Upcoming Opportunities around the Presbytery
Congregational Vitality Summit: The Plentiful Gifts of Small and Rural Churches
Click here to register and for more information
Date: Saturday, April 25th 10am-3:30pm
Cost: $10 for lunch
Location: Hotel Millwright (Weaving Room), Amana, IA
See a video description of the event by clicking here. Join us as we explore what church vitality can look like today for small and rural congregations, especially those facing the challenge of dwindling resources. While this event is focused on rural and small church vitality, people from all contexts would benefit from the expertise provided by our incredible workshop leaders, Rev. Dr. Allen Stanton (author of The Gift of Small, which will be provided as a free gift – limit 1 per church) & Rev. Philip Blackburn (Director of the Town Square Collaborative). Deadline to register is April 10th.
Date: May 18–22, 2026
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Three DMin cohort lectures and discussions (one per morning; pre-reading provided):
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Christian Identity after Christendom – Dr. Bradley Longfield
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The Preaching Mission of Christ – Dr. Timothy Slemmons
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Prayer, Liturgy, and Discipleship – Dr. Susan Forshey
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Midday chapel, lunches with faculty exploring current research, and generous time for rest and connection
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Full access to UD’s Chlapaty Recreation & Wellness Center
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Free afternoons and evenings to explore Dubuque, including Mississippi River walks, Wolter Woods, and prairie trails
Church Growth Gathering
Registration and more details to come by late spring, 2026
Date: Saturday, October 17th 10am-3pm
Cost: $0-$20 sliding scale for lunch
Location: First Presbyterian Church, Milan, IL
Jointly organized and hosted by Great Rivers Presbytery and the Presbytery of East Iowa, this event will be an opportunity to share resources and ideas related to fostering church growth. Our keynote speaker will be Rev. Joshua Erickson, co-founder of the PC(USA) Church Growth Network. This network was established to create a learning community of PC(USA) leaders who value and believe local congregations and new faith communities are called and created to be “strengthened in faith and increase in numbers.” The PCGN seeks to foster growth in size, vitality, and missions impact for local congregations and new faith communities so that more people experience the life-changing love of Christ.
In addition to a presentation and workshop offering from our keynote speaker, other workshops will be offered by local leaders.
Ongoing Opportunities
PC(USA) Church Growth Network
There are two monthly drop-in Zoom calls (second Tuesday at 2 p.m. Central and second Wednesday at 9 a.m. Central). Those calls feature a monthly theme for discussion, and participants leave with actionable next steps to help their churches seek healthier growth. The PCGN began as a small Facebook group of PC(USA) leaders who sought to share their work and how God was using it to help grow their churches. This group began to grow, gradually. A group met in May 2025 to develop a charter that would define this growing group and facilitate experimentation. Visit pcgrowthnetwork.org or go to facebook.com/groups/pcgrowthnetwork to join the conversation.
Community Circle: Small Church
From the PC(USA) Office of Christian Formation. Click here for more information.
You are invited to register for this Community Circle, designed especially for those leaders in small churches. Offered several times through the year, come to every gathering, or when you can, but come to share in conversation and learn, ask questions, receive and share resources for ministry, and support one another. A 90-minute Zoom gathering, featuring a question or topic just to get the conversation going related to Faith Formation leadership in small churches, then the discussion can go from there. So come ready to participate in the conversation. Upcoming dates:
Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 12pm-1:30pm
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 12pm-1:30pm
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 2pm-3:30pm
Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 11am-12:30pm
Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 2pm-3:30pm
Struthers Pastoral Study Leave Program
Each year, the University of the Ozarks hosts 4 pastors during the academic year to spend 4-5 days on campus. The visiting pastor can use University resources for personal study time and professional development. The participant will be able to create their own schedule and goals for their time on campus while having access to University resources, the option to attend classes, and engage with faculty, staff, and students. The participant will also have the opportunity to preside over our weekly chapel worship service. Travel expenses, meals, lodging, library resources, and work space are provided in-full for the participant. Application required. Click here for more information.
Upcoming Conferences
June 24-26, 2026 in Clarksville, Arkansas on the campus of the University of the Ozarks
*The conference and lodging (in campus dorms) are free for participants! Click here to register
Hosted by the Town Square Collaborative, this event is designed to help your church:
- Embrace its role as an anchor institution in your community.
- Reclaim its identity in Jesus Christ.
- Focus on the unique opportunities and challenges of rural ministry.
To support these goals, we’re bringing together:
- Leaders from across the country who specialize in rural congregations.
- Non-profit partners who can help churches better engage with their neighbors.
- A space dedicated entirely to the rural areas and small towns you love.
Summer Seminar Series: Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has three opportunities to participate in a summer seminar this year. CICW’s summer seminars provide space for a diverse group of ministry leaders to study and engage with critical issues related to worship, ministry, and church life—all in a restful environment built for reflection and connection. Applications are due by March 15. The only cost for accepted participants is travel to and from Grand Rapids, Michigan. All meals and lodging are provided. The topics for summer 2026 are:
Forming Communities of Witness in Post-Christian Contexts
Brown Church: Five Hundred Years of Worship and Witness
CAMP: A Planning Retreat for Worship Leaders
August 10-14, 2026 in Moab, UT
Hosted by the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation.
Are you a pastor who is yearning for time away to prepare worship for the year? Or are you a commissioned pastor/ruling elder excited about getting your creative worship juices flowing in a community of other leaders? If you are a key worship leader for your worshipping community, we hope you’ll join us for a nurtured retreat where you can step aside for private or collaborative planning, along with moments to have your soul tended and minds sparked by a team of worship and music guides.
PC(USA) Church Growth Network Annual Conference
October 5-7, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio
The PC(USA) Church Growth Network (PCGN) is a supportive, learning community of PC(USA) leaders dedicated to strengthening local congregations and new faith communities in faith, size, vitality, and mission impact. More information on this year’s conference will be forthcoming.