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Meet Rev. Matt Rhodes
Interim Director of Pastoral and Ecclesial Care
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Matt is excited to serve as Director of Pastoral and Ecclesial Care for Savannah Presbytery and hopes to serve as a connector, consultant, and equipper for fellow presbyters and our congregations in the presbytery so that we can thrive in ministry together.
Matt has experience with our presbytery's team model of leadership, having previously served as Co-Chair of CPM for New Brunswick Presbytery, Co-Moderator of the Search Committee for Executive Presbyters for Presbytery of the Coastlands, and Co-Moderator of the Special GA Committee to Study the Future of Christian Education in the PC(USA). A Presbyterian Minister, Matt's primary work has been in healthcare administration, clinical pastoral education, bio-medical ethics consulting, non-profit leadership, and as a parish associate.
Currently, Matt works as a Clinical Pastoral Educator with healthcare systems in New York and Jacksonville, teaching chaplain residents and future chaplain educators. Along with his kids, MJ and Ben, Matt moved to St. Simons Island and joined Savannah Presbytery in 2024 when his wife, Rachel, accepted the call to be Senior Pastor at St. Simons Presbyterian Church. Matt is a native Arkansan and attended Davidson College and Princeton Seminary, where he and Rachel met.
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Meet Rev. Ben Beasley
Associate Director of Pastoral and Ecclesial Care
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Ben Beasley was born in Atlanta, Georgia on December 21, 1964. He received his BA in English in 1997 from Georgia State University where he studied creative writing under former Poet Laureate of Georgia, David Bottoms. His love of the Arts carried him to Savannah, Georgia where he received an MFA in photography from The Savannah College of Art and Design in 2001.
Feeling called to ministry, Ben received his Master of Divinity (M.Div) in 2010 from Columbia Theological Seminary. While at Columbia, Ben did a yearlong pastoral internship at Ormewood Park Presbyterian church in East Atlanta, and completed his Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) unit working with the homeless at Central Presbyterian Church’s Outreach and Advocacy Center in downtown Atlanta.
After graduation Ben served as the summer pastoral intern at First Presbyterian Church in St. Mary’s Georgia before being called to serve as the Pastor of Allenhurst Presbyterian Church in Allenhurst, Georgia. He was ordained on November 7, 2010 at his home church, First Presbyterian Church Savannah, and was installed as the Pastor of Allenhurst Presbyterian Church December 12, 2010.
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Funeral Arrangements
for the father of Rev. Stephen Robertson
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Earl L. Robertson, Sr.
Paramount Mortuary
Saturday, July 5, 2025
11:00 a.m
Sympathy cards may be sent to the funeral home in Paramount, CA.
13843 Paramount Boulevard
Paramount, CA 90723
Continued prayers for Rev. Stephen Robertson and his family in the loss of his father, Earl Robertson, Sr.
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If you ever receive an email that says it is from any presbytery staff member or any pastor in our presbytery asking for money or gift cards PLEASE IGNORE IT! Do not respond or click on anything in these emails, they are scam emails.
No member of the presbytery staff will ever ask for money or gift cards!
| | Montreat Youth Conference 2025 | |
- White Bluff Presbyterian Church hosted a panel discussion; Community, Peacemaking & Repair to highlight cultivating community partners as work of the church celebrating their 280th Anniversary. Panelists included Dr. Amir Jamal Toure; Rev. Dr. Paul Roberts, President of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary; Rev. Dr. John Ruehl, Pastor of White Bluff Presbyterian Church; and Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, President of Columbia Theological Seminary. A great witness to the connected church!
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Some Savannah Presbytery members in the St. Simons and Jekyll Islands area are participating with Robert S. Abbott Race Unity Institute building a network to support immigrants in Brunswick/Glynn County. About – The Abbott Institute
One way to engage with us as a Matthew 25 Presbytery is to participate in educational events and celebrations that you may consider outside of the groups you identify with. Here are some Juneteenth events in June:
| | Savannah Community Walk to the River: | | |
What: Juneteenth Walk to the River
When: June 19, 8:30 a.m.
