Issue 253 | January 26, 2024 | |
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A Word from our Transitional General Presbyter
In the last two weeks, the Leadership Team and the Committee on Ministry each gathered for two-day retreats. The Leadership Team worked for a full day with Emily Swanson of Holy Cow! Consulting focusing on A Season of Discernment followed by a day of reflecting and acting on the business of the Presbytery. The Committee on Ministry began its retreat with a deep dive into what its work is about based on the description of presbyteries in the Book of Order, including a focus on supporting our small churches. This was followed by a morning of business that included the approval of transitional leadership for two churches entering a time of discernment and pastoral search. Throughout both retreats, I was impressed with the members of each committee. The members include ministers – congregational pastors, those serving in validated ministry, and honorably retired pastors – as well as ruling elders – those who lead in their own churches and those who have worked diligently to be trained as Commissioned Pastors and Authorized Lay Preachers. The wisdom and depth of faith of these leaders is amazing, from those leading the groups to ground their work in Bible study and prayer to those actively witnessing to God’s work in the life of the leaders and churches throughout the Presbytery. The leadership of these committees includes storytellers and deep listeners, the curious and the comic, the compassionate and the insightful, all who have accepted Jesus’ call to discipleship.
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2024 Presbytery Directory information due Feb. 12
Has your church sent in its 2024 directory information to the Presbytery office? If not, please do so by MONDAY, FEB. 12! You can fill out this form, then email it to office@wvpresbytery.org or mail it to Presbytery of WV, PO Box 11720, Charleston, WV 25339. If your information has not changed from 2023, please let us know that, so we can confirm it is correct. It is important that we get this information, so we can keep the directory up-to-date. Thank you!
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News from the Presbytery's Treasurer
- Board of Pensions news: Register for the new Benefits Connect
- Board of Pensions webinar: Tax Tips - 2023 Tax Update & Federal Tax Return
- 2024 IRS Standard Mileage
- Year-end checklist
- Mastering 17 end-of-year financial tasks
- Feds roll out new Form I-9
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- 2024 Pastor Minimum Compensation
- 2024 Per Capita
- 2024 Shared Mission Pledge Request
- 2024 PWV Budget
- Board of Pensions: New Medicare Advantage plan
- 2024 Special Offerings
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Church Officer Training to repeat in February 2024
Are you a newly elected ruling elder or deacon? Are you currently on the session or re-elected to serve on the session or as a deacon? Would you like to know more about the polity (government) of the church, the theology that guides our work, the responsibilities of elders and deacons? Then, join us for Officer Training on Feb. 11 and 18 from 2-5 PM on Zoom; this is a repeat of the November offering. These two sessions will build on and connect with each other, so participants are strongly encouraged to participate in both. There is no cost for this training, but you do need to sign up in order to receive the Zoom link and advance assignment. Participants will need a current copy of the Book of Order for the assignment and classes. Register by Feb. 1 by completing this form or sending the information requested to susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com.
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2023 Session Record Reviews
The Session Record Reviews will be different in 2024. They will be conducted quarterly, both in person and online. Clerks of Session (or a ruling elder representative of the session) need to attend one of the events listed below by October 2024.
- Feb. 4 – First Presbyterian Church, Dunbar, 3 PM
- Feb. 5 – Zoom event, 7 PM
- April 14 – Zoom event, 3 PM
- April 21 – Bridgeport/Clarksburg area in-person event, 3 PM
- Aug. 18 – Lewisburg area in-person event, 3 PM
- Aug. 19 – Zoom event, 7 PM
- Oct. 13 - Zoom event, 3 PM
- Oct. 20 – Huntington area in-person event, 3 PM
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Soul Space is the theme for the 2024 Educator, Clergy, Commissioned Pastor, Authorized Lay Preacher Retreat
Feb. 19-20 at St. John XXIII Pastoral Center, Charleston
This year’s ECCA Retreat - for Christian Educators, Ministers of Word and Sacrament, Commissioned Pastors, Authorized Lay Preachers, and their spouses - will explore a way of looking at the biblical text through the lens of Soul Space and our own gifts of creativity. It will run from lunch Monday through lunch Tuesday, with content sessions Monday afternoon and evening and Tuesday morning. The registration deadline is Feb. 9. Cost, including housing and meals, is $120/person, with a discount for the second person from the same church. There is also a commuter rate of $90/person, which includes the retreat and 3 meals. If you have questions, please contact Susan Sharp Campbell at susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304-667-9428.
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News from our Congregations & Partners | |
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Backpacks for the Homeless project returns to Upshur Co.
The second annual “Presby Backpacks for the Homeless” project is underway at the First Presbyterian Church of Buckhannon. The relatively new endeavor to help individuals experiencing homelessness in Upshur County began last year with 25 backpacks and was so well received that organizers doubled the size of the project to 50 backpacks this year.
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