Copy
View this email in your browser

August 23rd Presbytery Meeting Recap

Tremendous "thanks" to our meeting hosts at Grace Presbyterian Church, Panama City. Pastor Eric Spoon, staff and volunteers attended to a variety of needs, from cold AC to table setups to technology for the morning's Zoom educational segment. The Presbyterian Women provided delicious morning refreshments and lunch served on cheerfully-decorated  tables featuring the church's beautiful teapot collection.   
 

Dogwood Acres Director Ben Powell, who will leave his post for health reasons at the end of September, reflected on his service and its impact on his life and faith and thanked several key supporters in his work. On the Presbytery's behalf, Rev. Brant Copeland (HR) presented Ben with a resolution of thanks for his ministry.

The Committee on Educational Resources (CER) and the Committee on Mission and Outreach (CMO) Racial Justice Subcommittee presented an educational time via Zoom with Dr. Catherine MeeksExecutive Director of the Absolom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, GA, entitled "Engaging Your Shadow: Racial Healing in This Present Moment". Click here for a video of the presentation, also available with other anti-racism resources on the Presbytery's website

CER Chair Esther Moring and CER member/event organizer Rev. Erin Rosica reminded attendees to register for Disciplefest, the first in-person since 2019, to be held Saturday, September 17, at Dogwood Acres. It will offer 10 workshops, two guided prayer trail walks, morning worship with Gulf Breeze Presbyterian pastor Rev. Bill Lamont, lunch, and fellowship. Friday, September 9 is the registration deadline. Click here for additional information.

The presbytery approved the Committee on Presbytery Administration's (CPA) proposed preliminary 2023 budget. CPA also reported on a new personnel review program and plans for a new presbytery office to be built at Dogwood Acres.

The presbytery approved the Committee on New Congregational Development's (CNCD) efforts to establish a new worshipping community in the Highway 30A/Highway 98 corridor, in the vicinity of Seaside, west of Panama City. The presbytery also elected CNCD members as the Pastor Nominating Committee for securing pastoral leadership for this new worshipping community, to be trained by and responsible to COM in accordance with COM search process requirements. Click here for a video by CNCD member Rev. Jim Rollins about the project. Cleck here for an analysis of expected costs.

The presbytery approved the Committee on Nominations' (CN) nomination of Richard Clubb (Elder, Gulf Beach Presbyterian, Panama City Beach) and Pam Nulty (Elder, Northminster Presbyterian, Pensacola) to the Committee on Ministry, Class of 2024-25. The presbytery also approved the Coordinating and Planning Commission's (CPC) nomination of Rev. Dr. Ted Land (Minister, First Presbyterian of Chipley) to the Committee on Nominations (CN), Class of 2024-25. An additional CN member, as well as a racial-ethnic minority Committee on Representation member, are needed, noted CPC Chair Rev. Dr. Michael Askew.  

► Erin Rugh, who will begin serving as Faith Presbyterian, of Tallahassee's new Associate Pastor of Youth and College Ministry September 6, was introduced by Committee on Ministry Chair Joan Wooten and preached a sermon titled "I Am Your Neighbor" during worship.

Committee on Ministry (COM) Chair Joan Wooten also introduced Rev. Kwon Soo Cho, who is serving as pulpit supply at Pensacola Korean Community Church.

The presbytery approved COM's motion that a 150-by-150-foot lot owned by Gretna Presbyterian Church be donated to the adjacent Gretna Baptist Church, with conditions the property be limited to church use and, if not used for church purposes, returned to Gretna Presbyterian. 

Committee on Congregational Revitalization (CPC) Chair Rev. Mark Broadhead announced a one-day seminar for pastors Wednesday, October 5, at Dogwood Acres, featuring author Mark Tidsworth as speaker. He also shared that five presbytery congregations are now engaged in the Holy Cow! discernment process, with two additional congregations likely to embark in similar endeavors soon.

