The Ministry Council of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church

09/15/2026

09/03/2026

Board of Theological Education and Lay Ministry Update

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

The Board of Theological Education and Lay Ministry held its organizational meeting Aug. 28, 2026, in Nashville. Members include Rev. Dr. Barry Anderson, Mrs. Amanda Boaz Batts, Rev. Dr. Tom Campbell, Mrs. Kiara Castleman, Rev. Bobby Coleman, Mrs. Kathy Wood-Dobbins, Rev. Michele Gentry, Rev. Dr. Marcus Hayes, Rev. Dr. Mark Hester, Dr. Maurice Ottinger, and Rev. Glen Watts. The Board spent time getting oriented to the work led by the GA Special Committee as well as the closure and status of Memphis Theological Seminary. One of the first tasks was to elect officers for the executive committee - Moderator is Amanda Batts, Vice Moderator is Barry Anderson, and Secretary is Bobby Coleman; additional members are Mark Hester and Kathy Wood-Dobbins. In addition, there are three board members working with Mr. Jaime Jordan (legal counsel for the denomination) to finalize the By-laws.

The Board then self-divided among the four focus areas – Theological Education (Anderson, Hayes, Watts), Program of Alternate Studies (Hester, Campbell, Gentry), Lay Ministry (Ottinger, Batts, Coleman), and CP House of Studies (Wood-Dobbins and Castleman). These four work groups will meet online in September to continue their organizational work.

The Board voted to call the Rev. Dr. Pam Phillips-Burk as part-time interim Executive Director (six months) to help get the board organized and begin a search process for the full-time Executive Director. Rev. Dr. Phillips-Burk will continue her work as the Pastoral Development Ministry Team Leader with the Ministry Council.

The Board is blessed with strong leadership among its members who come from a variety of perspectives and experiences. They are excited about this new work and the possibilities it will have for the education and leadership development with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Board is scheduled to meet again in person in October.

08/31/2026

Symposium Early Bird Registration Ends August 31

To get the best rate register TODAY because on September 1st the registration fee will increase to $175!
The Symposium will be held at the Lifeline CP Church in Fort Worth, TX.

The schedule is
Thursday, Nov. 5 - Registration opens at 2 PM followed by workshops, dinner (included in fee), and opening worship in the evening.
Friday, Nov. 6 - Workshops throughout the day, lunch (included in fee), and worship. Dinner will be on your own.
Saturday, Nov. 7 - Plenary session and closing worship will bring the Symposium to a close. The event will conclude before noon.

Visit the Symposium webpage to register, to learn more about the workshops, and to access the hotel booking link.
https://cpcmc.org/the-symposium/

08/26/2026

https://cpcmc.org/from-call-to-care/

08/21/2026

Colombia: Ten Days After the Earthquake

By Rev. Dr. Milton Ortiz

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

Ten days after the earthquake that struck Colombia, the magnitude of the disaster remains evident. Reports indicate 314 deaths, 4,437 people injured, and 262 people missing. In total, 472 municipalities were affected, impacting approximately 262,000 people.

The damage to infrastructure is extensive: 127,608 homes were damaged and 29,000 were destroyed, with 197 buildings collapsing. In addition, 300 health centers, 3,200 educational facilities, 4,000 community centers, 410 roads, 95 water systems, 48 vehicle bridges, 13 pedestrian bridges, and 5 airports were affected. The economic and social impact will be significant and will require a long-term recovery effort.

Cumberland Presbyterian Churches

Cumberland Presbyterian congregations in Colombia have also been affected. Current assessments indicate four churches cannot be used because of major damage:

• Caleb – Cali, Cauca Valley
• Emaus – Buenaventura, Cauca Valley
• Armenia – Armenia, Andes
• Pereira – Pereira, Andes

Several other congregations can continue to be used, but with restrictions because of damage or safety concerns:

• Misión Morales – Cauca, Cauca Valley
• Bethel Siloé – Cali, Cauca Valley
• Ríos de Agua Viva – Buenaventura, Cauca Valley
• Los Angeles – Buenaventura, Cauca Valley
• Central Cali – Cali, Cauca Valley
• Quimbaya – Quimbaya, Andes
• Dosquebradas – Dosquebradas, Andes
• Central Medellín – Medellín, Emaus

Other churches remain usable but have sustained damage:

• Rey de Reyes – Tuluá, Cauca Valley
• Renacer – Cali, Cauca Valley
• Divino Redentor – Buenaventura, Cauca Valley
• Samaria – Cali, Cauca Valley

There are also two rented church facilities that cannot currently be used:

• Rionegro – Antioquia, Emaus
• Occidente Pereira – Pereira, Emaus

These congregations will need continued assessment, pastoral support, and assistance with temporary meeting spaces, repairs, and reconstruction.

