Join us for a time of prayer for the Presbytery and our churches on October 1 from 11:00-11:45. We will meet on Zoom at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83291320181?pwd=HHjuqd3WvBuEeMZjjbPi5WG3NwIneP.1 

The Board of Pensions sent invitations to CREDO 2026 last week to eligible ministers. If you received an invitation but haven’t responded, I encourage you to consider this invitation. CREDO is an in-person, weeklong conference focused on ministers’ wholeness and well-being. Each CREDO conference is led by a team of experienced faculty who guide participants in a visioning and discernment process through four key areas of well-being. Those areas are spiritual, health (physical and mental/emotional), financial, and vocational well-being. Eligibility criteria can be found here: CREDO Eligibility. If you believe you should have been invited but can’t find an invitation, you can email the CREDO office at credo@pensions.org.

Harold Jackson is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and Birmingham native whose voice has shaped American journalism for more than four decades. He grew up in the Titusville community in the Loveman Village housing project and was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. After attending Ullman High School for three years, he transferred and graduated from Ramsay High School when Ullman closed in 1970.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and political science from Baker University in Kansas. Over his distinguished career, Jackson worked for the Birmingham News, Birmingham Post-Herald, The Philadelphia Inquirer, United Press International, the Baltimore Sun, and the Houston Chronicle, where he retired in 2020. He currently lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife.

Order your copy of Under the Sun: A Black Journalist’s Journey and bring it with you on October 5, 2025, to be signed by the author, Harold Jackson.

You can purchase the book from the University of Alabama Press at a 30% discount for $20.96 until October 1, 2025. To order at the discount rate, call 800-621-2736 or visit www.uapress.ua.edu. The book is also available on Amazon.

P.S.C.E. – Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Supporting those serving in all areas of Christian Education and Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE/CP)

COMMISSIONED RULING ELDERS COHORTS

The ministry of Commissioned Ruling Elder/Commissioned Pastor (CRE/CP) is a treasured aspect of service in the PCUSA. The purpose of the CRE/CP initiative, an expansion of the Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education (PSCE) program, is to strive to provide collegial, personal, and professional support through cohorts with others who are serving as a solo CRE/CP in a church.

OUR COHORT INITIATIVE …

Union Presbyterian Seminary’s PSCE initiative continues to raise the profile of those serving in all areas of Christian Education and has expanded to the support of those serving as CRE/CP (Commissioned Ruling Elder/Commissioned Pastor).

WHAT MAKES OUR COHORTS UNIQUE?

• Cohorts meet 10-12 times in a calendar year.
• Stipends are paid to participants twice a year (total $500) to cover the cost of all materials for the cohorts.
• Cohort meeting times, topics and formats are decided by those in the cohort. The cohort can choose to meet on a specific day each month, or change the day each month.
• Facilitators are provided who are prepared to help with the administration of the cohort, and to help facilitate the work of the scheduled meetings.

HOW DO I APPLY?

• Complete the Application Form linked here for either Educator or CRE/CP.
• Choose the days and times that best work for you.

WHY NOT JOIN US?

• No reason! You are invited to complete the brief application which is found at https://www.upsem.edu/psce/

BE PART OF THIS INITIATIVE!

• For further information, contact Marilyn Johns, Registrar

A Gathering for Leaders Committed to Transformation

Like us, we know you are deeply concerned about the state of our country and world. We long for real change and hope the Church will be at the forefront of leading that change; that our faith will stir up the courage for us to lead with resiliency toward whatever threatens our very lives and those around us.

But the problems before us aren't small. They are system problems. Immigration, racism, increased poverty, the dismantling of education, and discrimination based on gender identity, ethnicity, and religion are big issues. Wielding political power and authoritarian actions. None of these will be solved with book studies and finely crafted sermons. 

Or even a thoughtfully planned conference.

Which is why, when we sought to gather this November for the National Gathering, we took to heart the responsibility of planning something that mattered. It is why this event is part-training and part-gathering. We want participants to leave with leveled up skills, tangible resources, and a network of co-conspirators. 

We know the stakes are high. The Church needs healthy and courageous leaders. We truly believe when people join together with a shared purpose that transformation is not only possible, but inevitable.

Providence Pres in Montgomery has several boxes of puppets to give away to any church. If interested call, the church at 334-274-1018.

We hope the families of your congregation can join us at Living River for this year's Fall Elementary Retreat, Nov. 7-9. Please see the Registration List for helpful instructions. And visit our website for information:

https://www.livingriver.org/kidsandyouthretreats.html

Living River is now a Church World Service kit depot! 

https://cwskits.org/depots/search-by-state/

This means that any organization that makes CWS kits can drop them off with us and CWS will pick them up once a year. The depot system enables more organizations to make kits because they don’t have to ship what they make if they can drop it off locally. CWS is always pulling from a stored warehouse when emergencies happen because kits need to be inspected before they’re sent. Of course, most congregations make kits in response to a disaster but when they do, those are stored to eventually be inspected and restock the warehouse. 

