The Book of Order requires Boundary Training for members of church sessions at least every three years. More important than the requirement, however, is that Boundary Training provides an opportunity for meaningful conversations within sessions about how churches can create safe, welcoming, and transparent communities.



The PRC (Practical Resources for Churches) has created a series of free and short (no more than 15 minutes) video modules on a variety of topics that, together, fulfill a session's Boundary Training requirement and open the door to discussion. The link to these videos can also be found at the bottom of the homepage at presbyark.org.

Help Shape the Future of Our Presbytery - The Nominations Committee is prayerfully at work, shaping the 2025 leadership teams and beginning the search for a new class of committee members. This is a season of possibility, and maybe—just maybe—you're feeling a nudge to be part of something meaningful.

Is God calling you to serve? Or do you know someone in your congregation whose gifts and spirit would be a blessing to our presbytery? Take a moment to look around—who among you has a heart for ministry, leadership, or connection? Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant presbytery. It starts with people like you. 

Join Fellow Readers in thoughtful book discussions, conversation and relaxation in a worshipful book retreat at Ferncliff this fall. The schedule will include discussions of three books (you’ll need to read all three; they’re great!). We’ll worship together and have time to walk the labyrinth and enjoy the trails and natural beauty of Ferncliff. And if that’s not enough, we’ll have great food, too.

Time: Tuesday, Oct. 28 by supper time to Thursday, Oct. 30 at noon

Location: Ferncliff; lodging in Brown Center, meals in dining hall

Books:

• Spiritual – The Great Search, John Philip Newell
• Fiction – West with Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge
• Nonfiction – Jesus and John Wayne, Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Application, with payment of $175, is due by August 20. For application form and further information, contact Liz Branch, erbranch@comcast.net; Catherine Lowry, colowry@gmail.com; Candice Misenheimer, canmisen@gmail.com; or Rev. Linda Whitworth-Reed, pastorlindawr@me.com

A Board of Pensions THRIVE Retirement Seminar will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, September 16 and 17 at the Grace Presbytery office in Irving, TX.

THRIVE—short for Thinking Retirement: Identity, Vocation, and Economics—is a two-day retirement planning seminar that addresses retirement preparation holistically. It explores the larger issues members face when transitioning to retirement and covers subject matters such as financial planning and retirement healthcare options.

Youthquake 2025 - Calling all 6th-12th grade youth! Youthquake is approaching quickly -- register soon so you don't miss out on all the fun!

 Youthquake kicks off at 7pm on Friday, September 12th (make sure to eat dinner before you arrive!) and ends after breakfast and worship at 10am on Sunday, September 14th. The weekend will be filled with fellowship, faith, and fun as youth engage in small groups with people their age, large group worships and keynotes, and recreational activities such as energizers and Silent Disco! Our leadership includes Rev. John Arnold, Rev. Dr. Susan Arnold, and music led by Andy Watson of John Knox Ranch! Registration is $155/ participant, financial assistance is available (contact Sarah at arpres.ateam@gmail.com for more information). Deadline to register is September 1st.

The next Arkansas Pilgrimage will take place September 4-7 at Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center. Presbyterian Pilgrimage is a purposefully designed program for supporting individual faith renewal and growth. Pilgrimage is a short course in living the Christian faith and is designed to provide a framework for living as Christians in the local church and the world. It is a three-day weekend retreat filled with short talks, music, fellowship, small group discussions and much more. Weekends are led by lay men and women, with the participation and spiritual guidance of ordained Presbyterian Teaching Elders.

The next Ruling Elders in Ministry Retreat will take place November 7-8 at the University of the Ozarks. The format will be the one to which you are accustomed. If you have specific areas you would like to discuss, contact Phil Blackburn at pblackburn@ozarks.edu.

What Happens When The "Nones" Become Parents? This is the question that was asked by The Young Adult Parents Research Project. The study offers practical data and insights into how congregations might shift their models when it comes to supporting the spiritual formation of families that fall into the intentionally unaffiliated.

“Holy Shift,” a new webinar series co-sponsored by the Around the Table initiative and the 1001 New Worshiping Communities of the PC(USA), takes up this question in three consecutive online gatherings - Sept 4, 8, and 23 - grounded in the findings of the research project, which was done in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and TryTank Research Institute. The series will include three sessions in September.

