June 11, 2025

PRESBYTERY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

by Charlie Evans, Stated Clerk

May 13, 2025

It was a true joy to gather in-person at Countryside Presbyterian Church for our Presbytery meeting, as well as attending by Zoom! Thanks go to Lisa Wells, Jennifer Tucker and the Countryside volunteers for the smooth registration process. The entire staff and volunteers at Countryside were very gracious and helpful in preparations for this meeting and much gratitude goes to each of them.

Worship started us off on the right note with the hymns being sung with great vigor. Rev. Becca Putman delivered the message based on Revelation 7: 9-17 entitled “Crying out with a loud Voice”. The peace of Jesus Christ was passed among those in attendance and The Lord’s Supper was celebrated. The offering collected at both the Presbytery meeting and from among the Zoom participants will go toward the ministry of the Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN). Moderator Cliff Lyda guided the Presbytery through the agenda.

Highlights included:

• The election of Assistant Stated Clerk Patti Phillips. Patti is a Ruling Elder member of First Presbyterian Church of High Springs.

• Recognition of ordination anniversaries for those celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of ordination.

• Greetings from Jake Wilson from the Texas Presbyterian Foundation (TPF), who also presented a financial gift to the Presbytery from TPF

• A reduction in size of some of our Presbytery committees.

• Filling vacancies on many committees by the Volunteer Management Team.

• A review of our recently adopted Anti-Racism Policy led by Rev. John White.

• An update from Rev. Becca Putman about immigration litigation involving Westminster.

• A report from our Cuban Mission Team and an update from Montgomery Center.

• AND…..the approval of all proposed amendments to the Constitution!

Additional reports and updates were given as well. The Presbytery recessed during the meeting for a delightful lunch served by the Countryside church, which included a wonderful selection of various pies. Many pleasant conversations were held around the tables and in the sanctuary. Please plan to participate in the next meeting of Presbytery on October 7, 2025 at a location to be determined.

News From Around the Presbytery

On May 10, the Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) cohort, consisting of seven elders from across the presbytery enrolled in PoSA CRE training, met at Orange Park Presbyterian Church for a Saturday seminar on Christian Formation. Certified Christian Educator Deborah Abbott (Hodges Blvd) facilitated the seminar. The elders were tasked with preparing and teaching a class on Worship at their home churches.

David Goedtke, ruling elder from South Jax, hosted a "brown bag lunch" to explore why Presbyterians worship the way we do. (see photo) The discussion was lively and informative. If you are a ruling elder who feels called by God to serve the larger church, please pray about it, speak to your family, pastor and/or session, and then let us know. The Commissioned Ruling Elder Ministry Team: Ricky Kirby, Jerie Lukefahr, Cliff Lyda, Diane Wilson.

Please share- we have office space available:

Free Resources

Palms Presbyterian is seeking a new home for some older study resources. We have The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible in 5 volumes (Abington Press, 1962) and The Interpreter’s Bible commentary set in 12 volumes (Abington Press, 1954). These are offered free to anyone who can come pick them up. If you are interested, please contact Bill Wildey (bill.wildey@palmschurch.org).

Dear Presbytery of St. Augustine family,

I hope you are doing well. I’d like to personally invite you to consider applying for The Playground, a continuing education project I’m honored to be part of that’s designed to support and pour into ministry leaders like you.

This is a heavily subsidized, year-long cohort journey focused on exploring ancient Christian practices like Sabbath, Play, and A Rule of Life through unique theological lenses. Throughout 2026, participants will engage in in-person gatherings, online connection, and a class pilgrimage, all of which are designed to offer you rest, restoration, and vision for your ministry.

I believe you would be a wonderful fit for this 2026 cohort, and I would love for you to consider joining us for one of our three classes. Information about classes and dates as well as the application form can all be found here: www.flagler.edu/playground

I’ve looped in the Assoc. Director of The Playground, Kristen Maiocco (theplayground@flagler.edu). If you have any questions or would like to talk further, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Be well!

Justin

Upcoming Events:

Presbyterian Youth Triennium

The Presbytery of St. Augustine is excited to announce that we will be sending a delegation to Presbyterian Youth Triennium 2025 in Louisville, KY in July. The delegation consists of twelve youth and three adult advisors, representing six of our congregations! We invite you to join us in prayer for this group as they prepare their hearts and minds for this life-changing experience.

Registration is now open for Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2025–

Stewardship: The Art of Resiliency

Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an ecumenical conference planned by volunteers from the PCUSA and ELCA, is designed for pastors and lay leaders to provide practical tools to strengthen your congregation's stewardship and generosity programs. This year’s conference will be in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 22-24, 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 livestream. 

