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A Word from our Leadership Team Chair
Psalm 82:2-4
How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
This week, much of the Christian world will be waiting anxiously as a papal conclave gathers in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church. Now I know we are not Catholic, we are only catholic, but there are approximately 1.4 billion Roman Catholic adherents, so it’s a big deal whether we choose to care about it or not. And as much as I love being Presbyterian, you can’t deny that the Catholics have a certain style. Anyway, the big question seems to be whether the cardinals, red-robed church officials and the only ones who get a vote, will choose to elect someone similar to Pope Francis or not. If they do, then it’s a ringing endorsement of the causes he championed – concern for migrants and the poor. If they don’t, well, the experts say that it’s back to a more “traditional” set of concerns then.
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Order your 2025-206 Presbyterian Planning Calendar
The Presbytery will soon order 2025-2026 Presbyterian Planning Calendars, which run September through next December. Our cost is $12, which will save you $6 off the retail cost through the PC(USA) Store. Reserve your calendars here by June 9. The price above is for pickup at the August 16 Presbytery meeting at Fleming Memorial Presbyterian Church in Fairmont; if we mail them to you, there will be an additional postage fee, calculated according to order size. An invoice for your total cost will be included with your order; it will contain information on how to pay online by credit card or through the mail or in person by cash or check.
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Attention Presbytery leaders: have you signed up for a Healthy Boundary Training event?
All leaders – ministers of Word and Sacrament; Certified Christian Educators; Certified Associate Christian Educators; Commissioned Pastors; candidates, inquirers, and supply preachers; officers and employees of the Presbytery; members of committees, councils, and commissions – are required to complete a Healthy Boundary Training workshop every 36 months. Presbytery leaders who completed training prior to April 2022 are required to attend. The workshops will be led by Susan Sharp Campbell and Maureen Wright. There is no cost, and lunch will be provided. Please make a reservation for the event of your choice by emailing or calling the Presbytery office. The remaining Healthy Boundary Training workshops are below.
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Saturday, May 17 – Beckley Presbyterian Church, 10 AM to 3 PM
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Thursday, May 22 – Highlawn Presbyterian Church, Huntington, 10 AM to 3 PM
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Saturday, May 31 – Charleston Area, 10 AM to 3 PM
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Wednesday, June 18 – Village Chapel Presbyterian Church, 10 AM to 3 PM
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LOOKING AHEAD
Commissioned Pastor/Authorized Lay Preacher Retreat
The 2025 Commissioned Pastor/Authorized Lay Preacher Retreat will be held at Jackson’s Mill near Weston on Friday, Aug. 1 and Saturday, Aug. 2. The theme this year is “Worship for Such a Time as This.” This event will begin with dinner on Friday evening and end with worship on Saturday afternoon. Workshops will focus on the PCUSA Confessional Standards of the 20th century, preaching, and liturgy for leading worship in times of turmoil, chaos, uncertainty, and disorder. Complete information and registration will be available in mid-May.
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SAVE THE DATES
Presby Prep to start in September
Presby Prep is the first, required year of the ALP/CP Preparation Program, which prepares those who would become commissioned to pastoral service as Commissioned Pastors and those who serve as random pulpit supply as Authorized Lay Preachers. It is also an opportunity to become more knowledgeable about what it means to be Presbyterian and part of the Reformed family of churches. Presby Prep is open to anyone, whether or not you’re sensing a call to serve in pastoral leadership or pulpit supply. If you’d just like to grow in your faith, understanding, and knowledge of what it means to be Presbyterian, Presby Prep is the place for you. It will consist of 8 monthly courses (September-November 2025 and January-May 2026), which are 3 hours long and offered on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings. Each course also has an assignment to be completed in advance. The dates for these courses are Sept. 18 & 20, Oct. 23 & 25, Nov. 20 & 22, Jan, 15 & 17, Feb. 5 & 7, March 12 & 14, April 9 & 11, and May 7 & 9. A minimum of 8 participants is needed for this to happen; otherwise, it will begin in January 2026. You can register online or with a mailed-in registration form, both of which are available at the title link. Questions? Please contact Susan Sharp Campbell at 304-667-9428 or susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com.
| | News from our Congregations & Partners | | |
Presbyterian churches in Charleston collaborate for Guns to Gardens event
By Sarah Gottlieb, Village Chapel
The second community Guns to Gardens event was held May 3 at St Mark's United Methodist Church in Charleston. This event was a collaborative effort by First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, Village Chapel Presbyterian Church, and St Mark's United Methodist Church with support from First Presbyterian Church of Dunbar and Temple Israel. RAWtools South, a non-profit blacksmith group, brought all the equipment needed for the event and trained lay people (including Village Chapel pastor Todd Wright, pictured) on safe chop saw use when "dismantling" a firearm. RAWtools has helped with dozens of Guns to Gardens events; they re-form gun parts into garden tools, jewelry, and art at their forge in Asheville, NC.
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Blessed are the Peacemakers: Nonviolence in a Violent World - a Presbyterian Outlook webinar
7 PM May 13. Registration required.
In a world overwhelmed by violence – systemic, interpersonal, and internal – what does it mean to follow the way of Jesus? This 90-minute webinar will explore nonviolent direct action as bold, embodied resistance shaped by the peace of Christ. Participants will examine the biblical case for nonviolent resistance, engage with stories and strategies from Christian leaders who are practicing or have practiced nonviolent resistance, and reflect on how nonviolence can be a faithful, realistic and successful path to transformation and change. They will gain a deeper understanding of nonviolent direct action through a theological lens, practical tools and examples for integrating nonviolent resistance into their own ministry or advocacy work, and insight around the tensions between faith, justice, and confrontation in violent times. On-demand replay will be available. This webinar is a pay-what-you-can format, but you must register to get the link. The recording will be emailed to everyone who registers.
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Kari Preslar relishing new role with APCE
By Mike Givler, Synod of the Trinity
Like many commissioned pastors, Kari Preslar had a full-time occupation during many of her years leading a congregation. That commitment outside of the church prevented her from being as involved as she would have liked with some church-related organizations. But now that she is no longer an employee of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources where she was a secretary for 20 years, Kari has the time to devote to other interests. At the top of her list was the Association of Partners in Christian Education – commonly known as simply APCE – which is a networking organization full of helpful curricula that aims to equip Presbyterians and others in their work in the church.
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Seeking a new home for puppet ministry supplies
Jackie Thompson is seeking a loving and enthusiastic church to adopt her collection of puppets and stage. These items are perfect for starting a vibrant puppet ministry, and she is happy to deliver them to their new home. If needed, she will also provide training to help get your ministry off to a great start. She is eager to find a good home for these puppets and hope they will bring joy and inspiration to many. If your church is interested or would like more details, please contact Jackie Thompson at jstks@att.net.
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Presbyterian Youth Triennium seeks volunteers for Care Team and Hotel Team
The Care Team and Hotel Team will play a vital role in creating a safe and welcoming Triennium community and making PYT possible. The Care Team supports the well-being of all PYT participants at events in the Convention Center and as they move to and from their hotels. The Hotel Team helps to nurture a positive, hopeful, and safe environment in which youth and adult participants feel welcome and safe at each hotel. Serving on one of these teams is an awesome opportunity to support families, engage in youth ministry, invest in the next generation of Presbyterians, and be a part of Triennium in a different way. For more information and to apply, visit the PYT Community Life page. Questions? Contact the Community Life Coordinators at pytcommunitylife@gmail.com.
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