In her report, Synod of South Atlantic Executive Joyce Lieberman announced an upcoming educational gathering with 225th General Assembly Co-Moderator Ruth Santana-Grace Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25, 2023, at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, GA. As this was her last visit to a Presbytery of Florida meeting before her October retirement, General Presbyter Roy Martin presented her Rev. Lieberman with a resolution of thanks

Board of Pensions Senior Consultant for Southeastern U. S. Clark Simmons shared that Pastor's Participation medical dues will increase 2 percent, from 27& to 29%, in the coming year. Click here for more information.

225th General Assembly Elder Commissioner Jeannie Dixon and Minister Commissioner Rev. Dr. Brad Clayton delivered verbal reports, along with Young Adult Advisory Delegate Ryan Obray's written report on the Assembly.


Our presbytery family

The Presbytery's Committee on Dogwood Acres (CDWA) announced that Christy Williams will become Dogwood Acres' interim director October 1. Upon her hiring, Christy resigned her position of 34 years as First Presbyterian of Tallahassee's Director of Christian Education. Click here to read her letter to the congregation.

 First Presbyterian of Pensacola will bid farewell to office assistant Darnetta Williams as she retires August 31, having served there since 2006. The congregation will celebrate Darnetta during worship August 28, with a reception to follow.

► First Presbyterian Church of Marianna will soon say farewell to their part-time faithful office manager/bookkeeper of five years, Connie Butts, who is retiring. If interested in inquiring about this position, please call 850-765-3695. Duties may be divided between a part-time bookkeeper and a part-time church secretary.

  Northminster Presbyterian Church, Pensacola, is sponsoring a trip to the Holy Land Israel with an optional extension to Egypt next year from May 29 – June 29, 2023, led by Dr. Greg Seltzer and Reverend Shuford White. For an informative trip brochure, please contact pastorgregnpcpensacola@gmail.com

► After finding a new home for an old upright piano and other bits of furniture, a room in First Presbyterian of Wewahitchka's fellowship hall received new trim, cleaning and painting in preparation for donated office furniture. Treasurer Myrle Jones was the first person to sit at the new desk. "We are grateful for the donation and the many hours of volunteer work to create an office for the church and the Wewahitchka Historical Society," said Pastor Carol Wood.

Rev. Huw Christopher, who served as First Presbyterian of Marianna's pastor from August 1, 2004 to July 31, 2012, recently sent the Presbytery a letter stating, "Thank you for continuing to bless my life." Click here to read his comments about the important impact of the Presbytery's terms of call Board of Pensions medical dues and retirement benefits contributions requirements. 


More news you can use

For the latest Florida Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN) update, focusing on the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) response to the flooding in Kentucky and information on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance for Houses of Worship, click here.

The Florida State University College of Social Work Center for the Study and Promotion of Communities, Families and Children will present Pastoral Care Prospective on Psychosocial Medicine Research and Practice in Pediatrics Friday, September 23, 10:30 a.m. – noon EDT at University Center C, Room 1703. The lecture will focus on the intersection of faith supports and research. 

► Presbyterian Disability Inclusion Sunday is September 11. Presbyterians for Disability Concerns have provided worship material for planning an inclusive experience that promotes participation by everyone, with scriptures, reflections, articles, videos, bulletin images, art and reflection activities, Sunday School material, a brand-new hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, and more. Check it outFor more resources, visit Presbyterians for Disability Concerns' Resource WebsiteBlog or Facebook.


Pray for one another

- August 28 UKirk Tallahassee
- September 4 First Presbyterian Church of Quincy

- The Presbytery's Racial Justice Subcommittee and the Committee on Presbytery Administration (CPA), both meeting August 31, and the Committee on Mission and Outreach (CMO), meeting September 1.

Click here for the complete 2022 Presbytery Prayer Calendar, or view the calendar's prayer requests in the Presbytery's Calendar of Events at http://www.presbyteryofflorida.net/events-calendars/
Did you receive this eUpdate as a share from a subscriber? Visit the Presbytery's website to subscribe to receive it directly.

Copyright © 2022 Presbytery of Florida, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Presbytery of Florida
P. O. Box 7
Chipley, FL 32428

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
Twitter
Facebook
Website