The Annual Meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse was held on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church of Auburn and on Zoom. Highlights from the meeting are below and meeting papers are also linked.

• Thank you to the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn for hosting our annual meeting and providing a delicious lunch.
• As meeting guest arrived they enjoyed fresh, homemade apple fritters. Baker and First Presbyterian Church of Fulton member Debbie Tindall says her secret ingredient is prayer. She prays while she bakes, and she considers it part of her ministry. It’s a very delicious ministry indeed!
• The Rev. Luke Choi joined the meeting on Zoom to give a Board of Pensions update.
• Elder Lynn Jacques is giving a report of the Nominating Committee. There’s vacancies in the Class of 2027 and 2029 on COM. A motion to accept the slate of nominations was approved.
• A worship service was held.
• Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Shavonn Lynch on her installation as Moderator and the Rev. Courtney Steininger on her installation as Vice Moderator. We give thanks for their leadership, dedication and faithful service as they begin these important roles. May God guide and bless them as they serve the Presbytery and its ministries in the years ahead.
• The Rev. Monica Styron delivered an inspiring message during worship this morning. We concluded our service by gathering at the Lord’s Table to share in Communion, reflecting on God’s grace, love and unity.
• Moderator Rev. Dr. Shavonn Lynch is seeking churches interested in hosting our Presbytery stated meetings in 2027. If your church would be willing to host a meeting in January, March, May, June, September, or November 2027, please reach out to Rev. Lynch. Exact meeting dates will be available soon. Hosting a stated meeting is a wonderful opportunity to welcome colleagues from across the Presbytery and share your congregation’s hospitality and ministry.
• Congratulations to George Reed on his installation as a Commissioned Ruling Elder for First Presbyterian Church of Mexico. George will be serving the congregation by providing pastoral leadership and care. We pray for God’s guidance and blessings as he begins this important ministry and faithfully serves the church and community.
• Lead Presbyter Rev. Greg Garis delivered his report, which included him playing his guitar! See video on our Facebookp page.
• Dr. Alic Czachowski (he/they) is joining us now via Zoom to share about their experiences as a transgender person. Originally from Liverpool, NY, Alic currently serves as the Senior Executive Director of Alice Health Promotion at Columbia Health, Columbia University. We are grateful for this opportunity to listen, learn and grow together. We hope to have a video available soon to share.
• MOTION APPROVED: The Finance and Property Committee moves that the Presbytery use $20,000 of the Vanderkamp proceeds during 2026 to provide grants to congregations whose food programs offset the losses in SNAP benefits happening at this time. The application form will be developed jointly with Finance and Property, and the Social Justice Committee will manage the application process and awards in consultation with the Treasurer and the Finance Chair. Funds will be released through the bill payment process.
• MOTION APPROVED: Re-election of Rev. Ben Fitzgerald-Fye as Stated Clerk and approve contract for Stated Clerk.
• MOTION APPROVED: Direct the Stated Clerk, in cooperation with Finance and Property, to craft a proposal for a Standing Committee on Church Transitions and Discernment to handle all financial and property matters related to church closings, property repurposing, use of church properties overall, and disputes and investigations related to financial matters and property matters that do not fall under Book of Order disciplinary procedures. Further, at the request of a sufficient number of elder and minister members, direct the Moderator to schedule an online Special Meeting for the presentation and consideration of the new committee.
• The meeting ended at 2:44 p.m.

Meeting Papers:

Annual Meeting Docket

Assistant to the Lead Presbytery Report

March 2026 Draft Minutes

Nominations for Officers

Annual Report of the Stated Clerk

Parity Report

Lead Presbytery Report

Food Supplemental Motion

Food Supplemental Grant Application

Stated Clerk Contract

Treasurer's Report

COM Report

Temporary Pastoral Agreement

Finance and Property Annual Report

Vacancy Offset Policy

The 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will convene June 22–July 2, 2026. Committee meetings will be held online, followed by in-person plenary sessions.

Congregations are invited to download and use these pre-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.

Presbyterian Day at Hartwick College

Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 16, when the Summer Institute at Hartwick College celebrates Presbyterian Day. Our very own Mary Anderson (Assistant to the Lead Presbyter for Transformation) will be teaching a morning course at 9:00 a.m. on Grateful Living as a Spiritual Practice.

Following the class, all Presbyterians attending the Institute are invited to share lunch together. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn, grow and connect with others from across our presbyteries.

Come join us on July 16 for a day of learning, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.

Communion Training for Ruling Elders

Ruling Elders who would like to be trained to assist in serving Communion within their own congregations are invited to join a two‑part Zoom class led by Rev. Mary Anderson, Assistant Presbyter. The course will be offered in two Zoom sessions, providing both theological grounding and practical guidance. Whether you are newly ordained, stepping into new leadership responsibilities, or simply seeking a refresher, this training offers a supportive space to grow in confidence and understanding.

