You can view the meeting in its entirely on our  Facebook Page, including the worship service. You can follow along with the Order of Worship.

Meeting ReCAP

The summer 2021 meeting of the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery was held on Saturday, September 18, at 80-plus locations (more if Facebook live viewers are included).  Since covid-19 and its variants have made in person gatherings unwise, each pastor, commissioner and guest attended from the comfort of their chosen electronic device. 

Once again, the best of a zoom meeting was exemplified by the worship. Rev. Will Robinson preached the sermon “You are In the Spirit,” from Romans 8:1-9, the considerable musical talents of members of First Presbyterian Hilton Head were on display, elders from a variety of churches prayed and read, and Rev. Cecelia Armstrong celebrated the sacrament of the Lord’s supper.

Special guest Sy Hughes of the Presbyterian Mission Agency brought greetings and a report form that entity.  Rev. Colin Kerr gave an update on campus ministry in the Charleston Area. The stated clerk clarified that the next CAP meeting is Tuesday Dec. 14.  At that meeting, commissioners to the 225th General Assembly will be elected.  

Elections also will be held in December for the many vacancies that will be opening on various presbytery teams, committees, and commissions. The Committee on Representation, reporting through Rev. Lissa Long,  is actively seeking nominations for these positions, as well as for GA Commissioners.  To find out more, CHECK THE CHATLINE where a copy of the meeting handbook—including information about GA and the openings COR needs to fill—can be read by anyone, not just meeting attendees.

Also by accessing the handbook, the reader can experience much of the business of the meeting, since most teams, committees and commissions submitted reports that were not changed or expanded upon during the meeting.  Elder Sandra Otero did address the meeting on behalf of the Service to Others Ministry Team, reporting that the team hopes to hold the previously postponed Puerto Rico mission trip March 20-26 of 2022.

The first reading of the 2022 budget was submitted by the Stewardship of Financial Gifts of Ministry Team.  Team moderator Peter Jones reported that the budget is a “work in progress’ since it does not appear that contributions from the congregations that comprise the presbytery will be sufficient to fund even the reduced budget.  He acknowledged that many churches also have seen their givings fall off during the pandemic, but encouraged all pastors and commissioners to return to their sessions and start the conversation of whether their church is giving what it can.  The full financial report and the 2022 anticipated budget can be found in the Handbook and its Supplement. Ruling Elder James Deavor was recognized to speak and pointed out that CAP’s support of the General Assembly and Synod are similarly lacking.

Two teaching elder members of presbytery, Rev, Charles Heyward and Rev. Isaac Moore (both honorably retired yet still serving congregations) spoke up and personally pledged direct monetary support for the presbytery.  They encouraged other teaching and ruling elders to do the same.  By the close of the meeting, at least one other pastor had also pledge support. Anyone who wishes to do the same may send a check to the presbytery marked “direct support of presbytery budget.”

A high point of each meeting is the video of “Joys and Concerns.”  This slideshow of pictures submitted by churches across the presbytery is reassuring evidence that the church continues its work: congregations find ways to engage in fellowship and mission, to work together, to pray together, and to have fun.  

CAP Moderator Rev. Spike Coleman also opened the floor (and attendees’ microphones) for on the spot sharing of joys and requests for prayer. After prayer accordingly, he pronounced benediction and the meeting closed.

For more information, read THE HANDBOOK and SUPPLEMENT. 

Winter Meeting 2021 ReCAP

At the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery Winter Meeting 2020—a year ago—none of the plans we had going forward included learning how to function remotely.  But Winter Meeting 2021 proved we have learned.  Call to order on Saturday February 27, 2021, didn’t occur until 10:15, not because of technical problems, which would have been this stated clerk’s fear a year ago, but because the STEPS team of the Nurture Ministry Team presented their second electronic STEPS (Studying, Teaching, Equipping, Praying, Serving) event starting at 9:00.  Three workshops were offered and were well attended from throughout our presbytery and beyond; at least one participant attended from his home in Colorado!

