News from the February 21, 2026 Missouri Union Presbytery Meeting

We gathered at the lovely Community Presbyterian Church in LaPlata and our Moderator, Pastor John Grimmett, opened our meeting with prayer just after 10:00 a.m. We welcomed two new ruling elders and Corresponding Member, Mike Williams, UCC Pastor and Moderator of FPC – Marshall.  Susan Miller was also welcomed as she begins service as the 2026-2028 Recording Clerk.

The 2026 Presbytery directories are now available. An electronic copy, which is updated monthly, is also available at https://www.mupresbytery.org/directory using 2026MUPDIR as the password. Additions or corrections should be communicated to Diane Braun, Office Manager, office@mupresbytery.org. 

A sample policy for congregations to use if they are concerned about interacting with ICE was also provided.

We celebrated Micah McNeal’s progress toward ordination in the PCUSA.  He has passed three of his ordination exams on the first try and will take two more in April.

All were reminded that if your boundary training expires in 2026, the training and certificate/paperwork are due to the office by March 31.  If the deadline is not met, Barbara will be calling. 

The Session Record Reviews for 2025 have been scheduled for this spring. A list of dates and locations are included in this newsletter.   

The new 2026 Presbytery calendar and the Thrive calendar were included in the MUP packet. These resources will be added to the website.

We then took time to pray for those we love deeply, Rev. Bob Balwanz and CRE Bill Jessop and his wife, Leigh.  Rev. Jeff Carter then welcomed the attendees to Community Presbyterian Church and shared their involvement with the LaPlata Christian Ministries Food Pantry, which provides food for 80-100 families monthly.

The Leadership Development and Education Committee led us through their introduction to “Thrive”, a three-year program of congregational revitalization. We began to reflect on who God is calling us to be now and in these next years.  Books for the first book study were available for purchase.

Elder Andy Baker and Rev. Sarah Butler led the Stewardship report. The December 31, 2025, Treasurer’s Report was presented. The Presbytery received 88.5% of the One Mission Giving budgeted for the year. Receipts for 2025 were 96.5% of the budgeted amount, thanks mainly to interest on investments. Expenses were 83% of the budgeted amount.  Rev. Sarah Butler encouraged churches to apply for small church grants by using the form found on the MUP website. 

Then to everyone’s delight we enjoyed lunch.  With spaghetti made by Rev. Jeff Carter and salad, bread and dessert made by the congregation, it was a delightful and filling lunch hour.

We gathered again in the sanctuary and Elder Shonda Galloway led us through the closing of Antioch Presbyterian Church near Bowling Green.  We voted to sell the church and property back to the family that originally sold the land to the congregation for $12,000.  Holly Henderson, child of the church and sister to Chris who is purchasing the church property, joined us in celebrating and remembering the 206-year ministry of Antioch Presbyterian Church with a brief history, a litany and a hymn.

On behalf of the Youth Ministry Committee, Elder Micah McNeal reported that the Spring Youth Retreat will be held April 25 in Kirksville. He also provided summer camp flyers in conjunction with the Disciples of Christ. As there will be no MUP Mission Trip this year, interested youth are welcome to join FPC-Mexico on their mission trip to Omaha the first week of May. 

Rev. Phil Olson led us through the COM motions. First, we approved “RIM” Massey and Julie King to be moderators for Farber PC/Laddonia PC and McGee Memorial PC-Excello respectively.  A motion passed clarifying the broader CRE commissions which MUP enacted at its November 15, 2025 meeting by commissioning the following CRE’s for three years, effective November 15, 2025: 

     Rob Dalton to FPC-Vandalia

     John Grimmett to Paris PC and South Fork PC-Perry

     Jason Hilkerbaumer to Salem PC- Morrison

     Bill Jessop to Old Auxvasse Nine Mile PC-Williamsburg

     Julie Leverenz to FPC-Bowling Green

     Dianna Marcum to Green Ridge PC and Otterville PC

     Randy Marcum to Otterville PC

     Michael Moore to Bethel PC-Mexico

     Victor Smith to FPC-Sweet Springs

     Barbara Chalfant to the Presbytery at Large

Although each CRE is commissioned to a specific congregation, the following functions could be permitted by the Commission on Ministry to be performed in additional congregations if needed:

1. Administer the Lord's Supper

2. Administer the Sacrament of Baptism

3. Moderate the session and congregation

4. Perform a service of Christian marriage when invited by the session

5. Perform a service of Christian burial when invited by the session

In order to obtain permission when a CRE is invited by a session to assist them, the CRE is to call the Chair of COM or the GP for permission so everything is done decently and in order!  The two CRE’s who are not currently commissioned to a particular congregation, Shonda Galloway and Shawn McNabb, were also granted the same functions with permission of COM.

J R Greer shared the Nominating Committee report and the Presbytery voted to commission the following to General Assembly - Minister of the Word and Sacrament: Rev. Kati Collins, FPC-Columbia, Ruling Elder: Sami Shirk, FPC-Kirksville, and Young Adult Advisory: Marcos Matuz, FPC-Mexico.  The following committee members were also approved: Commission on Ministry: Rebecca Shirk, FPC-Kirksville (Class of 2028), Personnel Committee: Rev. Tad Schuldt, FPC-Boonville (Class of 2028), Committee on Preparation for Ministry: Rob Dalton, FPC-Mexico/FPC-Vandalia (Class of 2028), Committee on Representation and Diversity: Tad Galloway, FPC-Vandalia (Class of 2027), Council Member-at-Large: Brian Kinkade, FPC-Columbia (Class of 2028).

Then blessedly, we were led in worship by Jeff Carter, whose sermon was entitled “I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel.” Communion was celebrated with Rev. Carter and CRE John Grimmett.  The names of the elders listed in the 2025 Necrology Report were read and remembered with the tolling of a bell.

Vice Moderator, Rev. Pam Sebastian blessed us, and Moderator John Grimmett adjourned the meeting with prayer at 3:19 p.m.