Mission Yearbook: Legacy planning is focus of workshop

Image

The Rev. Erin Skinner and the Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley were among the presenters at the Luminosity Conference. (Photos by Gregg Brekke)

Pastors attending the 2026 Luminosity Conference in Orlando, Florida, were invited to reflect deeply on faith, family and the lasting impact of their ministries during a workshop titled “Legacy is not Just for Laity.”

While churches often emphasize the importance of creating a will and consider leaving a gift to a church or ministry as part of their estate, pastors don’t always consider their own legacy. The session invited pastors to think through what they want to pass on to those who know them. 

The workshop was presented as a break-out session at Luminosity, a conference organized and sponsored by the Presbyterian Foundation and held during the spring conference. The Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley and the Rev. Erin Skinner, both Ministry Relations Officers for the Foundation, presented the workshop. Designed specifically for pastors in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the workshop encouraged participants to think about legacy not simply in financial terms, but as the stories, relationships and faith traditions that shape generations.

Johns-Kelley opened the workshop by sharing the history and mission of the Presbyterian Foundation, reminding participants of the denomination’s longstanding commitment to stewardship and generosity.

Image

The Rev. Erin Skinner, a Ministry Relations Officer for the Presbyterian Foundation, leads a workshop about legacy planning for pastors.

She noted that the Foundation traces its roots to 1799, when it was created as the original trustees of the denomination to receive gifts and bequests from Presbyterians. Today, she said, the organization stewards billions of dollars in assets on behalf of congregations and ministries.

Throughout the session, Johns-Kelley and Skinner emphasized that legacy is not only about financial planning but also about the stories people share and the values they pass down.

As part of the workshop, Johns-Kelley led participants through a reflective exercise, encouraging pastors to write continuously in response to questions about their faith, family influences and hopes for the future.

“What’s your hope for this conference?” she asked participants. “What brought you to this workshop? I want you to think about your parents and your grandparents. Were they active in church? How did that shape you?”

The exercise, she explained, was originally shared by the late musician David M. Bailey, whose life and work continue to inspire conversations about vocation and faith. His legacy lives on through the music he created and the ways in which he prompted youth to think through their own lives and their callings. 

Johns-Kelley also reflected on her own experience of thinking about legacy after the death of her father, a longtime Presbyterian minister. She recalls that it was difficult to get her own father to discuss what gifts he wanted to leave to ministries and churches that he loved. Making those decisions ahead of time is a wonderful gift to your family. 

“Thinking about what we love, what it would be a good expression of our faith, what might be a helpful gift to our family members, all of those are so helpful for those who love you,” she said.

Skinner expanded the conversation, encouraging pastors to consider how storytelling can shape both family relationships and congregational life.

“The power of story is the power of relationships,” Skinner said, quoting writer and Luminosity conference plenary speaker Mark Yaconelli. “In other words, giving testament to our experience generates meaning when it connects us to people, the Earth, the sacred, our pasts, our owner gifts and wounds.”

She also introduced practical tools for legacy planning, including ethical wills, story journals, estate planning guides and charitable giving strategies.

“These tools don't mean very much when they don't have your story,” Skinner said. “We need your story to color in the lines.”

Skinner concluded by reminding pastors that legacy is already unfolding through their ministries.

“You all are making an impact on those that you serve,” she said. “You are leaving legacy, whether you’re doing that intentionally or not.”

As Luminosity’s inaugural gathering brought together pastors and church leaders from across the denomination, the workshop offered both practical tools and spiritual encouragement, inviting participants to reflect not only on the legacy they hope to leave, but also on the one they have already begun to shape.

Robyn Davis Sekula, Presbyterian Foundation (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Cheryl Barnes, Manager, US Global Ecumenical Liaisons, Presbyterian Life & Witness
David Barnhart, Associate, Story Ministry, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Interim United Agency

Let us pray:

Eternal God, in the midst of a world that simply won’t stop, or even slow, its relentless changing, grant us a deep and abiding sense of your sovereign power and steadfast presence in our lives. May we walk the way that is set before us in faithfulness to our calling in Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

WCC news: WCC general secretary reflects on “Decolonizing mission: from mission to mutuality”

