Presbytery Meeting – March 1,2

There are a lot of exciting announcements and presentations that will be offered at our upcoming presbytery meeting on March 1, 2. The meeting will be held at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. Stay tuned for an announcement on the start time of the meeting. We still have some moving pieces for the docket which might require an earlier start time on Friday afternoon. 

Hotel reservations can be made on the travel site of your choice. The best options are the Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn Express. Less expensive options include the Quality Inn and the Super 8. Russellville has several options but would require a 25 minute commute.  

Boundaries Training - Don’t forget to submit proof of your boundary training completion. This is a constitutional requirement and the presbytery will begin shortly to contact those who have not completed their training yet.

The next session is May 7-8. Register here.

Annual Statistical Reports Due February 8 -

February 8 is the deadline to report your annual statistical information to the PCUSA. It is important to report accurate information as it impacts the Presbytery's budget by determining the amount of our per capita payment to the Office of the General Assembly. Our presbytery pays the per capita amount for all congregations and that amount is based on the reported membership of each congregation. If a congregation doesn’t report, the number is rolled over from the previously reported year. It helps our presbytery’s budget when congregations report accurate membership totals. 

If you do not remember your username or password, you may contact Kim Palmer or Blake Brinegar who can assist you with the needed information. The link to submit your information is Church Statistics Login.



Clergy Compensation Form—It is also the time of year when congregations vote on changes to the terms of calls of their pastors. Please remember that MWS members are now mandated by the Book of Order to have 12 weeks of paid family medical leave. The form to report compensation can be found here, 2024 Compensation Report. All MWS and CREs must fill out the form even if there are no changes to the terms of call. 

Presbytery-wide Confirmation Retreat, March 8-10, 2024 @ Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center 

Are you a small church who has a few youth who haven't been through Confirmation? Did COVID or a staff transition interrupt your Confirmation rotation? Do you have a few older youth who would like to go through the Confirmation process? Well, you are in luck! 

In order to better support our congregations, the Presbytery of Arkansas is offering a Confirmation opportunity for youth grades 7-12 for churches throughout our Presbytery. This Confirmation model is a Retreat weekend + some digital classes after the Retreat to round out Confirmation instruction; youth will then be confirmed in their own congregations. We will work with the individual churches in order to make sure the youth have mentors as they move through the process.

We will begin the retreat around 7 pm on March 8th and end by 10 am on March 10th, Register here by March 1st. Due to the generosity of our ministry partners at Ferncliff, this event is free! Questions? Contact Sarah Leer, Transitional Youth and Young Adult Developer

Youth @ Presbytery, March 1-2 - The Presbytery of Arkansas meets three times a year. The March/February meeting provides space for the youth of the Presbytery to connect and discuss the docket. The youth have voice on the floor and are allowed to give advisory votes. This meeting will take place at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. 

Register here by February 15th.

Arkansas Presbyterian Pilgrimage #36 spring weekend dates have been set for April 18 thru 21, 2024 at Ferncliff. Co-Moderators James Burks and Peg David are encouraging all congregations to consider sending some of your church leaders (lay and clergy) who have reached or are close to their “burn-out” to attend a weekend. The results from attending a weekend vary, but generally those who attend are renewed, refreshed, and ready-to-get-busy in their home churches with a revitalized vision of being the hands and feet of Christ. Click here to submit and online application. The deadline to register is April 7, 2024. 



ARPP #36 is partially supported by the Synod of the Sun.

Mission of The Church Grants - The deadline for the spring round of MOC grants are due by Monday, April 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.

Click here for information about registering. Direct questions to committee moderator, Peg Falls-Corbitt.

Apply for Ferncliff Summer Staff - Do you know anyone between 16 and 22 who's looking for a summer job?? We have just the thing! Ferncliff is now hiring for our 2024 summer staff and we have a variety of roles available from lifeguard to media staff to counselors to coordinating staff. Along with a competitive camp salary and the best home-away-from-home you could imagine, our summer staff get the opportunity to build amazing relationships with their peers while adding valuable skills and job experience to their toolbelt. Check out all available roles here.

Apply for Montreat Summer Staff - Do you know a young adult looking for a summer job? Montreat Conference Center is currently accepting applications for its 2024 Summer Staff season. All young adults who are at least one year out of high school are invited to apply.

Available positions cover a wide range of skills and interests such as A/V production, childhood education, marketing, environmental studies, hospitality, and more! All positions are paid and include the option to live on campus. Plus, certain positions may qualify for college credit.

This is a great opportunity to gain valuable job experience and enjoy life in our close-knit

mountain community. If you think someone you know would be interested, please encourage them to apply. Click here to learn more.

Summer Camp Registration is Now OPEN!

It's never too early to start thinking about summer camp! Ferncliff is very excited to open up our 2024 summer camp registration. With Day Camp spots available for campers entering 1st through 8th grade this Fall as well as Overnight Camp spots for elementary, middle, and high schoolers, there's something for everyone this summer.



Click here to check out our 2024 Dates and Rates and you can contact us at (501) 821-3063 with any questions you may have.

In Memoriam – Rev. Jim B. Miller - Jim Miller, honorably retired member of the Presbytery of Arkansas, died on January 20 in Little Rock. Jim graduated from college at the University of North Carolina and was a second career seminary student, attending and graduating from Columbia Presbyterian Theological Seminary. It was there that he met Catherine Allsbury, a fellow student, and they were married in 1987. 

Jim was ordained by the Presbytery of Arkansas on July 29, 1986, read more...

Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, Ark., has been named “C3 Church of the Year” for 2023 by the Christians Caring for Creation board of directors.

Caring for creation has been a longtime emphasis at Second Presbyterian, going back to the 1970s when the congregation began cleaning the streets of Little Rock. As time moved on, Second Presbyterian began removing Styrofoam products from the church and purchasing ethically sourced West Rock coffee. In 2009, the church was selected to pilot the Earth Care Congregations program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Read more...

Update: Honduras 2024 Spring Break Mission Trip - We are thrilled to have thirteen participants for the upcoming Spring Break Mission Trip. Seven college students will be joining the trip representing the University of Arkansas, NWACC, and the University of the Ozarks. The students are natives of the U.S., Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Rev. Phil Butin of Fayetteville and Rev. Jeremy Wilhelmi, Chaplin at the University of the Ozarks, will also be joining the trip.  Read more...