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Oct. 25 presbytery meeting recap

Tremendous thanks to First Presbyterian Church of Quincy's staff and volunteers who hosted Tuesday's presbytery meeting – from Julie Baroody and Wendy O'Brien, who greeted and registered attendees; to Scott Bergman, who set up and operated audio-visual equippment; to too many talented cooks to name, who prepared and served delicious refreshments and an outstanding lunch; to many others who organized and oversaw various meeting preparations. We appreciate your hospitalilty!
Approximately 65 ruling elder commissioners, minister members, commissioned ruling elders, Christian educators, visitors, and Presbytery staff and officers registered at the meeting.
During worship, Rev. Brant Copeland (HR) preached a sermon based on Ephesians 1:11–23.
UKirk Tallahassee Campus Minister Matt Frease reported that approximately 250 college students visit Calvin's Coffee House daily. He shared that the 75th anniversary of Westminster House in 2025 is prompting a look ahead at stewardship of the building, to make it more welcoming and comfortable. He also invited any interested college students to join UKirk Tallahassee's group in attending Montreat's College Conference January 2–5, 2023. 
The Committee on Representation and Committee on Nominations led an education segment about their committees' work and the challenges they face. Attendees formed six breakout groups to discuss strategies for increasing volunteer participation at both the presbytery and congregational level, identifying potential leaders and matching volunteers' interests and skills with needs.
The Coordinating and Planning Commission (CPC) nominated Ruben Diaz, First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee elder, to serve as a member of the Committee on Representation, Class of 2024/25. This was approved.
The presbytery approved the Committee on Mission and Outreach's (CMO) motion to establish Church and Community Action Grants. Click here for the grant guidelines and application form, or find them along with other grant information on the CMO's page on the Presbytery's website.
Also approved was the Committee on Ministry's (COM) recommendation that Presbytery increase the effective minimum salary of called and installed pastors to $41,050.00.  The proposed effective minimum represents a 2% compounding annual increase from the 2017 Presbytery minimum of $36,450.72.
The presbytery approved the Committee on Presbytery Administration's (CPA) plans to proceed with construction of a new presbytery office at Dogwood Acres. Click here for an artist's rendering of the building.
The following Committee on Nominations (CN) nominees were approved:
- Committee on Mission and Outreach (CMO)
Reverend Harry Horne (HR), Member at Large, class 2/2025
- Committee on Educational Resources
Reverend John Stringer (HR) Interim, 1st Presbyterian Church, Fort Walton Beach, class 2/2024
Committee on New Congregational Development (CNCD)
Beth Mooney, Elder, 1st Presbyterian Church, DeFuniak Springs, class 2/2023
Presbytery Vice-Moderator
Reverend Mark Broadhead, Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Crestview
Synod Commissioner (Ruling Elder)
Don Mowat, Elder 1st Presbyterian Church, Lynn Haven, Class 2024

Dogwood Acres Interim Director Christy Williams and Program Director Eric Hearn announced three retreats to be offered early next year: a new Presbyterian Confirmation Retreat (January 13–15), an also-new Women's Yoga and Mindfulness Retreat (January 20–22), and the Dogwood Youth Conference (February 3–5). Click here for a flier to share.
Committee on Educational Resources member Rev. Erin Rosica reminded participants that Disciplefest 2023 will be held at Dogwood Acres Friday and Saturday, March 3–4), with the theme "Nurturing the Garden". Watch for details.


Our presbytery family

► First Presbyterian of Lynn Haven graciously has offered to host next year's meeting on October 24, 2023. Hosts still are needed for the following presbytery meeting dates for 2023: Tuesday, February 28; Saturday, May 20; Tuesday, August 22. Please contact Jeannie Dixon (StatedClerk@PresbyteryOfFlorida.com) if you wish to host a meeting. All meetings start at 9:00 a.m. Central/10:00 a.m. Eastern, with registration one hour prior.  

For Presbytery East District clerks of session who missed the October 16 reading of session minutes at Christ Presbyterian, Tallahassee, a second reading will be held this Saturday, October 29, 1 – 3 p.m. EDT at Fellowship Presbyterian, Tallahassee.  Again, this will be to read and approve the minutes for 2019, 2020, and 2021. If you have older minutes that also have not been read, bring them, too. To simplify the review process, clerks are asked to complete a session records review form, in advance, for each year's minutes to be reviewed. Central and West District session records reviews are being scheduled and will be announced soon.

