We want to hear about the mission stories from our Presbytery's worshiping communities. What mission work are you involved in? How are your members working in the community? What story would you like to share with others in the Presbytery?

Send any mission stories from your congregation that you would like to share to: CaySyrNews@gmail.com. 

Deadline is 12 p.m. on Wednesdays for the current week's edition of

Presbytery Matters.

We want to share your stories, missions, activities and more. Also, make sure to like our Facebook page by clicking the "Facebook" icon at the top of this newsletter.

We are asking our churches to share this newsletter with your members each week. Click the button below to forward the email or to obtain the newsletter link.

Thank you! 

In our prayers together this week:

• Pray for Rita Hooper who fell and broke her femur not far above her replaced knee. Please send healing prayers to Rita for a speedy and pain-free recovery.
• Please keep Camille Bach (Whitelaw Presbyterian) in your prayers during her breast cancer treatment.
• Please pray for Jerry Armstrong (Whitelaw Presbyterian) Jerry is 15 years old with recurrent bone cancer.
• Let us pray together for justice, peace and unity, especially during these times of turmoil and uncertainty.
• Prayers for peace for the people and country of South Korea.
• Pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
• Pray for all those who are struggling with current events in our community, in our country and around the world.
• The voiceless.
• All those who have been separated from their families.
• All those in America.
• Our brothers & sisters in Haiti.
• All those in Sudan.
• All those in Ukraine.
• All those in Lebanon.
• All those in Israel and Gaza.
• All displaced people.
• All those who are homebound.
• All those who battling addiction and their loved ones.
• Keep all those who battling cancer and other chronic illnesses in your prayers. Please ask God to be by their side and to be with their doctors and families.
• Please pray for all those who are dealing with the painful grief of losing a beloved family pet.

In the cycle of prayer our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: Isaiah’s Table, Syracuse; Korean Church of Syracuse; Park Central, Syracuse; Robinson Elmwood United Church, Syracuse; First, Weedsport; Whitelaw

As the Rev. Kurt Esslinger and Eunjae Lee described the events that led to this spring’s impeachment of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, the comparison to politics in the United States was readily apparent. Learn more about in the latest episode of "A Matter of Faith."

The Annual Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse was held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 Northminster Presbyterian Church and on Zoom.

Here are some highlights from the meeting:



• Our Meeting started at about 9:30 a.m.
• We opened with a beautiful Worship Service.
• The Rev. Paul Huh delivered a powerful, moving message intertwined with a beginner’s pottery lesson. “Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand.” He also spoke about the coming together of the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbyter with Susquehanna Valley Presbytery and prayed: Lord, be the potter. Mold our churches to be stronger together. Amen.
• The business portion of our meeting started at about 10:50 a.m.
• Moderator Rev. Michael Hill encourages Presbytery members to attend the installation of the Rev. Adam Demetros at Westminster Church in Auburn on June 1st. Details are above.

• MOTION PASSED: The Coordinating Committee of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery moves that the Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley presbyteries share the Rev. Dr. Greg Garis as Lead Presbyter for Transformation and hire a Transitional Assistant to the Lead Presbyter. Further we charge the Human Resources committee, in consultation with the Finance Committees, to develop terms of call and compensation package for the Lead Presbyter for Transformation and a compensation package for the Assistant. *NOTE: Susquehanna Valley Presbytery is scheduled to vote on their version of the same motion on June 14.
• We welcomed the Rev. Dr. Greg Garis with a round of applause and a song!
• Sam Dance, Ken Wonderland, Nancy Wind were accepted to a second term on the Committee on Ministry.
• Thank you to Lynn Jacques for serving as our vice moderator for the past 2 years. The Rev. Dr. Shavonn Lynch was voted as the next vice moderator. She will be installed at the next meeting.
• We’re heard from Osamah Khalil, a Professor of History at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, chairing the International Relations Program. Khalil, a frequent media commentator and contributor for local, national, and international media, spoke to us about the genocide in Gaza.
• The meeting ended with a delicious lunch. Thank you to Northminster Presbyterian Church for providing lunch and hosting the annual meeting.

