Joyce Lieberman helps navigate the call we have to vote – in our churches and assemblies but also in our general elections – and how our faith can, and should, connect as we consider our choices.
Our histories, our stories are a vital part of who we are and more and more we include storytelling as part of our conferences, workshops, meetings, and ministries. Complexifying, countering, re-examining the stories we tell, and the narratives we believe is not easy work but faithful work. Join Allison Davis and Kyna Herzinger from the Presbyterian Historical Society, Office of the General Assembly, and Lee Catoe, Editor of Unbound, Presbyterian Mission Agency, as they share how engaging our stories more critically can deepen our understanding of our collective experiences.
You can learn more about the Presbyterian Historical Society and Office of the General Assembly | Department of History colleagues Allison Davis and Kyna Herzinger.
As well as the online journal, Unbound and podcast A Matter of Faith and Presbyterian Mission Agency colleague, Lee Catoe.
Thank you for taking time to listen!
Sometimes hobbies can connect us to God and to each other and become a deeply meaningful spiritual practice. Priscilla Andre-Colton tells us all about her ministry of praying for others and demonstrating care through her ministry of making and sending cards.
Rev. Brian Heron shares with us his experience creating conversations and actions with pastoral ministries that envision the legacy of the communities and congregations that are working on transforming their ministerial purpose. As a former Executive Presbyter and now in a transitional position, Rev. Heron provides mid council leaders with tips and guidelines on how a grief-specialized ministry can give a new life to those involved.
You can contact Rev. Brian Heron at brian@pedalpilgrim.com
As Christians, we are called to seek justice for all of God’s children. Lee Catoe helps us unpack what justice means, ways we can be active in ministries of justice in our contexts, and resources for the journey.
As leaders in the church we attend many meetings, but we also may be responsible for leading these groups. Marissa Galván-Valle shares her perspective on meeting preparation and how she uses Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Resource for Serving Faithfully when leading session meetings.
In this episode that accompanies the Jan. 3, 2024 Encounter episode on Church Safety and Security, guests Kathy Riley and Jim Kirk explore the importance of a comprehensive approach and attentiveness to both physical safety and emotional well-being as sessions and presbyteries live out their call to nurture the covenant community of disciples.
We recommend also listening to the Nov. 15, 2023 Encounter episode on Trauma-Informed Decision-Making which complements both the Church Safety and Security and Emotional Well-Being episodes well.
Web Resources recommended by Kathy Riley and Jim Kirk, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program
National Center for Trauma-Informed Care. SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care - Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center - Resource (chcs.org)
Another podcast through Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI). Power and Abuse in the Church | The Better Samaritan with Jamie Aten and Kent Annan | Practical ways to do good, better (christianitytoday.com)
Another resource through HDI is the Trauma-Informed Church Checklist.Trauma-Informed Church Checklist (spiritualfirstaid.org)
Link to the ESC/Resilience programs offered by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (pcusa.org)
Print Resources
Flourishing in Ministry: How to Cultivate Clergy Wellbeing. 2019. Matt Bloom. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers.
Wounded Pastors. 2024. Carol Howard and James Fenimore. Westminster John Knox Press.
My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies. 2017. Resmaa Menakem. Central Recovery Press.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. 2014. Bessel Van Der Kolk. Penguin Books.
Trauma + Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World (2nd edition). 2019. Serene Jones. Westminster John Knox Press.
Fractured Ground: Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma. 2023. Kimberly R. Wagner. Westminster John Knox Press.
Recovering from Un-Natural Disasters: A Guide for Pastors and Congregations after Violence and Trauma. 2017. Laurie Kraus, David Hoylan and Bruce Wismer. Westminster John Knox Press.
In this PC(USA) General Assembly year, become introduced to process of overture creation through the experiences shared by Susan DeGeorge and Gregory Simpson of Hudson River Presbytery.
Hello church people! In our effort to highlight new things Presbyteries are thinking and acting in their ministries, we have as our guests Annika Lister Stroope, Administrative Executive and Stated Clerk; Amgad Beblawi, Ministry and Mission Executive; and Ian McMullen, Pastor to the presbyteries. Mid council leaders whose roles have been transformed in an effort of various presbyteries in Iowa to unite their resources and efforts.
Listen, reflect, and take from this episode some inspiration in patience, persistence and partnership,
Jake Jacobs, Executive Director of Camp Henry in Newaygo, MI, shares the story of a path away from cultural appropriation to forming relationships, challenging us to look at our own ministries and continue to take steps toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Our churches serve as places of community, warmth, and spiritual nourishment. Yet in the world in which we live, work, and worship, the importance of physical safety and security cannot be overlooked. Mike Kirk, General Counsel, PCUSA, A Corp, and Jim Kirk, Associate for Disaster Response, US Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, share ways in which ruling elders and sessions can be proactive about church safety and security as an outgrowth of the call to care and nurture the life of the congregation.
Resources:
Articles from the PCUSA, A Corporation website:
Additional Resources:
Simon Doong, of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and co-host of A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast, shares a part of his call story and some of the spiritual practices through which he has experienced discernment along his journey.
Join Jessica Vazquez Torres and Tricia Dykers-Koenig as they engage in an open dialogue about the impacts of our commitment to diversity, participation, and representation.