Cumberland Presbyterian Schools

The three Colegios Americanos in Colombia are not currently operating.

• Cali – Colegio: The school chapel was damaged and is currently not operating.
• Pereira – Colegio: The school building sustained damage, including the building used by the Pereira church.
• Manizales – Colegio: The school building was not affected by the earthquake; however, the school is not currently operating.

Beyond the physical damage, the schools are likely to face significant financial difficulties. Many families have been economically affected by the earthquake, which may reduce their ability to pay tuition and other educational expenses. This could create additional financial pressure on the schools even after their facilities are ready to reopen.

The Road Ahead

For the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Colombia, the recovery will involve more than repairing buildings. Churches and schools will need to support affected families, provide safe places for worship and education, restore damaged facilities, and respond to the economic consequences of the disaster.

The coming weeks will require careful assessment, coordination, and solidarity among congregations, presbyteries, schools, and the wider Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The immediate priority is to ensure that people are safe and that congregations and schools have the resources needed to resume their ministries as soon as possible.

The Missions Ministry Team is receiving donations to support emergency relief efforts.

Your gift will help provide much-needed aid and share Christ’s love in this time of crisis. If you feel led to help, please consider donating to support relief efforts:

By Mail:

Missions Ministry Team – Colombia Earthquake
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

Online Giving:

DONATE via Tithely. Click on Disaster Relief and indicate in the Memo it is for Colombia Earthquake.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgive.tithe.ly%2F%3FformId%3Df0f9d8e2-c5b6-4016-ab2d-37e167b76794%26fbclid%3DIwcGRvZgVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5RXQ5VTkxQ1hKZmJkbVNSc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHugghk1zbAYBJceX60N67MOP4PX-mKxM4xGquLFAyQJar1xHhA61Sb2XujQx_aem_E383wEQ5ijEjxQriDj1ohw&h=AUDqUc-aVKuNw51HSFkaWohi8J6ASvrznBkjt-TpmtUOnk5LYIb14Kyq7t3uECDR9xTcpsDzmwbhp69OlhlThyxgdK2S8g3te18p-a3lPZC-LTRZuUM9YTCamNwtMfEt0XDS311hkvXTcHkXOSWCNGD0Q9BvTA&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5b0%5d=AUAI-lJRTMXP4fU_akme-2zJd60zK6QrFRyrW_R1GbcUxRM10CoMMahsvoqdYwXNHr2kOxVe2f1WSwcodQgaiMhsTM9TEq8wno_0Y-rAbkkyT8R25j2NIOOsXo81n3DxskbQE29gKpxHLgBTXkR9qRSBH_zcCCXkTFxbXFhcFwhObj_B6HZwXl7WpHtBT8FZMfQabA4myiXFnzupwUbLYk0Vbw

08/18/2026

Alba Cornelia Swain

Cornelia Swain's family, friends, and congregation are touched by the number of inquiries about her funeral arrangements. It is comforting to know so many people want to honor her. If you knew Cornelia it will be no surprise that she prearranged to donate her body for research and medical training. With no need to rush, her family is trying to decide when it is best to hold a memorial service; it will most likely be on a Saturday on October or November at Faith CP Church in Bartlett, Tennessee. The decision, when made, will be widely announced.

Andy McClung, Cornelia's pastor

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

Alba Cornelia Swain, 93, of Memphis, Tennessee, died August 18, 2026. She was a member of Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Cornerstone Presbytery) in Bartlett, Tennessee, where she served as an elder and in innumerable other ways. She was a longtime Cumberland Presbyterian denominational leader, Christian educator, writer, and advocate for women's and lay ministry. Raised in Jerusalem Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Murfreesboro Presbytery) in rural Middle Tennessee, Swain credited the small congregation with nurturing her Christian faith and her call to Christian service.