Papers for the Meeting:

Docket

Letter to Presbytery Members

Report on Synod Mission and Ministries Commission

2025 Innovation Grant Recommendations

Committee on Representation

Finance and Property Committee Annual Report

We Call Out Genocide

Per Capita Report

Statement of Financial Position Prev Year Comparison

Statement of Activity - Previous Year Comparison

Budget Report

SUMMER EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS

Sponsored by the Joint Justice in Ministry and Mission Teams of two Presbyteries

Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley

Dates: TBA

Being Transgender: Medical History, Church, Society, and Families

    Dr. Carolyn Wolf-Gould, is the founder of the Gender Wellness Center, a rural-based interdisciplinary center for transgender healthcare, clinical training, advocacy, and research in upstate New York . She is co-author of the recent book A History of Transgender Medicine in the United States”. Arriving at a critical moment in the struggle for transgender rights. Sweeping in scope and deeply personal in nature, this groundbreaking volume traces the development of transgender medicine across three centuries-centering the voices of transgender individuals, debunking myths about gender-affirming care, and empowering readers to grasp the complexities of this evolving field.

    Stephanie Nawyn is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Michigan State University (MSU). Her research and teaching expertise are in migration, gender and refugees. She is the former director of MSU’s Center for Gender in Global Context, where she oversaw the Women’s and Gender Studies program and supported research and activities related to sex, gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. She is also the mother of two wonderful young men, Henry (age 20) and Zach (age 16), and is a member at the Presbyterian Church of Okemos, Michigan.

We Are In this Together: Opportunities for Growth 

 The Rev Ashley DeTar Birt, Presbyterian Minister from The Center for Jubilee Practice that works with churches, mid-councils, and Christian organizations seeking to consider their legacy of liberation and develop and implement restorative communal practices. We will explore our history and present day, identify harms we as a church have caused and foster healing of our communities through concrete practices of full inclusion, reparations, and care for creation.

Following our informative meeting on many mission and ministry opportunities and the presentation by Dr. Osamah Kahlil of SU & Maxwell School our Social Justice Committee is recommending this educational article on Israel, Palestine and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Download and read article here.

"Hunger Plan is Empty"

Last week, the Israeli army announced its plan to “deal with the issue of hunger” in Gaza.

Palestinian Christian Leader Jonathan Kuttab says: "The plan was so evil and dystopic, I have not been able to sleep thinking about its implications. I have been haunted by it every night."

Read more and learn how to help... 

RAIN OR SHINE: The rain didn't stop the fun at the United Church of Fayetteville's annual Chicken BBQ. Rain or shine, it was a great time!

How Healthy is Your Church Culture?

Thursday, May 22, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader - Jim Ozier

Most pastors agree that their church’s culture is the key to being a vibrant, healthy congregation! It is the key to building a dynamic staff and to making a difference in your congregation and community. It is the environment that allows guests to connect with your church. A compelling culture enables a church to go beyond spinning its wheels and to become clear in its identity, purpose and mission. Yet, many pastors don’t even know where to begin to assess their church’s culture, or how to change the culture in productive ways. Are you looking for ways to connect with new people, grow and make an impact? You will learn how in this webinar. And good news… The audible version of “Church Culture: How to Assess it, Shift it, and Shape it” is available now!

Jim Ozier is a church coach, consultant, author of three books and workshop presenter who has trained more than 20,000 pastors and church leaders in the areas of church culture, accelerating growth, and Passing the Baton of leadership. He has keynoted numerous major church conferences and spoken at many of the largest churches in the country.

De-Sizing the Church

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Karl Vaters

We have an unhealthy relationship with bigness in the church. Especially in the American church. And it’s killing us. The rate of church closures, departing members, and pastoral burnout is growing exponentially. And our relentless chase for bigger! faster! is hurting, not helping.

Bigness is not about size, it's a dangerous mindset that both big and small churches struggle with. In this session, based on his book, De-sizing the Church, Karl Vaters will talk about how we became so obsessed with bigness in the church, why it’s dangerous, and what we can do to change course.

