Welcome to the
Presbytery of New Harmony
The Mission of the Presbytery of New Harmony is to strengthen, nurture, and sustain its congregations and ministers, and to participate in the wider mission of the church through its higher governing bodies.
The Presbytery of New Harmony, a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is situated along the northeastern coast of South Carolina. We have 7,534 members across 12 counties in South Carolina. The presbytery office, located in Florence, supports 65 congregations and 80 resident ministers.
Please feel free to browse our website to find out more about us.
If you cannot find what you're looking for, please feel free to contact us at the addresses listed below.
Presbytery of New Harmony
2352 Presbyterian Road
Florence, SC 29501
Phone 843-662-8411
Email us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Happening In New Harmony Presbytery
(Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be by ZOOM.)
Vital Congregations Initiative
Coordinating Team
July 29, 6:30 pm.
New Harmony Pastoral Leaders
July 30, 2:30 pm.
Zoom Orientation and Training for Commissioners to August 18 Presbytery Meeting
July 30, 6 pm
August 1, 8 am
August 3, 4 pm
August 5, 8:30 am
August 12, 9 am
August 13, 11 am
Presbyterian Women Helpshops
August 1, 9 am. CANCELLED
Vital Congregation Initiative Grand Strand Cohorts
August 4, 2 pm.
Synod of South Atlantic
August 6 & 7, Zoom.
Black Caucus Workshop
August 8, 10 am.
Committee on Preparation for Ministry
August 10, 9:45 am.
Committee on Ministry
August 11, 2 pm.
Self Development of People Re-certification
Training
August 15, 10 am.
**All future meetings of committees will be by
ZOOM until you are notified otherwise**
New Harmony Presbytery's
Office Hours Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 5 pm.
Presbytery Staff is working from home. You may contact them through the Presbytery phones and choosing the extension of the person you are trying to reach or by email.
|
|
|
New Harmony Chapter of National Black Presbyterian Caucus to Sponsor Workshop
The Rev, Jimmie Hawkins, Director of the Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., will lead a workshop that is being sponsored by the New Harmony Chapter National Black Presbyterian Caucus on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. The workshop will be by zoom/conference call and will last approximately one hour.
The following topics will be discussed:
1. The 2020 Election: Keeping a Watchful Eye
2. Justice, the Church and Politics (advocacy n Capital Hill)
Instructions on how one can access the workshop will be posted later.
|
|
Pastoral Leaders in Sumter Area
Speak Out Against Racism
Many of our New Harmony Presbytery pastoral leaders in the Sumter area are a part of an effort of leaders of faith to respond to racism. It involves, among other things, marches and gatherings, along with a statement in which 68 (and counting) Sumter area faith leaders signed. Rev. Dr. Ella Busby (2nd Sumter), Rev. Dr. Frank Colclough (Cousar Memorial, Harmony, Mizpah and Mt. Sinia) and Rev. Nick Cheek (1st Sumter) were a part of the nine member task force to draft the document that then came back to the larger group for revision and approval. Linked is the document and by following this link, Sumter Leaders of Faith statement, you will hear and see the task force read it. It is powerful and we are grateful for all our pastoral leaders in the Sumter area for making such a bold statement of faith! May our faith and justice convictions and actions be strengthen as we "build relationships that honor God" knowing that, "This, by God's grace, is a work of the Holy Spirit which will bring about transformation in our churches, homes and communities." |
|
Guiding Council Continues to Recommend Not Resuming In-Person Activities
Your Guiding Council met Thursday, June 27. With the rising cases of the Coronavirus, they continue to strongly advise that in-person worship and activities NOT resume at this time. They know that resuming in-person worship and activities is a decision of the Session and not the presbytery or its council; they affirm this in our Presbyterian polity and Constitution. They also know that there are Sessions that have either resumed in-person worship and/or activities or have decided to do so in the near future, utilizing the Guidelines recently distributed; they would, of course, urge err on the side of more, rather than less, precautions and safeguards. Please let them know if there are ways that they can be of assistance and support
|
|
21 Day Racial Equality Challenge
Day 1 (Friday, June 19). Read the PC(USA) churchwide anti-racism policy, "Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community," at facingracism.org.
Day 3 (June 21). Watch an updated version of the Clark doll experiment, which explores how early-in-life ideas of racial inferiority and superiority are internalized.
Day 5 (June 23). Read the resolution of the 223rd General Assembly of the PC(USA) on environmental racism.
Day 6 (June 24). Watch the Presbyterian Hunger Program's webinar, "Impact of Environmental Injustice on Low Income and Communities of Color."
Day 7 (June 25). Read what youth at the 2016 Triennium learned about environmental racism.
Day 9 (June 27). Choose a resource on the Doctrine of Discovery to read from facingracism.org.
Day 10 (June 28). Watch the PBS documentary "Unspoken: America's Native American Boarding Schools."
Day 16 (July 4). Watch the TED Talk "How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them" by Verna Myers.
Day 19 (July 7). Notice the structures and practices in your church. Raise questions about how they help or hinder racial equity.
Day 21 (July 9). Act: Commit to doing the challenge again. Invite someone to join you.
|
|
Guidelines for Reopening In-Person Worship
Moderators and Clerks,
Attached are the Guidelines for reopening in-person worship and activities, which are slightly revised from the draft you recently received. These Guidelines were unanimously adopted by your Guiding Council to assist and support your Session in its plans for reopening.
We are aware that some Sessions have set a date for reopening or are planning or conducting outdoor worship, using the draft Guidelines sent to pastoral leaders a couple of weeks ago, to make preparations. Many other Sessions are not rushing to reopen but continuing to provide worship and activities through means other than in-person and inside. The Guiding Council reaffirms, once again, that it is the Session that determines when and how a congregation reopens to in-person, inside worship and activities. However, the Guiding Council continues to advise and encourage this not yet happen.
We have just past the surge in cases and deaths for this area, but with the reopening of many businesses, there is a concern on the part of medical and health experts that cases and deaths could easily spike. Additionally, we are aware that many of our members are in vulnerable categories. Thus, the Guiding Council encourages that each Session take this time to develop a strategic plan for your congregation and context for the time it does reopen to in-person, inside worship and activities. The attached Guidelines are to assist and support those Session plans in a way that ensures the safest way to do so at the time determined by the Session.
Please reach out to me or Julie should you need any assistance and support. We are grateful for your leadership and continue to pray for you and your congregation.
God bless. Gavin
Rev. Gavin D. Meek
Transitional Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk
New Harmony Presbytery
Gavin@NewHarmonyPres.org
Office 843.662.8411
Cell 646.546.0522
|
|
Questions Churches Should Answer
Before People Return
Ken Braddy, Director of Sunday School for Lifeway Christian Rewources, outlines 24 questions churches should answer before congregations return to "normal" worship. Click on this link to learn the questions.
|
|
|
Weekly Coronvirus Update from PCUSA
|
|
|