Groups engaging this issue may want to also return to two previous Along the Road podcasts on participation and representation (3/8/23 and 3/22/23) as additional resources as well as access the Theology of Representation, a document prepared by Dr. Raj Nadella and Rev. Dr Eric A. Thomas on behalf of the GA Committee on Representation
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wxEqkQowCMOTdr04sO24Zn9MpjzUQLV7I8h4_Y0b3v4/edit?usp=sharing
While the liturgical season of Advent provides a time of waiting and noticing, these times can extend far beyond the weeks leading up to the celebration of Christ’s birth. Sarah Moore-Nokes, PC(USA) teaching elder and certified coach, shares about the significance of these holy practices as we serve as spiritual leaders in the church.
Your feedback is invaluable! Please take time to share in the short survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/DMaazwMH86
Jessica Vazquez Torres, National Program Director, Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training and Tricia Dykers-Koenig, Associate Director for Mid Council Relations, Office of the General Assembly explore how using The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity as a theological framework for utilizing Robert's Rules of Order in ways that promote the Great Ends of the Church and help us to interpret them as guidelines for promoting fairness and equity.
The PC(USA) is often called a connectional church. Ruling Elder Marta Pumroy joins the podcast to share her story of connecting with various councils of the church and how other ruling elders might also serve beyond the local congregation.
Interested in other ways of serving? Seek opportunities within General Assembly committees through the General Assembly Nominating Committee process at www.pcusa.org/nominations.
As councils fulfill their responsibilities to nurture a covenant community of disciples of Christ, how might their decision-making processes be influenced by the effects of past trauma on individuals and groups? Join Ruling Elder Laurie Griffith, Associate Stated Clerk, and Associate Director for Constitutional Interpretation as she shares how trauma-informed decision-making not only fosters a sense of belonging but also promotes a more inclusive decision-making process.
For additional information please feel free to contact Laurie Griffith at laurie.griffith@pcusa.org
Learn more about the National Center for Trauma-Informed Care at https://www.cdc.gov/orr/infographics/6_principles_trauma_info.htm
Bruce Grady, Executive Presbyter for New Hope Presbytery provides a reflection on the story of the Road to Emmaus, reminding all of us to recognize Jesus and sense the presence of the Lord in our ministries as we live in hope.
Megan Acedo (YAD, Youth Advisory Delegate, 2003), Anwi Fomukong (YAAD, Young Adult Advisory Delegate, 2022) and Marta Pumroy (TSAD, Theological Student Advisory Delegate, 2022) share how they became aware of the opportunity to servenand the rich experiences and the lasting impact of their pivotal roles as advisory delegates.
YAADs must be between the ages of 18-23 on June 25, 2024. Presbyteries may elect one YAAD who is an active member of a one of its congregations or participant in a New Worshipping Community or immigrant fellowship that has a relationship with the presbytery. The names of YAADs for the 226th GA are due from presbyteries no later than December 28, 2023. TSAD names are due from eligible theological institutions no later than December 28, 2023.
Not only do Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAADs) and Theological Student Advisory Delegates (TSADs) bring a special perspective to the General Assembly, their service fosters stronger connections and cultivates future leaders for the church.
Kristen Gaydos and Sonia Prescott from the Presbyterian Historical Society share the story of the Presbyterian origin of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF and the ways that this story and others like it are preserved for re-telling.
Read more about the highlighted story at https://www.history.pcusa.org/blog/2015/10/trick-or-treat-unicef and find out more about the ministries of the Presbyterian Historical Society at https://www.history.pcusa.org/services
Whether a relatively new Presbyterian or born and raised in the denomination, join PC(USA) Acting Stated Clerk Bronwen Boswell in a conversation about who we are as Presbyterians.
The Office of Immigration Issues plays a crucial role in supporting and assisting mid councils, congregations, ministers, and religious workers from other countries who are called to serve in the United States. Join Teresa Waggener, Assistant Stated Clerk, Manager of Legal Services and Immigration Attorney, Office of the General Assembly as we together navigate the complexities of immigration law to ensure that these ministers and immigrant communities, and the whole people of God, receive the support they need to flourish.
The Church is to be a community of witness, pointing beyond itself through word and work to the good news of God’s transforming grace in Christ Jesus its Lord. (F-1.0301)
Contact Teresa Waggener at teresa.waggener@pcusa.org and Amanda Craft, Assistant Stated Clerk, Manager, Immigration Advocacy at amanda.craft@pcusa.org
Thank you for supporting the work of the Office of Immigration Issues through your per capita contributions. If you wish to further support immigration education and advocacy efforts you may do so through an Extra Commitment Opportunity; please note EC52074 on your check and send gifts to - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | Extra Commitment Opportunity | P.O. Box 643660 | Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Jerrod Lowry, General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of Coastal Carolina Presbytery, explores the importance of self-care and the intentionality of how we are filling ourselves.
We often prioritize the importance of academic learning and knowledge and the hierarchy of the written word. Do these values align with the core value that "the unity of believers in Christ is reflected in the rich diversity of the church's membership [F-1.0403]" where different ways of knowing and embodied learning might also be valued?
Join Kate Trigger Duffert, Office of the General Assembly and Marissa Galvan Valle, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, a ruling elder and the pastor of Beechmont Presbyterian Church, Louisville, Kentucky as we explore the transformational imagination of our embodied values.
We can seek to create more equitable and inclusive systems and spaces that embrace multiple ways of knowing and learning and foster a sense of belonging highlighted in the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, F-1.04.
We would love to have your insights and reflections about how embodied knowledge may or may not be utilized in your context.
A short survey can be found here: https://forms.office.com/r/gDUiLx8WMr
Thank you for taking time to respond after listening to this podcast. Have a great day!