Missouri Union Presbytery Meeting

Saturday, November 15, 2025

It was a beautiful day to gather at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Mexico, MO. The church and church yard were attractively prepared and ready to host 60 Presbyterians ready for work, laughter, lunch and worship. The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. with prayer and the reading of our mission statement. 

The 2026 Presbytery meeting dates and locations are as follows:

a. February 21, 2026 – Community PC – LaPlata

b. May 19, 2026 – FPC - Columbia

c. August 22, 2026 – FPC - Mexico

d. November 17, 2026 – South Fork PC – Perry

Permission was given for Alexandria Presbyterian Church to list their manse for sale and to allow Council to approve that sale at fair market value when they have a buyer.

We celebrated the 55^th anniversary of Joe MacDonald’s ordination. 

We were reminded to send any and all directory changes to Diane Braun at office@mupresbytery.org. Make sure you look at what is listed for your congregation in the 2025 directory to verify the accuracy of the Clerk of Session and Treasurer information. This year we are also asking for the names and contact information for those volunteers in charge of your Youth or Christian Education ministry areas. 

Jeff Carter shared with us what he has been doing as a Regional Coordinator and invited others to consider filling one of two Regional Coordinator positions currently open. 

A thank you was given to Frank Yates for being our recording clerk for the last three years.

A training and orientation meeting will be held on January 8 at 6:00 p.m., on Zoom for all committee moderators, minutes takers and all committee members. 

Barbara also shared the following:

Leigh Jessop, Bill’s wife, is in hospice care at home and is slowly declining. 

Bob Balwanz continues to recover from an infection and would be more than delighted to hear from you or see you. He is currently at The Neighborhood Skilled Nursing Facility at 3003 Falling Leaf Court, LC 9-1, Columbia, Mo 65201

Elder Commissioner Jack Lenz of Covenant Presbyterian is continuing to recover from a broken hip.

CRE Shawn McNabb could not join us for the meeting as his mother is in hospice as the end is near.

CRE Michael Moore welcomed us to Bethel PC for the day and shared with us their vibrant engagement with the Audrain County Shelter Coalition’s Room at the Inn. 

Sherri Finke of the Presbyterian Foundation Presentation reminded us of all the resources they have for congregations concerning giving, stewardship, future planning, legacy giving, and financial tools to help stabilize church economies.

Rev. Joe MacDonald led us in small group discussions that led to a teaser about a new program the Presbytery will be sponsoring beginning in 2026 called “Thrive.”

Moderator, Elder Ann Bouchard presented the Moderator’s Awards to a very surprised Andy Baker and Phil Olson.

The Presbytery then recognized the change in Micah McNeil’s status as he has officially moved from being an Inquirer, to being a Candidate.

Elder Bob Fenlon from the Nominating Committee presented the 2026 slate of members to serve on committees. 

Rev. Dr. Susan Presley and Elder Ruth Nation will serve as our new representatives on the Nominating Committee. 

After a delightful meal together, we celebrated and remembered the 142 years of ministry at Kahoka Presbyterian Church as we closed Kahoka as a Presbyterian congregation and as the Hesse family prepares to reopen it as a non-denominational community congregation. We pray they continue to share the good news in Kahoka and to honor the legacy of that special church.

Elder Andy Baker presented the current financial report and the 2026 budget. Rev. Sarah Butler reminded all that congregations may apply for grants through the finance committee.

In a meaningful event, CRE Rob Dalton was commissioned to First Presbyterian Church - Vandalia. Then our Transitional General Presbyter/Stated Clerk, along with all our CRE’s were commissioned to Missouri Union Presbytery as a whole, thus allowing all of them to answer the call to lead worship, celebrate communion and baptism, and moderate session meetings in congregations that need assistance.

We then closed our day with worship that included a hymn sing with a twist and the delight of installing new officers for the 2026 year – CRE John Grimmett as Moderator and Rev. Pam Sebastian as Vice Moderator. 

We dismissed in prayer by soon to be moderator of Missouri Union Presbytery, CRE John Grimmett.

Beginning in 2026, we, the members of Missouri Union Presbytery, will embark on an exciting journey of faith, wonder and hope.

We will explore new ways to be the church of God, including new ways to worship, new ways to welcome all persons into our fellowship, and new ways to be faithful to the God whose grace has saved us.

Together we'll explore ways to bring new breath and imagination to worship, new ways to reach out to our communities, new ways to minister to all ages in our congregations and congregations and ways to add to rather than replace our beloved traditions.

2026 Orientation Meeting

January 8, 6:00 p.m., Zoom Meeting

For all Missouri Union Presbytery

committee/council members & moderators!

The most informative meeting you will have all year!

If you cannot attend, send someone in your place.

Do not miss this one!

Lost and Found

At the November Presbytery meeting held at Bethel PC – Mexico, a pair of prescription reading glasses were found in the grass! Please contact Susan Paden at 573/473-8241 to claim them. They would be happy to mail them to the owner.

ATTENTION: CLERKS OF SESSION

Mark Your Calendars

2025/2026 Statistical Season Schedule and Deadlines

December 29, 2025: Annual statistical documents will be mailed to clerks of session.

January 2, 2026: Statistics entry access opens for churches.

January, 31, 2026: All statistical reports must be submitted electronically by January 31^st in order to be read at the February Presbytery meeting.

December 2025 Prayer Circle

Gracious and Loving God,

Thank you for hearing our prayers and for your many loving responses. We have so much to be grateful for - for healings, for your gentle companionship with those who were and are ill, for leadership that has come to walk with us and for those who have not yet appeared. We have seen leaders begin to emerge from our congregations and we have seen new paths emerge to supply the needs of our amazing congregations. We continue to seek your face, to follow your will, to learn to follow you more closely in this time and place. Thank you for allowing your work to continue to emerge through us in this beautiful part of Missouri. Bless all our congregations by allowing us to continue to seek your will, to walk in your way and to lead others to the love you have for them. Amen.

SAVE THE DATES!!

Stated Meetings for 2026

Community Presbyterian Church, LaPlata

First Presbyterian Church, Columbia

First Presbyterian Church, Mexico

South Fork Presbyterian Church, Perry

Prayer Basket

Prayers for Rev. Bob Balwanz as he continues to recover from an infection and awaits surgery. He is currently at The Neighborhood Skilled Nursing Facility at 3003 Falling Leaf Court, LC 9-1, Columbia MO 65201 and would love to visit or receive cards.

Prayers of peace and comfort for CRE Shawn McNabb and his family as they grieve the loss of Shawn’s mother, Linda McNabb.

Continued prayers for CRE Bill Jessop and his wife, Leigh, as she continues with hospice care and is slowly declining. 

Prayers of discernment for congregations in transition.  

This is Our Prayer Basket. If you have prayers of intercession or thanksgiving, please submit them via e-mail.