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A Milestone of Ministry and Service

Tuesday of this week—May 19, to be precise—marked the 35th anniversary of my ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

In 1991, at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Tennessee, I took the solemn vows of ordination: to trust in Jesus, to be guided by the confessions, to be governed by the church’s polity, and to be a true colleague in ministry. I vowed to work for the reconciliation of the world by proclaiming the good news, to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church, and always to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. Moments after taking those vows, I knelt and felt the heavy, humbling weight of the Ordination Commission’s hands pressing down, setting me apart for this life of service.

Through calls to three different congregations—all of them right here in Middle Tennessee—I have endeavored to uphold those sacred vows, serving God through the holy institution of the Church.

Now, in my role as Executive Presbyter, it is a joy to use the knowledge and experience gained over these three and a half decades to serve the Church in a distinct and different way. I have the privilege of helping congregations navigate seasons of transition and the sacred honor of assisting colleagues as they discern their own calls, fostering health and vitality across our presbytery.
Looking back on 35 years, I am profoundly grateful for where the Spirit has led me, and I look forward to the vital work we will continue to do together in Christ's name.

Peace,

P.S. I would be remiss if I did not also mention that on May 25, Courtney and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage! ❤️

On Saturday, June 6, Liberty Hill Church in Wilson County is hosting its annual roadway cleanup along Liberty Hill Road. Volunteers will spruce up the several miles bordering the church property. The hard work pays off in the afternoon with a celebration cookout at the church pavilion for church members and the neighbors they met during the day.

Boundary Training for Church Leaders:

If you have registered with Praesidium and need help completing a course, please contact me directly (615) 332-3330 ext. 2 or sc@pbymidtn.org. If you need to complete the training, click here. This will notify me to register you in the Praesidium Academy.

UKIRK Success!

The UKIRK staff are thrilled to announce that our Soul & Spirits giving campaign raised over $10,000 for UKirk Nashville! Not only that, but we are currently on track for the highest annual individual giving in UKirk Nashville's history!

Because of you, we are able to continue the message to our students: All Are Welcome. We are grateful to our supporters both here locally and those of you who give from across the country. Your gift, whether one-time, recurring, or through your congregation, creates a ministry where students have the freedom to learn and grow in their faith together. Together, we are transforming our community with creativity, imagination, and love as we join in proclaiming the abundance of God’s welcome. Visit ukirknashville.org to learn more or making a donation.

Rev. Jane Herring and the congregation at Emmanuel Church are celebrating a fruitful year of stewardship. In partnership with A Rocha, they have spent the past year leaning into the biblical calling to care for God’s "good but groaning" world.

A Rocha (Portuguese for “The Rock”) is a global organization dedicated to helping Christians and churches rediscover their roles as caretakers of creation. With dedicated staff right here in Middle Tennessee, they offer local expertise to help congregations begin or deepen their own environmental journeys.

If your church wants to learn more about becoming stewards of creation visit arocha.us or give Jane a call. Better yet, just go ahead and reach out to jenna.henderson@arocha.org or noah.guthrie@arocha.org to learn how your church can plant the first seed.

Please be aware: No one from the Presbytery staff (or your local church) will ever contact you via email or text to request the purchase of gift cards. If you receive a message like this, it is a scam. Delete it immediately and do not click any links.

Board of Pensions

Members enrolled in the Medical Plan of the PC(USA) are encouraged to utilize the many well‑being resources that are available. These include the Mental Well-Being and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) provided by Spring Health, which offers easy access to high‑quality mental health care. Members should also register for the refreshed Call to Health platform to engage in opportunities and activities that promote wholeness. Participation also helps members qualify for reduced deductibles in 2027. For help navigating benefits and connecting with providers, members can rely on Quantum Health’s care navigation to guide them towards the care they need, when they need it. To learn more about these benefits, visit the Board of Pensions website.

Check out the PMT Connections Page on Facebook

Currently, these are the active pastoral searches being conducted within the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee. The Ministry Discernment Profile can be accessed through the link beside the church name.

Solo Pastor, Priest Lake Presbyterian Church, Nashville (MDP)

Solo Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Smryna (MDP)

Solo Pastor, Calvary Presbyterian Church of Big Lick, Crossville (MDP )

Solo Pastor, Harpeth Presbyterian Church,Brentwood (MDP)

Solo Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Tullahoma ,Tullahoma (MDP)

New Opportunities within PMT
Job postings can be found here

Currently, these are the job opportunities available within the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee.

Operations and Communications Coordinator, Presbytery of Middle Tennessee

Part-Time Office Administrator, Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church, Franklin

Youth Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia

Back-of-House Manager, Nueva Vida Food Project, Nashville

Director of Children's Ministry, Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville

Presbyterian Life and Witness is the permanent name for the newly unified administrative agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Formerly referred to as the Interim Unified Agency, this body was created to combine the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency into a single streamlined organization.

The new agency is directed by the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, the Rev. Jihyun Oh. Its tagline is Serving God's Mission in the World. Its purpose is handle the broader administrative, missional, and policy execution duties for the denomination.

Below are one-page PDFs describing PL&W’s aspirational purpose, values, and priorities.

PL&W Aspirational Purpose
PL&W Values
PL&W Priorities

Got an item for Seen and Heard? We love to feature our congregations and friends! Send to either Gregory Taylor at gregory@pbymidtn.org or Erin Bell at sc@pbymidtn.org

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The Presbytery of Middle Tennessee
1113 Murfreesboro Rd., Suite 106 #216
Franklin, TN 37064

Does your congregation have prayer requests, celebrations, or moments to share with your Presbytery family? Please email us and we will include them in the next eNews.

Presbytery of Middle Tennessee

1113 Murfreesboro Rd., Suite 106 #216

Franklin, TN 37064

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