Hopefully having a depot in Alabama will encourage more organizations to participate in kit assembly! 

Celebrate Theological Education Sunday

Theological Education Sunday is celebrated each September in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This year, Theological Education Sunday is officially set for September 21, 2025, or whenever best fits your congregation’s schedule.

Resources for Celebration

A sample liturgy, which includes a bulletin announcement, hymn selections, scripture suggestions and prayers, and a newsletter or bulletin announcement are available for download along with other resources at the Presbyterian Foundation website to help you prepare for and celebrate this important day.

Bulletin inserts include testimonies from Rev. Emily McGinley, senior pastor of City Church in San Francisco, and the Rev. Sam Codington, pastor of McGregor Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC.

Additionally, PowerPoint slides are available for your use in projection or in your digital worship service.

"Theological Education Sunday is an invitation to be part of the future of the church by supporting our seminaries and future pastors," said the Rev. Zoë Garry, Associate Director of Theological Education Funds Development. "It is through your generous gifts that we are able to continue to support our Presbyterian seminaries and covenant partners throughout the US and Puerto Rico, providing scholarships, programs and unique opportunities to our Presbyterian students and future leaders."

You can support the Theological Education Fund easily online here.

We are excited to see registrations coming in for our conference in January! We hope you will join us in Birmingham, Alabama on January 12-14 as we think and pray together about the status of our Nicene heritage around the world today. Get a sense of what to expect by checking out our plenary session titles below!

Remember to save now by taking advantage of our early bird discount before it ends on September 5! If you are a student, be sure to check out our discounted student ticket as well!

Peace & Global Witness Offering Resources Available

The Peace & Global Witness Offering offers congregations ways to support efforts for peace and justice in their own community while also supporting the peacemaking work of mid councils and the PC(USA). Twenty-five percent of the Offering stays with the congregation, 25% stays with the mid council, and 50% is used nationally and internationally. Find Peace & Global Witness resources like minutes for mission, Pursuing Peace video, worship liturgy, and social media images (available in Spanish and Korean).

The 2025 Annual Congo Mission Network Conference will be held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at Stillman College. The Conference is being co-sponsored by Stillman College, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, and The Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley.

Theme: "Ethical Leadership and the Church: Living Together"

Date: Thursday-Saturday, October 23-25, 2025 [in-person and via ZOOM]

In addition to Conference participants who will gather at Stillman College, other partner/participants in the Democratic Republic of Congo will participate and play significant roles in the Conference via ZOOM.

Congregations of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley can assist in the following and other ways:

1. Members attend the Conference in person or via ZOOM https://congopartners.org/register2025
2. Give financial support to help cover expenses [technology, meeting room setup, transportation, etc.]
3. Sponsor meals for in-person attendees [lunches, morning and afternoon refreshments, Friday night dinner]
4. Give contents for "Welcome-bags" for in-person attendees
5. Give-a-way items to in-person attendees [pens, note pads, etc.]
6. Assist with decorating meeting space at Stillman
7. Serve as worship leaders [music, sermons on Thursday, or Friday, or Saturday, etc.]

Members and congregations are invited to indicate the ways they might wish to support the Conference.

Contacts:   

Ralls Coston

Joseph Scrivner

Charles Nash [chasrnash@aol.com] or (205) 799-0260 cell

Prayer Concerns

Prayers for Peace in this world.

Join the Board of Pensions Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, 2-3:30 p.m. ET for Inside the Medical Plan: How It Works & Why it Matters. In this webinar, you will learn how the Medical Plan is shaped by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) values and built for long-term sustainability. You’ll gain an understanding of what’s driving healthcare costs, how the plan is financially managed, and how Medical Plan benefits reflect a commitment to stewardship, care, and well-being. 

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

What’s ahead: Selecting benefits for 2026

Your congregations’ 2026 Employer Agreements will be available in Benefits Connect Aug. 28-Oct. 3. This is their opportunity to review pricing and select one or more benefits to offer their employees for next year. Look for an announcement email with more details soon.

Annual Enrollment for employees in your congregations will take place Oct. 20-Nov. 7. This is their opportunity to choose benefits their employer has offered for 2026. Employers will have access to updated communication resources in the coming months to help guide staff through the enrollment process.

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

Montreat Conference Center

• September in Montreat
• Engaging Grace newsletter

Presbyterian Outlook

• Trends you should watch
• Informing our faith. Inspiring our future.
• In the face of violence
• Faith, Ethics & AI: Join Shannon Vallor for the Gotto Lecture

Louisville Seminary

• Untangling and Reframing Pre-lecture with Dr. William Yoo
• Black Rural Church Regional Summit

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES June 2025 YTD