Registration rates as are follows:

Early Bird In-Person Registration (through June 30): $360

First Call Pastor or Seminary Student In-Person Registration: $200

Virtual Attendee Registration: $150

After June 30, regular In-Person Registration increases to $385.

Rooms at our event hotel, the Sheraton New Orleans Canal Street, are offered at the discounted rate of $179/night if you book by August 29.

Grants are available through the Presbyterian Foundation to assist pastors and New Worshiping Community leaders to attend the conference. For more information, visit https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/resources/church-financial-literacy-and-leadership-program/grant/ or contact your Ministry Relations Officer, Rev. Dana Waters at dana.waters@presbyterianfoundation.org.

Ongoing Prayers for Charlie Evans our Stated Clerk as he proceeds through cancer treatment.

Please pray for the Lord to guide the following church this week:

Highlands United Presbyterian Church

Olive Mahabir, Pastor

Sharyn Going, Clerk of Session

Equipped to Serve Registration is now open for the presbytery's 2026 enrichment and training event. We are delighted to partner in ministry for this important training in the life of the church.

Summer Information - News and Updates!

Summer 2025's theme is Created to Care: Finding our Place in God's Creation. I am excited to be writing this curriculum, with a passion for God's gift to us in creation, and how we may care for our precious world and one another as Christ followers. I am grateful for the ministry partners who have encouraged me in this endeavor, and who will be reviewing and offering edits prior to sharing it with our campers.

This year marks the beginning of our new 3-year Leadership Development Program. This is a progressive program designed to equip our youth to be strong leaders at camp, in our churches, and in the world. While the main component of this program is during the summer in LIT1 & 2 and CIT camps, LDP participants will also have opportunities to gather throughout the year for service, fellowship, and learning. We will explore leadership styles, communication skills, and conflict resolution, while also learning camp programming, obtaining certifications, and developing connections with youth around the presbytery.

With the rise in labor and food costs, and a sobering cost-analysis for our programs, you may have noticed the substantial increase in camp registration fees. This puts our costs more in line with camps locally and around the nation. While costs have risen, our families' need for financial support has not wavered. We aim to increase our scholarship fund to help every camper have an opportunity to attend camp. Would you continue to support this vital ministry through our scholarship fund?

I'd also like to encourage your sessions to discuss your camp sponsorship programs and share that decision with your families. Some churches sponsor member children at 100%, and community children not affiliated with the church at 50%. Oftentimes families ask us at Montgomery what the church is sponsoring, and we cannot make that decision for you, as each church has its own budget restraints to work with. Please email rebekah@montgomerycenter.org with your intended sponsorship plans for summer 2025 so that we may best serve our camp families together.

Finally, we are in the busy season of hiring our summer staff! We have several counselors returning, but we are looking for more 18+ overnight counselors to serve our growing program. Applicants must love kids, love Jesus, and have a desire to make a difference in children's lives. This year's commitment to serve is only 5 weeks, training included. We are committed to being a Presbyterian camp, but we need your help to refer youth group graduates and students in your college ministries to serve this summer. More information about what it takes to be a counselor can be found at https://www.montgomerycenter.org/summer-staff.

Summer Camp 2025

Registration for Camp Montgomery Summer Camp 2025 is now live! Click here to view the schedule and learn more about the various camps. Register today with a special early bird discount.

Rebekah Rodgers

Executive Director | Montgomery Center

88 SE 75th St, Starke, FL 32091

352-473-4516 | 352-514-5124

www.montgomerycenter.org

Faithful in hope. Patient in affliction. Steadfast in prayer.

Resources: Jerie Lukefahr attended a workshop at APCE facilitated by a pastor in NE who has put together podcasts for Bible study use - for free. "Abundant Harvest: Midwest Ministry Hub" (FPC Hastings NE) Thought this might be worth sharing with the presbytery. https://midwestministryhub.org/

Congregations around the country that are on the front lines of welcoming all and providing sanctuary are beginning to deal with the reality that the landscape has shifted. If you are part of one of those congregations this may be useful https://pcusa.org/how-we-serve/global-engagement/immigration

Many years ago, I learned a wise approach to sharing resources and educational opportunities. I provide what I am able noting the resources are available to all but not required by any. It is reflected in the statement, all may, some will, none must. Use whatever is helpful in your particular ministry context and we will continually look for ways to resource our congregations.

Synod of South Atlantic

Home | Synod of South Atlantic

Positions Available In Our Presbytery

Check out the many ministry opportunities throughout our presbytery here.

Blessings,

Cliff Lyda, Moderator of the Presbytery

Charlie Evans, Stated Clerk

David Rollins, Lead Presbyter