“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, …,”  Luke 4:18a

The Presbytery of Philadelphia gathered on January 28, 2025, at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church. It was a time of engaged prayerful discernment, filled with moments of gratitude, reflection, affirmation, and inspiration for the work that lies ahead.

Our time together began with two Pre-Presbytery conversations. The first, led by our Bills and Overtures Committee, focused on the proposed amendments from the 226th General Assembly to the PC(USA) Book or Order. Our presbytery will be voting on these amendments at our April meeting. The other, led by a panel of community leaders, focused on how we might be the church in light of rapidly changing immigration laws – “Immigration Challenges Before Us: Expectations and Potential Faithful Responses.”

After a time of fellowship at lunch, outgoing Presbytery of Philadelphia Moderator Elder Jim Ballengee, called the body to order by moving us into our time of worship, an experience filled with hopeful anticipation for the year to come. We were strengthened in the faith by the Associate Professor of Preaching at Princeton Theological Seminary the Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner’s sermon, “Invitation to Imagination.” She invited us to dream of God’s abundance beyond our expectations she compelled us to think big and lean into the untold possibilities that lie before us. As part of our response to God’s word, we installed the Rev. Sarah Cooper Searight as Moderator and the Rev. Christopher J. Holland II as Vice-Moderator. Leaning into our interconnectedness as a people of faith, we celebrated communion and our offering to the Presbytery of the Pacific and San Gabriel Presbytery to aid in their recovery from the California wildfires. Outgoing moderator Jim Ballengee was presented with gifts of gratitude for his faithful service.
Continuing on from worship, the Rev. Sarah Cooper Searight led us into the business part of our meeting. Responding to the work of two Administrative Commissions led by Elder Julia Hill and the Rev. Christopher J. Holland II, we approved the closure of two congregations. We honored the life and witness of both Christ United Presbyterian Church of South Philadelphia and Southwest Presbyterian Church giving thanks for their faithful service. In the joint report from the Commission on Ministry and the Commission on the Preparation for Ministry & Membership, led by Revs. Diane Fitch & Adam Hearlson, the body examined and approved with joy, Christian Heyer-Rivera for ordination to the Word & Sacrament.

As part of the Collegium report, presented by Elder Jim Ballengee, Elder Makoto Matsuno was Commissioned with enthusiasm to serve as the Commissioned Lay Pastor to the Japanese Christian Church of Philadelphia. The Committee on Representation’s report, led by Elder Megan D. Acedo, highlighted the progress made as well as the areas of needed growth for the Presbytery as it seeks to faithfully be representative of the body of Christ in its commissions & committees.

Executive Presbyter, the Rev. Ruth Faith Santana Grace, in her report, honored the witness of the saints who preceded us into the kingdom this past year. Joined by the Rev. Kevin Porter, the Stated Clerk, the Rev. Cassie Heintz was thanked for her decade of service as part of the presbytery staff, as she begins a new call. They were joined by the rest of the Leadership Team, the Revs, Sarah Colwill & Brenton Thompson, and Jim Wagner in drawing attention to the many ways the Presbytery seeks to resource, equip and serve the Presbytery. The Executive Presbytery’s report ended with a responsive litany reflective of the voices and faces of our presbytery – Christian Heyer-Rivera, Elders Megan Acedo & Vijay Aggarwal, and the Revs. Peter Ahn, Becca Bateman, Wonjae Choi, Janel Dixon, Peter Martin, Kari Olson, Kevin Porter, & Cheryl Pyrch. It called us to remember that we have each been anointed by the Holy Spirit to do our part on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at this moment in time.

Filled with hope for the coming year, the meeting was adjourned with prayer by Vice-Moderator, the Rev. Christopher J. Holland II.

Please click here to view our photo album of the meeting.

Video Resources: Please view the full video of our Stated Meeting, the sermon by guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner, Meeting Highlights, and Remembering the Saints.