Dear Presbytery Friends,
I hope everyone has seen this information on student loan debt forgiveness. This is not just for pastors, so please share this with your church staff as well.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Little
Church Consultant (NC & SC)
5141 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC 28210
Office: 215-587-7242
Cell: 252-723-8653
New Resource Helps Ministers Apply for
Student Loan Debt Forgiveness
Now through October 31, federal student loan borrowers may receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). The U.S. Department of Education has changed the PSLF program rules for a limited time in response to the COVID-19 emergency.
For Ministers Enrolled in the Benefits Plan
To help ministers relieve the burden of educational debt and achieve greater financial well-being, the Board of Pensions is providing EdAssist through PeopleJoy at no cost to ministers enrolled in the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). EdAssist provides coaching to help ministers understand and apply for the PSLF program if they qualify.
For Ministers and Other Staff Serving
PC(USA)-Related Organizations
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Lunch with the General Presbyter for Honorably Retired Pastors has been a big hit!
Dates for June offerings will be posted soon. Stay tuned for more information!
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‘It’s in our DNA’
As part of its work dismantling structural racism, a Michigan church discovers a founder was part of the Underground Railroad
by Paul Seebeck, Presbyterian News Service
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In Michigan, a Presbyterian pastor is speaking out after a state senator defended herself in a “culture war attack” by a colleague.
Last month, state senator Lana Theis delivered an opening invocation where she said that “children were under attack.” Three senators, including Sen. Mallory McMorrow, walked out of the chamber.
Within days, Theis sent out a fundraising email saying people like McMorrow “are outraged they can’t groom and sexualize kindergartners or that 8-year-olds are responsible for slavery.” Theis also attacked McMorrow for what she called “race-based education.”
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The next day, McMorrow, who describes herself as a white Christian married suburban mom, responded on the chamber floor. On her Twitter feed it was viewed more than nine million times in 24 hours.
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For the Rev. Dr. John Judson of First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Michigan, McMorrow’s speech — during which she speaks about her responsibility as a white Christian woman to defend those less privileged — was powerful. While he can’t speak for those who don’t agree about speaking up about systemic racism and inequality, Judson said McMorrow formulated in words what many in his congregation have been thinking.
The Rev. Dr. John Judson (Contributed photo)
“It’s how our congregation has staked out who it is and what it believes,” he said. “The cultures of white privilege, Christian privilege and straight privilege are making it about good versus evil. When you see it that way, you can say or do anything.”
‘It’s never been easy to be the church … but it’s worth the risk to be the church Jesus Christ calls us to be.’
For Judson, if you believe in a truly inclusive community in Jesus Christ in every way, you have to be willing to do what McMorrow did. Yet he understands why some pastors are not willing to speak up, because there can be a price to pay for doing so.
When FPC became a Matthew 25 church to focus on dismantling structural racism, he began to talk more about race. Speakers came to explain the causes of structural racism. Even though he was careful in the language he used, a number of members told him he “must be a Democrat” and therefore was wrong. Others walked out without saying anything, including people he thought he had a great relationship with. “These are people I prayed with,” he said. “But at this point in the country, where division runs deep, some people wouldn’t think about it or deal with it.”
Despite those losses, Judson says that new people are finding First Presbyterian Church. In a church described as “Everybody’s Church,” the church’s website is clear about what that means. People are listening and joining the congregation, even as Judson prepares to retire in a year.
Recently FPC learned from the Birmingham Museum that one of FPC’s founding members, deacon Elijah S. Fish, was an abolitionist. Fish invited other abolitionists to join him in helping enslaved Black people to seek freedom via the Underground Railroad, which he was a part of. One of those Black men, George B. Taylor, a former enslaved person from Kentucky, ended up in Birmingham, where he became an active member of FPC along with his wife Eliza.
“When we adopted Matthew 25, some people said it was a ‘foreign concept’ for the church. As it turns out, it is in our DNA, with Elijah Fish and the Taylors,” Judson said. “From our beginning in 1834, we believed in the full humanity of all persons.”
Recently Judson received a letter from someone who left the church. He reread it a few times because he could hardly believe what the person was saying.
‘When we adopted Matthew 25, some people said it was a “foreign concept”
for the church. As it turns out it is in our DNA.’
