Congratulations to Wendy Steeves, a member from Blue Ridge Church, who was approved for candidacy for the ordered ministry of the Word and Sacrament. On the presbytery website, find a recording of the meeting plus the communication resources shared by Flo Barbee-Watkins.

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Registration Open for Two Remaining Budget Listening Sessions

Commissioners are invited to attend budget listening sessions hosted by Mission Council on October 24 and 26. Participants can ask questions and comment on the budget proposal. At a called meeting on November 16, the presbytery will have an opportunity to vote on the budget. Registration for the called meeting will open November 2.

Defining Congregational Vitality

The second and third episodes of the presbytery’s podcast, Innovate, Ignite, and Inspire, are available now. In these episodes, dig into the concept of congregational vitality. Is this something we can measure like a quantity? Flo Barbee-Watkins explores some opinions about this topic, including signs as defined by PC(USA).

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Apply Now for VCC Youth Ministry Grant

Virginia Council of Churches is accepting applications through November 15 for youth ministry grants. Use the funds to initiate, restart, or renew your youth/children’s ministries. Eleven grants of $2,000 are available. Each recipient will receive $1,000 in 2023 and the remainder by the end of spring 2024, pending submission of a mid-term report, due March 31, 2024.

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Needs of African American Churches Focus of Synod Assembly in September

Synod of the Mid-Atlantic held its 252nd Assembly on September 10-13 at Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center in Harrisonburg. Congratulations to Barry Parks, clerk of session at Westminster Church (Charlottesville), who was elected and installed as vice moderator. The four-day event focused heavily on the health of African American congregations and pastors, with speakers reflecting voices from the past, present, and future. The synod also introduced its Next Generation Initiative which seeks to address the shortage of Black Presbyterian clergy leadership for churches, mid-councils, agencies, and beyond. Recordings of many sessions are viewable on the synod's Facebook page.

Review highlights of the meeting