Fall Synod Assembly Celebrates Connections and Shared Ministry

Commissioners, Covenant Partners, Associated Organizations, and guests gathered at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, October 26–29, for the Fall 2026 Synod of the Sun Assembly. The gathering brought together Presbyterians from across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas for worship, fellowship, shared learning, and the business of the Synod. Hosted by Ferncliff, the Assembly offered opportunities to experience the camp's ministries firsthand, including its disaster assistance work and ongoing commitment to creation care. A land acknowledgment honoring the Quapaw people, the original stewards of the land, helped set a tone of gratitude, reflection, and responsibility.

The Assembly welcomed the Rev. Marta Pumroy-Cordero, Co-Moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), who reflected on the denomination's theme, "Persevering Toward Wholeness." She highlighted the church's continuing work in justice, inclusion, and public witness, encouraging Presbyterians to become a healing and hope-filled presence in the world. Commissioners also heard reports from Synod leadership and committees, reviewed financial matters and the preliminary 2027 budget, and celebrated initiatives supporting congregations and presbyteries. Highlights included the successful Commissioned Pastors and Small Church Leaders Retreat, expanding disaster preparedness efforts, leadership development, and new approaches to strengthening participation and belonging throughout the church.

A significant portion of the Assembly was devoted to hearing from the Synod's Covenant Partners and Associated Organizations, whose ministries demonstrate the remarkable breadth of Presbyterian mission. Representatives from colleges, universities, camps, foundations, and service organizations shared stories of educational opportunities, healthcare, disaster recovery, border ministries, and support for vulnerable communities. Among the highlights were Ferncliff's distribution of more than 113,000 pounds of disaster relief kits, Project Vida's extensive healthcare and community development ministries along the U.S.–Mexico border, and the ongoing work of Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services and Evergreen Life Services. The Assembly also celebrated new covenant partnerships with Gilmont Camp and Conference Center, Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincy, and Project Vida Health Center, along with a renewed partnership with Schreiner University.

Reports from the Synod's committees and ministry programs reflected a commitment to turning these relationships into meaningful action. The Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery reported that eight of the Synod's eleven presbyteries now have functioning disaster response teams, while the Empowering Committee celebrated a Synod Youth Workshop that brought together 138 participants from 26 churches. The Hispanic Ministries Mission Network shared progress in strengthening multicultural ministries, and the Equipping Committee outlined efforts to share innovative approaches to ruling elder training. Commissioners also learned about emerging initiatives, including "Empowering the Pews," which seeks to connect local congregations more directly with the ministries supported by the Synod, and the Committee on Representation's "From Representation to Belonging" initiative.

Throughout the gathering, one message emerged repeatedly: the strength of the Synod of the Sun is found not simply in its programs, committees, or institutional relationships, but in the people and ministries that connect us. From disaster recovery and theological education to youth leadership, border ministries, and congregational support, the Assembly offered a reminder that Presbyterians can accomplish far more together than any one congregation or organization can accomplish alone. As participants returned to their presbyteries and ministries, they carried new relationships, renewed partnerships, and fresh opportunities to live into the Synod's mission to connect, equip, and empower Presbyterians for Christ's mission within and beyond the Synod's bounds.