Presbytery of the Miami Valley
An eUpdate for Church Leaders - August 2021
More News and Information for You
Our collaborative PATHWAY home
project in Trotwood is nearing completion
Presbytery of the Miami Valley has been partnering with Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) in rehabilitating a home at 4658 Marlin Rd. in Trotwood as part of the Tornado Survivors PATHWAY to Homeownership Program.

Work is nearing completion on the home, which is being called “The Fearn House” in memory of First Presbyterian Church, Middletown, member and Ruling Elder, Fearn Gerber, who wanted part of her estate gift to be used for affordable housing. Fearn was the first woman to be the moderator of Presbytery of the Miami Valley.

Since the groundbreaking in April, The Fearn House has undergone a major transformation. Our BDM friends have been hard at work and have put on new siding and roof on both the house and garage, added new windows and doors, drywalled the interior, and were installing new flooring throughout the home, tiling the bathroom, and installing cabinets. 

Presbytery volunteers from Bellefontaine First United Presbyterian Church joined with BDM the last week of June to help at both The Fearn House and at a second property being rehabbed in Trotwood on Natchez Ave. In July volunteers from Oxford Presbyterian Church joined in the project. In August volunteers from Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church will do the same. We appreciate all of these teams coming to Dayton to help make the dream of homeownership a reality for families who were impacted by the 2019 tornadoes.

Additional funds for this project are coming from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the PMV Tornado fund, and gifts from individuals and congregations.
Preaching Seminar August 11-13
Hosted by United Theological Seminary
and Fairmont Presbyterian Church

United Theological Seminary, Dayton, will hold its 20th Annual Preaching Seminar August 11-13. This in-person and online event is hosted by the seminary and Fairmont Presbyterian Church, Kettering.

This year’s theme is “Sunday’s Sermon for Monday’s World: Preaching to shape a visionary world.”

This seminar will offer opportunities for reflection and practical preaching tools on how to expand the reach of the good news by equipping Christians for creative witness in the midst of their everyday lives.

The featured speaker is the Rev. Dr. Sally A. Brown, Elizabeth M. Engle Professor of Preaching and Worship at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Position Opening: Office Manager
Presbytery of the Miami Valley
Presbytery of the Miami Valley is seeking a part-time Office Manager to work collaboratively with all staff and leaders of the presbytery, supporting the presbytery and its churches, as the presbytery seeks to live out its mission:

Presbytery prepares, equips, nurtures, and connects congregations in their ministries for God’s mission.

The position requires strong general administrative, bookkeeping, and communications skills.

Presbyterian Week of Action August 23-29
From Presbyterian Mission Agency

Excitement is building for this year’s Presbyterian Week of Action, which takes place August 23-29. It will lift up not only Black Lives Matter but other marginalized groups, such as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who have been the target of hatred and discrimination.

“Shades of Oppression, Resistance and Liberation” is the theme of this year’s event, which is being coordinated by the Rev. Shanea D. Leonard with the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Bearing Witness team and other interested parties.

“The areas we will touch are the plight of poverty; the AAPI issues that have arisen, especially this year; gun violence and mass shootings; LGBTQIA resistance and resilience; murdered and missing Indigenous women; and then also international struggles,” said Leonard, Associate for Gender and Racial Justice in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Gender, Racial & Intercultural Justice. “And then finally, we will, as always, cover the issues concerning Black Lives Matter.”

Stewardship Kaleidoscope
in Cincinnati September 13-15
The annual Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference will be held in Cincinnati September 13-15. Over two dozen workshops will be available to in-person attendees.

Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity. Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), the ELCA, and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to help participants explore stewardship in its many colorful dimensions!