Presbytery Gathers for the 161st Meeting of the Presbytery of Arkansas

The Presbytery of Arkansas gathered March 13–14 for its 161st Stated Meeting on the campus of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, and throughout the time together, a clear and consistent theme emerged: joy. Even amid the responsibilities of governance and the complexities of ministry, this gathering was marked by a spirit of connection, celebration, and shared purpose.

The meeting opened on Friday evening with fellowship, learning, and laughter, as participants engaged in a variety of workshops designed to nurture both creativity and leadership. Offerings included Junk Journaling, Spirituality for Older Adults, and Leading Faithfully... Read the article

Welcome Rev. Sharon Rees To First, Jonesboro!

I am very excited about this new Arkansas adventure as the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Jonesboro. I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, married an Iowan, and landed in Kearney, Nebraska for the last 30 years. My first career was nursing, where I managed an assisted living/dementia care facility. God became rather insistent that I transition to ministry, which led to an MDiv. from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. My first call was to Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Minden, Nebraska, where I spent the last seven years loving every minute of pastoring that congregation.

My husband grew up farming but has spent the majority of his career in construction. I have a son in Jonesboro and one in Maine. Both have given us beautiful grandchildren. We are excited to be closer to family in Jonesboro. When I am not writing sermons, I enjoy knitting, walking, and reading. I am eager to see the missional work of God in the community of Jonesboro and the state of Arkansas. God’s goodness abounds!

New Policy for Using the Presbytery Zoom Account Recent Zoom updates now place all participants in a waiting room until the account’s designated host logs in and admits them. As you can imagine, this creates significant challenges for committees and other groups using the Presbytery's account.

To address this issue, all Zoom meetings must now be scheduled through a staff member.

If you need to schedule a meeting, please contact Kim at kim@presbyark.org, or ask your committee’s staff representative to arrange the meeting for you. A Zoom invitation will then be provided for you to share with your committee.

Who is Over Education in Your Church?

We are updating our presbytery list of those who oversee Christian education in our congregations, whether staff or volunteer, and for any age group. Keeping this information current helps us make sure you stay connected and well resourced.

Kristi Button, moderator of the Presbytery Resource Team and our presbytery’s connection to Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE), asks that you review the current list. If no one is listed for your church, or if the information is incorrect, please email Julie Price at julietannerprice@gmail.com so we can update our records.

You will also have the opportunity to review and update this information at the upcoming Presbytery meeting at the U of O.

Progress at Providence Park, a planned community for chronically homeless neighbors being built in Little Rock. Phase 1 includes 100 tiny homes, Harmony Hall, a medical clinic, garden, orchard, dog park, chapel and labyrinth. Public transportation, social and medical services are provided as well as job training and income opportunities. The Presbytery has provided $50,000 from the Gary Gault Fund for one house and $46,000 toward the $50,000 for a second house to be called "Presby House." If you would like more information (providenceparkhome.org), a tour, or can help us complete the funding for Presby House, contact David Gill (dgill@ferncliff.org).

Presbytery of Arkansas Women are invited to gather for the PW Spring 2026 Gathering, April 17–18, 2026, in Hot Springs. Centered on the theme “Living Waters,” this two-day event will offer worship, fellowship, learning, and renewal at First Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Participants may also register for optional Friday afternoon outings. Registration is $25, or $20 with early bird payment before April 1, and includes four meals. Scholarships are available.



Come be refreshed in faith, strengthened in friendship, and renewed for service as we share Christ’s living waters together.

Synod Youth Workshop 2026 will take place July 13-18 at the University of Tulsa. The workshop is open to all youth who have completed the 8th grade through graduating seniors in 2026. Registration end June 26.  

Solar Under the Sun is a covenant partner of the Synod of the Sun and the outreach in Honduras and other countries and is supported by many Presbyterian churches. Solar Under the Sun is an organization that trains people in the United States and foreign countries how to work together in partnerships to alleviate energy poverty, using solar power. We believe that Jesus Christ is the light of the world and envision a reality where every person on the planet has the right to clean, sustainable, life-changing energy.

We believe that training people to help put solar energy into those communities in the developing world which lack reliable or affordable electrical power enhances education, health, and economic opportunity. In addition to enabling groups from churches that already have a mission team or mission partner, we also facilitate mission trips for individuals and small groups who have completed Solar School. Under the guidance of one of our trained team leaders, these Solar Direct trips allow people to create relationships and get hands-on experience working on a solar installation in the developing world. 

Leaders just got back from Honduras scouting our next location. 

We are planning our next Solar Direct trip there in August. Now is the time to mobilize a team. Our next Solar School is June 4-7th (Thursday – Sunday morning) at Central Presbyterian Church Fort Smith.



