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Holding Numbness and Conviction to Act in the Wake of More Gun Violence (August 28th)

A Weekly Witness: Thoughts on Ministry, Justice, and Life Together from your Presbytery Leader   Like you, I am saddened and crushed by the start of the school year beginning with a mass shooting.   The late Presbyterian activist and pastor James E. Atwood first introduced me to the image of rising gun violence being like a flood that rises…

Spotlight on Polity – August 2025 Edition

“Presbyterian Historical Society: What’s That?” As the fall approaches and I prepare for another round of annual minute reviews with our Clerks of Session, I was inspired to focus this month’s “Spotlight on Polity” on something that doesn’t get enough attention in the life of our churches, but just as important as anything else when it comes to our Polity.…

What Is FEMA and Do We Need It?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employs more than 20,000 people nationwide. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we have 10 regional offices located across the country. We leverage a tremendous capacity to coordinate within the federal government to make sure America is equipped to prepare for and respond to disasters.  FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters, and our…

“God Questions,” and Creating Space for God Questions

I love that our presbytery makes space for education hour.   This last Thursday at our presbytery gathering in Washington, we were blessed to have Rev. Dr. Aaron Stauffer, Associate Director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, lead our education hour. During his presentation, he posed a wonderful challenge to our ministry communities…