If you are interested, please contact Mary Anderson at asst.presbyter@gmail.com.

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.”

Spotlight on Faith United Church of Oswego from the Assistant to the Lead Presbyter, the Rev. Mary Anderson.

Faith United Church may have been officially formed in 1989, but its story stretches back more than two centuries. What looks like a young congregation in a modern building is, in truth, the heir to a long, intertwined history of Presbyterian and Congregational witness in Oswego.

Early Roots: Two Traditions, One Mission

The story begins in 1801, when the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations created a Plan of Union to coordinate mission work as settlers moved west.

• 1816: A Presbyterian congregation organized in Oswego, meeting first in a schoolhouse.
• 1826: The First Presbyterian Church building was dedicated in West Park.
• 1833: The First Congregational Church of Oswego was established in a building known as The Tabernacle, later used by educator Edward A. Sheldon—founder of the Oswego Normal School, now SUNY Oswego.

Growth, Change, and Community Impact

Throughout the 1800s, Oswego’s churches grew, divided, rebuilt, and reunited—often shaped by the major issues of their day.

• 1837–1852: A Second Presbyterian Church formed on the east side, took a strong abolitionist stance under Rev. Charles Jones, and later disbanded.
• 1841: First Presbyterian’s building was destroyed by arson, leading the congregation to worship temporarily at The Tabernacle.
• 1857–1859: A new Congregational Church was organized and dedicated at E. Fourth and Oneida Streets.
• 1872: Grace Presbyterian Church formed after another split from First Presbyterian.

By the early 20th century, the landscape began to shift again.

• 1936: First Presbyterian and Grace Presbyterian reunited, worshiping in the Grace Church building.
• 1934–1960: National denominational mergers shaped the Congregational and UCC traditions.
• 1983: The northern and southern branches of the Presbyterian Church reunited.

A New Chapter: Becoming Faith United

The path toward union in Oswego began in the 1980s.

• 1987: The United Church of Christ, Congregational of Oswego sold its building and entered a yoked parish with the Presbyterian Church of Oswego.
• 1989: The two congregations formally consolidated to become Faith United Church.
• 1993: The former Presbyterian (Grace) building was sold to Oswego Hospital.
• 1996: Faith United dedicated its new building on Mark Fitzgibbons Drive.

Faith United Today

Faith United continues to grow into its identity as a community‑minded, justice‑oriented congregation.

• 2023: The church established a Community Garden, open to the entire Oswego community.
• 2024: Faith United approved a covenantal statement to officially become an Open and Affirming congregation.

Across two centuries, through fires, mergers, new beginnings, and bold commitments, Faith United Church has remained rooted in the gospel and engaged with the needs of its community. Its history is long, but its mission continues to unfold with hope and purpose.

Register now for the Summer Institute of Theology at Hartwick College — Sunday July 12 through Friday July 17 in Oneonta

Open to all for personal enrichment and continuing education.

People of every faith (and those seeking) are welcome.

This year’s program features daily midday worship and 2½-hour classes, offered Monday through Friday mornings and Monday through Thursday afternoons & evenings. Seminar topics include:

• Art & faith
• Biblical studies
• Church history
• Interfaith & Ecumenism
• Preaching & Practical ministry
• Social justice & current events
• Spirituality

The 2026 faculty includes six Presbyterian ministers from upstate New York, along with other clergy and laity from the Baptist, Episcopal, Latter-Day Saints, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox Church in America, and Roman Catholic faith traditions.

There are several different options for attending SITHC — you can drop in for just one seminar or a few, you can choose overnight housing for just one night or more, or register as a Commuter or Resident for the entire week. All students have access to the amenities on the Hartwick College campus including the library, gym, and pool.

View the full schedule in our program brochure.

Register online using our Google Form, or print and mail this form.

For more information about SITHC, contact info@sithc.org or Rev. Paul Messner, 607-287-4534 or prpaul_theoinst@hotmail.com

Please share and post this flyer along with the list of seminars.

Watch for updates at https://sithc.org/this-year.

The PC(USA) is celebrating PRIDE all month long!

Today we want to draw your attention to the digital collection from the Presbyterian Historical Society that highlights LGBTQIA+ history across the theological spectrum. The collection in Pearl includes Presbyterian national agency records, personal papers, photographs, and oral histories.

Not only has PHS made this resource available, but they have also put together a brief Timeline of LGBTQIA+ History in the PC(USA) available through Sutori. The timeline, which stretches from 1970 to 2019, can be accessed here.



Which of these buttons would you want to borrow for you GA lanyard this year? Some of the groups represented by these pins include Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (PLGC), More Light Church Network, and Covenant Network of Presbyterians.