Presbytery Meeting Highlights
- Missouri Union Presbytery
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
MISSOURI UNION PRESBYTERY MEETING
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Many thanks to Trinity Presbyterian Church – Columbia for their hospitality. They have hosted us twice in one year and were so gracious to us! THANK YOU!
Meeting Highlights:
1. The Presbytery nominated, voted and reinstalled Ann Bouchard to fill the unexpired term of Moderator for the rest of 2025. John Grimmett will serve as the 2026 Moderator.
2. We joyfully celebrated the ordination anniversaries of the following:
· Pam Sebastian - 25 years
· Deborah Boucher-Payne - 35 years
· Bob Balwanz - 45 years
· Charles Dreyer - 65 years
3. Transitional GP/SC Report:
a. Reminder for us to get our boundary training done if required to do so!
b. Challenged us to register for meetings on time.
c. Encouraged churches to invite Barbara to church meetings, events, to do workshops and worship.
4. Ronnie Osborn welcomed us and introduced Steph Yoakum of COMO Mobile Aid Services. What an amazing number of services they supply to the people in need in the Columbia area!
5. Kevin Keaton, Board of Pensions representative, made a brief presentation and then made himself available for appointments with individuals and churches for the rest of the day.
6. Deborah Boucher-Payne, Synod Executive, shared with us plans in the works, including the Small Church Conference coming up October 9-11.
7. As always, Andy Baker did a wonderful job presenting our current financial position with Rev. Sarah Butler.
8. A timely and informative presentation was shared concerning church insurance by Synod Executive Deborah Boucher-Payne and Doug and Mark Dischinger, representatives of the Insurance Board.
9. The Presbytery voted to close Kahoka Presbyterian Church and plans to celebrate their ministry at our November meeting. We also approved the sale of the building to John Hessey for $5,000.
10. The Presbytery voted to allow Auburn Presbyterian Church - Elsberry to sell a sliver of their land to the farm next door.
11. We had a blast celebrating the nine Evelyn Bedell Award winners! They are amazing and faithful volunteers in our congregations. This year three-fourths of them included mowing the church lawn among their many volunteer activities!
12. Worship was especially meaningful with a brilliant sermon from Bobbie Karchner, including a very slick magic trick and three testimonies about burning bush moments.
13. The Nominating Committee presented an almost complete slate of 2026 new committee members who were voted in to service effective January 1, 2026.
14. The Pulpit Supply stipend for travel over 50 miles each way was increased to $15. The stipend for travel over 100 miles each way was increased to $30.
15. The Presbytery voted to require background checks and boundary training for all MUP moderators.
16. The Presbytery approved the $49,770 minimum Terms of Call for 2026.
17. Micah McNeal gave a wonderful report concerning the youth trip and experience in Louisville for Triennium. Lives were changed and everyone is excited to attend again.
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