Presbytery Matters

July 30, 2026

Welcome to this week's edition of our e-letter, Presbytery Matters.

Mission Stories

Lodi Summer Camp Reaches Record

350 Children with the Gospel

17th annual refugee ministry brings together children from 30 nations and volunteers united by Christ's Great Commission

From June 29 through July 3, the Korean Church of Syracuse hosted its seventeenth annual Lodi Summer Camp at Syracuse Myanmar Baptist Church under the theme, "Here Is Your God" (Isaiah 40:9). The week-long ministry once again served as a powerful testimony to God's grace as refugee, immigrant, and local children experienced His love through the faithful service of volunteers from across the United States and beyond.

This year's camp marked a historic milestone, welcoming 350 children, the largest attendance in the ministry's seventeen-year history. Participants represented 30 nations, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, the Central African Republic, Congo, Eritrea, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, and the United States.

Throughout the week, children encountered the message of the gospel through Bible, Art, and Game classes. Using the Wordless Book, they learned about God's holiness, humanity's sin, Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, His resurrection, and the call to grow as faithful followers of Jesus. Each day focused on one of the five colors of the Wordless Book, allowing biblical truths to come alive through engaging lessons, creative activities, and interactive learning experiences prepared by dedicated teachers.

The camp was supported by approximately 150 volunteers and staff who traveled from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Korea, and many other locations. Though diverse in age, background, and culture, they were united by a shared commitment to proclaim the gospel. Before the camp began, the team gathered for three days of worship, training, fellowship, and preparation before serving together throughout the five-day ministry.

Since its founding in 2007, the refugee ministry has served more than 2,500 refugee and immigrant children from 49 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, and South America. What began as a ministry inspired by the 4/14 Window -- a global missions strategy emphasizing evangelism among children ages four to fourteen -- has continued to grow while remaining faithful to its original vision: leading children to saving faith in Jesus Christ and helping them grow as His disciples. Although refugee children remain the ministry's primary focus, local children are also warmly welcomed each year.

Throughout the camp, ministry leaders sought to see each child not only as an individual but also as someone connected to a family, a people, and a nation. They prayed that the gospel planted in each child's heart would one day bear fruit within their families, communities, and countries, extending God's kingdom through future generations.

The ministry continues to reflect the Church's calling to fulfill both the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations and the Great Commandment by loving one's neighbor. Camp leaders emphasized that these two biblical commands are inseparable, recognizing that one of the greatest expressions of Christian love is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ so that others may receive the gift of eternal life.

The Korean Church of Syracuse gives all glory to God for His faithfulness throughout this year's camp and expresses heartfelt gratitude to the many volunteers, churches, and supporters whose prayers and service made the ministry possible. The church also requests continued prayer that the refugee children and their families will grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and become faithful witnesses of His love wherever God leads them.

LaFayette Columbian Presbyterian Church

now has a Little Free Pantry!

The Presbytery celebrates the opening of a new Little Free Pantry at LaFayette Columbian Presbyterian Church. The pantry provides food, personal care items and household cleaning supplies to anyone in need, reflecting the congregation's commitment to caring for its neighbors.

The pantry operates with a simple philosophy: Take what you need. Leave what you can.

Community members who would like to support this ministry are invited to donate nonperishable food, personal care items, and household cleaning supplies. Donations are gratefully accepted Tuesday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, or may be placed in the donation box located in the church sanctuary.

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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Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery

In our prayers together this week:

Jerry Armstrong (Whitelaw Presbyterian) Jerry is a teenager with recurrent bone cancer. Please continue to pray more than ever for both Jerry and his family. He is back in NYC for another clinical trial and will be starting radiation again soon for the tumors in his lungs. Cards can be sent to Jerry Armstrong at PO Box 414 Wampsville, NY 13163.
Please pray for Doug Russell, of Baldwinsville Presbyterian Church, in your prayers as he battles cancer. Pray for strength, healing, and peace for Doug and his loved ones during this difficult time.
Prayers for peace for the people and country of South Korea.
Pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
The voiceless.
All those who have been separated from their families.
All those in America.
Our brothers & sisters in Haiti.
All those in Cuba.
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: Northminster, North Syracuse; Onondaga Hill; Faith United Church of Oswego; Presbyterian Church of Otisco; New Hope, Parish

Special Meeting

A Special Meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse will be held at 6 p.m. TODAY - Thursday, July 30, 2026 - on Zoom.

This is a Special Meeting of the presbytery called to conduct specific business. ONLY items on the docket will be discussed.

View/Download Docket

We look forward to a productive time together!

To attend the meeting, please register on Zoom.

From the Nominating Committee

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

Training

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.

General Assembly

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.

From the Stated Clerk

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

Social Justice Committee

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.”

Planning Calendars

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.

Around the Presbytery

Beyond our Presbytery

August 6-8 Conference: Christianity without Christian Zionism

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is hosting a free gathering titled “Christianity without Christian Zionism: Proclaiming the Gospel, Pursuing Justice, Rekindling Hope” from August 6–8, 2026. The event takes place both in-person in Louisville, Kentucky, and virtually via Zoom.

For introductory information about the conference, click here. Click here for more information and to register.

Wee Kirk Conference 2026

October 12–14 at Laurelville Retreat Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA

Registration is open for Wee Kirk 2026. This conference is for church leaders of smaller congregations — pastors, session members, deacons, committee members, and anyone involved in leading the ministry of their congregation.

Wee Kirk is a gathering of church leaders for education, renewal, and fellowship. Its purpose is to inspire, equip, motivate, and encourage small churches and to provide rest and refreshment for pastors and church leaders like YOU!

Small church leaders play a critical role in the faithful work of God’s kingdom, and Wee Kirk is an invaluable means of support, learning, innovation, and encouragement for you.

Learn more and register at wee-kirk-ne.org.

Conference brochure

PRC Webinars

Financial Transparency That Builds Trust (Not Anxiety)

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Leader – Keith Clark-Hoyos

Jesus Was a Changemaker–Your Congregants Can Be Too

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Leaders – The Changemaker Initiative

Grant Writing for Mission and Ministry