News from Pittsburgh Presbytery

Our space for working, playing, and praying has been greatly constricted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past six months. We are restricted in where and how we gather. That’s how it is for this week’s presbytery meeting. And that is how it will be for at least the next three presbytery meetings, unless we experience an unexpected breakthrough in treating and preventing the spread of COVID. But how does that confine our relationship with God and with others? In this week’s meditation, The COVID Squeeze, Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge answers this question and more.

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Over the last nine months, the Pastoral Vitality subcommittee of the Commission on Ministry (COM) identified that we had several people who were serving in “temporary” positions that were in no way operating as temporary. To address this concern, COM has adopted a new position type: Covenant Pastor. Find out what that might mean for you or your pastor moving forward.

The past few months have presented new needs, new missional opportunities and new relationships. Have you been challenged in new ways to partner with other denominations to live out the love of Christ in your community? Has a local ministry need emerged or been pondered during these COVID impacted times? There may be grant support available to you to carry out this important work. The Ecumenical Grant is a one-time grant of up to $2,000 and the application deadline is Nov.1.

The Next Generation Ministry Team is updating their contact list! If you or anyone from your congregation, whether they are staff or volunteers, are involved Children, Youth, Christian Education, College, Young Adult, Emerging Adults, Campus, Camp/Conference, etc., please submit a new contact form. That way you can connect with others in the presbytery who are working in similar ministries and stay updated with Next Gen announcements and events!

Christians have long sought to live into the Kingdom of God modeled and promised by Jesus Christ. In that spirit, Martin Luther King’s vision of the Beloved Community is a wondrous image of life lived with a wholeness and integrity that speaks to the common good. In a new virtual conference, the Synod of the Trinity explores the meaning of Beloved Community, identifies some values that characterize Beloved Community, and begins to make connections with specific challenges in our world right now. Registration required.

Access to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions will be expanding effective January 1, 2021 — which means more members of the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may be eligible to receive important financial support. Through the Assistance Program, the Board of Pensions provides need-based grants to help active and retired members and their families. The program is one of the ways in which the Board promotes the health and wholeness of its members.

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