Welcome to this week's edition of our e-letter, Presbytery Matters. | | | |
Morrisville Community Church honors dedicated food pantry volunteer
Suzanne “Sue” Bartow, a member of the Morrisville Community Church, stepped up to be an administrator for the food pantry when the church took it over in January 2016. For nearly a decade, Sue has been a dedicated volunteer who leaves a lasting legacy on the community as she steps down from her administrative role.
The following thank you letter was submitted on behalf of everyone at the Morrisville Community Church Food Pantry:
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Suzanne “Sue” Bartow for her years of dedicated service. Her passion, kindness and unwavering commitment to serving those in need has been an inspiration to all of us. The impact she had on our community is immeasurable and we are truly grateful for all you have done.
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Through Sue's hard work and compassion as coordinator, she has helped provide food, comfort, and hope for so many individuals and families in need. Her presence has been a source of encouragement and inspiration to both the volunteers and those we serve. The care and dedication she has shown will leave a lasting legacy for current and future volunteers as well as the families who enter the doors of the food pantry.
While Sue will be dearly missed, we wish to celebrate the incredible difference she has made and hope that she takes pride in all she has accomplished. We want Sue to know that she will always be a valued part of the Morrisville community, and we wish her all the best in the next chapter and hope that it is filled with joy, fulfillment and wonderful new adventures. Thank you, Sue, for all you have done!
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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.
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Thank you!
| | Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery | | |
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.
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Please keep the Rev. Steve Thomas, former pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia, in your prayers. Steve was diagnosed cancer and is undergoing a month of chemo and radiation. He will be at the Hollings Cancer Center until May 20th. Please email the Cazenovia church - office@cazpres.org - for the address to send cards.
- Please keep Camille Bach (Whitelaw Presbyterian) in your prayers during her breast cancer treatment.
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Please pray for Jerry Armstrong (Whitelaw Presbyterian) Jerry is 15 years old with recurrent bone cancer. He is now at Sloan Kettering in New York City and they are doing very aggressive treatments. His leg was recently amputated. Donations can be made online here. Cards can be sent to: Jerry Armstrong, 245 E. 63rd St. # 35G, New York, NY 10065
- 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.
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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: Port Byron Federated; First, Scipioville; Sennett Federated Church; First, Skaneateles
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A prayer for the church in the face of oppression
Shardaé Henry offers a prayer of confession and courage, calling the church to holy defiance, faithful action, and bold love.
God of the Exodus,
God of resurrection,
God who sees and delivers —We confess that we have turned our faces from suffering,
called injustice “too complex,”
and preferred silence when you were calling us to speak.
Forgive us, O Lord.
Shake us free from complacency.
Interrupt our comfort.
Disturb whatever keeps us from being your hands and feet in a hurting world.
Grant us the courage to name the agitators of oppression—
not in arrogance, but in truth.
Not in hate, but in holy defiance.
Make us bold in our preaching, consistent in our advocacy,
and relentless in our love.
Let our faith not be fragile,
but fierce and rooted,
like the prophets before us,
like the savior who overturned the tables,
like the Spirit who sets captives free.
Teach us to pray with our feet.
To fast with intention.
To worship in truth.
And to act like resurrection is real, because it is.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Dismantle what harms.
Revive your church.
Let justice roll down like waters
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amen.
From the The Presbyterian Outlook
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*Please note a change in the Presbytery Agenda:
A change in who will be speaking to the Presbytery body this Saturday as part of the Social Justice Committee presentation. The speaker Stephanie Nawyn initially scheduled, will now be part of an educational Webinar (see Summer Educational Webinars below) along with Dr Carolyn Wolf-Gould on "Trangender: Medicine, Church, Society and Families." Given that we are asking the Presbytery to endorse the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship statement "We Call Out Genocide" we have arranged for the following speaker:
Osamah Khalil is a Professor of History at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, chairing the International Relations Program. His most recent book is A World of Enemies: America's Wars at Home and Abroad from Kennedy to Biden (Harvard University Press, 2024). Khalil is a frequent media commentator and contributor for local, national, and international media.
| | From the Social Justice Commitee | | |
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.
| | From the Vision Committee | | |
Dear Members of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery and Susquehanna Valley Presbytery,
This letter is written for the purpose of communicating with the Presbyteries about the progress made concerning the idea of a merger. Both presbyteries have voted to proceed with exploring merging together. As those motions begin to take root and movement begins to happen, it is important to understand what that means.
Several committees of each Presbytery have met to discuss ways to collaborate. There is
a desire on the part of the committees to work together to help one another in a more intentional way. This grassroots reaction to exploring a merger is encouraging and exciting as committees find ways to do together what we are finding hard to do alone.
The leadership of both presbyteries have appointed three individuals (Susquehanna
Valley: Rev. Dave Johonson, Elder Jeff Smith, Elder Robbie Jean Rice; Cayuga Syracuse: Rev. Lorrie Cooney, Elder Steve Eidt, Rev. Steve Plank) plus Rev. Greg Garis (Lead Presbyter for Transformation) as staff resource, to be a team of seven to work as a Vision Team to move the presbyteries forward toward a merger that would make us stronger at being a witness for God.
This Vision Team is tasked with forging a path toward merger. As we continue to
explore, guidance is being sought from the Synod, from other presbyteries that have merged and possibly a consultant with experience in bringing ecclesiastical entities together. The possibilities are wide open as far as what a merged Presbytery’s mission would be, how it woul function, how it might be structured and how we move into the future.