Worship followed closely upon the call to order.  Once again the electronic format allowed attendance in ways we would not have imagined last year.  Music was provided by Dr. JooSoo Son, Traditional Music Director at Providence Presbyterian Church on Hilton, head playing that church’s organ and piano.  Rev. Cibele Santos Associate Pastor at Providence preached the sermon, “Prayer, Unite Us,” from Providence’s pulpit.  For the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, worshippers were transported to Hebron Zion PC on Johns Island where Rev. Patricia Jones pronounced the words of institution.  Other worship leaders participated from James Island PC, Bethel PC (Johns Island), and Edisto PC.  Works of art relating to parts of the service were shown on screen, presented by “A Sanctified Art, LLC” which had presented one of the STEPS workshops. You can view the worship service HERE and download the worship bulletin HERE so you can follow along.

During the business portion of the meeting, Stephen McDonald, Camp Director of Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center, presented the exciting news that Bethelwoods is planning for summer programs! There will be opportunities onsite at Bethelwoods, a one week day camp at the new CAP facility at Park Circle, and “Camp in a Van” opportunities for churches almost anywhere.  Covid shutdowns dealt Bethelwoods quite a blow in 2020, and Stephen thanked CAP for its monetary support, which helped the camp persevere.

The moderator of the Committee on Representation, Rev. Cameron Smith, was live in person via zoom to report on vacancies on CAP teams and committees.  She emphasized the importance of having members participate from across the presbytery, both Ruling Elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament.  Vacancies and Opportunities will be listed in the Chatline.

The co-moderator of Service to Others Ministry Team, Sandro Otero, reported that plans are underway to plan a return mission to Puerto Rico, if the COVID-19 way be clear, next fall.   Additional work of that team was presented in the written report in the handbook and as part of the “Celebration of Joys” video that was played during the meeting.

The Celebration of Joys video also revealed the ways congregations across the presbytery have met the Covid challenges and moved their ministries outdoors (not just for worship but also for programs, fellowship and outreach), into spaces allowing for social distancing while masked, and online (many a shepherd and little angel are now on video for posterity).  The creativity of our members is wonderful.  

THE HANDBOOK contains the full reports of all ministry teams, committees and commissions. The work of the Shepherding Team, the Commission on Ministry, the Stewardship of Financial Gifts of Ministry Team, The Preparation for Ministry Team, Nurture Ministry Team and other information of interest are contained therein.  The reader does not have to have been a commissioner or even in attendance at the meeting to benefit from this information.  Questions or comments can be address to the moderator of each or to the stated clerk.

Submitted respectfully and with great joy,

Catherine Byrd, Stated Clerk

Fall 2020 ReCAP

The Charleston Atlantic Presbytery held its “Fall” Stated Meeting on a day that felt almost like winter in the lowcountry, Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Elder commissioners and pastors from across the presbytery attended the “Zoom” meeting from the comfort of their own homes or offices.  The electronic format also provided a unique worship experience, since each portion of the service was prerecorded in a different location, then blended through the efforts of Michael Hardy of Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church Staff and Rev. Dorothy Blackwelder, the CAP Director of Communications. A particular thank you goes to the combined choirs of the James Island churches, who have mastered the art of choral singing when everyone is in a different place.  Our outgoing Moderator, Susan Mellichamp, brought the message “Loving as Jesus Loved,” and Commissioned Ruling Elder Karey Poinsette officiated over communion.

Seated as a corresponding member, Elizabeth Little of the Board of Pensions of the PCUSA, highlighted some recent and prospective changes to BOP benefits and programs.  Sy Hughes, the Mission Engagement Advisor for our area from the Presbyterian Mission Agency also was seated as a corresponding member and spoke briefly of that entity’s work, including the invitation for congregations to become “Matthew 25” churches. Elizabeth and Sy are available to anyone who has questions about the work of their agencies of the PC(USA) and their work is funded by the contributions of presbyteries. 