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivered an address on 15 October during a gathering of the Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany. He focused on “Decolonizing mission: from mission to mutuality.”  Photo: Corinna Waltz/EMW 15 October 2026 Pillay began by asking what it means to decolonize mission. “It is about freeing mission from those patterns of power, domination, and cultural superiority that have sometimes accompanied Christian witness,” he said. “It is about recovering mission as participation in the mission of God.” Pillay emphasized that the starting point must be theological. “Mission is not ours,” he said. “Mission is God’s.” Decolonising mission requires honesty, Pillay added. “Christian mission has a complex history,” he said. “Christianity was sometimes presented as though European culture and Christianity were inseparable.” We must acknowledge this history, not to condemn previous generations, but to ensure that we do not reproduce their assumptions, Pillay urged. “The question today is: Can we proclaim Christ without reproducing cultural domination?” he asked. “I believe we can. Indeed, we must.” Plllay also reflected on how the demographic centre of Christianity has shifted. “The churches of the Global South are not junior partners in Christianity,” he said. “They are not simply recipients of theology developed elsewhere. They are theologians, missionaries, teachers, evangelists and agents of God's mission.” The issue is ultimately about power, Pillay noted. “And Christian power must always be understood through Christ. Jesus does not exercise power by domination. He kneels and washes feet,” said Pillay. “Therefore, Christian mission must be characterised by servant leadership.” Read the full presentation "Decolonizing Mission: From Mission to Mutuality" Photo gallery See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Minute for Mission: Children’s Sabbath; Educate a Child, Transform the World

Image

A and D bible share (Photo provided by Alonzo Johnson)

At last year's Presbyterian Youth Triennium, one of my young participants — who was part of the Presbyterian Youth Triennium’s planning team — read Scripture in worship in front of a large audience of enthusiastic young people. Having known this incredible individual for over 20 years, I felt immense pride as I witnessed this. He had been one of the remarkable young people in the urban church I served many years ago. Since my departure from that church, I hadn’t seen him in what seemed to be years, and in that time, he had finished high school and was finishing college, so as one can imagine, I was excited to see him blossom into the amazing leader he is today. When he read Scripture at the lectern during Youth Triennium, my heart was both full and proud. After the service, he approached me and said, “Rev, I have something to show you.” He handed me a Bible and told me to open it. When I did, it contained my writing and words of encouragement to him from over 15 years ago on the first page. This was the Bible that our church had given him at his confirmation. As I held back tears reading my old words to him, he said, “I carry it with me.” This moved me deeply and made me reflect on the important work the church does to care for, nurture and shape its young people. 

Our young people thrive when churches provide consistent care and support, including encouragement in their education. When I think of this remarkable young person now serving the church, I am reminded that our congregations can offer every young person hope, nurture and sustenance. In these ways, we carry them with us.

The Educate a Child, Transform the World covenant describes this supportive work of the church as the practice of Christian Disciplines. These disciplines prepare, propel, ground and sustain children for life, leadership and justice. Through confirmation and other spiritual practices — including worship, prayer and Bible study — the church communicates God’s grace and strengthens both the community and its young people in faithful witness. Practicing Christian Disciplines also means celebrating, honoring and supporting those who educate our children. Our baptismal vows unite us with the universal Church, a covenant community called to pursue justice for every child.

The following links offer ways to support young people and explore issues related to public education:

Educate a Child website: https://pcusa.org/about-pcusa/agencies-entities/interim-unified-agency/ministry-areas/self-development-people/educate-child-transform-world

PC(USA) Poverty Page: https://pcusa.org/how-we-serve/justice-peace/poverty

Rev. Dr. Alonzo T. Johnson, Convener of the Education Roundtable

Let us join in prayer for:

Zenia Baker, Administrative I, Operations, Presbyterian Foundation
Adriana Ballard, AVP, Director of Investment Management, Investments, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

Because we affirm that all children are a gift of God, created by God and
created good; all children are a gift to the whole of the human community;
all children have a real faith, and gifts for ministry; all children have the
right to be children; and all children are not just tomorrow, they are today.
Therefore, we covenant to act, with God’s grace, to help all children to learn,
to succeed and to fulfill their God-given potential. Amen.

This prayer was adapted from “A Protestant Worship Service,” in Wonderfully Made: Preparing Children to Learn and Succeed. National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths, Copyright 1999, Children’s Defense Fund, and A Vision for Children and the Church. It can be found in our PC(USA) Policy on education: pcusa.org/resource/loving-our-neighbors-equity-and-quality-public-education-k-12

Mission Yearbook: Before ‘Mister Rogers’ was ‘The Children’s Corner’ with Josie Carey

"The Quiet Success of Fred Rogers," Robert Bianco,
The Pittsburgh Press Sunday Magazine, 1989; from
the archives of the Presbyterian Historical Society.