“You’re getting the kind of people you want,” the letter read. Yes, Judson acknowledges, FPC is getting the kind of people who believe in Jesus Christ: the kind of people who want to know Christ and be in a place of welcome, the kind of people who are hurting and on the margins.
“When I retire, I’ll be ready,” he said. “It’s never been easy to be the church. With the political divisions, Covid, and the transition in culture, it’s going to be much harder. But it’s worth the risk to be the church Jesus Christ calls us to be.”
Click here to download the full article.
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Greenwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Michigan, was designated as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. It’s recognized as the burial site of abolitionist Elijah S. Fish and George B. Taylor, a freedom-seeker and formerly enslaved Black man. Both were members of First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham. (Contributed photo)
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FPC Lincolnton's Handbells Have A New Home!! |
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Thank you to those churches who expressed interest in the handbells from First Lincolnton. A decision has been made for Sweetwater Presbyterian Church in Hickory to become the steward of the handbells.
Lynn Honeycutt, Co-CP at Sweetwater shares, "It is with tears of joy I say thank you, thank you! Praise God! It will be such a blessing to add this gift to our church. We are so grateful."
We are glad the bells have found a new home and can be used to enhance the music and worship at Sweetwater! Special thanks to the FPC Lincolnton members for sharing this beautiful gift for ministry.
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NEEDED: Youth to Join PYC!!
The Youth Ministry Committee is seeking rising 10th to 12th graders to join the Youth Council for 2022-2023. Applications are due by June 10th.
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Click the arrow to watch video! |
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PWNC Spring 2022 Disaster Assistance Trip to Canton, NC
May 1-6, 2022
On Sunday, May 1, nine volunteers from seven PWNC churches gathered at the Canton Presbyterian Church where we would be spending the week. Their Pastor, Esta Jarrett, and the church had graciously extended the invitation for our team to use their kitchen and fellowship hall for our meals, rooms in the church for sleeping, and a couple of showers and bathrooms for clean up after long days of work in the community. Back in August of last year, large amounts of rain caused flooding in Haywood County. Many homes had been damaged, and two organizations were working to help restore these homes: Baptists On Mission and the North Carolina United Methodist Disaster Response Organization, with whom we would be working on three houses. During the week, our volunteers would paint and replace doors, put down a laminate floor, repair drywall, repair faulty electrical outlets, paint walls, put up molding, replace a window, pressure wash, repair cabinets, and more. The fellowship that happens on these disaster assistance trips among team members as we live and work together, eat and worship together, is really wonderful.
Because we were so close to other Presbyterian Churches in our Presbytery, we were able to welcome volunteers who could only spend a day or two working with us to learn more about what serving on a disaster assistance team is all about. We were most appreciative that the Waynesville First Presbyterian Church and the Canton Presbyterian Church women, and the good folks at the Cruso UMC provided us with a delicious supper meal on three of the days. Before we left Canton, the team decided that we would like to come back in the Fall to continue helping this flood damaged community within our Presbytery get back into their repaired homes. Information about the Fall trip will be forthcoming.
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Back row, l to r: Joe (UMC employee), Russ Rankin (First Franklin), Joseph Pritchard (First Morganton), Ken Unnasch (Long Creek Pres., Kings Mountain), Phil Trick (First Hickory), Bob Abel (Hayesville Pres.), Derwin Nelson (First Hickory), Sue (UMC employee). Front row, l to r: Sue Unnasch (Long Creek Pres., Kings Mountain), Bobbi Trick (First Hickory), Joanne Mitchell (Southminster, Gastonia). Seated: Tommy Gilbert (UMC Worksite Coordinator). Not pictured: Melvin Meares (Hickory First), Ann Greenlee, Jean Markley and Sally Copeland (First Highlands), Ben and Morganna LeBoutillier (First Hickory).
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How to Speak to a G.A. Committee if Desired
Via a Recording for Public Hearings
Procedures for the 225th GA: Public Hearings
The Standing Rules of the General Assembly require every assembly committee (except Bills and Overtures) to hold a public hearing in which anyone who wishes to address an item of business can sign up to speak. At a traditional GA, people sign a piece of paper on a bulletin board. Committees try to hear as many testimonies as possible, alternating pro and con; but sometimes when there is major interest, a lottery is necessary to limit the numbers.
