Having trouble reading on a mobile device? Try turning off "dark mode" or viewing as a Webpage.
Presbytery Logo
Our Mission:
To identify and strengthen leaders 
so that every congregation
makes new and mature disciples for Jesus Christ.
The Presbytery of Tampa Bay has committed itself to being a Matthew 25 Presbytery, putting intentional effort into each of the three focus areas of the Matthew 25 Invitation:

  • Building congregational vitality by challenging congregations and their members to deepen and energize their faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples actively engaged with their community, seeing new disciples engaged in ministry and longstanding believers develop in faith as the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared in word and deed.

  • Dismantling structural racism by fearlessly applying our faith to advocate and break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color.

  • Eradicating systemic poverty by acting on our beliefs and working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.

How is your church putting intentional effort into one or more of these areas? How might you do so? Send your ideas and updates to info@pbty.com with "Matthew 25" in the subject line.
Are you a minister member of the Presbytery who won't be able to attend and needs an excused absence? Click here to send an email to Stated Clerk Bill Wildhack with your request.
Our next meeting is next Thursday, 11/12 . . .
. . . so this email includes reminders, updates, and the packet of info, docket, worship, and reports!
At this writing, we have 72 minister members of the presbytery registered, along with 44 ruling elder commissioners from congregations, 6 ruling elders in other roles, and 4 corresponding members or guests in other roles.

THANK you for working with us to get registered.

If you're planning to participate in our meeting as a minister member of this presbytery, a ruling elder commissioner from a congregation, or in some other role and you have NOT also registered in Zoom or received a confirmation from me (via Zoom) yet, please reach out to me ASAP.

Scroll down to find and download the meeting packet with the docket, worship bulletin, and all reports and recommendations coming before the Presbytery next week. You'll also find links to orientation and refresher training for participating in a presbytery meeting on Zoom and more.

A few key reminders:

  • Our online meeting "room" will open to participants for sign-in no later than 8:00 a.m.

  • We will start the meeting promptly at 8:30 a.m.


  • If you are a pastor/moderator or a clerk of session and have NOT yet sent the name(s) and contact info for your elder commissioner(s) to Ann Marie at office@pbty.com, please do so ASAP (or send me an email to let me know when you expect to be able to tell us). NOTE: This is an extra step; commissioners still need to use the online registration using the links in my earlier emails to complete their registration for the meeting.

Here are some reminders of what's planned:

  • Election and installation of moderator and vice-moderator of the Presbytery. Rev. Bobby Musengwa, Pastor of Maximo Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg will be nominated for moderator, and Ruling Elder Sally Speer of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa will be nominated for vice moderator.

  • Our special guest preacher is the Most Reverend Professor Maake J. Masango, MTS, MA, ThD, Emeritus Professor of Theology, University of Pretoria --- and he is Bobby Musengwa's uncle, too!

  • We'll be recognizing the upcoming retirement of Rev. Craig Miller. Craig is currently serving as interim pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Sun City Center.

  • We'll also be taking next steps in support of New Worshiping Communities, considering a proposed budget, electing new members to many positions across our commissions and committees, and more.

Keep scrolling for one more chance to order many of Cedarkirk's favorite baked goods for pickup on a Sunday afternoon this month!

Blessings,

Bill

Rev. William A. Wildhack III
Stated Clerk and Manager of Communications
(813) 868-4800, opt. 2

+ + +
My work---and this newsletter---is supported by per capita funds from congregations in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, which also help unite all Presbyterians in sharing God’s love through mission and ministry. Thank you!
Orientation to Zoom and our Presbytery meeting
Anyone participating in the meeting on Zoom or observing it on YouTube should take a look at the information on our new Orientation/Refresher webpage by clicking here.

You'll find links to orientation materials, our Special Rules for online meetings, additional tech tips and more.

We strongly recommend using a desktop or laptop computer for the meeting because of how we will use Zoom's features (they all work on tablets and smartphones, but they're easier on Zoom).

Visitors, guests, and others who want to observe the meeting will be able to watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Pky9kVyEVTM, so you don't need to worry about Zoom this time!
Meeting Packet with all reports
This meeting's packet includes end-of-year reports and details, proposals from the Board of Trustees, a New Worshiping Community Task Force, the proposed budget for 2021 and more..

So, click here or on the image of the welcome
letter to download a copy to bring with you --- or
to pass along to the commissioner(s) from your
Welcome ltr image
Covenant Agreement drafted to guide partnership among FLAPDAN, PDA, and the six PC(USA) presbyteries in Florida
Here's a preview from FLAPDAN's report to the Presbytery in the meeting packet (and one item of business the Coordinating Team will be bringing for action):

The Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) have worked closely together since FLAPDAN’s inception in 2004. The relationship has evolved from PDA providing financial assistance to one of mutual benefit and support.

To mark the mutuality between the two organizations, and to mark the support of the partnership by the six PCUSA presbyteries in Florida, a Covenant Agreement has been drafted and approved by PDA leadership (with PCUSA legal signoff), FLAPDAN’s board of directors, and, provisionally, by the executives of the six presbyteries.

The Covenant Agreement is the first and most foundational project to be undertaken. Other collaborative projects will follow once the presbyteries formally approve the Covenant Agreement.
COVID-19 Information
The Commission on Church Vitality is honored to extend their COVID-related block grants through the end of the year. Grants are available for up to $5,000 a month and renewable each month via this Google form.

Each ministry in the Presbytery is eligible for up to $30,000 of total grant support. If you have questions about the process (or trouble accessing the form), please reach out to Libby Shannon, Assoc. Presbyter for Emerging Ministries, at libby@pbty.com.
There's information and more resources on our COVID-19 webpage

Check it out by clicking here: COVID-19 Resources webpage.

We also post updates from time to time on our Facebook page -- and you don't even need a Facebook account to view it (though Facebook will nag you to create one, it's not necessary to see our posts).

When your church or ministry changes --- or If it has already changed --- your in-person and online worship and other plans, please send a note to info@pbty.com so we can update our list of online worship opportunities on the Presbytery's webpage and on Facebook.
FALL BAKE SALE AT CEDARKIRK!
Cedarkirk is having a FALL BAKE SALE!!!
Acting Executive Director Matt Shick writes:

Since most of you won’t be joining us for a retreat this fall, we figured we’d send the best part of a Cedarkirk event to you: DESSERT!

Throughout November, we are offering many of Cedarkirk’s most requested fall baked goods for sale online. From cinnamon rolls to pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes, just place your order online and we’ll have it ready for you to pick up on Sunday, November 15th or 22nd -- your choice!

Feel free to stop by for a brief hike or snag a shark’s tooth or two from the river before you take your goodies and run – we’d love to feed your belly – and your soul.
Have you found, "liked," and "followed" the Presbytery of Tampa Bay on Facebook yet? We post informational, inspirational, and sometimes thought-provoking items there fairly often --- and offer a Small Church Network Facebook Group linked from that page. Click the button below to visit our Facebook page and be sure to click on "like" or "follow" to be notified of updates!
Remember, there's always something new to see on our Facebook page and more at the Presbytery of Tampa Bay website. Click the buttons below to start exploring!
Our next regular issue of the eNews should come out during the week of November 9 (but there's a presbytery meeting on Nov 12, so . . . we'll see). But, go ahead and send input and ideas to me before then, please!
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! -- Bill