EP Corner

Rebuilding Connections!

by Aisha Brooks-Johnson, Executive Presbyter

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine… – Ephesians 3:20

“A Time For Reimagining”

Throughout the year, we have explored what it means to live Beyond The Building as disciples who are rooted and grounded in God’s love. At each meeting, we have been reminded of our spiritual ancestry through the Biblical witness. We have listened to stories of Moses, the Israelites, the Tabernacle, the cloud and the glory. We reflected on the story of Solomon’s vision for the temple and acknowledged some of the exploitative practices surrounding its construction. We listened to the grief in the stories of the destruction of the temple, followed by exile, return, and the hope of rebuilding the temple once again.

When we gather for our Fall Stated Meeting, we will explore the theme of Reimagining. We will find courage from the story of Jesus flipping the table of the money changers in the temple. Jesus calls for a new way that is filled with prayer, mercy, justice, and releasing practices that hinder us from having a deep and abiding connection with God. We will find inspiration from the words of Paul who reminds us that we serve a living Lord whose power is at work within us and who can accomplish far more than we can ever ask or imagine. 

We have been reimagining who we are as a presbytery and asking the Lord to guide us along the way. We have shifted to our Regional Strategic Model and have had a wonderful time at each of our Regional Agape Fellowship gatherings. We will be voting on the new presbytery staffing model as we seek to live into our mission of equipping healthy innovative leaders to share the work we have been called to do as the connectional church in the greater Atlanta region. And as we change, learn, and grow together, may we pray with power, trust with hope, ask with anticipation, and dream with a spirit of wonder, joy, love, and peace. – ABJ

#BeyondTheBuilding #HealthyLeaders #HealthyChurches

Upcoming Fall Stated Meeting

by C. Anderson James, Stated Clerk

The Fall Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta will be held on Saturday, November 8, from 9:00am until 1:00pm at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur. This message contains many important details about the meeting—please read it carefully. Pastors, please share it with your clerk of session and elected ruling elder commissioners.

Format: Upon the decision of the presbytery’s Council, this meeting will be held fully in-person. A livestream of the meeting will be available for those who wish to follow the business from other locations, but those joining via livestream will not be able to participate in discussion, vote, or have their attendance recorded. Our morning break will feature refreshments, but lunch will not be served.

Theme, Worship, and Business: Our theme for 2025 is Beyond the Building: Living as Grounded Disciples in the World. At this meeting, we will be exploring the ways God’s people experience and reimagine God’s presence when they encounter the transformative and unconventional ways of Jesus. For the sermon, we will welcome Rev. Damon P. Williams, Senior Pastor of the historic Providence Missionary Baptist Church in southwest Atlanta.

Click here to continue reading this article.

November is Native American Heritage Month. We give thanks for the gifts and wisdom of our Native American Siblings. We acknowledge the Cherokee and Muskogee people who were among the original inhabitants of the land where we now live and serve.

Giveaway Day Timberridge Presbyterian Church

PGA new worshiping communities and congregations are invited to a Giveaway Day at the Timberridge Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 15. As the congregation at Timberridge concludes its active ministry, the church building contains fixtures and equipment that are being made available to the Presbytery. Review the list at the link below, then make plans to select and pick up the items on November 15. New worshiping communities are welcome beginning at 9:00am, with congregations at 10:00am. The Giveaway Day concludes at noon, and all items should be removed by that time.

For more information or questions, contact Andy James at cajames@atlpcusa.org.

Morningside Celebrates 100 Years of Ministry!

On November 15, 1925, Morningside Presbyterian was officially chartered as a congregation. This fall, we will mark our centennial year with special musical service, fellowship, and worship events as we celebrate the history of Morningside and look toward the future! It will culminate in a worship service and special fellowship hour on November 16th. Mark your calendar now to join us for all these special events! www.morningsidepc.org

Invitation to the 2025 Retiree Christmas Luncheon

To all retired clergy and Christian educators, along with their spouses, partners, and survivors, we extend a heartfelt invitation to our annual traditional Christmas Retiree Luncheon. This cherished event will once again be graciously hosted by the Pastors-to-Pastors Team at Presbyterian Village in Austell on Tuesday, December 2nd, at 12 PM. Enjoy delicious food, warm fellowship, and the opportunity to share memories with friends old and new. Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend this meaningful gathering. We look forward to coming together and celebrating the joy of the season.

To secure your place at the luncheon, please complete your registration by Friday, November 14, 2025. Early registration will help us provide a welcoming experience for all attendees. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00 per person. To register and submit payment, please use the button below.

For further inquiries, please contact Jerry Leath by emailing jerryleath55@gmail.com or by calling/texting 404-358-8002.

Clerks of Session Training Opportunity

by C. Anderson James, Stated Clerk

New and continuing clerks of session are encouraged to join Stated Clerk Andy James for a time of learning and sharing together on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 7:00pm via Zoom. Take a look at the responsibilities of a clerk of session, get guidance on some of the core tasks, and share tips and tricks about options to do this work in a digital age. The training will be recorded for those who cannot attend in real time. Register at the link below! Contact Stated Clerk Andy James at cajames@atlpcusa.org for more information.

Rock Spring Legacy Fund Grants Applications Now Available

The Grants Committee is pleased to announce that we are currently receiving applications for the Rock Spring Legacy Fund Grant, a three-year award available to organizations serving homelessness, refugee ministries, or racial justice. This grant is available to organizations throughout the greater Atlanta region without respect to denominational affiliation. The Grants Committee asks leaders throughout the Presbytery to identify organizations that might be interested in applying and direct them to the link below.