When Fred Rogers met Josie Carey at the brand-new Pittsburgh public television station WQED, he likely had no idea of the extent to which their collaboration would shape his career. 

At the vanguard of children’s educational television, the two developed content that would shape many elements of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” from singing puppets to moral messages of kindness. 

Josephine V. Franz was born in Pittsburgh on Aug. 20, 1930. Raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, by her mother and grandmother, Josie’s was a childhood filled with joy. She took singing, dancing, and piano lessons and loved to “play show” for whoever would watch. 

Despite her idyllic upbringing in Butler, Josie dreamed of moving to Pittsburgh. So, she learned to type and got a job with a Pittsburgh advertising agency in her early 20s. 

Josie spent evenings acting at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. It was here in 1953 that she was “discovered” by WQED manager Dorothy Daniel.

When WQED hit the air in April 1954, it did so as the first fully community-funded public television station in the country. It was here that Josie would connect with Fred Rogers, and once the two learned that they both had an interest in children’s television, they decided to work together. “We learned right on television how to do television,” Josie said of the period.

Running from 1954 to 1961, Josie and Fred’s program “The Children’s Corner” was one of the first programs to air on the station. Fred and Josie wrote and acted the entire show, which ran for an hour each weekday, and the two had almost unlimited creative freedom. Aimed at children ages 8–12, the show was a pioneer that set the standard for future children’s educational television.

Episodes of “The Children’s Corner” consisted of songs, gags, guests and, especially, Fred’s puppets. Much of the show saw Josie chatting the puppets, many of whom would go on to appear in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood." These dynamic conversations were entirely improvised. “Josie would talk to Daniel as if he was the only person in the room,” Fred said of her interactions with Daniel Tiger. “It was magical how they would converse.”

Josie and Fred used the show to interact with children across the region. Kids would write in to share their birthdays and would tune in to hear the puppet King Friday XIII sing “Happy Birthday” on air. Children could also be part of a club in which they “earned stripes.”

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/embed/adNaBEtbrnA

One day, they invited all the kids who had earned four stripes to Daniel Tiger’s birthday. They expected to see a handful of kids, but instead, children lined up around the block. Josie led the kids in a song in French that they had learned to earn a stripe and every one of them sang it perfectly. Josie declared it one of the most exciting moments in her career.

“The Children’s Corner” was so successful that soon NBC called. Josie and Fred started traveling to New York for Saturday-morning episodes. In the first several weeks, the network received 138,000 letters about the show, breaking a record. 

It was during his time on “The Children’s Corner” that Fred enrolled at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and began studying to become a Presbyterian minister. The show itself was not explicitly religious. “We didn’t try to tell the children what religion to follow or that they should go to church or anything like that,” Josie said of the messaging. Rather, Christianity was primarily expressed through song. Josie performed “Good Night, God” and “Good Morning, God” every week. Both Josie and Fred heard from families that their children sang the former every night before bed. Josie stated, “I always felt that God really did have a hand in what was happening to us.”

Though lesser known than “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood," “The Children’s Corner” carried immense meaning for its fans. Josie would later receive letters from people telling her she shaped their careers. Musicians, teachers and even a professor of French were inspired by the whimsy of “The Children’s Corner” and its surprisingly robust educational content. Of her legacy, Josie stated, “I’d like to be remembered as someone who brought a little light into the world.” 

Olivia Cacchione, Presbyterian Historical Society (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Charles Baker, Production Clerk, Presbyterian Distribution Service, Administrative Services Group
Kristine Baker, Associate for Risk Management, Administrative Services Group

Let us pray:

God of all Creation, we thank you for all the ways you shelter and encourage us during the storms of life. As we seek to restore what has been broken in our world, restore us in faith and purpose. Help us to be your hands and feet and to witness to the love you give us through your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Minute for Mission: World Food Day

mage

Guillermo and Julio Lanuza show off their catch of the day. (Courtesy of Asofenix)

World Food Day is observed every year on Oct. 16. This year’s theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” asks us to look at how forward-thinking solutions can work alongside traditional knowledge to feed people and protect the planet. On Zapatera Island in Nicaragua, a group of families is showing that innovation doesn’t always require complex technology. Sometimes, it means finding new ways to harness the sun, the sea, and the resources already around them to build a more resilient future.

Zapatera Island, located in the municipality of Granada, faces unique challenges. Reachable only by small wooden boats built by residents, the island suffers from relative isolation. This geographic barrier limits access to government support and broader markets, leaving many families in poverty, suffering from poor nutrition. Yet, the island possesses a wealth of resources: fertile soil, freshwater, forests, abundant fish and plenty of sunlight. 

