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Welcome
to the web site of the Synod of Living Waters, a mission arm and
governing body of the Presbyterian
Church (USA). We serve 12 presbyteries in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Our
mission is to witness to Jesus Christ in partnership with our presbyteries,
their 753 congregations and the General Assembly of the PC(USA).
The
Peace of Christ be with you.
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 Presbytery of East Tennessee |
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Community Gardens Take Root
In these economically challenging times, community gardens are becoming a popular way to provide fresh produce for one’s family and to support the needs of the greater community. Several churches in the Presbytery of East Tennessee have started community gardens, including: First, Lenoir City; First, Oak Ridge; Powell; and New Hope, Chattanooga. The Presbytery office has also started a small test garden.
These gardens are organized in a variety of ways; some are tended by a group and the produce is used by the church or donated to local food pantries, while others offer space and support to members of the surrounding community who do not have garden space of their own.
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The latter is the arrangement at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The 64- by 72-foot garden contains 25 beds and each bed consists of two large growing trays filled with a mix of top soil, perlite and peat. Eight of the beds are elevated to accommodate the needs of people in wheelchairs or who have back or leg problems. Water is provided by the church.
Members of the community can use a garden bed for a flat fee of $35 for the season. A grant from the Equip Mission Team of the Presbytery helped fund the project.
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Two East TN congregations find new life in unity
The Holy Spirit is moving in a new way in East Tennessee through the creation of Fourth United Presbyterian Church, located in Knoxville. The newly united congregation gives thanks and praise to God for giving them the vision and strength to move beyond fears, struggles, and history to create a new union of Christ’s love from two former congregations.
Fourth United is the merger of First United Presbyterian Church, a predominately African American congregation, and Fourth Presbyterian Church, a Caucasian congregation. They were two small communities of faith with diverse complexions, different challenges, unique ministries, yet a similar vision: the desire to live. “As God moved giving us new life, we continue to look to God for new vision for our church, new ministries for our congregation, new life for our church and our community,” said the Rev. Sonya McAuley-Allen, co-pastor of the church with the Rev. George Waters. “Please join us and our community in prayer and in faith, to continue to hear, discern, and move where God is leading us.”
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Leaders Academy trains, equips, connects and inspires
For more than a year now, the Presbytery's Small Church Ministry Group has been sponsoring Leaders Academies for our churches’ elders, deacons, educators, pastors and any other interested persons. These Saturday events, located in various churches around the Presbytery, serve as an ongoing leadership development program for leaders in churches of all sizes. They are intended to supplement the session's existing training. These Leaders Academies are equipping and inspiring 40 – 75 participants at a time. Topics covered in the workshops include Presbyterian polity, marketing your church, spiritual gifts, communications, clerk of session training, Reformed worship, and Christian education options for smaller churches.
The Small Church Ministry Group is to be commended for their vision and excellent planning in organizing these events. Members of the Group include Brad Palmer (Epperson), Miki Vanderbilt (West Emory), Ed Umbach (First, Lenoir City and Big Spring), Tim Thomas (Highland), Alan Payne (Fork Creek), and Peg Brinck (at-large), with support from Presbytery staff members Laura Tappan and Lina R. Hart.
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