Anti- Racism Retreat / Change of Venue and Time

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. William Yoo author of A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church will be our guest presenter. Discussion of his book will be facilitated by Rev. Gregory Bentley. You do not have to have read the book to participate. Having read his work and heard Dr. Yoo's lecture prior, Rev. Bentley said, “I thank God for what you have done and I hope the church receives and acts on this in a faithful way. It’s up to us if we repent and repair what’s been done or go the way of all flesh.”

Due to the number of registrations we have already received we have had to move the event to Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church and change the time to Monday, August 21^st from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. For those that registered for an overnight stay at Living River, you will be refunded your registration cost.

Lunch will be available for $10.00 (cash or check made payable to the Presbytery).

This retreat is for the entire Presbytery and satisfies the required Anti-Racism training. Pastors are encouraged to sign up and share this opportunity with their congregation, staff, and colleagues. Please Re-Register with the link below.

https://forms.gle/TSVPhxrNUKdqHRAh7

Update on Union Village at PHFC

Union Village is supportive housing for individuals who are deaf, blind, deafblind or multi-disabled. Some of Talladega’s leading institutions are working together to help some of the area’s most vulnerable citizens. 

Talladega-based Presbyterian Home for Children has partnered with...Read more.

Presbyterians for Earth Care Conference

The Climate Crisis & Empowering Hope

September 20 – 23, 2023

Six years ago, thousands of commissioners to Presbyteries throughout the country voted to adopt the 2016 General Assembly overture to amend the Book of Order to include “caring for God’s creation” as one of the 12 marks of ministry for all Presbyterians. The world needs all Presbyterians to organize quickly, to counter what we see, feel and smell, where we live and in the news.

As UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres said on...

Celebrations from the previous weekend

Southminster Presbyterian Church Foundation Grant Applications

Southminster Presbyterian Church Foundation for Ministry is processing grant applications for 2023 with a total of $34,600 to disburse to non profits organizations. The deadline is September 1, 2023. A copy of the application is attached. If you volunteer for a non profit organization or have a passion for one, please encourage it to apply. The application must specify an exact purpose for which the money will be used.  

Church Financial Leadership Coaching Program

A program for pastors

At the Presbyterian Foundation, we believe it is important to resource pastoral leaders and the congregations they serve in the areas of church financial literacy and leadership. We have established a national coaching network to help address the challenges faced by pastoral leaders and promote sustainability and excellence in ministry.

The Presbyterian Foundation’s Church Financial Leadership Coaching Program is a free, 12-month coaching program for church pastors that will assist you in leading your congregation down the path of financial sustainability to fulfill your church's mission.

Contact Your MRO

Visit the Coaching Program Website

Download Coaching Program Guide

Matthew 25 Summit: An Invitation to Innovation

Join us in Atlanta, GA, on Martin Luther King Jr weekend, January 16­­­–18, 2024, for a first-of-its-kind event! 

The Matthew 25 Summit will bring mid-councils, churches, and individuals together to explore this vision. What does it mean to eradicate poverty; how can we begin dismantling systemic racism; how will we know if we are building a vital congregation? We are offering you an invitation to innovation. A chance to dialogue, learn with, and grow with others in exploration. Featuring innovative speakers, thriving ministries, transformative workshops, and space to imagine what’s next!

Two Programs to Strengthen Stewardship Practices

The Presbyterian Foundation is pleased to bring you another Day of Learning for getting back to basics with stewardship.

This FREE online learning opportunity is set for August 23, 2023.

2:00 PM ET /11:00 AM PT Building a Culture of Generosity with Robert Hay, Jr., Senior Ministry Relations Officer for the Presbyterian Foundation

5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT Tactical Stewardship: Creating an Annual Plan with Maggie Harmon, Ministry Relations Officer for the Southwest



Register Today

Questions? Contact the Presbyterian Foundation at [email protected]

Presbyterian College New Program

Presbyterian College is exited to offer a new program focused on fundraising, philanthropy, stewardship, and other giving initiatives for congregations and other faith-related organizations. PC is proud to partner with the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (Indiana University) to offer the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF). This unique partnership enables this outstanding course to be offered in the southeast region. The executive certificate program provides the research, tools, and customized training to meet the growing needs of leaders in religious communities and fundraisers of faith-based organizations. The focus of the ECRF is on the cultural, organizational, and philanthropic practices unique to religious institutions. These practices in turn enable donors motivated by spiritual and religious values to experience the joy of generous giving.

