Synod

James S. Currie, Executive Secretary Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest In recent years several books have appeared with little more than the year as their titles. Most recently Andrew Ross Sorkin has written a New York Times bestseller bearing the title 1929 which focuses on that year’s stock market crash. In 2022 Volker Ulrich published Germany 1923. In 2008 Mike Rapport wrote 1848: Year of Revolution. Particular years are often remembered for specific events

With the 227th General Assembly a few days away, here are some resources and links for you and your congregation. The assembly convenes on June 22 for committee work, with many commissioners arriving in Milwaukee on June 26. The full assembly gathers in plenary on June 28 and concludes on July 2. 227th General Assembly (2026) Homepage Worship Information Community Day Information Proposed Docket GA227 Schedule of Events GA227 Committees On the Road to the 227th General Assemb

Part II: Worship to Support Long-Term Disaster Recovery Reverend Libby Janes Director, SPDR Part II: Worship to Support Long-Term Disaster Recovery Much like remembering veterans on Memorial Day or holding special space to remember a loved one each year on the day of their death (or commonly, on the loved one’s birthday), disaster anniversaries are also important days for many to reflect on memories or grief, or the passage of time after a significant event. Disaster annivers

Part I: Worship as Disaster Preparation Reverend Libby Janes Director, SPDR You might be surprised to hear that the word around the Synod of the Sun right now is that worship is a great way to prepare for and respond to disasters. That’s right. What we do on Sunday mornings is really important for how our churches prepare for possible disasters, and how we can respond as a community once disasters happen. Let’s begin with reflecting on worship as an important feature of disas

James S. Currie, Executive Secretary Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest In May of 1934 some pastors and theologians gathered in a church in Wuppertal, Germany to draw up a statement declaring what the church stood for in the face of the Nazi movement and the demands and actions of the Nazi government. Out of that gathering came the “Theological Declaration of Barmen”. In the early 1980s the St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig, East Germany began organizing weekly pra

The Presbyterian Foundation’s Church Technology Grant program will assist Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastors and leaders serving churches or New Worshiping Communities. Funds are available for those pastoral leaders seeking to enhance their ministry through technology in a variety of ways: Upgrade existing technology or purchase new technology Upgrade a church website Online Training Pastors with the greatest need serving congregations of color, small churches, new immigran

Presbyterian Pan American School (PPAS), a Christian international boarding high school, is seeking a bilingual (English/Spanish) ordained minister to serve as School Chaplain. Responsibilities include leading chapel services, providing pastoral care, supporting student and residential life, and actively engaging in the campus community. This is a residential position (on-campus housing provided). Requirements: Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Ordination (Presbyterian Church (U.S.

Our next Oklahoma Disaster Recovery Team meeting will be Wednesday, June 3rd, at 2pm. Please share this invitation with anyone you think may be interested in joining! June 3rd Meeting Agenda: 1) Welcome & member introductions 2) Election of co-chairs & note-taker 3) Designation of sub-regions and grouping DRT members into pairs to support those regions 4) Establish process of committee communication before/during/after disasters Zoom Link: Libby Janes is inviting you to a sc

Rev. Libby Janes, SPDR Director May 18, 2026 Recent Severe Tornadoes in the Synod of the Sun April 2026 saw many tornadoes in the Synod of the Sun, including: EF-4 in Enid, Oklahoma, on April 23rd EF-3 in Mineral Wells, Texas, on April 28th 9 EF-0 to EF-2 tornadoes in Arkansas 10 tornadoes in Texas 7 EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes occurred in Louisiana in March Oklahoma has already reported 56 tornadoes, 29 of which were in April, 18 of which were within 5 days, April 23-28th. ...

