As we welcome the Rev. Dr, Mark McCormick as General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley beginning April 1, 2026, we wanted you to have his contact information. His email is mmccormick@pslpcusa.org. His phone number at the office is 205-978-0320, extention 302. His cell phone number is 205-344-3095. We look forward to his tenure among us!

Spring reminders and updates from the March Board of Directors meeting

Two years ago, the Board of Pensions announced the Congregational Pastors Package as the new dues structure for congregational ministers. We are grateful for your partnership as we have implemented and lived into these changes. Aware that the new packages provided needed relief for some, but posed new challenges and concerns for others, the Board of Pensions made a commitment to finding additional ways to support the needs of the changing Church while keeping the sustainability of the Benefits Plan in mind.

During the virtual town hall we held Feb. 26, we discussed proposed subsidies to dues packages and updates to the Benefits Plan. We’re happy to share good news with you about important decisions that were made at the Board of Directors meeting March 7.

A NEXT Church Workshop Series – Spring 2026

CHANGING THE CULTURE OF ASSESSMENT

The traditional metrics of budgets, membership, and attendance are no longer adequate to evaluate success in ministry. Instead of searching for new ways of measuring, we revert to what we know, perpetuating a status quo.

But, if what we are doing matters in our lives and in the world, we must...

Hold-the-date: Mid-Council Leaders’ Property Roundtable: March 17th @ 2pm Eastern

Friends,

The up and down temps remind that spring is upon us.  Depending on your location, that can be mostly down, mostly up, or a combination of the two! Thus, we invite you to mark your calendars now for our next Property Roundtable videoconference, scheduled for Tuesday, March 17^th, at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. 

During this virtual gathering, we will focus on everyone’s favorite topic – insurance! Specifically, we will be discussing methods presbyteries have instituted to help churches with rising premiums, led by Michael Norris of Denver Presbytery Fiduciary Stewardship Committee. We will also be joined by our trusted colleague, Timothy Harris, President and CEO of the Insurance Board.  Tim will lead us through a discussion on related matters, including his perspective on funding models. 

We invite you to join us for this important discussion. Zoom connection instructions appear below and, as usual, we will begin at 2:00 Eastern and will adjourn no later than 3:15.

Two quick reminders:

• Feel free to share this invitation with others that might find this information helpful.
• Resources from previous meetings can be found at our private web page: go to https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/mid-council-leaders-property-roundtable/

and use password MCLPR

Blessings,

Sandra Moon & Olanda Carr

Presbyterian Foundation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

https://presbyterianfoundation.zoom.us/j/85878446250?pwd=hqBrwqbEmeN11Zr610wglbAdlUwttB.1

Meeting ID: 858 7844 6250

Passcode: 420195

From 1001 New Worshiping Communities 

Nine-Month Apprenticeship Cohort Application - 1001 New Worshiping Communities offers several different training and support mechanisms to support current and emerging new worshiping community leaders . One of these programs is the 1001 NWC Apprenticeship, which over the years has welcomed over 200 leaders into the program. Apprentices receive a stipend for five hours per week of study totaling $3600 over the nine-month program (Sept - May), an ICF-certified coach in the network, a leadership retreat and weekly, expert-led cohorts with other apprentices.

Do you know someone that may be interested? 

Find out more about the 1001 NWC Apprenticeship Program and how to apply: https://www.newchurchnewway.org/the-apprenticeship-program. Priority submission deadline is April 1, 2026. 

Mental Healthcare Workshop

Coming Soon

We hope to see you on campus at Samford University Saturday, March 21st for Mental Healthcare in Rural and Small-town Churches. Registration is open and we’d love to have you join us!

Dr.Gordon Bals, director of Beeson Divinity School’s Christian Counseling program, will present a practical, interactive pastoral counseling workshop for ministers and other church members who would benefit from the sessions on biblical foundations, practical tips for congregations, and pastoral self care. The CCR is excited to partner with Beeson Divinity School to provide this highly relevant workshop at no cost to participants. Lunch is provided.

Registration is required.

Mental Healthcare

in Rural and Small-town Churches

Sat., March 21st, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Samford University, Cooney Hall,

Regions Room

In 2023, the Session of South Highland Presbyterian Church approved the “Building for the Future” capital campaign to address building maintenance needs. The Session also committed to tithe 10% of all funds raised to support local and international mission projects. 

To carry out this commitment, the Outreach Committee elected a group to receive and review applications from mission partners, and to make funding recommendations to the Session. 



The Building for the Future grant committee will conduct two rounds of applications and disbursements, with the first round distributing up to $100,000.

APPLICATION TIMELINE (ROUND ONE)

·      Application Period: January 15-March 15, 2026

·      Review Period: April 2026

·      Decisions Announced: Mid-May 2026

If you have any questions, please email shpcgrants@southhighland.org

The 2nd Annual

Rural Ideas Conference

June 24–26, 2026

Registration Is Now Open!

The Rural Ideas Conference is a national, ecumenical conference which focuses on rural congregations. We invite pastors, leaders, and members from your church to join us at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR.

Keynote Speaker is

the Rev. Brad Roth

His theme will be,

"It Is Good For Us To Be Here".