To this end, the Human Resource Committee of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery and the
Personnel Committee of Susquehanna Valley Presbytery have met several times since the fall of 2024. They have proposed an idea to the leadership councils of both presbyteries to share Rev. Dr. Greg Garis between them and to hire an Assistant to the Lead Presbyter to work with Greg in serving both presbyteries.
The idea of sharing Greg is beneficial to each presbytery: Greg working with both
presbyteries will offer consistent and continued leadership, guidance and support to Cayuga-Syracuse who does not have a Lead Presbyter at this time and to Susquehanna Valley as they explore a fresh approach to ministry.
On a practical side, Susquehanna Valley’s Synod grant, which supports 28% of the Lead Presbyter’s compensation package, ends in April 2026 and Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery would benefit from staff support.
Both presbytery “councils” (Coordinating Council/Cabinet) have given permission to the Human Resource/Personnel committees to work out an agreement, in essence a “new call”, outlining this shared presbyter idea. Finance committees will be consulted during this process about the compensation package. We have proposed a start date of September 2025 for this to begin. In the meantime, there will be a vote on pursuing this path of a shared Lead Presbyter role and an Assistant at the May presbytery meeting of Cayuga Syracuse and the June meeting of Susquehanna Valley.
It is exciting and encouraging to know that some committees of each presbytery are
already working together. The possibilities are great for a future single Presbytery in the central New York area to join in the work that God is already doing in our communities and in each presbytery. We do not know what the future will hold nor exactly what it will look like, but we sense the strong movement of the Holy Spirit and are excited to move forward trusting that the way will be made known. We are hopeful you will join in this excitement and become actively involved as opportunities arise in seeing what “new thing” God is doing in our midst.
Grace & Peace in the name of our Risen Christ,
Vision Committee
Rev. Lorrie Cooney, Elder Steve Eidt, Rev. Dave Johnson, Rev. Steve Plank, Elder Bobbie Jean Rice, Elder Jeff Smith
| | Presbyterian Youth Triennium | | |
In July 2025, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will welcome thousands of its high school age youth and their adult youth workers to Louisville, Kentucky for four days of worship, recreation, bible study, outreach, and faith formation all around the theme of “As If We Were Dreaming”. New this year are two tracks for young adults. Young Adults (YA) who are 19-23 years old can participate as part of the “Service Track,” (formerly known as Work Crew) working behind the scenes of the event, or “Leader Lens Track,” focused on developing leadership skills, theological exploration and experiences for a new kind of church leader.
The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse is currently coordinating a delegation alongside other presbyteries in Central and Upstate NY. It is the expectation of this delegation to do a 2-day bus trip going to and from the event, departing on Sunday, 7/27 and returning home on Friday, 8/1.
The Rev. Courtney Steininger has created an interest form for individuals to fill out if they have a youth or young adult interested in attending Triennium. This is not a commitment, but is necessary for coordinating with the other presbyteries.
Here is that form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pHaHWbelyMFtxassjzg2Yft84RbdIof0IfrOr7Op4G8/edit
| | CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION: Four Onondaga Hill Presbyterian Church students were confirmed this week and their confirmation was celebrated on Sunday! Congratulations, Miles, Skylar, Dylan and Hayden! | | |
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
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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.
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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
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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.
| | Around the Synod of the Northeast | | Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | | |
Majority of presbyteries have approved Amendment 24-C
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians says the vote marks ‘another historic step for inclusion and diversity’ in the PC(USA)
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians reported Tuesday that a majority of presbyteries have now approved Amendment 24-C, which works to ensure that commitment to inclusion and diversity will play a more substantial role in decision-making about ordination and installation of ministers, elders and deacons.
“This is not only a major step forward for the LGBTQIA+ community, but for the church as a whole,” says Slats Toole of Minneapolis, co-moderator of the CNP Board of Directors. “In a time when we are deeply divided, Amendment 24-C encourages dialogue and gives us opportunities to learn from each other. This is vital to being a healthy, sustainable, and Christ-focused church in today’s world.”
The amendment to G-2.0104b of the church’s Book of Order requires presbyteries and sessions to examine candidates on the principles of representation found in another provision, F-1.0403. That important paragraph — which already included “race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or theological conviction” — will now also include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” thanks to the earlier passage of Amendment 24-A.
Continue reading...
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When hate goes viral
How to talk to kids about racism in a world that rewards outrage
On April 28, a Rochester, Minnesota, white woman named Shiloh Hendrix accused a five-year-old Black boy of stealing something from her diaper bag. Her racism became immediately evident when she shouted racial slurs at him, calling him the N-word. He also happens to be a child with autism. In defense of him, a man named Sharmake Omar took out his phone, pressed record and confronted the woman. The woman responded by shouting racial slurs at him, doubling down on her right to use this language.
Omar’s video went viral, and because Hendrix allegedly received death threats, someone set up a GiveSendGo campaign. To date, thousands of people from all over the country have donated more than $700,000 to Hendrix. So many donors used racial slurs and Nazi jargon in the comments of the campaign that it overwhelmed the profanity filter. Some called for the killing or deportation of all non-whites. Others called Black people savages and used the spoonerism “Nate Higgers.”
This story is disturbing on many levels, not the least of which is the fact that it is as old as the United States itself: white women accusing Black boys of nefarious deeds, which brings racism bubbling to the surface and sometimes results in threats of violence or actual violence (think Emmett Till).
The question is, how can parents help their kids make sense of such a confusing moral landscape, where racism is flaunted and bad behavior rewarded? It doesn’t help that in the age of the internet, kids often know the news before we do. It was my 17-year-old who first told me about this story. Ignoring bad news, hoping they won’t see it, is naive.
Continue reading...
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P.O. Box 438, Syracuse 13214
(315) 632-5698
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"I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them
bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
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