Presbytery Meeting Recap - For the first time since 2019, the Presbytery gathered on the beautiful campus of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville for the 155^th stated meeting of the Presbytery of Arkansas. The meeting was filled with several significant items of business that will greatly impact the future of the presbytery. 

A creative and meaningful worship service was held on Friday evening in the Munger-Wilson chapel. Read more...

Boundaries Training - The Committee on Ministry, at its March meeting began to craft a policy to address Ministers of the Word and Sacrament who do not comply with the constitutionally mandated boundary training. All minister members, CREs, or ministers of other denominations serving in the Presbyter of Arkansas will be expected to complete boundary training. Those who have not completed their boundary training and reported that to the Stated Clerk will be notified August 31 of their need to complete the training.  If the minister still has not completed the training by November 30, the minister, and the session (council) will be informed that the minister needs to complete the training. If as of December 31, the minister still has not completed their boundary training and reported it to the Stated Clerk, the minister will be out of compliance, and subject to the judicial process.  This policy applies to all ministers of Word and Sacrament in the presbytery, except those who have requested to be considered inactive. 

Upcoming Leaderwise trainings: May 7-8, 2024, at 1:00-4:00pm; August 27-28, 2024, 9:00am-12noon; November 18-19, 2024, from 5pm-8pm. Click here to register. The synod is covering the cost of the Leaderwise trainings.  

An individual can also do the safe gatherings training, safegatherings.com and take the clergy ethics course.   If you take the course through safe gatherings, you will be responsible for paying for yourself. If you have questions you can reach out to Stated Clerk, Blake Brinegar.

Attention: Benefits Connect Action Needed - Attention all members of the Benefits plan of the Board of Pensions! You need to reestablish your account on Benefits Connect right away. The platform has been updated and, as a result, it is mandatory for every member of the plan to reestablish an account. Please note that you should not use your old password in the new setup.

1. Click this link to register.
2. Select Member.
3. The next screen has two large blocks for email and password. Below those boxes, click the small hyperlink that says "I am a New Member" and proceed from there.
4. Follow the prompts to register, using your email address as your user ID.

Clergy Compensation Form—It is 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. 

Visioning Summit, April 15 at Ferncliff - The staff of Ministry Architects will make their first on-site visit to the presbytery on April 15 to engage with us in a Visioning Summit. The assessment work has been completed and they will now lead us in a process of strategic planning and visioning for the next 14 months. This summit is designed for the Strategic Planning Implementation Team (elected at our October Presbytery meeting, the Presbytery staff, Committee Moderators and those serving on our presbytery committees. We will also have room to accommodate a limited number of extra people not currently serving on committees that are interested in participating. 

The Summit will be held on April 15 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the PAC Building (the old dining hall across from Brown Lodge and Conference Room). Lunch will be provided. For those traveling from a long distance, there are a limited number of rooms available at Ferncliff. Click here to register for the event. If you have questions about the event, please contact General Presbyter Stewart Smith at 501-663-2424.  

Click here to see the Ministry Architect's slide presentation from the 155th meeting.

The Nominating Committee is seeking names to be considered for the Transitional Presbyter Search Team. Please get names to Robert Lowry (robertwilliamlowry@gmail.com) or Judi McMillan (jmcmillan@pcbv.org) by Monday, March 11 so we can consider them prior to the April 1 deadline.

Also, if you have names to consider for the one At-Large member of Presbytery to be added to the Task Force which Presbytery voted to establish, please submit that name as well. The Presbytery voted to do this: “This at-large member would join the task force established to study the financial requests from the three reporting mission partners at the March Presbytery meeting, as well as bring recommendations for the use of the proceeds from the sale of First Presbyterian, North Little Rock.”



Thank you! Judi McMillan (Nominations Committee)

Church Marketing Workshop: Persuasive Promotion offers a step-by-step proven process to increase attendance at church events. This workshop, presented by Rev. John Arnold (1st Rogers) on Thursday, April 18 at 1:00 pm, is for busy church leaders who need to promote church events and are frustrated with seeing a limited response to their efforts. You'll learn a step-by-step process empowering you to be more persuasive in your promotional efforts. Plus, you'll receive templates and resources to make creating great promotional campaigns quickly and easily. Click here to register.

A Job Board is coming to Presbyark.org! We know some of you have openings at your churches - pastor, educator, musician, administrator and more. Whether your opening is part-time or full-time, in-person or remote, we want to help!

If your job description is online, send me the URL. If you don't have a website where it's listed, then send me your job description and I will put it on a webpage and send you the URL to share on your Facebook page, email to people, or whatever. If your church has a logo or graphic/photo, please include it as well. Send your information to Julie Price, your Presbytery Connector.

The Second Annual Elders’ Retreat will take place June 7-9 at the University of the Ozarks. The retreat is open to ruling elders from all congregations in the Presbytery of Arkansas, but will have an emphasis on rural and small membership congregations. Ruling Elders will learn how to craft and deliver a sermon, and officiate at the communion table. They will also have a broad conversation about the work and best practices of rural and small membership churches. All expenses for the retreat will be covered by the Thriving in Rural Ministry program at the U of O. Those interested can contact Phil Blackburn at pblackburn@ozarks.edu, or click here to register.

The Future of the Church Committee awards grants (up to $5,000 each) to congregations who are engaged in initiatives that are aimed at strengthening or changing directions in the life of the church. These grants are for specific programs, events or projects that engage our churches with the community, encourage connections within the community and share the good news of Jesus Christ in creative and innovative ways.

The application deadline is April 15. Click here to learn more & apply. Direct questions to committee moderator, Cindy Lanphear.

Mission of The Church Grants - The deadline for this year's first round of MOC grants is 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 of up to $1,500.

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

The Registration Deadline has been extended for the Montreat Middle School conference until Friday, March 15th. The conference is for youth who have completed grades 5-8 by the summer of 2024.

If you have been waiting to register, now is the time to do it. We're excited for this new adventure ahead!

Direct questions to Sarah Leer. Click here to register.

The Presbyterian Women's Spring Gathering will take place April 12-13 at Ferncliff. This year's theme is Thriving Together: Mind, Body, Spirit, & Community.

Click here for the registration form.

Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock has a part-time job opening for a Director of Christian Education.

Click here for the job description and send resumes to trinitypreslr@gmail.com.