There is no cost to attend the conference. We offer free lodging in the new campus dorms. You are welcome to pay for your lodging in a hotel room instead.



At a key moment in the gospel, Jesus leads his disciples up a mountain and resets their vision. With fresh eyes, the disciples begin to imagine how Jesus is leading them into something new. It’s time for a reset in the rural church. We need to learn the art of seeing rural communities and congregations as God sees them—through faith in Jesus’ presence, in hope for the future, and with fresh eyes transfigured by love. In this talk, rural pastor and author Brad Roth will lead us up the mountain with Jesus. Jesus has given us everything we need. Onward!

Register Today! 

The Present Word



Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church has 10-12 copies of each quarter of The Present Word Adult Bible Study if anyone is interested. 

Contact Janet Roberta or Rachel Winter @ 205-823-5910

2026 CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH

BIRMINGHAM ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Speaker: Rev. Ed Bacon, Episcopal Priest and Author

"Contemplation Changes Us: Let Me Count the Ways"

March 21, 2026 at St. Stephens Episcopal Church

in Cahaba Heights, AL, 9:00-3:00



Cost: $70 for credit card or $65 for check; Lunch included

Registration now open at Contemplative Outreach Birmingham/Centering Prayer website - https://www.contemplativeoutreachbirmingham.org

1001 New Worshiping Communities Grant Deadline

Grant deadline and award dates have been announced for 2026 1001 New Worshiping Communities grants. More information about the grants can be found HERE.

2026 Submission Dates are: April 28, June 30, and Sept 1.

Please submit applications to nwcgrants@pcusa.org.

Living River has a few returning counselors from last summer coming back to lead summer camp 2026! We're also looking for a handful of first-time applicants for the position. Summer camp counselors are college-age young adults, including youth who will graduate from high school this year. They can be any young adult you know who would be a good fit; they don't have to be a part of a Presbyterian church! 

Please help us spread the word and recruit some excellent counselors for summer camp! Please share the opportunity with your congregation through your newsletters, etc and share with anyone who particularly comes to mind. Being a counselor is a very fun and meaningful experience (transformative for some). It's a great opportunity for gaining professional skills, too. 

The job description, application, and more information about the position are at www.livingriver.org/summerstaff.  

Living River Summer Camp and Scholarships 2026

Summer camp registration and scholarship application are now open on both Living River website and the Presbytery web site.

Scholarships ($200 for full week camps and $75 for You & Me - both adult & child) are available on a first come, first serve basis until the funds are depleted. Priority is given to campers from Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley churches.

Prayer Concerns

I write with deep sadness to inform you of the passing of Sharon Leslie Morgan on February 24, 2026. Sharon, alongside her co-author Tom DeWolfe, spoke to the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley so meaningfully on racial healing. Also, many of us will remember our book discussions on “Gather at the Table,” where her work inspired honest, transformative conversations.  Please join me in praying for her family and all touched by her work. Let us carry forward the spirit of healing she shared with us. Debra Love

Civil rights icon Bernard LaFayette, who led Black voting efforts in Selma in the 1960s, has died at 85. Dr. Lafayette was a guest speaker at a previous Presbytery meeting. Please keep Dr. LaFayette's family in your prayers.

Prayers for Peace in this world.

Please be sure to check out the job openings within our Presbytery at the bottom of this page.

Healthy Boundaries Training

All ministers and ruling elders are required to participate in Healthy Boundary Training for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. Below is a link to a Jotform Registration Form. This registration form contains registration information as well as the link to the video (which is password protected) and the password. The video takes you to another link for you to watch the content.  

After watching, It is very important to return to the Jotform, acknowledge your completion and SUBMIT the form. This will ensure the stated clerk receives notice that you have completed the training.  

Thank you for participating in the required Healthy Boundaries training. Your comments on both the process and the content are welcome. Please reply to our Stated Clerk if you have any questions and/or wish to share your comments.

Registration and link to Healthy Boundary Training for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley

Ministry in the church can be life-giving and life-changing and, in the midst of it, we all need faithful companions along the road. Welcome to Along the Road – a podcast on faith and leadership for ministry leaders of the PC(USA).

Newsletters, Bulletins, News

Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2026

Presbyterian Outlook

• A sermon for aging Christians

Montreat Conference Center

• Five Ways to experience Sabbath this Spring
• March in Montreat
• Join us on Wednesday, March 18th from 2-4 p.m. for a free lecture titled “The Church Cannot be Silent, but What Should It Say?” by Dr. William Yoo, Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary.The lecture will explore the rise of Christian Nationalism, the cecline of the American dream, and how to still have Faith in America.  
•  REGISTER HERE to watch via livestream. 

Mr. Rogers Day Resources 

• Looking for ideas on celebrating what it means to be a neighbor in your community, through worship, with your congregation? Check out these resources including liturgy, hymn, neighborhood build, peacemaking curriculum, coloring pages, and more.  March 20th is the planning calendar special emphasis day that the PC(USA) has chosen to highlight all we can learn from Fred Rogers ministry as it is his birthday.  Or choose a time which works for your worshiping community. www.pcusa.org/mrogers 

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES January 2026 YTD