Two Churches, One Spirit

Two congregations faced a shared question: how do we remain faithful in a changing world?

Their answer wasn’t easy. It required trust, imagination, and a willingness to let go of what was familiar to embrace something new. But through that process, Southminster Presbyterian Church and Shades Valley Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, discovered a path forward.

Together they could be a church that served their community in new ways, and shepherd their flock with new energy and joy.

This short video tells the story of their bold and faithful merger. It’s a story about discernment, legacy, and what can happen when congregations choose hope over uncertainty.

Watch this inspiring, short video above to see how God is at work in Birmingham.

At the Presbyterian Foundation, we’re here to walk with you and your congregation as you make decisions about your church property. If you’d like to talk about your own church’s property decisions, contact your Ministry Relations Officer.

Find your MRO

The Presbytery Office is Hiring!

Effective January 1, 2027 we will be hiring a new Recording Clerk. If you know of anyone interested in this position please email Tammy at the presbytery office. Below is the position description. Please share.

PRESBYTERY RECORDING CLERK JOB POSITION

The Recording Clerk responsibilities:

• Monthly meetings of the Executive Council

• attends and records minutes of meetings.
• distributes meeting minutes to the Council.
• ensures minutes are posted on Basecamp.

• Quarterly or called meetings of the Presbytery

• attends and records minutes of meetings.
• assembles the appendices of meeting minutes.
• distributes minutes to the Stated Clerk and to the Presbytery Administrator for posting on the website.

• Annual reading of Presbytery minutes by the Synod

• assists the Stated Clerk and Presbytery Administrator with sending minutes to the Synod.

The Presbytery may elect a Recording Clerk to serve a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-election.

Board of Pensions 2026 Minister Retiree Luncheon

A few highlights from the Board of Pensions Retiree luncheon at The Club.

190th Homecoming Celebration

Congratulations to First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka on their 190th homecoming celebration which will be celebrated on October 11th, 2026. All are welcome.

UKirk Birmingham Update

Leadership team plotting launch of reborn UKirk

Our UKirk Vinery Leadership Team (Grace Burgess, Cellina Miller, Deanna Dailey, Grace Daniels from Independent Presbyterian Church, and Pastor Joe Genau) are plotting a launch of a reborn UKirk this coming month. The group has decided to shift focus from Samford to UAB and to begin with meetups at local coffee shops and restaurants not far from the campus. Late breaking news is that some of the new young adults in our midst (have you met Andie, Ashley, and Bella?) are very interested in helping out and have a ton of insight into campus ministry at UAB. With helpful guidance from The Vinery, UKirk Birmingham is primed for a whole new day! If you’d like to help out, please don’t hesitate to contact Pastor Joe.

We hope there's room on your Fall calendar for Living River! We're excited for each of these and hope to see you there. Please share about these with neighbors, friends, and your church.

If your church has upcoming events or articles you would like promoted in the Presbytery Newsletter, please contact Tammy Strickland.

Center for Excellence in Christian Education Symposium

Intentional: Intergenerational Preaching, Teaching, & Worship

October 8-9, 2026 / In-Person and Hybrid in Charlotte, NC

A two-day symposium for practitioners to explore the foundations and frameworks for intergenerational ministries the first day. The next day move from theory to practice in your context. Write liturgy, outline sermons and educational experience then receive feedback from the leaders in these areas. Leaders include Dave Csinos, Rich Volez, Janaki Gooty, Jenny McDevitt and more! For more information on leaders and logistics visit: bit.ly/4vJnFaU

Available Now!

2026-2027 Presbyterian Planning Calendars

The Presbytery office has approximately 100 Presbyterian Planning Calendars at a discounted rate of $11.50 each. If you would like to reserve one or more please contact Tammy at the presbytery office.

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:

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

Happening at Living River

Prayer Concerns

Cathie Bonner, wife of CP, Jeff Bonner. Cathie has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and is undergoing treatment.

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

• Meet our Sponsors

Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries

• Rooted in Hope - Older Adult Ministry Conference - Sept. 15-18

Montreat Conference Center

• Engaging Grace - A newsletter about adult conferences and events
• Experiencing Connection - A newsletter about youth and young adult events
• Embodying Hospitality - A newsletter about retreat and guest group offerings
• September in Montreat

Presbyterian Outlook

• The future of Lay Ministry
• Why college students are leaving church — but not faith

Mid Council Relations

• New resource and program opportunities for fall

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

• Gun Violence Prevention

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES July 2026 YTD