Presbyter's Ponderings

Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

Happy 11 th day of Christmas and nearly Epiphany! “Arise, your light has come!” These words from Isaiah are as important today as they ever were. Indeed, as the gospel of John proclaims, “The light came and the darkness was not able to overcome it.” Remember that we are the reflection of the light who came into the world. Our lives shine the light of Jesus into the world. So shine bright, friends. The darkened world needs our light.

On December 28, 2025, I joined Rev. Gerry Anders and the congregation of New Prospect Presbyterian Church for their last worship service as a congregation that was formed in 1834. Though it was a bittersweet moment, it was also a moment where that congregation decided to keep the light of New Prospect shining for years to come even when they are no longer a worshipping congregation. The congregation voted to donate their property (should the Presbytery concur) to Ijams Nature Center so they may expand their preschool and educational offerings ensuring that generations of Knoxville children learn about care of creation and the gift of nature. My thanks to John Thomason and Carl McDonald, members of the Administrative Commission approved to dissolve the congregation, who also attended that last worship service and are working with the rest of the AC and the New Prospect Session to do the work needed to bring a recommendation to the presbytery for its approval.

As we begin this new year, I’m excited about our time of Jubilee and vision. The Leadership Council met in December and will meet again next week. At that time, we hope to be able to appoint the visioning task force so they may begin their work in February. COM, CPM, OMT, Youth Committee, and Peacemaking Committee will all continue their work and report to Leadership Council. If you have a property, loan, or stewardship issue or if you want to want to apply for scholarship funds to attend a PCUSA conference, the Leadership Council will be the body to help. You may either contact me or Jaclyn to have an item added to the Leadership Council agenda.

The rest of the newsletter has information about continuing ed opportunities through Practical Resources for Churches as well as a link to the Outlook’s Lenten Devotional. Don’t forget to start working on your church statistical report and to get your compensation reports returned. Updated covenants for temporary supplies and commissioned pastors will be emailed so you have those for your renewal dates in 2026.

I leave you with the benediction used at Westminster yesterday:

As you leave this place, may you have the wisdom to lean on one another.

May you have the courage to hold onto hope, the compassion to do the good that is

yours to do, and the confidence to trust that God sees you as a blessing.

For in a world full of dead ends, God invites us to begin again. So start

here. Start now. Start with love and begin again. In the name of Christ, our new

beginning, go in peace.

Grace and peace,

Wendy Neff

The faithful members of New Prospect Presbyterian Church on December 28, 2025

Presbytery News

With Gratitude for a Life of Faith

John Guthrie

With gratitude for a life of faith and service, we share the news that Elder John Guthrie entered the Church Triumphant on December 22, 2025. A devoted member of both Rivermont and Second Presbyterian Churches, John served the Presbytery of East Tennessee with distinction, including as Moderator in both 2002 and 2017. His leadership and faithfulness to Christ’s church have left a lasting impact on our presbytery community.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 PM at Second Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, with a reception to follow. All are invited to attend and give thanks for John's life and ministry.

Important Information

for Clerks of Session

As the Advent season continues and we prepare for the New Year, that means it is almost time for annual reporting season! Some reports need to be submitted to the presbytery, and one is submitted directly to the General Assembly. 

Two annual reports that need to be sent to the presbytery: 

1. Necrology Report for 2025 (due by Jan 31) (to report deaths of elders or others during the year 2025) 
   Link to Online Necrology Form: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/necrology/
2. Annual Compensation Report (due by March 2) (to submit terms of call or salaries for Ministers, Commissioned Pastors, and Educators). This form can be completed online, or printed out and returned to the presbytery office. 
   
   2026 Online Compensation Report: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/compensationreport/
   
   2026 Printable Compensation Report: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Compensation-Report.pdf
   
   As a reference, here are the 2026 Required Terms of Call for pastors: 
   https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Minimum-Salary-Information-for-Pastors-1.pdf

Annual Statistical Report to the General Assembly

You can submit your congregation’s annual statistical report starting on Friday, January 2, 2026. This is an important report that helps our denomination get a snapshot of our congregations and presbytery in order to better serve us. Please have your Session approve the statistical report before you submit it. 


