Memphis, Tennessee’s history with the Civil Rights Movement and current concerns around rights and relationships with Indigenous people ground pre-event offerings for the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE)’s 2025 annual gathering to be held in Memphis and online from Jan. 29–Feb. 1. Attendees will have an opportunity to arrive early to the historic Peabody Hotel and sign up in advance for tours of the National Civil Rights Museum; the Lynching Sites Project; its gospel, soul and R&B scene; and an “interactive learning experience that teaches the Indigenous rights history rarely mentioned in American history.”
In preparation for its annual conference, the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) has announced its educators of the year. Among the honorees is Miatta Wilson, associate in the Office for Christian Formation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Wilson has been recognized as the Enrich-Educator of the Year for 2024. Two Sustain-Lifetime Achievement Awards were also announced to honor retired educators the Revs. Roberta Dodds Ingersoll and Zeta Lamberson.
The Rev. Neema Cyrus-Franklin, Around the Table’s project coordinator for its nationwide initiative supporting faith practices in the home, recently appeared as a guest on the “New Way” podcast.
Application for the first cohorts of the Around the Table initiative is open until May 31. These first cohorts are experimental in nature and will help inform the larger launch of more cohorts in 2025.
The first full week of May is a time for churches to celebrate older adults in their congregations and the vibrant ministry in which they are involved. In addition to having its planning guide updated annually, the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network (POAMN) recently launched multiple webpages of resources and videos designed to guide and enrich ministry with older adults.
For its sixth episode, the hosts of the “Around the Table” podcast, the Rev. Michelle Thomas-Bush and the Rev. Cliff Haddox, turned to a pair of grandparents to share their wisdom on holding meaningful and helpful conversations with young people. Listen to their 46-minute conversation with the Rev. Robert Hay Sr. and the Rev. Dr. Sarah Reyes Gibbs here.
For the fifth of six installments of their “Around the Table” podcast, which can be heard here, hosts the Rev. Michelle Thomas-Bush and the Rev. Cliff Haddox each invited a friend to talk about conversations around the table where not everyone is a person of faith.
The fourth episode of the “Around the Table” podcast series features Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastors talking about how parents can have faith conversations with their children throughout different stages of the child’s life. Listen to the 32-minute edition here.
Wednesday’s Chapel Service celebrating Mister Rogers Day drew out the inner child among the national staff of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as they celebrated the many gifts given by Fred Rogers, the innovative children’s television pioneer and Presbyterian pastor. Rogers was born on March 20, 1928, and Presbyterians celebrate Mister Rogers Day each year on his birthday.