Karl Vaters produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com. His heart is to help pastors of small churches (up to 90 percent of us) find the resources to lead well, and to capitalize on the unique advantages that come with pastoring a small church – something virtually every pastor will spend at least some of their ministry years doing. He also believes that big and small churches can and should work together more often – to the benefit and blessing of everyone. Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry. Episodes feature in-depth interviews about the topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context.

From Weary to Wholehearted

Thursday May 29, 2025

2:00 - 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Callie Swanlund

In this one-hour webinar, we’ll explore the realities of burnout and its unique challenges, drawing from the themes of From Weary to Wholehearted. Rooted in embodied spirituality and grounded care, this session offers practical tools and spiritual nourishment for those seeking to move through weariness toward a more wholehearted way of living and leading.

Callie Swanlund is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, spiritual companion, and coach who helps others know their belovedness and find their Spark. Her new book, From Weary to Wholehearted, is a restorative resource for overcoming ministry burnout. Callie is a creative minister and leads individuals and groups in the work of Dr. Brené Brown as a Certified Daring Way Facilitator. Her How2charist: Digital Instructed Eucharist film has reached Christians and curious individuals around the world, and her Wholehearted Wisdom movement invites others into deeper reflection and connection across social media.

Building Collaborative Teams for an Adaptive Church

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

2:00 - 3:00 pm EDT

Leader - Dustin Benac

Faith leaders and faith communities face a series of complex and interrelated challenges that require nimbleness and creativity: polarization, loneliness, mental health, burnout, and shifting economic structures. If left unattended, these and other challenges can isolate faith leaders and faith communities instead of creating space for collaboration and community. In this webinar, Dr. Dustin D. Benac will introduce a field-tested model to build collaborative teams that allow faith leaders to serve and equip their communities during times of transition, change, and uncertainty. As the author of Adaptive Church: Collaboration and Community in Changing World, the co-editor of Pathways to Belonging, and the Director of the Program for the Future Church, Benac's work combines empirical research with a theological vision for leadership, community, and the future of faith.

Dustin D. Benac (ThD Duke University) is a professor, educator, and organizational strategist. He teaches at Baylor University as a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director and Co-founder of the Program for the Future Church. As a speaker and advisor to faith leaders, congregations, and organizations, he guides individuals and communities that are navigating uncertainty and change. His books include Adaptive Church: Collaboration and Community in a Changing World, Pathways to Belonging, and Crisis and Care: Meditations on Faith and Philanthropy. You can find him across social networks @dustindbenac.

The Psychology of Polarization – Science in Church Series 

Thursday, June 5, 2025 

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT 

Leader – Dr. Kurt Gray 

More information to come.

Our Whole Lives - 25 Years of Faith Based Sexuality Education with the UCC and UUA

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 EDT

Leaders - Rev. Amy Johnson, Dr. Melanie Davis

Join Rev. Amy Johnson, UCC Minister for Sexuality Education & Justice and Dr. Melanie Davis, UUA Our Whole Lives Program Manager, for an engaging webinar about Our Whole Lives sexuality education in faith communities. Benefit from their wisdom about lessons learned after 25 years of this interfaith partnership doing this sacred work. Now, more than ever, this ministry is vital!

Rev. Amy Johnson (she/her) serves as the Minister for Sexuality Education and Justice in the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ. She is the co-author of Our Whole Lives for Grades 4-6, 2nd Edition. Amy is a trainer for all levels of Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith nationwide and internationally, where she has been a partner in interfaith efforts to bring faith-based sexuality education to both Christian and Muslim communities. She is passionate about supporting people in organizations and faith communities to create healthier, braver spaces in which people can thrive as their authentic selves.

Dr. Melanie Davis (she/her) is the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Our Whole Lives Program Manager. She is the author of Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Older Adults and Sexuality and Our Faith: A Companion to Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Grades 7-9, 2nd edition. Her masters and doctoral degrees are from the Widener University Center for Human Sexuality Studies and she is a certified sexuality counselor and educator through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. She has been a UU lay preacher across the US and Canada for 20 years.

