February 15, 2024

125th Stated Meeting of Foothills Presbytery

Tuesday, February 20

at Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church

307 North Main Street, Fountain Inn, 29644

We welcome the Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis, Co-Moderator of the 225^th General Assembly, who will lead us in Worship. Shavon's message, "Unbound We Thrive," is centered on Matthew 25:31-46. After worship, we will welcome a number of ministry partners, including those from Camp Fellowship and the Presbyterian Mission Agency. We will hear updates from our Antiracism Ministry Team, celebrate Validated Ministry, commend the retirement of one of our pastors, and examine an Elder to be Commissioned to serve the Presbytery before hearing an update about our Presbytery's shared mission and ministry.

Registration and marketplace opens at 9:30 am

Worship begins at 10:00 am

Registration link below

Everyone planning to attend the meeting is asked to register.

Commissioner Handbook & Supplemental Report here.

Commissioner Orientation is TODAY, Thursday, February 15, 5:30 pm via Zoom. More information is in your registration confirmation email.

We look forward to seeing you and your commissioner(s) on

February 20^th at the Fountain Inn Church.

Sheep and Goats, Italian Mosaic, 1130's, the Apse, San Clemente, Rome.

The SC PDAT is working towards having a productive and successful retreat as part of the 2024 Alphabet Soup in Columbia on February 23 & 24, 2024.

We’ve put together a pdf document with the general information and the providing two links for signing up for the retreat and viewing the SC PDAT agenda. Click here to view the document.

Please join FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Coordination Section and the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the February VOISE call.

The topic of the call is a spring safety and security religious holiday briefing that will provide attendees with information, points of contact and considerations to prepare their facilities for upcoming religious observances and other public gatherings.

Summer 2024 Registration is OPEN!

The first 25 campers who register from Foothills Presbytery churches will automatically get a $50 Campership!

When registering, use Campership Code: Foothills24

Foothills Presbytery has limited need-based scholarships available. Click Here: Scholarship Application

Scholarship Deadline is April 1.

You are invited to a conversation

exploring the Theology of Mission

Mental Health

First Aid Training

Foothills Presbytery is excited to partner with MHFA and provide training for pastors, educators, youth leaders, elders, deacons, and volunteers.

Thursday, February 29

at First Presbyterian Greer

NATIONAL RESPONSE TEAM &

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER TEAM

For the first time in the history of NRT Recruitment, we are accepting online applications. From now on, applications and references will be received through an online application portal. Any paper applications submitted prior to 2024 will be considered in the upcoming applicant pool. All applications to be considered for the 2024 discernment must be submitted by May 1^st.

In addition to the online application, we have a new discernment opportunity for prospective volunteers. We will be hosting virtual information sessions for prospective volunteers to learn more about what it means to be on the NRT. These sessions will take place on Thursday February 1^st and Monday April 1^st on zoom. To attend the online information sessions, prospective applicants must fill out this form to RSVP and receive the link via email. During the information sessions, folks will learn more about the NRT, ministry teams, and the application process.

If you know of individuals who would be a good fit for the NRT, please invite them to apply and share the attached invitation to learn more about the team. Word of mouth has always been our strongest recruitment tool and we hope to continue that moving forward. Prospective applicants can visit the newly updated NRT Webpage to learn more about the team, RSVP for information sessions, and apply online.

Important Dates:

- April 1^st at 7pm EST: NRT Information Session for Prospective Applicants

- May 1^st at 11:59pm EST: Application Deadline for 2024 Discernment

SC5 School of Theology

Equipping Ruling Elders and Church Leaders

SC5 School of Theology is sponsored by the five presbyteries in South Carolina: Charleston-Atlantic, Foothills, New Harmony, Providence, and Trinity.

2024 Spring Classes being offered

March 8 & 9

at Presbyterian College

Click here for more information

Click here for Spring 2024 Semester Details

Lots of wonderful offerings in 2024 to share from NEXT CHURCH:

Winter Workshop Burst

https://nextchurch.net/product/winter-workshop-burst/

Five timely topics for church leaders based on feedback we have received from individual conversations concerning the needs on the ground:

It’s only $29/person for all sessions or $25/person for each session. Our hope is that this low cost will provide access to as many leaders as possible.