The Stated Clerk’s report included, among other things, reference to the “In Memorium” list included in the Handbook.  We lost four current members of our presbytery last year plus six others who had served us at one time or the other.  They were remembered in prayer by the moderator at the close of the meeting.

Shepherding Team Moderator Rev. Sam Martin asked, and the Presbytery agreed that the Park Circle Administrative Commission, formed in 2016 when the Park Circle Presbyterian Church was dissolved, be dismissed with thanks.  The Shepherding Team also recommended, and the Presbytery agreed, that $40,000 from the CAP “Camp Fund” be earmarked to assist Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center with its expected $92,000 budget deficit for 2020.  (The Presbytery budget for 2021, passed later in the meeting also includes the usual line-item contribution to the ongoing work of Bethelwoods.)  The Shepherding Team also included a written report in the handbook about these items, New Church Development, and the Building-Use Subcommittee.

The presbytery was presented with a slate of volunteers to be elected to positions in the presbytery.  All were approved, including, of note: the Moderator of Presbytery for 2021, Rev George “Spike” Coleman and moderator elect, Elder Kent Grimes.

STEPS Co-Chair, Rev. Laurey Harrell reported on the “electronic STEPS” held in September.  Continuing “to do a new thing…”  in the face of Covid-19 protocols, STEPS will be presented for the first time outside of its usual September date.  A variety of STEPS learning opportunities will be presented in conjunction with the February 27, 2021, CAP Winter meeting, available without charge to commissioners and to anyone else who chooses to participate.

The budget for 2021 was presented by the Stewardship of Financial Gifts of Ministry Team moderator Peter Jones, and was passed after only a few questions and responses. The Committee on Preparation for Ministry congratulated two candidates, Margaret Fleming and Terri Wetherell who are now designated as “ready to receive a call” to be ordained. The Commission on ministry presented Rev. Cibele Santos, a newly ordained and installed addition to the pastoral staff of Providence Presbyterian Church in Hilton Head.

The electronic format of the meeting made it easy to check in with mission partners in Honduras, as Service to Others Ministry Team Moderators Sandra Otero and Antonio Colon-Roman presented a short update on the devastation wreaked by back-to-back hurricanes this fall.  Information on how to help was included (you can give to the Presbyterian Church in Honduras or to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Hurricane Relief Fund).  CAP Moderator pointed out that electronic worship at this and September’s meeting did not include taking up an offering, and suggested donations be made in lieu.  

The reports of the above and other agencies of the presbytery were received as information.  They can be found in the handbook on the CAP website. 

The meeting closed with a service commissioning the new moderator and vice moderator. Outgoing moderator Susan Mellichamp presented the gavel to incoming moderator Spike Coleman, who closed the meeting with prayer and benediction.

For more information, read the Handbook and Supplement. You can also view the entire recorded Zoom meeting or the worship service alone.

Resolution of Thanks

Ruling Elders, Teaching Elders, and others from near and far

Established the presence of the church and didn’t really use cars

Susan’s dash will include trusting, obeying and her great leadership

Opportunities to vote were offered for commissioners in attendance

Lots of cheers to Dorothy, Michael, and others for all the technical work

Uniquely allowing us to gather and not one of us went berserk

Thanks for our new building where we can gather and meet

In a few weeks or months or whenever outside is clean

Online or in person we are grateful for sure

Never missing the chance to give God glory galore

Of course, we have many, many reasons for giving God thanks

Far too many to list, but at least 97 reasons were among the ranks

Today our thanks include but is not limited to

Hearing from our guests and all the work that they do

Also hearing reports from committees who work very hard

New moderator and moderate elect are now even on board

Keep welcoming new ministers, attend STEPS, and uphold this balanced budget

Seems like we are well on our way to a new season that we won’t soon forget

A RESOLUTION OF THANKS can be really serious or fun

The letters of the words were used to get this important work done

Submitted by Rev. Cecelia D. Armstrong