Information for ministers, educators, church administrators, clerks, and congregations

April 10, 2025

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In This Issue:

• Mission Council March Report
• Older Adult Ministry Virtual Conference Launches this Spring
• POJ Churches Stand Up for Justice with RISC Richmond
• Guatemala Mission Week Interest Meeting April 24

• Remember Your Library!
• Spotlight on Bon Air Presbyterian's Taize Maundy Thursday Service
• Called Together Retreat at Massanetta
• Need a Ride to Triennium?
• Church and Community Events
• Employment Opportunities

Mission Council March Report

Dear Friends in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your Mission Council met on March 19, 2025, to continue our work of guiding and supporting the work of our presbytery. As always, we are grateful for the faithfulness and commitment of all those who serve in leadership across our congregations and committees. Below is a summary of our discussions and decisions from this meeting.

Business Items

• Staff Accountant Search – The Personnel Committee is reviewing the job scope with input from Cindy Hollingshead. Once the job description is finalized, a search group will be formed.
• Communion for Ruling Elders Training – The Mission Council approved the celebration of the Lord’s Supper on March 29, 2025, as part of the training for Ruling Elders learning to serve communion.

Reports Received

• Reports were received from the Mission Council Moderator, Temporary General Presbyter Kerry Foster, and Temporary Stated Clerk Barry Parks.
• Cindy Hollingshead provided financial reports, including a Budget to Actual update, a Net Assets Report, and a summary of 2025 Covenants received from churches.
• The Special Finance Committee is completing its work and expects to present their report in May. They will bring financial recommendations to the June Stated Meeting of the POJ. In coordination with this group, there will be two virtual listening sessions for members of the Presbytery to ask questions about their recommendations.  
• The Committee on Nominations is working to fill vacancies on the Permanent Judicial Committee class of 2029.

Personnel Committee Updates

• The Personnel Committee will review and revise the personnel policy with legal counsel before final approval by the Mission Council.
• Performance evaluations for the Temporary General Presbyter (TGP) and Stated Clerk will begin, along with reviews (conducted by the TGP) for other staff members.
• The Personnel Committee requested updated job descriptions and contracts for current employees and will collaborate with Chandra Easter to develop a Presbytery Office organizational chart.
• Jen Rowe will serve as the liaison between the Mission Council and the Personnel Committee in 2025.

Task Force Updates

• Communications Task Force – Doug and Associate for Communications Leah Tweel are assessing our current communication practices and will conduct surveys to improve outreach and engagement.
• Connections Task Force – A proposed structure for regional gatherings in the Fredericksburg area has been developed, ensuring no congregation has to travel more than approximately 30 miles. This model will be expanded across the Presbytery to see how many locations would be needed for in-person meetings across the POJ. Once the Task Force has evaluated this model, planning for the regional gatherings will begin.
• POJ Meetings Task Force – Discussions are ongoing about meal logistics and ways to encourage in-person attendance at Presbytery meetings through additional training or presentations. The task force is also evaluating the costs of in-person, hybrid, and fully virtual meetings. The Mission Council accepted an invitation from First Church Charlottesville and Meadows to host the October 18, 2025, Stated Meeting of the Presbytery.

Trustees

You may or may not know that those elected to the Mission Council also serve as the Trustees of the Presbytery (Trustees of the Presbytery of the James, Inc). Currently, the Trustees are overseeing six former church properties in some state of either being sold or leased. We are also seeking to address deferred maintenance at the POJ office and other options for the best stewardship of our resources. 

We continue to seek God’s guidance in our work together, and we are grateful for the prayers and support of our churches and leaders. If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Grace and peace,

Rev. Joel Morgan

Moderator, Mission Council

Presbytery of the James

Did you know Older Adult Week is just one month away, occurring May 4-10? Presbytery of the James Older Adult Ministry has the perfect program for Older Adult Week at your church! Blessings of the Heart: Spirit, Mind & Body is a self-paced virtual conference featuring local subject matter experts in these three areas, launching April 24 on the POJ website. Click to learn more below!

POJ Congregations Stand Up for Justice at RISC's March 25 Nehemiah Action Assembly

Across Richmond, 28 diverse congregations—including Bon Air Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Three Chopt Presbyterian Church, and Union Presbyterian Seminary—are living out a shared commitment to justice through RISC (Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities). This interfaith coalition tackles urgent local issues such as affordable housing, gun violence, and healthy homes, bringing people of faith together to pursue lasting, systemic change.

A powerful example of this shared work took place on March 25, 2025, when more than 2,200 people gathered at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church on Creighton Road for RISC’s annual Nehemiah Action Assembly. The event brought all 28 congregations together to seek accountability and action from public officials. Richmond Mayor Danny Avula pledged his support for two major proposals: implementing a public health-based Gun Violence Reduction Strategy and directing millions toward affordable housing and mobile home repairs.

