PWNC NEWS
& EVENTS

May 27, 2022

The Presbytery office will be closed on Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day.

We wish each of you a very safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

Lunch with the General Presbyter for Honorably Retired Pastors has been a big hit! Dates for June offerings are as follows:

June 8, 9, 20, 23, 27, 28, 29, or 30.

Call/text 828.430.1515 or email me to schedule a time, or to see about other opportunities if these dates are not convenient for you.
Also, check out "On the Western Front" to learn about my recent visit to Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church and hear what I have to say about this lovely congregation in Morganton.


Can't wait to connect with you and your congregation soon!

Peace,
Stated Clerk mourns for those killed in latest school shooting in Texas
J. Herbert Nelson says the church needs to do what is
necessary to minister to those who suffer

Rick Jones & Randy Hobson | Office of the General Assembly - May 25, 2022
The shooting deaths of 19 students and two teachers at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday have once again rattled a nation that has seen an uptick in mass shootings in recent weeks. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is joining millions of people across the country in mourning for the 21 killed.

Nelson once again called on national leaders to be aggressive at ending gun violence, saying that it is becoming unsafe not only in schools, but churches, grocery stores and homes. He adds that the church must be more loving and kind, going “where we are not comfortable” to make a difference.
The Power of A Church Community

Just wanted to share an article about a donation our church made for flood recovery efforts in Haywood County. We're grateful for all the prayers and support from churches and individuals throughout the Presbytery and beyond.


Grace and peace,
Esta
Weapons at Church: The Unthinkable in God’s House

A message from General Counsel Mike Kirk
as our prayers and lamentations continue

We like to think of our churches as places of safety and refuge. A place to commune with God and join in fellowship with our church community. Unfortunately, others view churches as targets. White supremacist Dylan Roof murdered nine people at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina in 2015. Recently, a Las Vegas man with a grudge against Taiwan entered the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, and shot members and friends of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church who were gathered at a celebratory luncheon.

It is unfortunate that church leaders must think about how to prevent such violence or how to respond to it if it happens. But sessions should discuss church safety. There are many resources available for churches, including the following:

·        Active Shooter Resources (FBI)

Congregations and mid councils should consider organizing a committee to discuss and make recommendations for safety policies and procedures.
Moral March Rally Planned
Alexander Lusak, Honorably Retired Minister of Presbytery shares, "I really want to encourage members of PWNC to attend this important rally, especially since the two national co-chairs are the Rev. Dr. William Barber from right here in NC and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, who is at Union Theological Seminary in NYC and an ordained PCUSA clergywoman.

Incidentally, the Poor People's Campaign also has an active Facebook page, and presbyters can get information there as well."

Feel free to email Reverend Lusak with questions.

* * * *
Hello Co-Laborers,
 
Why must this Mass Assembly and Moral March happen? Because we must have a declaration of the power of poor and low-wealth people and our moral allies to say that this system is killing ALL of us and we can’t…we won’t…WE REFUSE TO BE SILENT ANYMORE.

And what do we need to do to get ready?
 
First, we each must Register Here to commit to coming to the Mass Poor People's & Low-Wage Workers' Assembly & Moral March on Washington and To the Polls on June 18th, 2022. Whether you can come in person or join online, please Register Here. Workers and families, allies, faith community members, students, union members, and every person with the moral clarity to demand equality and justice for ALL people--every one of us is needed and wanted. EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO LIVE!
 
Second, we can talk with our family members and friends, our faith community, and our civic groups and encourage them to come with you. If you've been wondering how to be more involved with the Poor People's Campaign, then consider being a Mobilizing Captain. 

Third, make a plan for how to travel to Washington DC. Buses are being organized from across North Carolina for same-day travel. Go to https://rally.co/ppc and set up a bus for your town or organization, or reserve seats on a bus others have set up. Or organize a carpool, or take the train!
 
If you are part of any group or if anyone is a business owner, however small or informal, then please organize with them to be part of this historic day--we need EVERYBODY in the Movement! Not sure how to get started? Register Here 
 
If you haven't yet had an opportunity to read the new Poor People's Pandemic Report, please do. The report makes clear that people died from Covid19 at twice the rate in low-income counties as in wealthy counties. That's NOT RIGHT.
 
As Rev Barber and Rev Liz have said, "This is why we are organizing with poor people from every state to march in Washington on June 18 to demand equal access to health care, living wages, affordable housing, drinkable water, voting rights, and a future where children in struggling communities share the promise of democracy rather than the curse of poverty."
 
Forward Together! Not One Step Back! Please register, even if you are going to view it online, we need your name which is your voice!!  
 
Below are the links for registration, bus stops and coalition partners:

Partners Sign-Up Form: To receive more info and invite other partners sign-up here Coalition Partner sign-up link
 
Bus Link- Provide info. at this link so NCPPC can connect you with rally.co to arrange for a bus pick up Bus Sign Up
 
Register for National Coalition Partners Register To become a Coalition Partner
 
Helpful Links to use to organize and galvanize your community:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Serving Justly,
Rev. Hanna R. Broome
pronouns: she/her/hers
National Faith and Justice Organizer 
Repairers of the Breach
Cell: 864-525-4679
 
 
Rekindling a Prophetic Moral Vision for Justice, 
Social Change, and Movement Building
 
"To create a world that honors the dignity of every person, regardless of their ethnicity, gender identity, economic status or geographical placement- that is the work before us!"
Welcoming the Stranger

Stateside Presbyterians are enriched by hosting
pastors from different countries
by John McCall, Presbyterian World Mission
Special to Presbyterian News Service
As part of his sabbatical from Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, a few years ago, the Rev. Brad Smith brought his wife, Nancy, and their three young adult children to Taiwan to experience the richness of both Taiwan’s culture and church life.

