Presbytery of the James voted May 17 to extend a call to the Reverend Dr. Floretta “Flo” Barbee-Watkins effective June 27. She will serve as lead presbyter for vision and collaboration, a new position created in 2021 through the presbytery’s strategic plan. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Barbee-Watkins received a Master of Divinity with an
A called meeting will be held via Zoom on May 17, beginning at 7:00 p.m. This memo outlines the plans that have been developed and the steps that church commissioners, ministers, Christian educators, presbytery moderators, and guests should take to become fully prepared for the meeting. General Meeting Information Meeting Via Zoom Registration Tips Before
“We interrupt this broadcast with special breaking news. Reports have been coming in from the garden tomb where Jesus of Nazareth was buried. We go now live to the scene with our field reporter, Anderson Scooper. Anderson?” Panning the garden, the camera stops on Anderson atop the open tomb. Looking into the darkness, he appears
Since 2009, Westminster Church in Charlottesville has dedicated nearly $100,000 from its benevolence fund to saving the lives of women and babies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The relationship began when congregation member David Strider, a nurse practitioner with UVA Health, applied to the church’s grants committee on behalf of a program
What is the right thing to when a small church is awarded a grant that turns out to be a loan? A loan that, in one case, is now one hundred and twenty years old? The Trustees of Presbytery of the James encountered this question in November 2021 after receiving a report from the Presbyterian
Congratulations to the five churches in our presbytery that were certified as Earth Care Congregations through February 2023 by PC(USA)’s Presbyterian Hunger Program. Westminster Church (Charlottesville), certified since 2014 Madison Church, certified since 2018 Second Church (Richmond), certified since 2020 Bon Air Church, certified since 2021 The Presbyterian Church (Fredericksburg), first certified in 2022 Started
Dear Presbytery of The James members and congregations, We have seen two entire years pass in a global pandemic as the Presbyterian Hunger Program continues to partner with you and partners around the country and world to “alleviate hunger and eliminate its root causes.” Sadly, we know that poverty and hunger have risen globally as
At its meeting on February 19, Presbytery of the James voted to support a request to the 225th General Assembly of PC(USA) for more engagement with and education about Eastern Europe. “[The Russian government’s actions toward Ukraine] have made learning about this region of the world and the need to support our siblings there more
A search committee charged with recommending candidates for three new staff positions is making steady progress. The committee of seven members is co-chaired by Barbara Flynt, a certified Christian educator at Brandermill Church, and Rev. Jess Cook, interim associate for youth ministry for the presbytery. The committee finalized job descriptions for the positions and received
The 110th stated meeting of the Presbytery of the James was held virtually on February 19. Some of the leaders were graciously hosted at Westminster Church in Richmond. Moderator Dan Jordanger, a ruling elder from Providence Church in Gum Spring, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Jordanger welcomed first-time ruling elder commissioners and