Preaching for Change

https://nextchurch.net/preaching-for-change/

We received a Lilly Grant to support our initiative, Preaching for Change, and are excited to launch our pilot program in 2024. Cohorts can be composed of leadership within a congregation or colleagues with a common goal. All participants will engage with our resources (Cultivated Ministry and Crossroads video series), receive 1:1 and group coaching quarterly, and attend the 2024 National Gathering.

National Gathering

https://nextchurch.net/product/2024-national-gathering/

From April 8-11, 2024 we will gather in Falls Church, VA to move the needle in our contexts. Participants will engage with practitioners and coaches in one of six different areas:

Community Organizing
Building Community Partnerships
Intersectionality/Embodying Welcome
Identity and Coalition Building for People of Color
The Preaching Moment
Leading Change

Visit Nextchurch.net for more information!

THE PRESBYTERIAN PROMISE

AN $80,000 SCHOLARSHIP OVER 4 YEARS FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE PRESBYTERIAN.

The Presbyterian Promise Scholarship is a commitment by Presbyterian College (PC) to recognize students for their merit and affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. PC seeks to develop students academically and spiritually in this signature scholarship. Students who are members of Presbyterian churches will receive a scholarship for a minimum of $20,000 per year for up to four years—that’s an $80,000 commitment to you. For more information and to apply visit our site: www.presby.edu/presbyterian-promise

Presbyterian College is excited to offer a new program focused on fundraising, philanthropy, stewardship, and other giving initiatives for congregations and other faith-related organizations. PC is proud to partner with the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (Indiana University) to offer the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF).

This unique partnership enables this outstanding course to be offered in the southeast region. The executive certificate program provides the research, tools, and customized training to meet the growing needs of leaders in religious communities and fundraisers of faith-based organizations. The focus of the ECRF is on the cultural, organizational, and philanthropic practices unique to religious institutions. These practices in turn enable donors motivated by spiritual and religious values to experience the joy of generous giving.

This would be an ideal program for clergy or other faith leaders as well as stewardship or advancement staff members in religious communities, schools, or service organizations. For PC(USA) pastors, there is also a scholarship offered through the Presbyterian Foundation to offset some of the costs of attendance.

Program Dates: May 20-22, 2024 (3 hour online component afterwards)

Location: Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC

Presbyterian Foundation Scholarship Information

226TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING IN

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

THIS SUMMER...

Click this link to view the December

On the Road to GA226 Newsletter

MID COUNCIL MINISTRIES

‘Along the Road’ podcasts: recent and upcoming episodes

Spirited discussions about trauma-informed decision-making, GA student delegates, Robert’s Rules, the Road to Emmaus, and Presbyterian connections beyond the congregation

Five new “Along the Road” podcast episodes have been made available since November, three from the “Encounter” series for mid-council and church leaders and two “Nourish” episodes for deacons and ruling elders.

Listen to all Along the Road episodes directly from the Mid Council Ministries section of pcusa.org or from popular streaming services.

Click here for more information

Ring in the New Year with a gift of love to your PW ministry!

Our joy, our delight as Presbyterian Women is serving a loving God through transformative ministries and relationships.

Together, we beautify God’s world as we live PW Purpose-ful lives!

As we look toward a new year of PW possibility and hope and love, please consider a year-end gift to support PW’s Annual Mission Fund (the Mission Pledge). The Annual Fund undergirds all we do as Presbyterian Women.

Give online: Visit presbyterianwomen.org/give and select “2023 Year-End Gift”

Reminders from

your Stated Clerk

Changes in Foothills Presbytery's Terms of Call for Pastors
Changes to the Book of Order (PCUSA)
Changes in the PCUSA Board Pensions Health Care Plan for Retirees and Pastors

2024 Financial Forums

2024 is here! I am happy to announce that we will continue our quarterly financial gatherings of treasurers, finance committee chairs, pastors, and others (all are welcome). While we will not be meeting first quarter, we will be meeting on the following dates:

April 23
July 30
October 29

Please mark your calendars accordingly and spread the word! I am looking forward to seeing everyone at these gatherings, if not before.

Blessings,

Olanda Carr, Jr.