During their visit, they visited an aboriginal village and shared a meal with three women pastors from the Tyral tribe. Brad and Nancy are wonderful ambassadors of Christ’s love and these three pastors felt deeply affirmed and listened to by the Smith family. The Smiths also visited other churches in Taiwan and learned how God is at work on the island of Taiwan.
Taiwanese aboriginal pastors Varuvu and Sai make music with Rev. Luke. (Photo by John McCall)
Because of their rich experience in Taiwan, Brad hoped that there could be an ongoing connection with the pastors in Taiwan. For years, since Eastminster has been a partner with me, a mission co-worker, so this connection was a natural one.
I have brought three groups of Taiwanese pastors to Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina for two weeks of spiritual renewal. Taiwanese pastors live right at the church where they serve, so it can be difficult to find time and space away. So, these weeks are wonderful times for the Taiwanese pastors to leave their busy schedules and come to a place of natural beauty and welcome. These pastors are renewed both by the beauty of Montreat, the sharing among different people groups, and by visits to churches and homeless shelters. For two of these years, Guatemalan and Malawian pastors have joined the Taiwanese pastors along with groups of PC(USA) pastors.

At one homeless shelter, a Taiwanese pastor knelt to wash the feet of a homeless man. As she washed his feet, he began to cry, and said, “The last time I was with Asians I was shooting them in Vietnam. And now they are kneeling to wash my feet in Christ’s name.”

Eastminster has hosted two groups of these Taiwanese pastors for a weekend. They stay in the homes of church members and are warmly welcomed by their new American friends. The Rev. Billy Graham once said that every American Christian should have the opportunity to welcome Christians from other countries in their homes. In this day of division, it is wonderful to see Christians from other countries sleeping under the same roof and eating at the same tables.

So many international friends come to the U.S. and never have the chance to stay in the home of Americans. So, these pastors are thrilled to spend time around the table of their hosts both sharing about their life in Taiwan and also learning about the lives of their new American friends.

On Saturday evening, Eastminster hosted a culture night where the Taiwanese aboriginals taught everyone some of their songs and also one of their traditional dances. At the adult Sunday school, four of the Taiwanese pastors shared about their families and ministries in Taiwan. They were delighted to find that the folks at Eastminster were very interested in what God is doing in Taiwan. Since one-third of these Taiwanese pastors come from some of the 17 tribes of Indigenous Taiwanese, they wear their traditional aboriginal clothing in worship. It was beautiful to see them singing the anthem that day in their colorful clothes from different tribes.

After the weekend in Columbia, the church arranged transportation for us to drive back to Montreat, where we welcomed about 20 PC(USA) pastors, women and men, also from different people groups in the U.S. It was exciting for the Taiwanese pastors to learn that America also has a wide variety of people groups.

The generosity and interest of the Eastminster church deeply impressed the Taiwanese pastors. They were impressed by their willingness to learn from their new Taiwanese friends and were delighted to learn about the ministry of Eastminster in their mission work locally and globally.

A year later, folks from several of my partner churches came to Taiwan to see God’s work in that land. One of the associate pastors, Mark Durrett, and two young adults, Justin and Miles, made the long journey across the Pacific. Miles and Justin, both young fathers, had the opportunity to stay in an aboriginal village over a weekend. They played basketball with village youth and joined in their activities at the village community center.

It was beautiful to see the reversal of roles, from Eastminster folks hosting the Taiwanese, to the Taiwanese hosting the friends from Eastminster. After the weekend in the village, we all traveled to a church center to host a two-day retreat with the American guests and the Taiwanese pastors who had traveled to Montreat.
Justin joins aboriginal youth in a
dance on the basketball court.
(Photo by John McCall)
Taiwanese and PC(USA) pastors together at Montreat Conference Center.
(Photo by John McCall)
Jesus in Matthew 25 tells of those who ask, “When did we see you hungry and lonely?” Folks from very different places learned that they have neighbors on the other side of the world. By opening their homes and their hearts, they discovered gifts that they have to share and also received gifts from former strangers who became friends in the Lord.

The Rev. John McCall is a mission co-worker serving in Taiwan. Learn more here.
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.
Click the arrow to watch video!
PWNC Canton Spring 2022 Disaster Assistance Trip

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. 
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).
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 to find any about which you may wish to comment.
·        If you don’t already have one, create an account on the GA225 Connections website.
·        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.
Newsletter from
Mission Co-Worker
John McCall
Dear Friends,
 
Hope you are well. Please find my most recent mission letter here.
 
Warmest blessings,
John McCall
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:
  • 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
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.
Click the buttons below to explore current job
opportunities that are also listed on the PWNC website.
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!
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.

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
Byron Wade
Cam Murchison*
Billy Robinson
Beth Gunn*
Marie Palacios*
Charles Davenport*
Barbara Ross*
Bob Ayala*
Lisa Pressley
Tonya Williams
Robbin Buchanan*
Marcia Puckett*
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
Presbytery of Western North Carolina | 828.438.4217 | www.presbyterywnc.org