Community Engagement Grants Return

That's right: They're back...!

The popular Community Engagement Grants were paused this spring because it's been five years since their inception, and we needed to take a step back and re-assess their value and effectiveness. We took this time to fine-tune and simplify the application process while also integrating our strategic values.

Thanks to the readiness of the Commission on Reconciliation, it's been decided we're not waiting for spring to re-deploy. Community Engagement Grants applications will open next week.

The application and criteria will be live on our website September 1st, so inform your session and prepare your partners and ideas. Meanwhile, here's an overview of the most important dates to remember:

• Sunday, September 1 - Applications Open
• Tuesday, September 24 - Online Grant Inquiry Orientation Meeting
• Friday, November 1 - Applications Close
• Monday, January 6 - Awards Announced
• Saturday, February 1 - Projects Begin

Welcome Rev. Michele Ward

Please join us in welcoming Rev. Michele Ward to the Presbytery of Baltimore! As pastor of Ashland Presbyterian Church, she's far from new to the presbytery, but now she is our/your Associate for Missional and Community Engagement.

Michele is here to support you, your congregations and the presbytery in promoting justice, inclusivity, mission partnerships, and more. She is a doctorate of ministry candidate in creative writing and public theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and we are thrilled to have her with us in this new role!

Join us for the Matthew 25 Mid-Atlantic Summit

The Dismantling Racism Teams of the Presbytery of Baltimore and National Capital Presbytery are partnering to host the Matthew 25 Mid-Atlantic Summit on October 26th at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia.

Sponsored by the Presbytery of Baltimore with additional support from the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, this Summit will be a transformative gathering that merges inspiration with action!

Join us for worship, 2 plenaries, and 9 workshops that will help inspire and equip congregations to live into the vision of Matthew 25 and its call for us to make a meaningful impact on the world around us. Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam (Director, PC(USA) Center for the Repair of Historic Harms) and Amanda Tyler (Executive Director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty) will deliver the two keynote addresses; and the General Presbyters of both Presbyteries, Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Taylor and Rev. John Molina-Moore, will share in the program. All we need is YOU!

Register today to secure your spot! For more information, see the event flyer and full schedule of speakers and workshops. If you have questions, contact Charese Jordan Moore at office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Full participation in the Matthew 25 Mid-Atlantic Summit will meet the PoB Dismantling Racism training requirement.

Guatemala Partnership Fall Trip

Join our fall trip with Cedepca’s Intercultural Encounters! The itineraries for Intercultural Encounter trips always have a blend of learning, relationship building, and cultural exploration. For this trip, we will specifically explore the history of Guatemala with Dr. Hector Castaneda and the root causes of migration with Lizbeth Gramajo.

This year's trip is November 2-9, and is open to anyone who attends a Presbytery of Baltimore church. Download a flyer and for more information, visit our website.

Baltimore - Dakota Learning Camps

This year's Baltimore - Dakota partnership's summer camps were a big hit. Here is a sampling of photos from their most recent experience.

The Baltimore - Dakota Learning Camps are repeating the three camps in the summer of 2025. It's not too soon to download the flyer, and learn more on their website at https://baltimoredakotalearningcamps.org/.

The Clerk's Corner

Necrology Reporting

Please send the names of all the ruling elders in your congregation who have died since the beginning of 2023. We will remember them during worship at the September 14 Presbytery meeting. Email Mary Gaut at mgaut@baltimorepresbytery.org

Zoom and hybrid meetings have altered our schedule for the annual necrology report and we are now moving to the September meeting which is in person and therefore offers a better worship setting for this important event. Thank you in advance.

The 904th Stated Meeting will be hosted on Saturday, September 14th by Korean United Presbyterian Church, 1501 N Rolling Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228.

It is that time of year for an in-person only event.

Register today, and join us prior to 10 am for the business meeting, and stay for open spaces and catching up with colleagues with a locally prepared, authentic Korean lunch afterwards. More information is coming soon on our website, so stay tuned.

> The deadline for lunch orders is Tuesday, September 3rd <

Wedding Officiant for January Wedding

A Presbyterian from a congregation in Charlotte, NC, is being married in Baltimore and the officiant previously arranged can no longer be there. The family reached out to us for possible substitutes. The rehearsal is at 5 pm on Jan. 3 and the wedding is at 6 pm on Jan. 4. Both are being held at the BMA, Baltimore Museum of Art. Please contact Mary Gaut (mgaut@baltimorepresbytery.org) if you are interested and available.

Child Care Provider / CE Assistant

The Christian Education Department of First and Franklin Presbyterian Church is looking for a caring individual to provide child care in our nursery (ages 0-5 years). We currently anticipate a short, regular weekly schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays, with the possibility of additional hours as needed (e.g., church meetings, or additional services). Job Description

Mission Coordinator

Towson Presbyterian Church is looking to hire a part-time Mission Coordinator – up to 50 hours/month, a combination of on-site and virtual work. This individual would work with the Mission Outreach team to coordinate international and local mission opportunities. Job Description

Interim Pastor

Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church seeks an individual to provide a balanced ministry of preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and organizational leadership to the members and staff of Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church (HRPC), an intentionally multicultural church, growing in faith and embracing our differences, for a period of one year. Interested candidates should email hrpc.ips2024@gmail.com. Job Description

Visit the Presbytery's website for additional employment listings.