Image

A man installs solar panels on Zapatera Island.(Courtesy of Asofenix)

The Asociación Fénix (Asofenix), a Nicaraguan nongovernmental organization, specializing in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, has worked for over two decades to improve living conditions in rural areas. Their track record includes installing solar-powered water systems, small hydroelectric plants and more than 500 clean wood-burning stoves across 15 communities. As a partner of the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP), Asofenix brings both technical expertise and a deep commitment to community-led development.

Their current initiative, funded by PHP, focuses on capacity building for 28 families, aiming to establish small, community-based businesses powered by solar energy. The project rests on three pillars. First, it promotes sustainable aquaculture and value-added processing of fish, moving beyond subsistence fishing. Second, it revives Indigenous agricultural techniques, helping families cultivate crops like corn and beans for both consumption and sale. Third, it introduces a solar-powered retail system, allowing the community to preserve and sell natural products efficiently. Throughout this process, the families participate in planning, implementation and management through elected committees.

The impact extends to approximately 150 people across four communities. By producing manuals on Indigenous agriculture and compiling a community cookbook, the project ensures that community knowledge will remain within the island. Looking ahead, Asofenix plans to expand the program to more families and develop community-based tourism to secure long-term funding. 

As World Food Day reminds us, true food security is rooted in sovereignty. For the families of Zapatera Island, harnessing the potential of their own land, waters, and the sun is about more than nourishing themselves today, it is about building a future where they can sustain their families and feed their communities for generations to come.

Eileen Schuhmann, Associate for Global Engagement and Resources, Presbyterian Hunger Program

Let us join in prayer for:

Nora Baez, Lead Reservation Specialist, Stony Point Center, Presbyterian Life & Witness
Amber Baker, Donor Advised Fund Specialist, Operations, Presbyterian Foundation  

Let us pray:

May God bless the soil and waters of Zapatera Island, bringing abundant crops, plentiful fish and nourishment for every family. May the sun power their endeavors, giving light and energy to their work and hope for the future. Guide their hands with wisdom and perseverance, and may their harvests bring nourishment, prosperity and a brighter tomorrow. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: New hymn focuses on integrity and loving neighbors

Image

The Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is pictured near Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in central New York state. (Photo courtesy of Carolyn Winfrey Gillette)

“Give Us Integrity, God, In the Ways We Are Living” is a new hymn by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette that speaks to the need for churches to lift up moral and ethical values including loving our neighbors, welcoming strangers and opposing warfare that targets the innocent and the vulnerable.

“Sometimes as a pastor, I hear people argue, ‘That’s political! We shouldn’t be talking about anything that’s happening in the nation or world in church,’” she said. But during the Office of Public Witness’ recent webinar on “Faithful Resistance to ICE,” a panelist “talked about how Christians need to speak out and take action if we want to have any integrity as followers of Jesus,” she said. “The word ‘integrity’ is a good one for us to consider as we sing and pray.”

She noted that Jesus once asked, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?” Those who follow Jesus “need to love our neighbors, feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, work as peacemakers, show compassion to all (not just to people like us) and seek justice for the oppressed,” she said. “If we close our eyes and our hearts to people in need, if we ignore the cries of our neighbors (including those we are being told to hate and be afraid of), how are we living with integrity as followers of Jesus’ Way?”

Her most recent hymn “is a prayer that we will live our faith through visible acts of compassion, neighborliness, kindness, justice and advocacy.”

Scriptural references for the hymn include Proverbs 14:32; Matthew 21:28–32; Matthew 25:31–46; Luke 6:37–38; John 15:18; Mark 10:13–16; Matthew 5:9; Luke 1:52–53; Luke 12:13–21; Luke 10:25–37; and 1 John 4:16–21.

Give Us Integrity, God, In the Ways We Are Living

LOBE DEN HERREN  (“Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”)

Give us integrity, God, in the ways we are living.

Christ taught us well — to be welcoming, kind and forgiving!

Yet all around, powers of hatred abound.

May we seek Christ and obey him.

Jesus reached out with a blessing and welcomed the children.

Yet all around us are forces of death that would kill them.

When there is war, we see Christ stand with the poor;

may your church also stand with them.

Jesus condemned and admonished the proud and the greedy.

He said to open our hearts to the cries of the needy.

May we who say we follow Jesus today

kneel with him, serving the hungry.

Sometimes we hear, “That's political!” That’s not our problem.