This would be an ideal program for clergy or other faith leaders as well as stewardship or advancement staff members in religious communities, schools, or service organizations. From my years of ministry in congregations, I can also see the great value that could come from having members who are heavily involved (or will be in the future) in stewardship or capital campaigns participate in this program.

More details and Registration:  https://www.presby.edu/academics/graduate-professional/lake-institute/

Program Dates: September 18-20, 2023 (3 hour online component afterwards)

Location: Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA

The 2023 Habitat for Humanity House

The Birmingham area churches in the Presbytery will sponsor a Habitat for Humanity House for this year, 2023. Construction will begin on Thursday, September 14, 2023. We will find out where the house will be built and which family we are building for in August.

Volunteer work days are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Volunteers do not have to be knowledgeable about construction (although it helps). There will be plenty of jobs to do: digging, helping frame walls, painting, nailing, pulling nails out because you bent them, installing siding and lots more.

Please set your calendars for this fall and help a family get affordable housing. And, you may meet this family as they work on their house.

You're invited to the

2023 Polity, Benefits, and Mission Conference

When

October 9, 2023-October 12, 2023

Begins Monday, 7 p.m. with an opening reception

Concludes Thursday at noon

Where

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch

St. Louis, Missouri

Registration Deadline

September 1, 2023

Click the Register Now button below for more information about the event and to register to attend! We invite you to forward this email to other mid council colleagues who may wish to attend.

Register Now

Fun Fact: On Punctuation—Did you Know?

I’ve tried to figure out who decreed this, and even the diligent researchers at the Presbyterian Historical Society haven’t yet found a record, but the proper ways to write about our denomination are 

•  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – spelled out
• Presbyterian Church (USA) – spelled out in a logo or artwork
• PC(USA) – abbreviated

Church Financial Leadership Grants available now

If you are a pastor, commissioned ruling elder (CRE), a leader of a 1001 New Worshiping Community or a member of a stewardship team we have Church Financial Leadership Grants available for you. The grants will enable you to institute best practices for church financial leadership, introduce you to new models of giving and stewardship, and offer you new ways to talk about money and form generous disciples within your church.

Selma Disaster Relief-Funding

Many of you generous people have asked how to help out in Selma. The January tornado destroyed 250 houses and damaged 350 more. The Dallas County Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) has been set up. It will coordinate the recovery work in Selma.

Funds are needed to finance the rebuilding effort. We recommend giving to the Black Belt Community Foundation. The BBCF has two disaster funds set up: the Communities Helping Communities Fund (which aids all the Black Belt counties affected by the tornadoes) and the Selma Rebuild & Recovery Fund (which helps the Selma area). The website to go to is: blackbeltfound.org/2023-disaster-relief-funds. Then click on the Selma Rebuild & Recovery Fund to help Selma.

You may contribute online by credit/debit card or by PayPal. Network for Good is administering the collection of the donations. It charges a 3% fee per donation.

You may also donate by check. Make the check payable to Black Belt Community Foundation, and in the bottom left corner put Selma Rebuild & Recovery Fund. BBCF charges 5% per donation for its administrative costs. Mail the check to:

Black Belt Community Foundation

P.O. Box 2020

Selma, AL 36702

More information will be posted as things develop during the recovery work.

Newsletters, Bulletins, News

• PCUSA Quarterly Resource Preview
• Stewardship Kaleidoscope -- Register
• Montreat Conference Center
• Presbyterian Outlook
• Presbyterian Home for Children Newsletter - Summer Beginnings

Reminders

Just a reminder that the Presbytery office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday's from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (4 PM on Friday). The staff works from home on Tuesday and Thursday's.

Please check with the office for availability before scheduling committee meetings.

On-going Newsletter Articles

Ponderings by: Rev. Dr. Sue Westfall

PHFC Thrift Store Donations

Perry Dallas County Fund

Online Church Services

Matthew 25

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES June 2023 YTD