Bill Wiles, Treasurer Many pastors come to their ministry responsibilities without the base of knowledge necessary for them to deal with the financial aspects of church pastoring. This is often because most seminary educations did not include courses on accounting systems, budgeting, reading financial statements, fundraising campaigns, and/or the internal controls necessary to keep church finances from being compromised. Recognizing this ministry challenge, the Presbyterian

By Libby Janes Written on April 7, 2026 I gazed out from the balcony, across a vast indoor water table. “It even smells like the river! exclaimed the person beside me. In March, I visited Baton Rouge for the Volunteer Louisiana’s Disaster Summit , which included a tour of the LSU Center for River Studies. Their Lower Mississippi River Physical Model is a powerful tool for understanding river processes, coastal restoration, and river management. This to-scale 10,800 square-fo

Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest James S. Currie, Executive Secretary Flynn Long, Jr. once developed a lecture on the evolution of the American Presbyterian Church. He called it “The Great Speckled Bird: A Study in American Presbyterian Heritage” and, according to his obituary, delivered it to over 300 congregations. The son of a Presbyterian minister, a life-long Presbyterian, and student of the Presbyterian Church, Long earned degrees from Davidson College a

Dear HMMN Family Grace and peace be with you during this time of Holy Week and Resurection Sunday preparations! The Hispanic Ministries Mission Network (HMMN) of the Synod of the Sun invites you to attend our Annual Gathering at Austin Seminary. HMMN Annual Gathering April 24-25, 2026 Theme: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Join us at Austin Seminary as we remember our church histories and those who have made an impact on our faith; we will have an opportunity to recor

(OK tornadoes & Synod-wide storms) Written by Libby Janes Over the past week around our Synod, we have experienced some severe weather events. In Oklahoma, there were seven confirmed tornadoes in Oklahoma on Thursday, March 5th, and nine tornadoes on Friday March 6th, including an EF-3 tornado in Beggs, Oklahoma. (For more National Weather Service data on the Oklahoma tornadoes: https://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-ok-2026 ) There have also been high wildfire risk warnings

Installation at Synod Assembly The Evening Worship & Installation Service for Libby Janes during the Synod gathering included several meaningful highlights that reflected the breadth and spirit of the community. Representatives from all of the synod’s presbyteries participated as liturgy readers, symbolizing the shared voice and unity of the region. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Ted V. Foote Jr., who preached a message titled “Watch-persons with Lanterns and Networking.”

The Synod of the Sun gathered for its Stated Meeting February 23–24, 2026, at the Presbyterian Mission Center in Irving, Texas, where commissioners met to review ministry work, share reports, and set priorities for the coming year. After organizing for the meeting and approving the agenda and previous minutes, the Assembly participated in an orientation designed to help commissioners better understand Synod operations, available resources, and expectations for service. Synod

Refresh | Renew | Reenergize Dates : April 6-10 Check in: Monday, 4:00 PM | Check out: Friday, 11:00 AM Location : Camp Gilmont, 6075 State Hwy 155 North, Gilmer, TX A retreat for Commissioned Pastors and Small Church Leaders following the busy Lent and Easter season. Workshop options will be available in the morning, and late afternoon, with afternoons free to refresh, renew and reenergize. Workshop Topics: The items in blue are plenary sessions; black will be offered concur

https://www.synodyouthworkshop.com Across a galaxy far, far away, a familiar phrase is spoken again and again: “May the Force be with you.” It’s a send-off, a blessing, a reminder that no one faces the journey alone. Long before Star Wars, Scripture offered a blessing with the same kind of promise. In the book of Numbers, God says to God’s people: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you… and give you peace.” But what does it mean to trust that

The 2026 Spring Synod Assembly will take place February 23–24 at the Presbyterian Mission Center in Irving, Texas, and we look forward to gathering together for worship, learning, and connection.  On the Synod's Facebook Page ( facebook.com/SynodOfTheSun ), you can see the Assembly Plenary sessions on Monday, February 23rd beginning at Noon and Tuesday, February 24th beginning at 9:00am. You can also witness the installation of Libby Janes on Monday, February 23rd at 7:00pm.

Reading through the book of Judges can be a difficult experience, especially as we get closer to the end and Israel descends into such a darkness of separation from God. They were happy to take the statutes that had been passed down to them, but the way they twisted them to suit their own purposes sends chills down my spine every time I read it. How can this be? But then I look at the world we are living in, and as a lover of history I look at all the evil we have inflicte