An eUpdate for Church Leaders - September 2026

The Rev. Emily Accord Haddox

is our Vitality in Ministry Coordinator 

The Rev. Emily Accord Haddox has been named the Vitality in Ministry (VIM) Coordinator for Presbytery of the Miami Valley.

During its May 14, 2026, meeting, the Leadership Council of Presbytery of the Miami Valley unanimously approved a position description for a Vitality in Ministry Coordinator. This is a 10-15-hour a month contract position that will be supported for up to three years using funds from the sale of church buildings. The VIM Coordinator will build on the presbytery’s focus of tending to the quality of our relationships.

The VIM Coordinator’s role in the Presbytery of the Miami Valley is to help deepen relationships among clergy, those in congregational leadership, and among congregations.

The PMV Summer Bulletin/Newsletter Insert

Presbytery of the Miami Valley produces a quarterly News and Information Bulletin/Newsletter Insert and emails it to its congregations for distribution to church members.

The Summer 2026 Insert features articles about the 30th Anniversary Celebrations of the Colombia Partnership, Presbytery of the Miami Valley at the 227th General Assembly of the PC(USA), a message from the PMV moderator, and Corinth Church is moving.

It is our hope that distributing the Bulletin/Newsletter Insert in this way will help connect church members to what’s going on in the presbytery, its churches, and our denomination.

A Message from the Moderator

In case you missed it, last month we sent out the August “Message from the Moderator” by the Rev. Diane Zielgler, Moderator of Presbytery of the Miami Valley. The August installment was called “Prayers are being lifted for our Presbytery from Basel today!”

Diane began her message by saying, “I am writing from Basel, Switzerland where I am attending a conference on Abraham Kuyper and Karl Barth. Being here has been an encouraging time with colleagues. It has also been a time that has challenged me to do a lot of remembering about our Reformed Tradition. And it has been a time that is calling me to be a better global neighbor.”

Why use Practical Resources for Churches?

Upcoming Free Webinars: Late Summer & Fall 2026

The Upcoming Webinars for Late Summer & Fall 2026 from Practical Resources for Churches and Presbytery of the Miami Valley have been announced. The schedule offers a range of topics, and you’re sure to find something that interests you!

These webinars are free for all churches of Presbytery of the Miami Valley because of our membership in PRC.

Free materials and benefits for you!

Presbytery of the Miami Valley has partnered with Practical Resources for Churches (PRC) to provide a variety of materials and services to our churches.

Because of our presbytery’s membership, your church has access to all the products in the PRC online store at no cost. The free products in the store include materials for use with children, teens, and adults. There are resources for curriculum, faith formation, worship, liturgical seasons, leadership, and more.

Church Financial Leadership Grant Program

Grants are available from the Presbyterian Foundation to assist Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastors and New Worshiping Community leaders to attend continuing education opportunities which will help them in leading their congregations toward financial and missional vitality. Church stewardship team members are encouraged to apply with their pastors.

World Communion Offering

Sunday, October 4

 Free promotional resources

What the world needs now is for us to come together to answer the prophet Micah’s call, to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God. Our gifts help share the love that the world needs now.

The World Communion Offering, received during A Season of Preparation leading up to World Communion Sunday, October 4, is a new way for Presbyterians to “love kindness” expressed in action, often involving mercy, faithfulness and steadfast commitment. Racial justice, gender justice, global witness, peacemaking, and ecumenical and interfaith relations are the important causes supported by this Offering.

PC(USA) Special Offerings has prepared free online resources for churches, which include worship resources, bulletin inserts, minutes for mission, education materials for children, promotional items, and more.

Boundary Training for Church Sessions

The Book of Order now requires Boundary Training for members of church sessions at least every three years. More important than the requirement, however, is that Boundary Training provides an opportunity for meaningful conversations within sessions about how churches can create safe, welcoming, and transparent communities.

Presbytery of the Miami Valley is partnering with Practical Resources for Churches (PRC) to provide this training. PRC is a nonprofit, non-denominational, education-based service organization providing consultants, educational webinars, workshops, and resources.

Post your position openings on the PMV website

Presbytery of the Miami Valley maintains a “Jobs” page on its website for our churches to post position openings for staff, other than pastors. (Pastor positions go through our denomination’s system.)

We encourage churches to send us their position openings, and we’ll be happy to post them. They may be sent to Don Nowak at don.nowak@miamipresbytery.org

Check out the latest position openings on our Jobs page.

Presbytery of the Miami Valley Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

www.miamipresbytery.org