Tri-Presbytery Meeting

At a special called meeting on Saturday, August 9^th, at First Presbyterian Church in Norman, Eastern Oklahoma and Indian Nations Presbyteries joined with Cimarron Presbytery in approving two motions to move forward the process of creating a new, statewide Oklahoma Presbytery. (Cimarron Presbytery had approved the two motions at an earlier meeting.)

In separate meetings, Eastern Oklahoma and Indian Nations commissioners approved a motion to commit to joining together (along with Cimarron Presbytery) in the process of together constructing and creating a new Oklahoma Presbytery. They also agreed, as a sign of unity and commitment, to meet with the other current Oklahoma Presbyteries on these dates:

• Nov 14-15, 2025 at Sequoyah Lodge in Hulbert, OK, hosted by EOP

• Feb 21, 2026 hosted by Cimarron Presbytery

• May 1-2, 2026 hosted by Indian Nations Presbytery,

• August 8, 2026 meeting (location TBA)

• November 6-7, 2026 meeting (location TBA)

You can see more pictures on our Instagram feed at: https://www.instagram.com/inpresbytery/ You do not need an Instragram account to view the pictures.

While an affirmative vote commits the Presbyteries to intentional conversation about the creation of a new Oklahoma Presbytery, there will be other points along the timeline that will require affirmation to go forward.

The Oklahoma Presbytery Task Force, which brought forth the motions approved on Saturday, has been meeting for almost two years to consider plans for the future. It has suggested that the three Presbyteries spend most of the next year exploring possible paths forward and details of a new Oklahoma Presbytery.

That work will include the formation of working groups: Communication, Creating Community, Finances, Structure/Administrative, and Personnel. These work groups would be populated with individuals from each of the three presbyteries. The work groups would be moderated by current members of the Task Force, and the efforts coordinated by the Task Force. Their work would come back to the three presbyteries for approval.  During discussion at Saturday’s meeting, commissioners also urged the addition of a Mission work group.

The suggestion to add a Mission work group followed a presentation by the Rev. Dr. Sallie Watson, associate director for Mid-Council relations for the PC(USA), who spoke about her experience in an unsuccessful unification of the two Presbyteries in New Mexico. Watson said key considerations for bringing together Presbyteries are geography, cultures, clarity of the envisioned mission of the new entity, staffing, and money. She said mission ought to be the top priority, and warned of the danger of money – or lack of resources – as the driving force toward consolidation.

The Task Force does not have decisive powers to act or create. Rather, it does have suggestive power and will offer frameworks as starting points. The Task Force’s goal is to empower commissioners and presbyteries to participate in the decision-making process.  From the work of the Task Force over the last two years, it plans to sketch out plans going forward and empower the workgroups to explore the details and join in developing the various recommendations to come before the Presbyteries.

Once the three Oklahoma Presbyteries have agreed on the details of the new Oklahoma Presbytery, they will motion the Synod of the Sun and General Assembly Administrative Commission on Mid-Councils to officially form the new presbytery.

During opening worship at Saturday’s meeting, the Rev., Tony Larson, Co-Moderator of the 226^th and 227^thGeneral Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (USA), preaching on the story of Elijah and Elisha (1^st & 2^nd Kings) and Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-62), urged commissioners not to be distracted or dissuaded by excuses in following the Spirit.

The offering during Saturday’s worship service was designated for the Norman Coalition for Refugee Support, a non-profit comprised of seven churches, including FPC Norman and Memorial Presbyterian in Norman, and numerous volunteers working together to resettle and support refugees in Norman. Currently, NCRS works with more than 100 new neighbors from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala, Ukraine and Venezuela. NCRS hosted summer STEM activities for 10 Afghan 3^rd-5^th graders. Through a grant from INP, NCRS hosted its third year of summer school for 16 secondary Afghan students. Five Afghan students graduated from high school and four plan to attend post-secondary schools in the fall. This fall, 53 backpacks for Pre-K through 12^th-graders were blessed, packed and distributed to 14 families. In addition to education support, NCRS assists with employment, finances, individual family needs, housing, learning English, legal and transportation needs.

The Tri-Presbytery meeting raised $1,315 in the offering for NCRS

In a separate specially called meeting, INP commissioners approved the sale by Memorial Presbyterian Church of Norman of its building and property. The congregation is currently seeking a new home in which it will nest and continue its work, worship, mission and ministry.