MARCH 2026 PRESBYTERY ASSEMBLY UPDATES

March 2026 Presbytery Assembly Update

Isaiah 43:19 – I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?

God is indeed doing something new, and we have perceived it!  We saw it first with a partnership, and then a merger as we formed Mountain Laurel Presbytery, and most recently with our first Stated Assembly, which was held on February 28, 2026.  Though we celebrated our birth at the November 2025 Assembly, it was the final joint Assembly of the Presbyteries of Lackawanna and Lehigh, making this our first official Assembly as Mountain Laurel Presbytery.  Our efforts to be Better Together began almost immediately with a gathering activity led by the Incarnation and Empowerment Committee which focused on the future of the church.  In many ways, these discussions not only helped our commissioners to better know each other and their churches, but revealed some of the new things God is doing among our congregations.

Following those discussions, we gathered together for worship, sharing in communion and worshipping God not as a single congregation but as a Presbytery of 65 congregations.  Any experience of worship at a Presbytery Assembly is meaningful, but this was especially so as we heard a message from our Vice Moderator, Rev. Stephen Emick, and presented our necrology report in the context of worship, remembering Ruling Elders from our churches who passed away since November 2024.  Following Worship, we heard a mission spotlight on the Montreat Youth Retreat being hosted by the Presbytery, and the 2025 Annual Report – a new tradition for Mountain Laurel in which we look back at the previous year.  The Annual Report gave our commissioners and pastors much broader view of the Presbytery’s mission and ministry as we strive to grow and serve in Christ.  Following the Annual Report as well as reports by each of our committee, we took up a number of business items.  First among those items of new business was approving Rev. Christian Creyer to be our treasurer for a three-year term.  Christian’s background as a CPA makes him uniquely qualified among our clergy for this role, and his experience will indeed make us better together in terms of our finances.

Among the new business taken up at this Assembly were numerous items related to property.  God is doing new things not just among us all together as a Presbytery, but within two of our congregations related to their property.  The Presbytery approved a sale agreement presented by First Presbyterian Church of Easton, which will leave the congregation without real property and therefore a much more flexible future.  In addition, First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem’s non-binding sale and lease agreements were approved, a significant first step to renewed financial vitality for the congregation and an example of how a church’s property itself can be used for effective ministry.  The final piece of business related to property was a sale of inherited property by Moosic Presbyterian Church, a gift that will allow for new mission and ministry for the congregation.

Two Administrative Commissions were commissioned: One for the congregations of Inkerman Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Nanticoke, and one for Ashley Presbyterian Church.  While it may be difficult to see God doing new things when a church dissolves, even the end of one church’s life can mean new vitality and vision for nearby congregations as members of the dissolved congregation become integrated with them.

After considering all the business that came before the Presbytery, we adjourned with prayer.  As a reminder, our next Assembly will be held on May 16, 2026 at Valley United Presbyterian Church in Waverly, NY, but we will be hosting events between now and then (like Communion Training for authorized Ruling Elders) so be sure to sign up for our newsletter and check our website https://www.mlpres.org for additional details.  If you have any questions regarding any of the actions taken by the Presbytery at the prior meeting or any of the new things we are doing, please reach out.  Please also hold the entire Presbytery in prayer as we continue to grow and serve in Christ as Mountain Laurel Presbytery – better together!

In Grace and Peace,

Rev. Scott DeCaro

Stated Clerk – Mountain Laurel Presbytery