This year, with the persistent pandemic limiting how many persons can be in a meeting room at once, public (AKA open) hearings will be conducted online, with speakers recording their witness; no longer do concerned individuals have to be able to afford the time and money to travel to the GA venue for a chance to be heard. Committee members (and anyone else who’s interested) will view the testimony before the committee officially convenes, freeing up their time together for other aspects of their discernment.
Please share with your members and congregations the following instructions so that people will know how to participate; the deadlines require action well in advance of the convening of the Assembly in June.
· Read the items of business (IOBs) posted on PC-Biz t o find any about which you may wish to comment.
· Log in and access information about the process by clicking the Advocacy hub and then selecting the Public Hearings Information & Sign-Up resource. All necessary recording software is provided by the website where the testimony will be submitted.
· Complete the online application(s) to request to provide testimony by May 8.
· If notified that your request is accepted (it’s possible that selection by lottery will be required, depending on how many sign up for a particular IOB), upload both the video and a transcript (for translation purposes) of your testimony during the week of May 12–19.
· All the testimonies will be available to be viewed from the Committees hub on GA225 Connections; look for the specific committee to which the IOB has been assigned. Release date will depend on how long it takes to process and translate submissions.
Questions? Email Cam Murchison, PWNC Stated Clerk. |
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Serve on summer staff at Massanetta Springs: Massanetta Springs is hiring day camp counselors, lifeguards, and facilities and hospitality staff to serve its summer programs! Join us for this fun, meaningful work for a few weeks or the full ten week season from June-August. Full time paid positions include housing and meals, and may be able to fulfill college or internship credits. Contact daycamp@massanettasprings.org or visit MassanettaSprings.org/nettadaycamp to learn more! |
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We Love to Share Your Good News!
If you have items of interest to share with the Presbytery in the weekly newsletter, please email Tonya Williams.
Information should be sent electronically, preferably with an image, 10 days in advance, for inclusion in the following week's distribution. Submissions may be edited for brevity. The General Presbyter or Stated Clerk will make final decisions about what may be included.
The e-news publication goes out each Friday to members across the Presbytery. We look forward to sharing your good news!
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Newsletter from
Mission Co-Worker
John McCall
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Dear Friends,
Hope you are well. Please find my most recent mission letter here.
Warmest blessings,
John McCall
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Ukraine Emergency Appeal
"(God) shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."
-- Isaiah 2:4)
The current Russian invasion that started on February 24 follows eight years of conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are enduring bombings and assault by Russian military forces; and have lost power, been cut off from water and fuel. As people head toward the western regions, there is a shortage of food and other basic supplies. The reports of displaced persons inside Ukraine continue to rise every day, already in the hundreds of thousands. The UN anticipates that as many as 6.7 million will be displaced internally. Likewise, Ukrainians are fleeing to neighboring countries, primarily to Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia, while others have moved to other European countries. Again, current estimates from the UN are that the refugee numbers could also reach several million. These borders have remained open until now even as lines are growing.
Partners are raising particular concern for the women and young children who make up the majority of the refugees as many men are now barred from leaving the country. As part of the international humanitarian community, PDA urges that governments and non-governmental organizations provide assistance without discrimination due to concerns for the Roma and people of other nationalities who have also been displaced by the conflict.
In the midst of the chaos, there are sibling churches and ecumenical partners who are already providing assistance with basic items for survival. Initial assistance being provided includes shelter, food, clothing, blankets, baby food and diapers, other hygiene supplies, flashlights and candles, generators and fuel.
Our first priority is to provide funding to these partners on the ground. While the scale of this crisis is new, receiving refugees from Ukraine and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe is not, which means we have trusted, established partners with the knowledge and expertise to carry out this important work. In fact, One Great Hour of Sharing — the single largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to provide hope, help and relief — was started in response to refugees coming out of Europe.
Our response to the situation in Ukraine will include both financial and technical assistance as the network of faith communities providing humanitarian assistance grows in the months ahead.
The needs for the response will be great. God’s people are called on to stand in the "GAP" — Give. Act. Pray.
