Your Presbytery Needs You!

The Presbytery Nominating Committee is seeking volunteers to fill several important leadership positions. If you've been looking for a meaningful way to serve, this may be your opportunity.

General Assembly (2028 – Puerto Rico)

The teaching elder commissioner has been selected, but we are still seeking:

• Teaching Elder Alternate
• Ruling Elder Commissioner
• Ruling Elder Alternate
• Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD)

Synod of the Northeast

The Synod meets four times each year, both in person and via Zoom. Commissioners are asked to complete reading and preparation before each meeting. We are seeking:

• Ruling Elder Commissioner
• Ruling Elder Alternate
• Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD)

Names for Synod positions must be submitted by August 1, 2026.

Commission on Ministry

Three positions are also available on the Commission on Ministry, which meets monthly, primarily via Zoom.

Do you know someone who would be a good fit for one of these roles? We would love to hear your recommendation. Better yet, if you feel called to serve, please let us know of your interest.

Please prayerfully consider how God may be calling you to serve. Your gifts, experience, and voice are needed as we continue the work of our presbytery together.

In His Service,

Lynn Jacques

Chair, Nominating Committee

lmjacques@verizon.net

315-263-9237

Hey clergy members of Cayuga‑Syracuse — do you need boundary training?  

Safe Gatherings offers a convenient 7‑module online Boundary Training course designed specifically for ministry leaders. The training takes about 2 hours to complete and costs $29, making it an accessible way to stay current with best practices for healthy, ethical ministry. If you’re due for boundary training or simply want a refresher, this is a great resource for you. You can learn more and register at Safe Gatherings: https://safegatherings.com.

The 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) took place earlier this month in Milwaukee.

Congregations are invited to download and use these post-General Assembly bulletin inserts. Churches are welcome to distribute them by email or include printed copies in worship bulletins.

Full Page

Half Sheet

The Presbyterian Outlook respectfully asks that the PDF files not be shared publicly on websites or social media pages. Please use them only for distribution within your congregation and related church communications.

Attention Ministers!

The new PCUSA Minister ID Cards are ready for distribution.

Here is how it is going to work ... insert suspenseful music here ... The cards will be mailed to the address I have on file. If there is no address on file, they will be mailed to churches when applicable. If there is no assigned church AND no address on file they don't get mailed and collect dust on my shelf until the next in-person presbytery meeting.

If you are unsure about which address we have on file, if we have an address on file, or if you know there isn't one, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT STATEDCLERK@CAYUGASYRACUSE.ORG BEFORE AUGUST 1. The cards will be mailed on August 1.

It is not the worst idea in the world to send me your current address and contact info anyway to make sure our records are up to date. 

Peace be with you!

Rev. Ben Fitzgerald-Fye 

Stated Clerk

Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse 

Help Us Keep Our Presbytery Records Current!

We’ve made the Church Information Form easier than ever — it is now completely digital.

Each church is asked to complete the updated form so we can maintain accurate contact and leadership information throughout the presbytery.

✅ Takes only a few minutes

✅ Easy online submission

✅ Helps us serve your congregation better

Please click the link below, complete your church’s information, and submit the form.

Church Information Form (Electronic Google Form)

Printable Church Information Form (PDF)

Once submitted, it will be automatically sent to the Stated Clerk’s office.

Please complete this form as soon as possible. This will become an annual process moving forward.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org.

If you or your church do not have access to the digital form or the necessary technology --or if you know of a congregation that does not -- please let me know. I will gladly provide a physical copy of the form.

Thank you all for your cooperation. I truly appreciate it.

Rev. Ben Fitzgerald-Fye 

Stated Clerk

Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse 

Urgent Request to All Churches:

The Joint Social Justice Committee of Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley Presbyteries is asking all churches in our presbyteries to set aside part of the worship service on July 26 to address the significant increase of ICE activity in our communities through prayer. 

Concerned about Gun Violence?

