The Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic is a regional body of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). Our mission is to resource, train, and
encourage one another to fulfill the Great Commission.
Teaching Elder
Kevin Cauley Moderator
Upcoming Meetings 2021 Meetings
98th PMA Meeting via Zoom
April 24, 2021
9:00 a.m.
Future Dates and Locations
To Be Determined
We pray that we will
meet in person!
Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic
98th Stated Meeting
Saturday, April 24, 2021
9:00 a.m. Via Zoom
The 98th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic will be held via Zoom on Saturday, April 24th, 2021. We plan to start promptly at 9:00 a.m.
The Executive Council deliberated at length about this because of the great desire of many to have a face-to-face meeting. We balanced that with the logistics of such a meeting, including the need for travel, overnight stays and attendant expenses, mask requirements, etc. We finally came to the conclusion that the best (although not perfect) solution is to hold the meeting virtually, as we have done this past year.
Registration is open and each Commissioner will need to register their attendance in order to participate, vote, etc. We will begin the meeting with a time of worship and then have all the usual reports. We are working out the details for the examination of candidates during this meeting and hope to include video presentations from some of our Church Planters and Missionaries, as has been done in the past. We will not be holding regional meetings during the Stated Meeting, but are asking the Missional Regions to hold meetings in May for the purpose of fellowship, sharing resources and education. It is our current plan for these meetings to be held in person, but with a virtual option for those more comfortable with that method. Stay tuned for more details.
It has been suggested that some of our churches with strong technology could host a gathering of churches in their area linking to the Stated Meeting. This would allow a number of commissioners (and interested church members) from churches within an area to meet in person, participate in the meeting, have lunch together and enjoy a time of fellowship. We think this is a great idea and invite any churches that would like to extend such an offer to do so. Perhaps they could also arrange for lunch with each participant sharing the cost. We will be asking appropriate churches if they are willing to do this. We’ll try to coordinate this effort as we get closer to the meeting date. If your church would like to volunteer, please let Bucky or Ron know.
As we work out the details and logistics, we will let you know more. Please be in prayer for our time together.
May God continue to bless and use you for His glory.
Dr. Bucky Hunsicker Rev. Ron Horgan
Missional Director Stated Clerk
Missional Region Resource Events The Next Reformation:
Thriving During and After COVID-19
Our Church Development Committee offered three Missional Region Resource Events to equip our communities on the evenings of February 22-24. These events provided an encouraging look at how congregations can forge ahead during and after the ongoing pandemic. Current practices, next practices, ways to encourage leaders, and hope for a bright future were shared each evening.
While the topics covered were the same each night, different speakers shared perspectives in their own ways. You’re encouraged to review or take a new look at each recording and the resources offered by each missional region.
Zoom recordings and public chat comments are linked below. Chat comments include links to different resources mentioned during the meetings. Any pre-recorded messages are included in the recording as well.
PMA Pastors' Weekly Hour of Prayer
Every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
God is calling us to pray as a Presbytery—a connected and gathered people of God in this place and time. Would you please consider arranging your calendar to join us? Our connection is needed more now than ever before.
The zoom link will open every Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.TE James Banks will lead us through prayer and worship. Our prayer time ends around 9:50 allowing those who need individual prayer to stay and receive the love, encouragement and prayer of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
God is calling us to align our hearts and wills to His by the power of His Holy Spirit through Spirit-filled prayer.
If you have a specific need or simply want to chat, Ron and I are available via Zoom, cell phone and email. May the Lord bless and keep each of you as we seek Him together through prayer.
Your friend and brother in Christ
Bucky
Support For The Brunsons
At our Presbytery meeting in September, Andrew & Norine Brunson shared their vision for ministry moving forward, as well as their needs for rebooting their ministry. We also became aware that the Brunsons were are completely starting their household over again. Because of this, the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic is taking one-time gifts to help the Brunsons with their immediate needs. These gifts can be made by our worshiping communities and individuals within those communities until Sunday October 11, 2020. We encourage you to give if you can. Adm continue to be in prayer for the Brunsons and their ministry.
Robert and Jane McRae of Eagle Rock, VA are offering a beautiful cabin in Eagle Rock as a place for respite. Robert was pastor of Galatia EPC in Eagle Rock. They served Galatia for 32 years.
They describe the cabin as "a mountain cabin for ministers, missionaries, family, friends to rest, rejuvenate, relax, rejoice..."Set in a beautiful location with mountain views, the cabin offers a full kitchen, three bedrooms and beautiful deck to relax outside and enjoy the mountain air.
If you need a time to rest and refresh your spirit, please contact Robert and Jane at roja.mcrae@gmail.com.
Michelle Munger (see other things Michelle does on our Resourses page) has created new Facebook groups for each of the Missional Regions. These groups allow those who are members of that group to post directly for real time interaction with one another. Please welcome and invite your region brothers and sisters.
The groups are growing and in need of an administrator for each group. If you can help with that, please contact Michelle Munger.
We can change the names of groups once we are settled on each region's name.
Michelle Munger is available to help PMA churches develop or enhance their website and social media presence. Michelle manages several websites herself and uses social media to connect people and help communicate the Good News! Michelle has offered to help PMA churches get online. Please contact Michelle with any questions you may have. She has written a Social Media Primer to help churches. Download the Social Media Primer here.
EPC Stated Clerk Jeff Jeremiah provides a letter to all EPC congregations.
June 12, 2020
To: TEs, Commissioned Pastors, Chaplains, Presbytery Stated Clerks, Committee Members
From: Jeff Jeremiah
Subject: NAE Racial Justice Resources
Dear EPC colleague,
Thank you for how you are bringing the hope and truth of the gospel to your congregations and communities in these unsettled days. As you consider how to address the cultural firestorm raging around us, the National Association of Evangelicals has developed some resources on racial justice response from a biblical perspective. These are available on their website at www.nae.net/racialjustice.
Because the EPC can only issue official statements on topics that have been approved by the General Assembly (by way of Position Papers), we often point people to the NAE’s statements in areas that we haven’t publicly addressed as a denomination. Among these is the NAE’s “Statement on Racial Unrest and Call to Action” issued on May 29. It is available on the website linked above.
I also want to let you know that we have posted the recording of our webinar from earlier this week, “Leading EPC Sessions and Congregations in Issues of Race and Justice,” on our website at www.epc.org/june10webinar. If you did not participate in this one-hour event, I hope you will take the time to hear Michael Davis, Rufus Smith, Dean Weaver, and others address this important topic. Plans are underway to continue the discussion; we will of course announce the details as it comes together.
May we continue to be the voice of peace, love, and reconciliation that our communities, country, and world so desperately needs today.
Thank you, and remember: He is risen!
Jeff
Resources for Reopening Churches
Available on EPC Website
An article at EPC Connection provide resources for reopening churches as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.
With many jurisdictions around the country loosening shelter-in-place restrictions, the EPC Office of the General Assembly has curated a variety of resources on how and when churches can begin to open their doors for public worship and other ministries. The materials offer guidelines and suggestions for churches seeking to safely welcome worshippers back into their facilities. Sources include EPC partner ministries and other reputable organizations.
“It is very likely that our pre-lockdown church experience will not be what we experience going forward,” said Jeff Jeremiah, Stated Clerk. “I hope our churches and leaders benefit from the guidelines and suggestions as they look to safely welcome worshippers back into their facilities.”
Included are checklists, guidance, and other helps from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ChurchLeaders.com, the Family Research Council, The Gospel Coalition, the National Association of Evangelicals, Smart Church Solutions, Vanderbloemen Search Group, and others.