You can use this PDF as a worksheet to gather information: “What information will I need for my report?” https://pcusa.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/2025_1211_2025_Guide_Statistical_Reporting_en.pdf


You can get other helpful information about this report and a link to access the system here: https://pcusa.org/resources/statistics-lists/statistical-reporting-faq

The online statistical reporting site will be available to churches starting on January 2, 2026. Statistics must be submitted no later than February 20, 2026.


If you need your church’s PIN, User ID, or Password, contact Laura by January 31.

If a new Clerk will be serving your congregation in the coming year, please make sure we have their contact information. 

Please let Laura know if you have any questions, laura@presbyteryeasttn.org

2026 PET Stewardship

Thank you for your faithful witness and support of the presbytery and larger church. We appreciate your gifts of time, talent and treasure offered in service to the Presbytery of East Tennessee. We pray for your church during this time of discernment of your commitment to our ministry and mission together in the presbytery for 2026.

News from Camp

John Knox Center

Summer Camp 2026

🎉 Summer camp registration is OFFICIALLY OPEN! 🎉 

Even better news… we’re running ALL sessions this summer! Get ready for non-stop fun, new friends, and unforgettable adventures. Register today and lock in a summer full of laughs, excitement, and memories that last a lifetime!

From the PC(USA)

2026 Outlook Lenten Devotional

Written by Outlook Publisher/Editor Teri McDowell Ott, this daily devotional helps to anchor us in Scripture and guide our spiritual practices during this sacred season.

Discipleship in a Divided Age follows the Gospel of Matthew and speaks directly into our moment. Through daily reflections, thoughtful questions and weekly visio divina practices, this resource invites us to live faithfully amid division and uncertainty.

Whether you read it on your own, bring it to your session or small group, or share it with your entire congregation, this devotional offers:

• Six daily readings each week grounded in Scripture
• Reflection questions to help integrate faith into everyday life
• Closing prayers shaped for personal or communal use
• Weekly visio divina
• A pastoral voice that meets readers with honesty, clarity and hope

What do you get with your order?

• A digital, daily devotional that you can insert into your bulletin, email out to your congregation, or read like a book at home while drinking your morning coffee
• Adaptable files that can be printed on a half page or full page
• Basic printing instructions
• All files sent to your inbox on January 8, 2026

Intrigued? View a sample of week one.

Ministry Toolbox

Practical Resources for Churches

Professional Development/Continuing Education

Did you know that PRC was one of the leaders in faith based webinars and professional development? We started this part of our ministry back in 2011, bringing in top-name presenters in big topics of ministry. We have new webinars each month featuring highly engaging and knowledgeable presenters, all provided to you because of the generosity of our subscribers.

January and February Webinars:

Full-Day VBS Roundtable; January 6; 2 pm

Time Management for Pastors; January 8; 2 pm

Cross-Cultural Ministries; January 20; 7 pm

Resisting Erasure and Isolation as a Pathway to Belonging; January 29; 2 pm

Using Artificial Intelligence to Create Stewardship Campaigns; February 3; 2 pm

5 Steps to Help Your Church Be Friendlier to Guests; February 10; 2 pm

Ordination Anniversaries

January Ordination Anniversaries



Rev. Dr. Don McKim, January 5, 51 years

Rev. Crawford King, January 11, 45 years

Rev. Alyson Wilson, January 15, 3 years

Rev. Dr. Anne McKee, January 20, 41 years

Rev. Patricia Harvey, January 22, 31 years

Rev. Jessica Lewis, January 28, 2 years

Resources for Congregations

The PET website has many resources to help our congregations.

Check it out at www.presbyteryeasttn.org.

If you need to find someone to preach and lead worship, here’s the link to the pulpit supply list: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/wp-content/uploads/Pulpit-Supply-Directory.pdf

Looking for a login to access the great Christian Education resources on Amplify? Fill out this form: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/amplify-request/

You can find all of this information and much more at the PET website under the resources tab. Check it out!

All articles must be submitted by Wednesday of the week prior to publication. Repeat publication of articles is at the discretion of the editor. Send your submissions to office@presbyteryeasttn.org.

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