Senior Ministry Relations Officer – East Region

Toll Free:1-888-711-1318

Get ready for an exhilarating experience as we extend a warm invitation to the much-anticipated 2024 Southeast Region Conference! This year's event promises to be an inspiring celebration of unity, collaboration, and the incredible diversity that makes our region truly special. Embrace the power of unity as we explore the richness that comes from our diversity. This year's theme, "One Body, Many Parts," emphasizes the strength we gain when we come together, each contributing our unique talents, perspectives, and experiences for the greater good.

Stay tuned for more details, including registration information, in the coming weeks. We can't wait to gather as one body with many parts, united for the greater good!

https://nationalnbpc.org/

Questions? Contact [email protected].

St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church has a partner youth mission ministry called Camp RHINO. Camp RHINO is a week-long mission experience for youth. We partner with local non-profit organizations, so groups can do service projects with one or a variety of non-profits. In the past, Camp RHINO groups have built homes with Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, packed food delivery boxes for Second Harvest Food Bank, assisted in homeless outreach and shelters, worked in community gardens, and volunteered with other programs.

2024 CAMP SESSIONS AVAILABLE :

WEEK ONE : JUNE 3-7
WEEK TWO : JUNE 10-14
WEEK THREE : JUNE 17-21
WEEK FOUR : JULY 15-19

Interested Churches May Register at WWW.RHINONOLA.ORG, or schedule a phone call with our YAV RHINO Volunteer and recent Pittsburgh Theological Seminary graduate Steff Johnson at: [email protected]” Steff’s Office Number : 504-897-0101 ex. 117

Opportunity for High School Youth

JULY 22-27, 2024

PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE, CLINTON, S.C.

Join us for an enriching five-day gathering at Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C., where rising high school juniors and seniors will come together to explore their callings and gifts for leadership in the church.

Co-hosted by the Miller Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Office of Spiritual Life at Presbyterian College, this unique event offers students the chance to learn from experienced faculty and staff from both institutions, to delve into vocational discernment activities, and to engage in guided theological reflection. This gathering promises to be a transformative experience for those seeking to explore their callings and who want to learn more about what the path to leadership in the church might look like!

Students can expect to engage in group discernment activities, enjoy downtime on the Presbyterian College campus and in the City of Greenville, and participate in worship. Room and board will be provided on the PC campus.

Charleston Atlantic Presbytery BUS transportation to St. Louis!

Transportation—Kelly Tours:

• Trip to St. Louis, MO takes 12 hours & 37 minutes. Bus will depart August 7, 2024

• Bus seats 56 passengers, to be comfortable we are looking for 40 ladies to commit. Last time we picked up ladies in Columbia & Spartanburg.

• There will be a Relay Driver and regular driver due to regulations.

Apply for Montreat Summer Staff!

Do you know a young adult looking for a summer job? Montreat Conference Center is currently accepting applications for its 2024 Summer Staff season. All young adults who are at least one year out of high school are invited to apply.

Available positions cover a wide range of skills and interests such as A/V production, childhood education, marketing, environmental studies, hospitality, and more! All positions are paid and include the option to live on campus. Plus, certain positions may qualify for college credit.

This is a great opportunity to gain valuable job experience and enjoy life in our close-knit mountain community. If you think someone you know would be interested, please encourage them to apply at montreat.org/summer-staff!

Healthy Congregations

On March 5, 2024, we will be hosting our Healthy Congregations workshop in Fort Mill, SC. The training will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill. Here is a brief description of the workshop:

The Healthy Congregations workshop is designed to equip leaders to respond to the presence or potential threat of anxiety in a congregational system in ways that prevent destructive conflict and help the church stay focused on its unique mission and purpose. This workshop will help you:
Learn how you as a leader can influence the health of your congregation – how to detect and avoid unhealthy patterns of living together in community
Learn how to keep anxiety from becoming infectious
Gain confidence in responding to challenges and opportunities
Learn how to put limits on invasive behavior, manage reactivity, and overcome sabotage
Discover how leaders can function as the congregation’s immune system
Learn to focus on strengths, resources, options, and the future

Additional Training Opportunities:

Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches

Conflict is a normal part of life; unfortunately, the church is not exempt. This workshop will give participants the knowledge and skills necessary to manage conflicts within their congregations in a healthier manner.

Mediation Skills Training Institute

This 5-day event is designed to equip church leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. It also includes a component on congregational mediation and consultation, placed within the context of family systems theory.

https://lmpeacecenter.org/