(PNS) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has deployed national response teams in Ohio and Missouri and is processing several initial support requests following a severe weather outbreak across the Midwest. One national response team will head to the Maumee Valley Presbytery in Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan as well as the Presbytery of the Miami Valley, visiting hard-hit sites such as Dayton and Celina, Ohio. The Dayton Daily News reported that 13 tornadoes hit Ohio between Monday and Tuesday , including three EF-3 tornadoes, with winds of 136 to 165 mph. The Maumee Valley Presbytery posted a photo of a damaged Celina home on its Facebook page and said that the Rev. Nan Clancy and leaders at First Presbyterian Church in Celina were checking on members and their communities to see who needed help. The Rev. Dr. Matt Meinke, general presbyter of the Maumee Valley Presbytery, is familiar with PDA’s work. “I have worked with PDA before, namely during the response … [Read more...]

(OGA) For the Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), it has been an eventful year. The Reverend Cindy Kohlmann and Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri have traveled across the U.S. and overseas on behalf of the church, meeting with pastors, congregations, and mid council leaders. In the first of two videos, the Office of the General Assembly provides a glimpse into the daily lives of the Co-Moderators and those closest to them. by Rick Jones and Randy Hobson, Office of the General Assembly … [Read more...]

(PNS) UKirk, the collegiate ministry network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is in the process of incorporating as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. And, as UKirk College Ministries Association Inc., the association is actively searching for a new national executive director. “We hope the person called will have a love for — and be a connector and advocate for — campus ministry,” says UKirk’s national board co-moderator, Neil Myer. “Telling the story of the good things God is doing in Presbyterian campus ministries, far and wide.” Myer is the campus minister at UKirk at Michigan State University, which began in 2012 after actions taken by the 220th General Assembly that year to make UKirk the brand for PC(USA) campus ministries across the country. The move was part of an effort to create or renew 101 college worshiping communities.  This coincided with the 2012 GA commitment to create 1001 new worshiping communities by 2022. Part of the original vision presented … [Read more...]

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is in contact this weekend with presbyteries in states in the lower Midwest, where flooding and tornadoes have impacted communities and forced evacuations. Jim Kirk, PDA’s associate for disaster response in the United States, said Saturday that affected presbyteries were assessing flood damage brought on by heavy rainfall in the Missouri and Illinois River basins as well as the upper and middle portions of the Mississippi River basin. Kirk says PDA anticipates receiving “multiple” assistance grant requests. It’s possible, he said, that PDA National Volunteers will be deployed, although as of Saturday no invitations for National Volunteers had been received. The Saturday briefing issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that significant flooding continued to prompt evacuations and water rescues across central and eastern Oklahoma, where eight communities are under voluntary evacuations and one is under mandatory evacuation. In … [Read more...]

(PNS) LOUISVILLE  — Thousands of youths from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church are gearing up for five sweaty days of “conversation, recreation, learning, worship and fun” at this year’s 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium (PYT) July 16-20 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Since 1980, this “life-changing, life-giving, faith-growing” gathering’s mission has been to “deepen the discipleship awareness” of a generation who is already distinguishing themselves in this church and the world, according to the Triennium website . One highlight of the 2019 version of the life-changing and faith-growing experience is worship, which takes place every day of Triennium. Held in Purdue’s historic Elliot Hall of Music, worship at the event is planned by and for the thousands of young people who attend every three years. “Drawing upon the stories, pathways, adventures and trials that real Presbyterian youth face, each service is crafted … [Read more...]