Celebrating Black History Month |
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In 1807, the Presbytery of the Union Synod of Tennessee recommended to the General Assembly in Lexington, Kentucky, that a “slave should be licensed to preach among colored people.” Enter the Rev. John Gloucester, who founded the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1807. |
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I guess that was a good idea at the time, because according to records of the Mississippi Presbytery, emancipated slaves had absolutely no use for “Presbyterian Evangelism,” since the preachers were the very ones who supported slavery and the separation of the races.
This should not surprise any of us because there are folks, Black, White and in between that seem to have no use for our evangelism. But for purposes of our celebration of Black History, I offer this: diversity is more than getting Black “butts” in the pew or a Black face on a committee Zoom call. It is about getting to know folks for who they are, sharing stories and experiences, embracing cultural differences, and insisting on shared leadership and practice. It’s about seeing color, in all its beauty and complexities, as a necessary part of creation, not just an antithesis to the dominate culture.
We are Presbyterians, we are loved, we are the body of Christ. Celebrate with me!
– Rev. Dr. Jacqueline E. Taylor, General Presbyter
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Our special called meeting of Presbytery approaches quickly! Please be sure to join us Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 10 am via Zoom for the purpose of acting on the following matters related to the 225th General Assembly:
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Consider concurring with an Overture from Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery
- Elect an alternate Ruling Elder Commissioner to the 225th GA. RE : E. Joshua Gilhart, from Cumberland PC has been nominated for this position
- Elect an overture advocate for the overture approved at the October Gathering
- Any matters directly related to these items or other items related to General Assembly that are time sensitive
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Afterwards, Join the Strategic Planning Session |
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Immediately following the meeting, there will be a breakout session led by the strategic planning team to share information about the Presbytery's planning process. They'll be counting on your input in the brief months ahead in order to deliver a work product we can share with everyone by mid-year. Learn more on how you can get involved and lend your voice to this important process.
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The next stated meeting,
the 984th Gathering of Presbytery
is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, at 10 am via Zoom.
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Welcoming Our New Afghan Neighbors |
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The Presbytery of Baltimore is happy to introduce the Refugee Good Neighbor Program - designed for faith communities and civic groups in mind. Learn how you can help welcome refugees into the Baltimore area, and how to match the gifts of a Good Neighbor Team with the aspirations and gifts of newly arrived refugees. Imagine being among their first friends, helping them find their footing in a new country and to achieve their goals for a brighter future.
On February 7th, our featured host will be Eva Ng’ongolo-Simon, the new Volunteer Coordinator at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area for this special program. LSS has opened a brand new resettlement office in Arbutus, MD as an extension of their long history of refugee resettlement in Maryland, DC and Virginia. Visit our website to register, and feel free to share this invitation with other faith communities.
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Final Notice to Clerks of Session |
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Clerks of Session: Thanks to the 25 of you who have already completed your statistical reports. If you have not done yours, remember that the deadline is February 10. Please contact Stated Clerk Mary Gaut with any questions. mgaut@baltimorepresbytery.org
Also, An updated personnel and employment guide has been prepared by the Office of General Assembly and has been posted in the "Resources for Congregations" section of the presbytery website.
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Insurance Board Offers Legal Helpline |
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Through their partnership with the Association of Conference Attorneys (ACA) of the United Church of Christ, all Insurance Board participants can access legal counsel that will provide a free consultation and referral service. Ministries will benefit from connecting with attorneys who have an intimate understanding of polity and how issues are processed in observance of free church traditions. Ministries can contact the Legal Helpline at 800-437-8830 or email an inquiry to legalhelpline@insuranceboard.org. (Please note the free consultation does not include contract reviews)
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Environmental Legislation Heats Up |
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The Maryland General Assembly has assigned a bill number to this vital legislation:
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76% of Maryland voters support the Environmental Human Rights amendment |
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Over half of Maryland voters are more likely to vote because of the amendment. |
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Get Involved to Support HB596 |
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With Maryland’s General Assembly in session, interest in the Environmental Human Rights Amendment has never been greater. Advocates have planned a number of events to capitalize on the momentum and extend opportunities for each and every person and organization to become involved. Please learn more and support this vital legislation.
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Sunday, February 6 – Environmental Human Rights Amendment Training Join The Action Network at 4:00 or 5:30 pm for a deep dive into the Environmental Human Rights Amendment. The training will cover background about environmental rights amendments in the US, what the proposed amendment will do, the types of environmental health issues the amendment could address in Maryland, frequently asked questions and how to address them. RSVP here.
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Virtual Lobby Night – Maryland Sierra Club invites us to join them and others from across the state in raising our voices for these three bills as participants in their online lobby night. Meet virtually with your state legislators on Monday evening, February 7th |
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Friday, February 18 – Maryland Environmental Human Rights Student Rally
Please join the students and youth of Maryland at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis at 3pm to demonstrate to our legislators that the youth are paying attention and that this is of vital importance to us. We are encouraging those who can’t be with us in person to join in demonstrating virtually. RSVP here and ask friends and allies to join you!
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Sunday, February 6 - Virtual Afghan Summit - Learn how you can volunteer with the Afghan Alliance of Maryland and support Afghans with immediate needs and long-term integration in Maryland. Sunday, February 6th, 4-6 pm More information
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Monday, February 7 - Introducing the Refugee Good Neighbor Program - The Presbytery of Baltimore is pleased to host Eva Ng’ongolo-Simon, the new Volunteer Coordinator at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area for The Good Neighbor Program, designed for faith communities and civic groups in mind.
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Monday, February 7 - Music Mondays with Sharrif Simmons - Join Govans Presbyterian Church at 7pm for its weekly virtual concert series. Live on Zoom. Visit www.govanspres.org for more information.
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Thursday, February 10 - Called Special Meeting of Presbytery, at 10 am via Zoom for the purpose of acting on matters related to the 225th General Assembly.
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Saturday, February 12 - Racial Justice Ministry Speaker's Series with Mark Williams at 2 pm. Govans Presbyterian’s distinguished speaker discusses Environmental Justice: How Contamination of water, air, and land constitutes violence against black communities. Visit www.govanspres.org for more information.
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Church Administrator
Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church of Odenton, MD is seeking administrative support to the Pastor and Associate Pastor to organize and run the church office and facilitate church communications. There are a mix of core administrative and office management duties, community and church membership outreach, and website and social media maintenance responsibilities. Previous administrative experience, tech savvy in MS Office, Google Docs, Zoom, and social media applications is preferred. The position is part-time (30 hours per week), Monday-Friday from 9 am - 3 pm, but also requires quarterly attendance at Sunday service and periodic evening session meetings. Full Job Description here. Please email admin@arkanddove.org with resume and contact information.
Development Director
Contemporary Music Leader
Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church is a small and welcoming congregation in the Cape St. Claire neighborhood of Annapolis, MD. This church plans to offer two worship services for all ages; one traditional and one contemporary and is seeking a music leader for the contemporary service. The ideal candidate would be creative, patient, organized, accepting, encouraging and demonstrates familiarity with contemporary Christian worship music. The Contemporary Music Leader shall be responsible to the Session of the church through the Worship Committee and shall be supervised by the Pastor. Job description – Website description
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