This fall, the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association (PYWA) invites everyone who works in youth ministry — paid staff, volunteers, full-time youth directors, part-time assistants, ordained ministers and everyone in between — to Come to the Water, a refreshing in-person gathering designed to nourish, connect and inspire.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of San Diego, this three-day event will take place at Christ Presbyterian Church from Oct. 6–8. Whether you’ve been in youth ministry for decades or just stepped into this sacred calling, this gathering is for you. Come to the Water is more than a conference — it’s a place to breathe deeply, build relationships and be reminded that you are not alone.

Mission of The Church Grants - The deadline for this year's final round of MOC grants is Wednesday, October 15. Dream big about the mission work your church/Presbyterian organization might undertake this year and let the MOC help you realize your dream by awarding you a grant of up to $1,500.

Click below for information about registering. Direct questions to committee moderator, Peg Falls-Corbitt and click below to learn more and apply for the grant by the October 15 deadline!

A Second Round of Faith Formation Resource Grants are now available from your Presbytery Resource Team! The purpose of these grants is to provide seed money to support Presbytery of Arkansas congregations and ministries in creatively engaging their faith community in practices of faith formation, Christian education, spiritual growth, and discipleship. 

These grants of up to $500 are to help you create a new Faith Formational program in your church or community that you otherwise would not have been able to afford to do. Look at the needs around you. Is there a need for a Grief-care or Divorce-care program in your community? Maybe you feel your church would rally around a new men's, women's, or intergenerational program or event. Maybe your church doesn't have children, but it has the man-power to sponsor a community VBS.

Pray, dream, then click below to learn more and apply for a Faith Formation Resource Grant by the October 30th deadline!

Opportunities in Older Adult Ministry Grants - If you are looking for funding to jump start a new older adult ministry or to strengthen an existing activity, POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network) members are invited to apply for funds from their Opportunities in Older Adult Ministry Grants.

These $250 to $500 grants are designed to offer POAMN members an opportunity to initiate and build new older adult ministries, to re-imagine and re-shape existing programs, or to be innovative and experimental. Funds may be applied to a single event like a workshop or a recurring activity.

The Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions seeks to help members when they need it - so that together we, and our communities, can thrive. This is part of the BOP's holistic commitment to supporting those who serve the Church, so that every member is empowered to bring their fullest, most vibrant gifts to the ministries they serve. 

Your congregations’ ministers and staff may be eligible for a number of grants, each designed to support members’ holistic well-being. Grants for things like adoptions, housing suppliments, minister debt relief, and more are described in the link below.

First Presbyterian Church invites applications for the position of keyboard player. This is a part-time position with an expected 8 to 10 hour per week commitment. Responsibilities include serving as the principal service musician, accompanying the choir and other ensembles as appropriate, and serving as primary organist/pianist for weddings and funerals. Ideally, the candidate will have organ proficiency and a strong keyboard background in various musical styles, and experience accompanying ensembles and musically supporting traditional worship services. This position works in collaboration with the Director of Music Ministry. Potential start date to be mutually negotiated, but preferably Summer or early Fall, 2025. Salary range is negotiable, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Please send expressions of interest to the Director of Music Ministry, Daniel Fry, at dfry@fpcbentonville.org, or to the Chair of the Personnel Committee, Gary Smyth, at garylp07@yahoo.com.

Triennium 2025! Over 2,000 youth, young adults, and adult leaders gathered in Louisville, KY last week for the Presbyterian Youth Triennium. Though traditionally a youth event held every 3 years, due to COVID, this event hasn't been held in person since 2019. We brought a group of youth and young adults from around the Presbytery. We shared transportation with our friends from Grace Presbytery and spent three days experiencing dynamic worship, service projects, creative recreation time, and theological discussions held in small groups. We were well represented throughout the

event with Arkansas Presbys leading and sharing their voices on various PYT leadership teams. We are a strong Presbytery that cares deeply for our youth and young adults, and it showed! 

Check out this article to read more about Maggie and Jeremy's leadership last week with the young adult learning track

Thank you for supporting our youth and young adults so they can participate in PCUSA events all summer. We are grateful! 

Resources for Elders & Deacons from the PC(USA) - Our denomination provides a numbers of helpful resources to help prepare and sustain our Elders and Deacons for service. Check these out:

• Have officers sign up for the Leader Formation Newsletter.
• Training & Tools
• Webinar Series
• Spiritual Practices & Nourishment

Two New Worship Series out this summer:

The Art of Neighboring, a six-week series from Reformed Worship that explores the greatest commandment. 

The Changemakers, a fully scripted four-week series from the Worship Design Studio for ordinary time and stewardship focus created in collaboration with the Changemakers Initiative.