The (soft) deadline for enrollment is May 4th, so early registration is encouraged. It is best if churches send at least two people since there are two tracks which run concurrently,

Solar 1: which focuses on leadership, partnership development, and surveying, and

Solar 2: which focuses on system design, installation, and equipping partners.

Register for Lead(HER) 2026: Empowering Female Clergy, happening April 20-22, 2026, at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church in Leawood, Kansas.

Lead(HER) brings together female clergy from across denominations for two and a half days of worship, practical skill-building, and authentic community. The expanded 2026 format includes Monday evening through Wednesday afternoon programming, responding to attendee feedback emphasizing the importance of connecting and networking among clergywomen.



"For women, by women. Celebrating women. Healing women. Strengthening and encouraging women in their leadership, their ministry, and their lives,” organizers said of Lead(HER).

All Commissioned Ruling Elders and small church leaders are invited to attend this Synod conference at Camp Gilmont in Gilmer Texas on April 6-10. This will be an opportunity for us to gather with others throughout the Synod of the Sun in similar roles. It will also be a chance to refresh and renew and experience the glory of God following the busy Easter and Lenten seasons.

2026 Older Adult Ministry Conference sponsored by POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network) will take place September 16-17 in Knoxville, TN. This annual conference will be an inspiring gathering focused on spiritual depth, resilience, and continued fruitfulness—themes that matter deeply for leaders walking alongside older adults through seasons of transition.

Remembering Patty Minga and Kathy White

With deep sorrow, we share the heartbreaking news that Patty Minga of First Presbyterian Church, Jonesboro, and Kathy White of First Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs, were killed in a traffic accident on Friday, March 13, as they were preparing to travel to Dallas for the Synod of the Sun Presbyterian Women's Gathering.

Patty and Kathy were faithful and dedicated leaders within Presbyterian Women and across the Presbytery of Arkansas. Their commitment to the life of the Church was evident in the ways they nurtured community, encouraged spiritual growth, and strengthened the witness of Presbyterian Women in their congregations and beyond. They gave generously of their time, gifts, and leadership, and their absence will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of serving alongside them.

This loss is especially poignant as they were on their way to participate in a gathering that reflects so much of what they loved: connection, faith, and shared ministry.

In this time of grief, we hold their families, friends, and the congregations of First Presbyterian Church, Jonesboro, and First Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs, in our prayers. May the God of all comfort surround them with peace, and may we give thanks for the faithful witness of Patty and Kathy, whose lives bore fruit in service to Christ and the Church.

Kathy White (far left) and Patty Minga (far right), pictured here with fellow Presbyterian Women leaders, faithfully served the church and community with grace and dedication.

Mission Initiative Grants - The deadline for this year's first of three rounds of MOC grants is April15. 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 April 15 deadline!

Faith Formation Resource Grants - The first of two 2026 grants are now available from your Presbytery Resource Team! The purpose of these grants are 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 and for a Faith Formation Resource Grant by the March 30th deadline!

Mission Trip Scholarships are available from the Mission of the Church committee. These scholarships are available to applicants who are affiliated with a church or ministry of AR Presbytery/PCUSA. 

Grants for NWCs - Eligible new worshiping communities in our network are encouraged to apply for available grant funding from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which has invested funds for innovative new ministry projects for generations. Our grants team reviews applications on a rolling basis, typically four times per year.

1001 New Worshiping Communities offers several different training and support mechanisms to support current and emerging new worshiping community leaders. One of these programs is the 1001 NWC Apprenticeship, which, over the years, has welcomed over 200 leaders into the program. Apprentices receive a stipend for five hours per week of study totaling $3600 over the nine-month program (Sept - May), an ICF-certified coach in the network, a leadership retreat, and weekly, expert-led cohorts with other apprentices. Priority submission deadline is April 1, 2026.

Presbyterian Village is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Director of Development to lead and grow our fundraising efforts in support of the seniors and families we serve. This key leadership role is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive development strategy to strengthen donor relationships, increase philanthropic support, and advance our long-term sustainability. We are looking for a proven fundraising professional who is strategic, organized, relational, and passionate about making a difference. 

Around The Table Podcast & Discussion Guides

These discussion guides were written to help small groups review and discuss the content of each episode of Season 1 of the Around the Table Podcast. There is an introduction to the entire season and a guide for each episode. Each episode guide includes: a summary of the episode’s topic, a brief introduction to the guests, an icebreaker opening question and opening prayer, a summary of topics discussed, questions to help respond to the content, a response activity, and links to resources.

Upcoming PRC webinars you don't want to miss! Remember, PRC webinars are always available on demand once they have taken place.

• The Generosity Journey: From Financial Fatigue to Spiritual Momentum, Apr 14, 2026 01:00 PM

• When your church experiences deep hurt: practical steps toward healing, Apr 21, 2026 01:00 PM

• The Generosity Journey: From Financial Fatigue to Spiritual Momentum,  April 14, 2026, 1: