Synopsis of the Mission Presbytery Meeting

Friday, March 6, 2026

Moderator Monica Smith, Pastor, FPC, Giddings, served with grace and wisdom.

140 Commissioners attended this meeting.

We welcomed Corresponding Members:

• Rev. Mitch Miller, Synod of the Sun Leader and Stated Clerk, Indian Nations Presbytery;

• Rev. Joan Wilson, Shenandoah Presbytery in Virginia, helping Forest Hills, Helotes, as they seek a new pastor; 

• Rev. Wilson Kennedy, Cherokee Presbytery, and Associate Director of Annual Giving, PCUSA;

• Rev. Jose Irizarry, President, Austin Seminary. 

Kevin Boyd, Pastor of FPC, Cuero, welcomed Mission Presbytery. He introduced the volunteers from four congregations who are making this meeting possible: FPC, Cuero; FPC, Victoria; Grace, Victoria, and The Presbyterian Church of Gonzales. He invited everyone to a BBQ dinner–and we thank all the volunteers who made dinner possible and delicious! Kevin and two members from FPC, Cuero, provided musical accompaniment during the meal. 💙

Mitch Miller, Synod of the Sun Leader and Stated Clerk

In 2013, the National Church of Presbyterian Church of Mexico disassociated with PC(USA). The Synod of Noroesta reached out to Lemuel Garcia to reignite the partnership. Carlos Baladez has been instrumental in the negotiation of the new covenant. Tres Rios Presbytery voted on March 6, 2026, to open its doors to pastors from the Synod of Noroestia to serve in Tres Rios. 

The Synod has a renewed commitment to Commissioned Pastors and small church leaders, by offering a time of learning, fellowship, and rest at Camp Gilmont, East TX on April 6-10. Info: https://www.synodsun.org/post/flourishing-in-the-spirit

This summer, Synod Youth Workshop will once again be held. Here’s the information: https://www.synodyouthworkshop.com/. Encourage your youth to attend!

Rev. Lemuel Garcia, Stewardship Officer for the Central Region and a member of Mission Presbytery, and Rev. Wilson Kennedy, Associate Director of Annual Giving, with the PC(USA) gave a report. For information and resources that you can use in your churches about 2026 Special Offerings:  https://pcusa.org/giving/special-offerings

For more information on Stewardship: https://pcusa.org/giving/stewardship-funds-development

Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Doug Dalglish

• CPM enrolled the following Inquirers as of November 14, 2025: Bethany Thomas (San Pedro, San Antonio); Scott Cales (San Pedro, San Antonio)

• CPM approved the following Candidates as ready to receive a call: 

• Joshua Clapp (FPC, El Campo) as of March 7, 2026; David Angulo (FPC, Kerrville) as of March 7, 2026; Colton Hedrick (Hope, Austin) as of June 20, 2026

Commission on Ministry, Kathy Escandell

Mission Presbytery sustained these examinations for ordination: 

• David Angulo to serve at Westminster, Austin, Pastoral Resident; 

• Joshua Clapp, University, San Antonio, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries;

• Libby Janes, Synod of the Sun, Director for the Synod of the Sun’s Partnership for Disaster Recovery

• Tammy Carter was approved to serve Lake Travis, Austin, as part-time installed pastor. She has been serving as a Stated Supply. This transition required a ¾ vote by the presbytery. (Book of Order, 2025-27, pages 34-45, G-2.0504c.

Kathy Introduced new ministers in Mission Presbytery:

• Rev. Dr. Ochuba Okam Ochuba, transferred from the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Member-at-large; Ochuba has studied at Austin Seminary for the last few years. 

• Commissioned Pastor Kristine Shultis, FPC, El Campo, from the Presbytery of Northern New England

General Council Report, Rob Mueller

Mission Presbytery approved these motion: 

To dissolve, with gratitude, the Administrative Commission for Congregational Vitality and Church Development

• To create two new Task Forces, which will be accountable to General Council: 

• Ministry Vitality 

• New Ministries

• To dissolve, with gratitude, the Administrative Commission for St. John’s, Austin.  

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Monica called the meeting to order, and the presbytery worshipped together. 

Rev. Wilson Kennedy, with Stewardship Funds Development, PC(USA), preached. 

Links for information about Wilson can be found under Corresponding Members (Friday) and in his report. 

The offering was designated for CAMAL House in Cuero: https://camalhouse.com/

Transitional General Presbyter, Bobby Musengwa

Bobby began with “HOWDY!“ Excerpts from his report follow.

Bobby 

• honored Melody Gonzalez, Mission Presbytery’s office and building manager, for her work on behalf of the presbytery;

• has preached in numerous pulpits since his arrival and welcomes the opportunity to preach at your church; has attended and participated in many pastoral installations across different regions of Mission Presbytery; has attended many commission, committee, task force, and Administrative Commission meetings across the presbytery; has visited with the Rev. Dr. Dongwoo Lee, PhD, University Minister at Schreiner, and the Rev. Dr. Gini Norris-Lane, the Executive Director of UKirk — both located in Kerrville — “which were memorable, encouraging and reaffirming. These partnerships represent the Presbytery's commitment to education, campus ministry, and the continued spiritual formation of young lives in faith.” 