Bon Air Presbyterian Church members gather prior to leaving for the March 25 Nehemiah Action Assembly.

Bon Air Presbyterian Church, a founding member of RISC, brought its largest group ever—91 members—to the action. “While we were excited for the record turnout of over 2,200 people, our work doesn’t end there,” said Rev. Alex Creager. “We’re still pushing for action by calling the mayor’s office and attending city council hearings to ensure change for our neighbors.” Rev. Christopher Tweel of Three Chopt Presbyterian comments, “Membership in RISC is one tangible way we fulfill our calling to be agents of God’s justice. These efforts allow us to address key community concerns, embodying our faith’s call to ‘do justice’ as stated in Micah 6:8.” (Some of the 60+ Three Chopt Pres members pictured in above RISC article banner.)

To learn more about RISC’s work or how to get involved, click here. For coverage of the 2025 Nehemiah Action, click the below news buttons. (Above photo of assembly audience at St. Paul's Baptist Church from Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press.)

Informational Zoom Meeting April 24, 7 p.m.

Are you looking for a meaningful way to serve, connect, and renew your spirit? Whether you're feeling called to go or just want to know more, come to an informational Zoom session about an incredible mission opportunity in Guatemala with our Presbyterian mission partner CEDEPCA (Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America). Cost: $1,120 + airfare

It's National Library Week! Ministers, educators, and church leaders are encouraged to remember the resources available to support their work and calling—for some, it may only be a few steps down the hall. Your own church's library may feature helpful tools for teaching, leading small groups, as well as other references. Even small collections can offer useful treasures!

Don’t forget your wider access points: alumni of theological schools like Union Presbyterian Seminary often retain library privileges. UPSem Richmond campus's William Smith Morton Library offers rich collections of commentaries, worship aids, academic resources, and educational resources like UPSem's Instructional Resource Center and numerous special collections.

Also, check out The Resource Center, an ecumenical non-profit collection serving churches, seminaries, and others located at Virginia Union University. VUU also features several notable special collections.

The PC(USA) Resource Hub also provides tools, guidance, and support tailored to help you nurture your congregation, strengthen your ministry, and more—all just a click away.

The tools for faithful, creative leadership may be closer than you think!

Called Together, July 28-31: Clergy couples are invited to be part of this ecumenical retreat. This ecumenical retreat welcomes clergy couples serving in a variety of ministries for renewal, learning, and growth. If your family includes kids, there's programming for them too!

Is your youth group interested in attending Triennium but facing transportation challenges? Reach out to Rev. Carson Rhyne who is exploring the possibility of renting a van to help get POJ participants to the Louisville conference. If you’re interested in this option, please contact him as soon as possible by clicking below.

Overture Deadline, June Meeting

April 22

Guatemala Mission Week Informational Meeting

April 24, 7 p.m.

Older Adult Ministry Virtual Conference Launches

April 24

GA Commissioners & Alternates Nominations Deadline

May 12

Report Submission Deadline, June Meeting

May 13

Agenda Time Requests Deadline, June Meeting

May 14

POJ Office Closed

May 26, Memorial Day

120th Stated Meeting

June 10

POJ Office Closed

June 19, Junteenth

POJ Staff Holiday

July 4

Mission Week in Guatemala

July 14-21

Maundy Thursday Service

April 17, 7 p.m.

Bon Air Presbyterian Church

Easter Respite

April 21-25

Massanetta Springs

Fun Day

April 27, 2-5 p.m.

Camp Hanover

Sprunt Lectures

May 5-7

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Family Camp

May 16-18

Camp Hanover

Providence Presbyterian Church 200th Anniversary

May 25

Providence Presbyterian Church (Powhatan)

Middle School Conferences

June 19-July 18

Massanetta Springs

Bible & Church Music Conference

June 20-26

Massanetta Springs

Presbyterian Youth Triennium: As if We Were Dreaming

July 28-31

Louisville, KY

Called Together Retreat

July 28-31

Massanetta Springs

Presbyterian Youth Triennium: As if We Were Dreaming

July 28-31

Louisville, KY

Called Together Retreat

July 28-31

Massanetta Springs

• Youth Director, Part-time (Clergy/Lay) - Meadows Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, VA
• Office Administrator, Part-time (Lay) - The Gayton Kirk, Henrico, VA
• Covenant Pastor, Part-time (Clergy/CRE) - Byrd Presbyterian Church, Goochland, VA
• Guest Experience Specialist, Part-time (Clergy/Lay) - Camp Hanover, Mechanicsville, VA
• Summer Camp Staff, Part-time (Lay) - Camp Hanover, Mechanicsville, VA
• Covenant Pastor, Part-time (Clergy/CRE) - Providence Presbyterian Church, Powhatan

Calls and Jobs in Nearby Presbyteries 



PC(USA) Job Board

Association of Partners in Christian Education Job Board

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