Built in 1747, Providence Church in Gum Spring is the oldest Presbyterian church in continual use in Virginia. The church is rare in another way: the 60-member congregation operates on weekly offerings instead of an annual stewardship campaign. Historically, skilled church members handled building maintenance and repair needs. As their numbers declined, church leaders recognized
Debt from construction and renovation projects in the 1990s and 2000s was like an albatross around the neck of Chester Presbyterian. The staff was lean because they couldn’t afford to hire employees, such as a director of Christian education. “We concentrated intensely on attendance, weekly offerings, and balance sheets,” observed Pastor Gordon Mapes, who inherited
The corridor connecting the two wings of Bon Air Presbyterian was dark and crowded, especially on Sunday mornings. The building’s dated HVAC systems and bathrooms were in need of updates. “The primary entry into the facility felt like a 1950s school,” said Pastor Janet Winslow, “not the vitally-engaged congregation that we are. Our vision was
This guest post was written by Colleen Earp, Camp Hanover’s director of youth, environment, and service ministries. Ubuntu. I am because we are. Ubuntu is one of the themes in InsideOut’s summer camp curriculum PeaceWorks, which Camp Hanover and many other faith-based camps are using this summer. This Zulu word suggests the interconnectedness of humanity,
A new study shows that one in four congregations has conducted a capital campaign in the past year. Researchers with Indiana University and the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving shared a sneak peek of the results of the National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices at a recent conference attended by Deborah Rexrode, associate for
This guest post was written by Caitlin Deyerle. Rev. Deyerle is the moderator of POJ’s Committee on Ministry. She has been the pastor of Southminster Church in Chesterfield since 2013. When I was first called to Presbytery of the James, I came to Virginia not knowing a soul. I dove eagerly into my church work,
You are invited to visit Guatemala October 28 through November 4 in a trip sponsored jointly by the Presbyteries of the James and the Peaks. The focus of this visit is on migration and ministry and how we can go deeper in our understanding and response. Learn about the root causes of migration, who is
The 102nd Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the James took place on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, VA. Nearing the start of my seventh month with you, faces are beginning to look familiar and nametags remain a gift for conversation to be rich. I have been welcomed warmly into
The 102nd stated meeting of Presbytery of the James will occur on June 18 at First Presbyterian Church Charlottesville. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. The meeting convenes promptly at 9:15 a.m. Find the meeting’s docket and reports on the Stated Meetings page. At its earliest opportunity, each church is requested to share these items with Ruling
Dear Friends in Christ, As I drove home last evening in a massive storm, there was another storm striking our neighbors to the east. The news was breaking of the senseless shooting in Virginia Beach. I wondered aloud as the thunder shook, “O Lord, when will it stop? When will we stop killing and start