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Next Presbytery Meeting - September 23, 6 PM, Wilson College, Chambersburg
Your Picture Here
We have collected pictures of 46 of our 52 churches to appear on this page. To see if your church is included, click here! If your church is not listed, send us a picture in JPEG format that is at least 300 pixels in either width or height to Graham Fowler. Or send your picture in the mail to: Graham Fowler, P.O. Box 91, McAlisterville, PA 17049.Who We Are
We are a Presbyterian faith community of nearly 17,000 members in 52 congregations. Fifty one of our churches are located in the south-central Pennsylvania counties of Lebanon, Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Juniata, Fulton, Franklin and Adams. Our Monaghan congregation meets in Dillsburg, York County, and our Mt. Olivet congregation meets near Hancock, MD.We inhabit a region that includes a national civil war battlefield,
a famous chocolate company, three turnpike tunnels, a state capital, and
a variety of water sources including springs, trout streams and rivers.
We have mountains, valleys and fertile farms. We reflect ethnic,
theological and vocational diversity. We live in an area of many
crossroads and a variety of transportation networks. We have
a history that precedes the Presbytery's founding in 1789. Our oldest
congregation dates from 1724.
The Mission Statement
The Presbytery of Carlisle exists to support our congregations for faithful service to God in the name of Jesus Christ.
The Presbytery Office is located at:
3040 Market Street, Suite 1
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011-4539Telephone: (717) 737-6821
Fax Number: (717) 730-9137Directions to Carlisle Presbytery and the Synod of the Trinity offices
Updating Ourselves
The Presbytery of Carlisle has adopted a new strategic plan in response to recommendations from our Planning Team. After participating in listening groups in each congregation, the Planning Team recommended changes in the way Presbytery functions. Our aim is to become a "servant" presbytery where we listen and respond to needs, interests and resources of our 52 congregations. The goal is to work together as colleagues as we collaborate to strengthen congregations in their vital and effective service to Jesus Christ.The road map to reach this destination begins by nurturing and building
collegial relationships with our congregations and providing on-going contact
with them. One of our guiding principles is to shift from an emphasis
upon being a regulatory agency to an emphasis upon being a service community.
We hope to better support congregations by addressing their needs
and opportunities and by increasing resources, information and training
for mission and ministry. Some structural and staffing changes
will occur over the coming months by way of helping us move closer to our
goal.
What is a Presbytery?
Even for Presbyterians the term "presbytery" may be a confusing concept because it is used to express several meanings. The following uses are common among our ministers and members.The Presbytery of Carlisle is:
- an association of 52 Presbyterian congregations jointly sharing in mission and ministry projects and programs, planned through a structure of committees.
- a geographic region which essentially encompasses 8 counties in south-central Pennsylvania.
- one of four governing bodies in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the place where Presbyterian ministers hold their church membership since they are not members of local congregations. (the other governing bodies are Session, Synod and General Assembly.)
- A meeting of ministers and elder representatives (at least one from each congregation). The presbytery meetings occur five times yearly for worship, business and fellowship.
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Snail Mail: Presbytery of Carlisle, 3040 Market Street, Ste. #1
Camp Hill, PA 17011-4539
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