Dissolution of a Religious Corporation: How to Secure your Legacy

Thursday June 12, 2025 2:00 – 3:00 EDT

Leader – William McManus

In this webinar, an overview of the process for dissolutions of religious corporations in New York, specifically the considerations and information necessary for Plans of Dissolution, will be provided. Other topics include: reviewing dissolution provisions in a religious corporation’s corporate document, dispositions of assets in connection with a dissolution, and legacy planning.

William McManus’ practice focuses on advising not-for-profit, religious, and tax-exempt entities on matters of corporate governance, compliance with state and federal not-for-profit regulations, internal investigations and regulatory enforcement actions. William is experienced in guiding New York not-for-profit and religious corporations in their formation and governance, and regularly advises clients on tax-exemptions and regulations of tax-exempt organizations. Before joining Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld, William worked as a Special Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Economic Development Division of the New York City Law Department. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Know Your Rights – ICE 

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT 

Leader - Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark Clémot 

More information to come

Mandatory New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars

You can take this training any time during the year

charlaine@prcli.org

Thursday, June 5, 2025

10:30 AM – 12 PM - EST

Wednesday, August 20, 2024

7 – 8:30 PM EST

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

2:30 – 4 PM EST

How to contact our Stated Clerk, the Rev Ben Fitzgerald-Fye

Office Phone: 315-291-0360 (call or text)

Email: statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org

Mail received at:

Scipioville Presbyterian Church

Attn: Pastor Ben

3428 State Route 34B

Scipio Center NY 13147

More staff contact information is linked below.

Our Address: PO Box 438, Syracuse, NY 13214

Click Here for Staff Contact Information

Click Here for a list of Live Streams from our churches

Click Here for a list of Past Editions of Presbytery Matters

Are you hiring?

If your church is hiring, please send an announcement and job description to Communication Coordinator Sarah Buckshot at caysyrnews@gmail.com

Please Note: Hiring announcements will run in Presbytery Matters for 3 weeks and then moved to our website. If you have a hiring announcement from 2023 and are still looking to fill it in 2024, please send a new announcement.

Thank you, Sarah Buckshot, Communications Coordinator.

The sound of children laughing is a sure sign that ‘something’s going right’

The Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson, president of Auburn Seminary, shares her wisdom during the ‘Leading Theologically’ podcast

When the president of Auburn Theological Seminary, the Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson, imagines a world that’s healing, she hears the sound of children laughing.

“I say that because as a parent, a pastor, an organization leader and a member of the community, I know that when children are laughing, something’s going right,” she told the Rev. Bill Davis during the most recent edition of “Leading Theologically,” which can be heard here.

“When you are pursuing the sound of children laughing, it changes the way you are engaging the world,” Jordan-Simpson said. When she heard her oldest child laugh for the first time, “it changed the way I engaged the world, because that’s the sound I want to hear, and I want to do everything to elevate that sound.”

During recent editions of the podcast, Davis, the Senior Director for Theological Education Funds Development at the Presbyterian Foundation, has engaged in conversations on repair, reconciliation and reparations with a number of faith leaders.

Continue reading...

Even as membership declines, 2024 church statistics report shows an increase in financial contributions, adult baptisms

Presbyterians remain committed and generous givers, report shows

The Interim Unified Agency has released its annual report on church statistics for 2024. While membership numbers continue to decline at a steady rate, the report reveals ongoing growth in several notable areas, including new worshiping communities, baptized teens and adults, and stewardship.

The 2024 report shows a loss of 48,885 PC(USA) members last year, reflecting a steady rate of decline for overall denominational membership in comparison to other recent years since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. 2023 saw a decrease in membership of approximately 46,000 people, while 2022 saw a loss of just over 53,000 individual members.

The Rev. Dr. Tim Cargal oversaw the completion of the report as Interim Director of Mid Council Ministries. He noted that at the denomination’s current rate of decline, 2025 will likely be the year when PC(USA) membership drops below one million people.

“Like all ‘milestone’ numbers, that will certainly garner a lot of attention, and deservedly so,” Cargal commented, “However, net losses do not tell the whole story.”

Continue reading...