First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee's Church School this week will cover Restorative Practices in the Bible, with guest Henry L. McClendon, Jr., International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) Graduate School Director of Community Engagement and former Vice Chair of its International Board of Trustees. The aim of Restorative Practices (RP) is to "build community and to manage conflicts by repairing harm and restoring relationship." Sunday's class will explore the biblical view of RP, including its origin, purpose and intended result, and will offer examples of how using a restorative approach can help strengthen good relationships and enable Christians to carry out the biblical mandate to be reconciled, found in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.

First Presbyterian Church of Quincy will present Ukrainian musician Rusian Ramazaanov in concert Sunday, November 6, at 6 p.m. EST in the church sanctuary. Rusian has performed with the National Academic Symphony Orchestra of UKraine, the symphony orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, the academic symphony orchestra of the Chernivtsi Regional Philharmonic, and the chamber orchestra of the Chernivtsi Regional Philharmonic "Capricio". He currently teaches at the Chernivtsi College of Arts.

► First Presbyterian Church of Havana's Homecoming celebration Sunday, November 6, at 11 a.m. EST will include a Kirkin' o' the Tartan, complete with bagpipes, followed by a covered dish dinner on the grounds. General Presbyter Roy Martin preach during worship.

The Presbytery's Committee on New Congregational Development, authorized to serve as the presbytery's proposed South Walton New Worshipping Community's pastor nominating committee (PNC), is now sharing the pastor search on the NWC's new Facebook page.


 First Presbyterian Church of Marianna welcomed Dr. Roy Martin to their pulpit on October 16 and heard an inspiring sermon on waiting on God with faith. On October 30, their annual Heritage Sunday will include bagpipers and a Kirkin' of the Tartans celebration. Consecration Sunday will take place on November 20, and their 2022 stewardship theme is "We Are the Church Together". A new adult Sunday school class for adults has begun with a focus on protagonists in the early Christian church. Call 850-765-3659 for information.

  First Presbyterian of DeFuniak Springs invites you to a celebration of Beckie Mooney's 90th birthday Sunday, Nov. 13, 3 – 5 p.m. CST, in their Fellowship Fall. Beckie has served the Church in many roles at 1st, DeFuniak and at the Presbytery level. In lieu of gifts, donations to the church in her honor will be accepted or non-perishable food donations will be given to Caring and Sharing for local Thanksgiving dinners for those in need.

 Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church is making plans for its annual Living Nativity, a spiritual journey through the wonders of Christ's birth. Along the way, visitors will meet people from the Bible who will share their stories. Last year's event was rained out, but had been planned to introduce new characters with a revised script to keep the story fresh and rewarding. The  new script and cast will be incorporated this year, and provision for rain has beenn made by holding the "journey" in the church sanctuary. Plan to join the journey 5:30 – 8 p.m. CST Saturday, Dec. 10, at Laurel Hill Presbyterian, 8115 Fourth St., Laurel Hill.

► Chipley Presbyterian Church's Scottish Festival and Highland Games will be held Saturday, November 19, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST. The event will feature entertainment, food, a pipe band and a children's area. Tickets are $5 each. The church is located at 658 5th Sreet in Chipley.

► 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 6, 2023, led by Dr. Greg Seltzer and Reverend Shuford White. For an informative trip brochure, please contact pastorgregnpcpensacola@gmail.com


More news you can use

Annual church statistical reporting will open Friday, December 2, and close February 16. Presbytery Stated Clerk Jeannie Dixon plans to conduct two online workshops, to be announced. The reporting workbooks in English, Spanish and Korean are now available to help in gathering the data. The General Assembly has approved a number of changes, most notably: gender breakdown, age distribution, youth distribution, removing racial ethnic definitions, and the finance questions. Click here to learn more about these changes.

 The application deadline date for the following special entities created by the 225th General Assembly has been extended to Friday, November 11: 

  • 2020 Vision Guiding Statement Implementation Team
  • Special Committee on PCUSA and Race
  • Special Committee on the Standing Rules
  • Special Committee to Write a New Confession
  • Task Force to Explore the Theology and Practice of Ordination 

Particularly needed are applicants from communities of color; church members, deacons, and ruling elders; and applicants 35 years old and younger. Applicants can find information about the mandates for the special entities, as well as gifts and skills needed, at the application portal.


Pray for one another

- October 30 First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee
- November 6 Lafayette Presbyterian Church, Tallahassee

- The Committee on Nominations (CN), meeting November 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/
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