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Greetings; may the grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord be with you all. It is two weeks before Christmas, the decorations are going up and gifts being bought. The parties and fun events are happening, and we are deep into Advent.  It was just BEFORE Halloween that we began to be in-undated with the “Christmas Spirit.”   (Ugh), I have come to despise the use of that phrase in our modern media and conversation.  It is not so much the commercial

Clergy are different (the IRS says so) The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS) has a long history of treating the income taxes of ordained clergy differently than other taxpayers.  These special income tax provisions which apply to ordained clergy recognize both the clergy’s often unique employment conditions as well as the many ways in which clergy serve, and thus are paid by, those they minister to.    The flip side of the coin is that many people and business entities intentio

As we approach the end of another calendar year and prepare to celebrate God’s incarnation in the birth and life of Jesus Christ, it seems appropriate to remind ourselves why there is a Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest and why we might be interested in the lives of those who have gone before us. There are several important sources that are helpful.  The first is biblical. While the people of Judah lived as exiles in Babylon, Isaiah wrote to them, “Look to the

Libby Janes, SPDR Director Hunger is an ongoing crisis in our country that has been intensifying during the 43-day government shutdown and the temporary suspension of SNAP and WIC benefits. Churches around the Synod of the Sun have been courageously growing their ministries in creative ways to meet sharply increasing needs in their communities. Arkansas Presbytery’s Disaster Preparation and Response Team quickly responded by offering grants of up to $1,000 to support Arkansas

Much has been written about the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy that consumed the “Northern” Presbyterian Church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 19th century produced new ways of studying Scripture, using linguistic research as well as other ways of exploring the background of the biblical narrative. This challenged the traditional understanding  of Scripture as being literal and “inerrant” and led not only to controversy and heresy trials, but schisms in

The Synod of the Sun held its Fall 2025 Stated Meeting on October 27 at First Presbyterian Church in El Paso, Texas, under the leadership of Moderator Sharon Curry. Treasurer Bill Wiles reported that the Synod remains in strong financial health, with $13.4 million in assets and a balanced 2026 budget prioritizing mission, youth, and Hispanic ministries. Highlights included celebrations of vibrant programs such as the Synod Youth Workshop and the Hispanic Mission Ministries Ne