Welcome to John Calvin Presbytery.

Insignia
PCUSA CROSS
As of December 31, 2019 John Calvin Presbytery consists of 2,692 members of the body of Christ serving 6 counties in Southeast Kansas and 27 counties in Southwest Missouri through 46 congregations. We extend from Iola and Parsons, Kansas, to Rolla and West Plains, Missouri.Our site has been designed to meet the needs of the members and staff in our congregations. We now have a virtual office and are available to be in communities around the presbytery on a regular basis. If you would like to meet with us on one of those days, just give us a call and we will arrange a meeting. All new information about JCP is on the Contact Page.

However, if you are looking for a new church, upcoming events, and more information about us, this site is designed for you in mind, as well to help you locate a church that meets your needs.

We invite you to explore this site often, and return to see new and exciting things happening throughout the JCP.

​To the Congregation of Gibson Chapel and All Members of John Calvin Presbytery
​but especially those who are people of color

White Fragility online book group:  There's still room for you!

We, the General Council of John Calvin Presbyter, are committed to dismantling structural racism in all its forms.

The belief that being white imbues people with superior skills, talents, and worth was woven into the founding of our nation. The atrocities committed in the name of white supremacy are numerous. From the evil of the decimation of native cultures, to slavery, to the Asian anti-immigration policies and the detaining of Japanese Americans, and the vilification of our Latinx brothers and sisters, our nation has a poor track record of honoring the beautiful diversity of humanity that God created and called good.

Unfortunately, the PC(USA) and our individual congregations have often accepted the cultural norms and acted in ignorance.
We are the Church Reformed and always being reformed by the work of the Holy Spirit. It is our sincere hope that we will truly be reformed in this time of social upheaval.

To that end we do sincerely apologize for every instance of racism in which we participated either intentionally or by omission.
We ask that all our congregants repent of our implicit bias against people who do not look like us.  We ask that each one take into account their own hearts that we may indeed become one family under God. 

We repent of our sins against our brothers and sisters of color who have suffered from racial inequalities and systems that value white lives over theirs. We strive to make equality a matter of the heart and not a slogan of platitudes. 

We commit to working to reform our beliefs and our actions to more closely reflect God’s amazing love for all people. In so much as it is possible we ask that you pray for us to be shaped by the love of God to embrace all people whom God has made. 

We have already begun work as a Matthew 25 presbytery. Many congregations have already committed to dismantling structural racism, but we pledge to do more.

General Council has also empowered a task force to focus our efforts in growing toward a better future in our relationships. We will also commit to revisiting this issue as a Presbytery through the coming years. 

It is our hope that we will change our hearts, minds, and spirits to more closely follow Christ. It is our intent to move forward in a way that creates real and meaningful progress as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

We hope that you will accept our apology and work with us. We are praying for you in this time of crisis and for the times of crisis you have faced repeatedly. We refuse to simply repent without action. It is indeed sinful to hold one person in higher esteem than another. May we indeed further the idea that we are all equal in the eyes of God and each other. 

We are honored that you are part of this Presbytery. 
​
In Christ’s Love,
Rev. Jennifer Dawson
General Council Moderator

Feel free to join either the morning (10 am) or evening (7 pm) group, each will last about an hour.
July 1st - Read and discuss chapters 1-3
July 15th - Chapters 4-5
July 29th - Chapters 6-7
August 5th - Chapters 8-9
August 19th - 10-11
September 2nd - Chapter 12: Where do we go from here?

BOUNDARIES TRAINING 2020

According to the Committee on Ministry Manual of Operations, "Annually each person serving a congregation will be required to participate in the presbytery’s boundary training offered at presbytery days."  COVID has made scheduling boundaries training more difficult. The presbytery is committed to offering the training in each quadrant of the presbytery, and we believe that being in person adds value to the experience for each participant.  Pastors, if you did not attend the first training of the year in Kimberling City, we encourage you to register for one of the training sessions below:
July 14 - 10 a.m. to noon at First Presbyterian Parsons
1700 Broadway, Parsons, Kansas
July 16 - 6 to 8 p.m. at Woodland Heights Presbyterian
722 W. Atlantic, Springfield, Missouri

 For your enjoyment
The video of worship at the Stated Meeting of John Calvin  Presbytery Thursday, May 21.   

Pastoral Presbyter Report and Ringing of the Church Bells Video

John Calvin Presbytery has arranged for online giving through the Presbyterian Foundation.  Click on the "Give Now" button  to be taken to our donation page.
To give you'll need to make a profile first and enter your bank account information.  The web page takes you through the steps.
If your church would like to arrange for online giving, the Presbyterian Foundation was easy to use.
Malinda Spencer, JCP Pastoral Presbyter
mspencer@jcpresbytery.com
417-437-6748

2020 Presbytery Meetings:
Regularly scheduled meetings begin at 9:30 a.m., with registration beginning at 9 a.m.
Monday, August 3, 2020
St. Andrew Presbyterian
30 James River Road  ~  Kimberling City, Missouri 65686
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Crocker Presbyterian Church
414 South Commercial  ~  Crocker, Missouri  65452

Minute Review Checklist
​Clerk of Session Handbook

Sample Child Protection Policy

​EQUIPPING THE SAINTS ~  to view the presentation by Dr. Nishioka click on the following link.
​https://youtu.be/stqSyP0pa5M

Mission Statement
A joyful, holy community of Christian believers, diverse yet united.
Committed to serving Christ In the church and in the world.
Prepared by God through the Holy Spirit for mission and ministry.
​

John Calvin Presbytery
P.O. Box 787
Shell Knob, MO 65747

Click on a church picture to go to that church's website...