Learn Faith-Based Skills for

Gun Violence Prevention

Sept. 15-18, 2026    Kansas City, MO

The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship invites you to the 3rd annual Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage, a national training event at the Heartland Center near Kansas City. MO on Sept. 15-18, 2026. The Institute offers continuing education for lay leaders and clergy on educational, pastoral and action steps for gun violence prevention mission with congregations. Space is limited and registration closes on Aug. 25.

Who should attend? Lay leaders and teams, parents and grandparents, gun violence survivors, suicide prevention groups, gun owners, safety and public health advocates, veterans, pastors, youth leaders---people of faith who are committed to saving lives. All denominations are welcome.

Learn more and register...

The Atwood Institute shares skills from teaching about gun violence to transforming unwanted guns into garden tools.

See FAQs HERE.

2026 Theme: Cultivating the Heart to End Gun Violence - Ending gun violence requires courage, compassion, and community. Our theme invites participants to nurture the spiritual grounding, relationships and practical skills needed to build safer communities. Gun violence prevention work also involves struggle, grief, and persistence. The Institute holds space for both the pain of this work and the beloved community of people taking action together.

2026 Atwood Institute Leaders Include: Rev. Jer Swigart, Director of the peacemaking training group, Global Immersion, and co-author of Mending the Divides; Dr. Marvia Jones, Kansas City Director of Public Health; Rita Niblack, Catholic lay leader from Guns to Gardens Metro Denver; Rev. Margery Rossi, Minister for Gun Violence Prevention, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship; Quaker blacksmith Scotty Utz of RAWtools South and others.

Thanks to generous sponsors, scholarships are available.

Find a story about the 2026 Atwood Institute from Presbyterian News Service HERE.

For questions, contact: gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org  

Cayuga Syracuse Presbytery Food Supplemental Grant

In order to address the November 1, 2026 SNAP reductions that will affect millions of people across the country, including here in our Presbytery and communities, the Cayuga-Syracuse Social Justice Committee has set up the Cayuga-Syracuse Food Supplemental Grant. 

This grant is designed to provide emergency funding of between $500 and $1,000 to a Presbyterian church that is engaging or planning to launch a food assistance ministry for families, children and the impoverished in their community. Funding sources for the grant are the Vanderkamp Funds.

To qualify for this funding, a church must be seeking to meet an emergent or recently developed need for those who are impacted by SNAP reductions beginning November 1, 2026. This food assistance ministry must be directly provided by your church. 

Applications must be sent in to the Cayuga-Syracuse Social Justice Committee by September 1, 2026. Applications are to be sent to the Social Justice Committee via Leigh Anne Herd at laherd02@gmail.com.

Download application here

The Social Justice Committee will review all applications and churches will be contacted by mid-September whether their application was accepted or not. Grant money will be distributed November 1, 2026. 

Cayuga-Syracuse Food Supplemental Grant Structure

• Year One:  Between $500-$1,000

Awarded based on a church’s launch or strengthening of ongoing food assistance ministries in their community

• Year Two:  Between $500-$1,000 (by reapplication)

Awarded based on a church’s demonstrated progress, meaningful impact, and evidence that their ministry is making a difference

The Cayuga- Syracuse Presbytery Social Justice Committee is committed to nurturing and fulfilling Jesus’s call found in Matthew 25 – “Come, you are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me ... As you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

2026–2027 Presbyterian Planning Calendar Now Available

The 2026–2027 Presbyterian Planning Calendar is now available to order through the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse.

Place your prepaid order by July 31 by mailing a check to the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse, PO Box 438, Syrause, NY 13214. The cost is $16.10 per calendar ($15.50+$.60 shipping).

Calendars will be shipped to Liverpool First Presbyterian Church for pickup there. Additional pickup locations are still being determined.

Please note that the Presbytery is not able to ship calendars directly to individuals or churches. If you need your calendar mailed to you, you may order directly from the Presbyterian Distribution Service for $17.95 per calendar, plus shipping.

He's known for balancing budgets, but he can also keep the beat.

Bob Davenport, chair of the presbytery's Finance and Property Committee, recently revealed another of his talents: playing the bass guitar.

Learn More and Register