She became involved in denominational women's work by the 1960s and went on to serve the Cumberland Presbyterian Church professionally in Christian education, lay ministry, and women's ministry. She served in denominational Women's Ministry for more than 25 years before retiring in 2002. Swain's influence continued well beyond retirement through teaching, writing, congregational consulting, and ecumenical service. Endowments bearing her name support Cumberland Presbyterian Women's Ministry and Christian education, extending the work to which she devoted much of her life. A longtime member of Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Swain was also known for her remarkable collection of more than 1,600 Nativity sets from around the world. Her life and ministry reflected a conviction formed in a small rural Cumberland Presbyterian congregation and carried throughout the denomination: Christian discipleship calls every believer to service.

Look for an extensive profile of Cornelia in the September/October Cumberland Presbyterian magazine.

08/11/2026

Colombia Earthquake Update August 11, 2026

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

The powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds more as search-and-rescue efforts continue across the region.

Several Cumberland Presbyterian churches are among the structures affected. Damage has been confirmed at Pereira Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Rionegro Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Armenia Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Caleb Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Cali Central Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The extent of the damage and any injuries to church members have not yet been fully determined.

Colombian authorities continue to assess damage while emergency crews search collapsed buildings and restore transportation and utility services in some of the country's hardest-hit communities.

Staff at Colegio Americano in Cali continue to evaluate the condition of their facilities.

08/10/2026

Powerful 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Western Colombia, Affecting Region with Cumberland Presbyterian Congregations

C P news: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

SAN JOSÉ DEL PALMAR, Colombia (Aug. 10, 2026) — A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia Monday morning, sending strong tremors across much of the country and into neighboring Ecuador and Panama. The earthquake affected regions where the Cumberland Presbyterian Church maintains congregations and mission work, and at least one church has reported damage.

The earthquake occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time (12:34 UTC) with an epicenter approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of San José del Palmar in Colombia's Chocó Department. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake originated at a depth of 107 kilometers (66 miles), a relatively deep focus that likely lessened surface damage while allowing the shaking to be felt across a wide geographic area.

Strong tremors were reported throughout western and central Colombia, including Bogotá, where buildings were evacuated as alarms sounded. Residents in neighboring Ecuador and Panama also reported feeling the earthquake.

Pereira Cumberland Presbyterian Church has reported damage to its facilities, although the full extent of the damage has not yet been determined. Denominational leaders continue to communicate with pastors and church leaders across Colombia to determine whether additional congregations have been affected.

Early reports from Colombian authorities indicated no widespread catastrophic damage in Bogotá, although some buildings sustained cracking. Officials continue to assess conditions closer to the epicenter, where the strongest shaking occurred.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake is classified as a major earthquake. Events of this size are capable of causing severe damage over large areas, particularly if they occur near population centers or at shallow depths. Each whole-number increase on the moment magnitude scale represents approximately 32 times more energy released than the previous magnitude. Consequently, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake releases roughly 180 times more energy than a magnitude 6.4 earthquake and nearly 1,000 times more energy than a magnitude 5.4 event.

Because this earthquake occurred more than 100 kilometers beneath the Earth's surface, its seismic waves traveled long distances, causing it to be felt across several nations while reducing the intensity of shaking compared to a similar earthquake occurring at a shallow depth.

Members of the Cumberland Presbyterian family are encouraged to remember the people of Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama in prayer, especially those whose homes, churches, and communities have been affected. The denomination will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available regarding its congregations and ministries in Colombia.

Please join us in praying for the people of Venezuela following the recent earthquake.

The Missions Ministry Team is receiving donations to support emergency relief efforts.

Your gift will help provide much-needed aid and share Christ’s love in this time of crisis. If you feel led to help, please consider donating to support relief efforts:

By Mail:

Missions Ministry Team — Colombia Earthquake
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

Online Giving:

DONATE via Tithely. Click on Disaster Relief and indicate in the Memo it is for Colombia Earthquake.

https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=f0f9d8e2-c5b6-4016-ab2d-37e167b76794

08/09/2026

Begins August 11. Register Today - https://cpcmc.org/from-call-to-care/

From Call to Care is a new Mentoring Program for "fairly" new ordained ministers (within the past 2-3 years). Monthly online gatherings for about 60 minutes. Led by seasoned pastors. Topics include Worship, Preaching weekly, Dealing with Conflict, Moderating Session, Participating in Presbytery, Funerals, Sacraments, Pastoral Care, and whatever "bubbles up" in each session.

08/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BsGU8YLxp/