This grant will not be advertised beyond this newsletter due to administrative limitations. If you notify an organization about this opportunity, the Grants Committee requests that you notify us with a simple email to that effect at grants@atlpcusa.org. Your endorsement of the organization will be considered during the committee’s award deliberations.

The application is due by midnight February 23, 2026. The committee will meet in early March to review applications and determine awards. Distributions will be made in late March 2026.

Small Is Strong

by Bobbie Wrenn Banks

When Gum Creek Presbyterian Church learned that Amani Women's Center (AWC) needed sewing machines, it struck a chord. They had not known of AWC before, but this small, strong church in Oxford, GA recognized the call to love. They purchased 5 new Singer Heavy Duty 4432 Sewing Machines, blessing them in worship with prayer and the laying on of hands. More machines followed and, to date, Gum Creek has delivered 14 machines to AWC for refugee women to receive upon graduation from the Sewing Academy.

What sparks such an outpouring?

For Pastor Becky and Ron Baker, it was the memory of a mission trip to Nakuru, Kenya, where the host church sponsored a similar sewing program. 

For Vanessa Dameron, it was Amani’s model of education and empowerment so that refugee women gain economic independence and long-term stability. 

For Kim and Dale Dylong, it was about passing it forward after Gum Creek’s love and support for their mission work with the children of Wasilla, Alaska. 

For Leigh Owens, it was simply a chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

In a culture where size matters, we tend to think of small churches as somehow less than their larger counterparts. But small is strong when churches like Gum Creek and organizations like AWC join hands and hearts. Like loaves and fishes, miracles can happen.

For more information about how you can help: amaniwomencenter.org; mdmatl.org. 

Building a Bigger Table: Gathering, Sharing and Learning Together

Join Presbyterians from across Georgia beginning at 1 PM Friday, February 20, 2026, to learn and grow together. This event is designed to inspire action, spark meaningful conversations, and equip attendees through practical workshops that benefit churches of every size. Leave encouraged, equipped, and empowered to bring your congregation—and your community—closer to God’s vision of welcome, service, and faithful mission.

Learn more and register here.

For an archive of New Church Development Commission newsletters and/or to sign up for upcoming NCDC communications, click here.

Installation of Wes Nichols  

November 9, 2025 at 12:45 PM

Peachtree Presbyterian Church

Join us as we celebrate the Installation of Wes Nichols as Associate Pastor at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. The service will take place at Peachtree Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 12:45 PM. An offering is to be received to benefit the Emergency Fund for Pastors.

Presbyterians for a Better Georgia Fall Issues Forum

November 11, 2025 at 7 PM via Zoom

Learn about what issues are coming to the 2026 Georgia legislature and learn how you can become an effective public policy advocate! PBG's focus issues are ending homelessness, increasing affordable housing across the state, and expanding access to physical and mental health care. Our conversation will center on these issues. Special guests are: Rev. Senator Kim Jackson and Laura Colbert, Georgians for a Healthy Future. We'll also hear from our legislative advocate, Elizabeth Appley. Click here to register.

Ordination of Evans Baah Minta 

November 22, 2025 at 2 PM

Oakhurst Presbyterian Church

Join us as we celebrate the Ordination of Evans Baah Mintah to Validated Ministry. The service will take place at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2 PM. An offering is to be received to benefit the scholarship fund for those preparing for ministry of the Word and Sacrament under care of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

Installation of Kate Culver

December 7, 2025 at 11 AM

Central Presbyterian Church

Join us as we celebrate the Installation of Kate Culver as Associate Pastor at Central Presbyterian Church. The service will take place at Central Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 11 AM. An offering is to be received to benefit the Emergency Fund for Pastors.

Ormewood Church Officially Charters as a PC(USA) Congregation

by Beth Waltemath

On Sunday, October 5, Ormewood Church officially chartered as a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), marking a significant milestone in its nearly decade-long journey from a new worshiping community to a fully constituted church. Click here to read the full story on Presbyterian News Service.

Zo Presbyterian Church is Chartered in the PC(USA)

by Beth Waltemath

The sanctuary at North Decatur Presbyterian Church resonated with the rhythmic pulse of traditional Zo music and voices lifted in harmonious prayer on the afternoon of Oct. 12 as an indigenous community from Myanmar’s western mountains claimed its place in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Click here to read the full story on Presbyterian News Service.

As we are planning for the end of 2025, we want to make you aware of our holiday office hours. The presbytery office will be closed Nov. 27-28 for Thanksgiving holidays and Dec. 18 - Jan. 4 for Christmas and New Years.

The January newsletter will go out in the middle of January. The deadline for article submissions is January 19.

Prayer Box

Each month we are taking the time to pray for our churches and new worshiping communities throughout the year. Please take a moment each week to lift up the following communities in prayer:

11/2 - Church of the Master, Clairmont, Columbia

11/9 - Conyers, Covenant, Covington

11/16 - Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, Crossings Community*, Crossroads

11/23 - Dallas-Dodd, David's Court Ministry*, Decatur

11/30 - Druid Hills, Eastminster, Ebenezer Brazilian

*Denotes New Worshiping Communities

Communications, such as this one, are supported by your giving to the presbytery. Thank you for your support.