GIVE: Gifts can be made online, by calling (800) 872-3283, by texting PDAUKR to 41444, or by check made payable to Presbyterian Church U.S.A. with "DR000156-Ukraine" on the memo line. Mail to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
*If churches want to collect an offering to support this immediate need, one check can be sent to the Presbytery of Western North Carolina at 114 Silver Creek Road, Morganton NC 28655. Use DR000156-Ukraine in the memo line.*
ACT:
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Download the bulletin insert
- Urge the U.S. government to support generous aid for refugees and civilians suffering in Ukraine, and call for engaging a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
PRAY: God of mercy, justice and peace
Our spirits are heavy with sorrow, our souls shocked
At the sudden and breathtaking violence,
the invasion of Ukraine by their neighbor, Russia.
We pray for lives caught in the grip of war,
who hear the bombs in the night,
the ominous movement of troops on the road into town
the whistle of incoming shells,
for a cry from a desperate neighbor or a shout of warning.
For those who huddle in subways and basements
or flee for the borders, clutching their children’s hands
We pray for families separated from fathers, brothers and sons
who must remain to fight and protect their homeland.
We pray for neighbors in Eastern and Central Europe
As their hearts and doors open to these refugees
That strained resources will become an abundance of hope
That fears and struggles with racism will yield to a generosity of profound welcome
That communities of faith within Ukraine will be protected from harm
and sustained in their efforts to feed and shelter their neighbors.
That peacemakers and protesters in Russia will be heard and their lives preserved.
May we undergird our prayers with tangible resources to help.
May we reach deeply, give generously, and welcome extravagantly.
May we lift our voices in a strong and unified advocacy.
May we all, even as we breathe in lament, breathe out mercy, hope and peace.
And in this Lenten season, when we walk the way toward death and resurrection, repent our complicity in cultures of violence and renew our efforts toward justice and peace.
--Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
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Opportunity for Safe Gatherings Training for Congregations in PWNC
Some churches have asked whether Presbytery might help in providing training for their volunteers who work with children, youth and vulnerable adults. In addition to the policy that was adopted by PWNC last year on child and youth protection, we have made arrangement with the Safe Gatherings organization to allow any congregation of the Presbytery to have their volunteers access online training that may help ensure safety in their ministries.
Here is a brief description of the course that is available:
Safe Gatherings Training Course is a comprehensive training empowering leaders to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults through greater awareness of:
o Sexual predators and their habits
o Types of abuse
o Signs of abuse
o How to respond to disclosure of abuse
o Mandatory reporting
o and more!
To begin the registration process, click here This takes you to the home page. To register for the Safe Gatherings Training Course, click the red button at the top of the page labelled “Get Started.”
The next page will ask you to establish your own account, working your way through several pull-down menus. After you choose “Church or Faith Based Organization,” then “Presbyterian” as the denomination, you are asked to indicate your specific organization. Begin typing “western” and the option for the Presbytery of Western North Carolina will appear. Next you will enter your personal information to establish your account with a password. This will take you to the next screen where you enter additional details and agree to terms of service. On the following screen you are asked to pay $24.00 for your course online with a credit card. Churches may work out arrangements with their members for reimbursement as needed. When you take the final quiz for your course, presbytery will receive a notification that you have completed it. On request, the Presbytery office can certify whether a particular individual has completed the course.
If you encounter any difficulties in this process, please be in touch with Cam Murchison (cmurc1@gmail.com; 404-556-8041) or with Tonya Williams (twilliams@presbyterywnc.org; 828-438-4217). Thanks for joining us in exploring new ways to ensure healthy and sacred boundaries in PWNC.
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Click the buttons below to explore current job
opportunities that are also listed on the PWNC website.
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Most PWNC staff are currently working remotely. Please make note of the contact information provided below as the best way to reach respective staff members at this time.
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PWNC OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
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Byron Wade
Cam Murchison*
Billy Robinson
Beth Gunn*
Marie Palacios*
Charles Davenport*
Barbara Ross*
Bob Ayala*
Lisa Pressley
Tonya Williams
Robbin Buchanan*
Marcia Puckett*
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828/430-1515 cell/text
404/556-8041 cell/text
828/448-2153 cell/text
828/329-9209 cell/text
828/838-4245 cell/text
704/689-0296 cell/text
828/387-6332 phone
828/284-6628 phone
828/438-4217 ext. 12 phone
828/443-6412 cell/text
828/438-4217 ext. 13 phone
828/438-4217 ext. 18 phone
*Denotes part-time
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