Where: Wells Park, 2299 Montgomery St.
The City of Savannah invites the community to join the second annual commemorative Juneteenth Walk to the River led by Mayor Van R. Johnson II on Thursday, June 19.
The community walk, which will celebrate freedom and honor Juneteenth National Independence Day, will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Wells Park and move north down Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, ending at the Savannah River in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
Transportation will be provided for individuals with mobility challenges and for walkers returning to their vehicles. Hydration stations will be available along the route.
Drivers are advised that during the walk Savannah Police Department Traffic Division will be conducting a rolling closure of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. between W. 38th St. and River St. Drivers are asked to seek alternative routes, if possible, remain patient, and obey the direction of traffic officers.
| | Pulpit Supply & Communion Administrators | | |
Churches looking for Sunday morning help may access the Committee on Ministry’s approved “Pulpit Supply List” - https://directory.in-c.net/savannah/ (Please contact Stated Clerk Deanie Strength for password.)
The list includes 6 Ministers of Word and Sacrament and 9 Ruling Elders, many of whom are also approved to administer communion. The Presbytery now has a Trained Ruling Elder program which permits elders approved by their church session and trained by the Presbytery to administer communion within their home church and beyond, on a case by case basis. Interested persons should reach out to Rev. Stephen Robertson, Chair of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.
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The Art of Transitional Ministry
at Montreat Conference Center
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August 10-15, 2025
@ Montreat Conference Center
The Art of Transitional Ministry offers education in the skills and understanding necessary for leading a congregation and faith community in transition. Week One is designed for persons curious about reflecting on practice, those already engaged in transitional / interim ministry, those who are considering serving in transitional settings, and members of Presbytery staffs, Committees on Ministry, and comparable representatives from denominations beyond the PC(USA). Week Two is designed to help you process your experiences of serving in transitional settings by working together in small groups. It will help you look at your own leadership style and skills.
Spouse track is designed for spouses of either week to learn about transitional ministry and how it differs from a called position.
Basic Transitional Ministry Education consists of 60 contact hours plus a practicum. The contact hours are divided equally between two residency weeks: Week I (30 hours) and Week II (30 hours), separated by a practicum that combines reflection on, and experience in, some aspects of interim/transitional ministry.
Visit the conference page for more information: https://montreat.org/events/transitional-25
| | The Rural Ideas Conference | | |
Have you ever wanted to be part of a gathering where every single person lives and works in a rural area or small town? This is your place!
What is the Rural Ideas Conference?
Hosted by the Town Square Collaborative, this event is designed to help your church:
- Embrace its role as an anchor institution in your community.
- Reclaim its identity in Jesus Christ.
- Focus on the unique opportunities and challenges of rural ministry.
What to Expect
To support these goals, we’re bringing together:
- Leaders from across the country who specialize in rural congregations.
- Non-profit partners who can help churches better engage with their neighbors.
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A space dedicated entirely to the rural areas and small towns you love.
The First Annual Rural Ideas Conference
July 16-18, 2025
in Clarksville, AR
on the campus of the University of the Ozarks
Once you reach campus, all your expenses will be paid through the generosity of the Lilly Endowment for Religion.
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Rev. Larry Kennon, June 1, 1962 - 63 years
Rev. John Law, June 1, 1960 - 65 years
Rev. Stephen Williams, June 1, 1980 - 45 years
Rev. Chris Noyes, June 6, 1993 - 32 years
Rev. Rick Douylliez, June 18, 1995 - 30 years
Rev. Matt Rhodes, June 20, 2013 - 12 years
Rev. Rick Hays, June 23, 1974 - 51 years
Rev. John Bressler, June 24, 1978 - 47 years
Rev. Bob Morgan, June 25, 1969 - 56 years
Rev. George Brink, June 26, 1981 - 44 years
Rev. Don Dilley, July 9, 1969 - 56 years
Rev. Michael Jinkins, July 12, 1981 - 44 years
| | Where can I find the information I need on Savannah Presbytery? | | See what’s happening at the denominational and synod levels by clicking on the logos below. | | Print the above PDF to hand out to members or mail to them | | | | |