Yet if we live with integrity, we'll pay attention.

May people find Christians are moral and kind

and that, with Jesus, we love them.

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Joty Allison, 1001 NWC Apprentice, 1001 New Worshiping Communities, Presbyterian Life & Witness
Katherine Babicz, AVP Financial & Investment Planning Professional, Trust Services, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

Almighty God, guide our efforts to provide a ministry to all who seek your love and grace. Help us to appreciate your children, to encourage their gifts, and to be facilitators and supporters as we offer them a welcoming place to gather in the light of your love and wisdom. Amen.

Minute for Mission: Mothers and daughters find connection at CSW

Image

Punky Dahl, left, and daughter Haley attended events during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. (Photo by Rich Copley)

Participating in this year’s Commission on the Status of Women was a family affair for some of the Presbyterians who gathered in New York City in March.

The Presbyterian News Service caught up with a few mother-daughter pairs who took part in the 70th session of CSW, an international gathering aimed at promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. 

Interviewed at Church of the Covenant were Laura Browne and her daughter, Julianne; Punky Dahl and her daughter, Haley; and Laura Zhang-Choi, whose daughter, Ella Choi, commented later.

The duos were among nearly 70 participants recruited by Presbyterian Women and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations to take part in timely discussions and educational sessions, worship services and advocacy opportunities.

“I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the CSW,” said Ella Choi of Stewartsville Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. “It was an extremely eye-opening experience, and I learned a lot about how faith and female empowerment are integral to one another.”

Video URL: https://player.vimeo.com/video/1174456753

Before the event, the Brownes of Orangewood Presbyterian Church applied but didn’t expect to get accepted.

“I thought, ‘Are you kidding me?’” said daughter Julianne Browne of Phoenix. “A place where I can actually go and talk to people who are doing good in the world, learn from them, bring stuff back? That sounded like everything I had been wanting for so long.”

When the Brownes learned they had been accepted, “we were screaming” with joy, Laura Browne said. 

This year’s theme, ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, prompted sessions on topics ranging from gender-based violence to survival in war-torn regions.

Laura Browne came to learn about the gender wage gap and women in leadership. It’s “very depressing that it's 2026 and there's still a huge gender wage gap in many countries.”

Julianne Browne focused more on sexual violence against women. “It's close to my heart because pretty much every woman I have met in my life, especially my friends — every single woman — has had some kind of violent experience at the hands of a man, including myself.”

Video URL: https://player.vimeo.com/video/1174492307

Zhang-Choi wanted her daughter to witness discussions about challenges that don’t “just exist in Stewartsville or in New Jersey, but worldwide, women face a lot of the same challenges.” She also wanted Choi “to see the beauty of God's imagination for all humankind,” the diversity, and the importance of making space for everyone to belong.

Choi, a junior at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City, said participating in CSW with her mother “made it even more meaningful and impactful. Not only did it deepen our relationship through faith, but it also connected us through a shared understanding of how gender equality has progressed across generations. It reminded me of the work women, including my mom, have done for gender equality, and it motivated me to advocate for future generations of women by uplifting female voices in faith spaces.”

Video URL:  https://player.vimeo.com/video/1174430656

Punky Dahl, who’s based in Oklahoma City but attends Southminster Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, said CSW provides an opportunity to learn about issues affecting women around the world and bring that knowledge home.

Having her daughter, Haley, with her provided additional support. “Some of the sessions are very heavy, and when you can sit down and you can discuss it with someone you love, and get two different opinions, but come together as one, it makes such a huge difference,” Punky Dahl said.

Haley Dahl attended to get a feel for CSW and participated in events that did not require a U.N. badge. She was particularly interested in a panel on the intersection of homelessness and gender-related issues and began thinking about how to apply what she learned locally.

For Julianne Browne, the experience also offered a new sense of belonging. Before CSW, she said, “I didn’t feel like I belonged or like people would accept me because I am queer and I’m a woman.”

After participating in a regional online orientation, however, “it felt like the first time in a very long time that I had gotten like a sign.”

Upon arriving in New York, she said she felt welcomed by delegates and others she met. “I have felt seen.”

Darla Carter, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Roberta Romano, 1001 NWC Apprentice, 1001 New Worshiping Communities, Presbyterian Life & Witness
Rebecca Newgren, 1001 NWC Apprentice, 1001 New Worshiping Communities, Presbyterian Life & Witness

Let us pray:

O Holy Spirit, open each new generation to your renewing wind. Blow afresh in our lives, that we all might be empowered to do your will in service and love. Amen.