• has broken bread with many ruling and teaching elders, listening carefully to their stories.  “These conversations  — often informal, sometimes vulnerable, always meaningful — are holy, and are among the most important dimensions of my ministry. I am grateful for every invitation and every open door.”

• attended memorial services of beloved leaders: CP Liz Martinez, Cheapside; Ruben Pacillas Armendariz, “a doyen of our Presbyterian community….” “The Rev. Dr. Raymond Judd, retired chaplain at Trinity University, has died. (His service will be Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Trinity University at 11:00 a.m.) “May their memory be a blessing!” 

• participated with the Commission on Ministry in their training and meetings. “I am grateful for those who gave of their time and expertise to prepare these new members for their important work. 

• meets with the other General Presbyters in the Synod of the Sun, along with Mitch Miller, on Wednesday mornings. This weekly forum provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from the wisdom of those who have already walked this road before, colleagues who understand the joys and the challenges of this particular calling. Their experience, their candor, and their encouragement have been a sustaining gift throughout these months.”

• “Perhaps the most memorable and hopeful experience of this season was my attendance at the Commission on Preparation for Ministry, which gathered at Austin  Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Three candidates — Colton Hedrick, David Angulo, and Joshua Clapp — appeared before the CPM, and each of them preached sermons that were inspiring and memorable. Their proclamation of the Word, and the thoughtfulness and depth of their responses to CPM's questions filled me with incredible hope for the future of this church. To witness the next generation of ministers answering the call of God with such grace and conviction is one of the greatest gifts of this work.”

• “Mission Presbytery is honored to have one of our own, Libby Janes, soon to be ordained as the Rev. Libby Janes, chosen from a national pool of highly qualified candidates, to become the Director of Synod Partnerships for Disaster Recovery in the Synod of the Sun. Libby was installed in this position on February 23, 2026, in Irving, Texas during the Synod’s Spring Assembly.”

• “I also bore witness as the General Council met, prayed, discerned, and deliberated on the way forward regarding the dissolution of the Administrative Commission on Church  Vitality and Development. We thank Rev. Brian Stamper, Rev. Carter Grant, and Rev. Jose Munoz, for their faithful service in that Commission. I give thanks for the prayerful and courageous discernment of the General Council, and I appreciate the movement of the Holy Spirit which has given birth to two new Task Forces out of that process. One Task Force continues the mission of bringing ministerial vitality to our existing congregations. The other takes up the mandate to give birth to new ministries across our region. Both Task Forces will have a seat at the table and be accountable to the General Council, a structure that promises both flexibility and accountability as we  move forward.”

Stated Clerk, Laurie Palmer

On behalf of the Committee on Representation and Participation, Laurie nominated  the following people,  and the presbytery approved them: 

• Human Resources Committee

TE Jack Barden, Class of 2028

• Permanent Judicial Commission  

TE Walt Lee, Class of 2029; RE Sue Trull, Class of 2031

Mission Presbytery referred all matters pertaining to a merger between Shepherd of the Hills, Austin, and Faith, Austin, including negotiations and final approval to the Commission on Ministry. A report will be given at a future presbytery meeting. 

Laurie reported that an allegation has been made against a minister member of Mission Presbytery and an Investigating Committee has been formed. 

There was a first reading of the updated Mission Presbytery Bylaws and Manual of Operations, which includes the two new Task Forces for Ministry Vitality and New Ministries. 

The presbytery heard reports from the following councils and entities.

Please consult the packet for their reports.

• Austin Seminary, President Jose Irizarry

• Presbyterian Pan American School, President Joey King

• John Knox Ranch, Director Henry Owen

  • Connect Committee, Erica Knisely, Jo Ann Currie, Emily Owen, and Caitlin Supcoff. Winners for the drawing for copies of “Leo of Golden,” PresbyteReads selection (see the flyer in the packet) were Carlos Baladez, Carol Johnson, Joan Wilson, Scott Swick, Camille Miller, and Carla Young. 

  • Churches may soon make applications for Better Together Grants. Information is forthcoming. They reminded the regions that they have $1,000 to spend on a region-wide activity. 

• Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery, Director Libby Janes, and Mission Presbytery liaison Sandra Murray: https://www.synodsun.org → Disaster Recovery. You can use that link to subscribe to the Synod of the Sun newsletter.

• Youth Connection Task Force, Caitlin Supcoff

  • Youth at Presbytery will be in June. Caitlin asked churches to encourage their youth to attend. 

  • The Youth Connection TF is reconstituting youth leadership training.

  • The Super Bowl Smackdown just finished. 18 churches participated, $39,394 and  27,000+ food items were donated. Grace, Round Rock won again this year!

• Puentes de Cristo, Lety Martínez

Puentes faces many difficult challenges. Lety asked Mission Presbytery to:

1. pray

2. boots on the ground, volunteer   

3. donate financially

The minutes for the meeting will be uploaded to the Mission Presbytery website soon.

www.mission-presbytery.org → News and Events → Presbytery Meetings