Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley | | |
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"partner with and equip present and emerging
PC(USA) faith communities in central Alabama
to serve Christ and our neighbors"
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Spring Stated Presbytery Meeting
Southminster Presbyterian Church
1124 Montgomery Hwy.
Birmingham, AL 35216
Thursday, May 21, 2026
9:00 AM Registration / 9:30 AM Worship Service
Worship folder
Presbytery packet
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On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce that Krysten Carter Holloway has been elected by the Board of Directors as the next President of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Her election marks a historic milestone for the agency, as she will be the first African American woman and the first person of color to become President and CEO of the Board of Pensions upon confirmation at the 227th General Assembly (2026).
Krysten is uniquely qualified to advance the mission of the agency through her strategic vision, governance acumen, and operational discipline, particularly as healthcare becomes increasingly complex. An accomplished executive with more than 20 years of leadership in healthcare benefits, Krysten brings expertise as a senior enterprise leader with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. She has a comprehensive understanding of the full continuum of care and the systems that support it, informed by a career that spans hospital administration, pharmaceutical sales, and the insurance sector. Krysten also has firsthand understanding of how the agency’s offerings shape the day-to-day lives of the plan members and the employers we serve. Before her resignation on May 11, 2026, she served four years on the agency’s Board of Directors. She was the Second Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors and served as a member of the Executive, Assistance and Church Engagement, Board Development and Governance, Healthcare, and Legal committees.
Krysten’s dedication to service and mission-driven leadership extends beyond the Board of Pensions as an active leader across civic, nonprofit, and faith communities. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, she is a Ruling Elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she has worshipped throughout her life and where her father served as pastor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in social work from Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia, and a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. I invite you to learn more about Krysten and the breadth of her experience.
Her election follows a comprehensive, nationwide executive search and a multistage evaluation process to identify the leader best prepared to guide the agency with faithful stewardship and long-term vision. I thank the representatives of the Search Committee for their time and thoughtful engagement throughout the process and look forward to welcoming Krysten as our next President and CEO.
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The Presbytery office will be closed
Monday, May 25th
in recognition of Memorial Day
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On Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley will collect the Congo Pentecost Offering. All funds collected will go to the Presbytery's Congo Mission Team, to be used for mission projects in DR Congo. This year, the Congo Mission Team has already sent over $5,000 to Dr Congo to help pay tuition for Congolese students. In past years, we have helped build schools, bought motorcycles, Bibles, aided the IMCK Hospital, and other projects.
Churches and individuals can give to the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley-Congo Partnership. Please mark your donations for: Congo Pentecost offering. Below is a letter from the Congo Partnership Team and a Minute for Mission that can be shared in your worship service.
Letter from Congo Team
Congo Pentecost Offering Minute for Mission
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Have You Registered Yet?
Both In-Person and Virtual Options are Available!
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Registration is already underway for Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2026: Doing More in BaltiMORE.
This year’s conference will be live in Baltimore, Maryland, September 21-23, 2026, with an online virtual registration option as well. In-person attendees will be able to choose from dozens of workshops in addition to attending diverse plenary sessions and worship experiences. Virtual attendees will be able to join us for live-streamed and recorded plenaries and worship, and will also have access to 8 workshops, 4 of which will be available via be live-stream.
Registration rates as are follows:
Early Bird In-Person Registration (through June 30): $375
First Call Pastor or Seminary Student In-Person Registration: $200
Virtual Attendee Registration: $150
After June 30, regular In-Person Registration increases to $425
For information on available grants through the Presbyterian Foundation to assist pastors and New Worshiping Community leaders to attend the conference, please visit
https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/resources/church-financial-literacy-and-leadership-program/grant/.
A limited number of scholarships are also available to in-person attendees who are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which would bring the registration cost to $200. Please email tim.brown@elca.org for more information about this scholarship PRIOR to registering for the conference.
The conference will be held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, where a block of rooms will be available at the conference rate of $214/night. Your room reservation must be made by August 28.
To book your room and to register for the conference, click here.
Please be aware of potential internet scams! We WILL NOT call registrants asking for travel details and/or credit card information. Please email info@stewardshipkaleidoscope.org to report any suspicious phone calls, emails, or text messages related to Stewardship Kaleidoscope.
Check out the event website to view Workshop Details, prior to registering.
Register Now
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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.
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Keynote Speaker is
the Rev. Brad Roth
His theme will be,
"It Is Good For Us To Be Here"
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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!
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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: June 30, and Sept 1.
Please submit applications to nwcgrants@pcusa.org.
| | 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.
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Cathie Bonner, wife of CP, Jeff Bonner. Cathie has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
The family of Ben Arellano.
The family of Monty Clendenin.
Rev. Michael Thurman and family.
Donna Winn and family.
| | 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). | |
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 work from home on Tuesday and Thursday's.
Please check with the office for availability before scheduling committee meetings.
| |  | | PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES April 2026 YTD | | |
Rev. Dr. Mark McCormick
General Presbyter
mmccormick@pslpcusa.org
Tammy Strickland
Presbytery Administrator
Assistant to the Stated Clerk
tstrickland@pslpcusa.org
Bookkeeping
accounting@pslpcusa.org
Marilyn M. Tucker-Marek
Stated Clerk
statedclerk@pslpcusa.org
Linda Burrowes
Recording Clerk
lburrowes@pslpcusa.org
Jean Russell
Treasurer
jabrussell@gmail.com
Ralls Coston
Volunteer Mission Coordinator
rcoston@pslpcusa.org
Pat Goodman
Volunteer Nurture Coordinator
pgoodman@pslpcusa.org
James Ephraim
Volunteer Liaison for
African American Churches
jamesephraim61@gmail.com
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South Highland Adult Day Care Center has an opening for a program assistant. We are seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Caregiver for the Center. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 7:15 am to 5:30 pm. The basic job description is below.
- Provide hands-on assistance and supervision appropriate to each participant’s needs.
- Promote dignity, independence, choice, and maximum functional ability.
- Actively engage participants in scheduled and spontaneous therapeutic activities.
- Observe, document, and promptly report health, safety, or behavioral concerns.
- Follow all South Highland Center policies and procedures.
Contact Allison Walker at AWalker@southhighland.org
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First Presbyterian Church - Alexander City is seeking pulpit supply until they can fill their pastoral vacancy. Their worship services are on Sundays at 11:00 for one hour. If you are interested, please call the church office at (256) 329-0524.
“If you are interested in applying for our pastoral vacancy, please visit the CLC. Our MDP is posted there for details.”
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Westminster Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL is in need of a Musician. If you or someone you know are interested in applying, please contact the church office at
(205) 322-0161 for more information.
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3603 Lorna Ridge Drive ~ Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: 205-978-0320 ~ Fax: 205-978-0330
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