Welcome to the September 2025 edition of Together, the online newsletter of The Fellowship Community.
Political violence, divisiveness, and global conflicts continue to fill our newsfeed. Yet we have a particular calling to be on mission with God to address brokenness in this world, to stand with the vulnerable, to demonstrate the reality of God’s kingdom, to help our churches to be vital witnesses, to display Christ-like character, to match the clarity of our convictions with empathy and compassion, and to display authentic Christian community to each other and to the world.
TFC is committed to connecting to one another with a clarity of our convictions and calling to God’s purposes for the church in the world in every context and generation. I believe the writer of Hebrews understood the significance of our work together based on the faithful, covenantal work of God through Jesus.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25
I’m very excited to share with you articles in this newsletter to encourage you in ministry.
This month we welcome three great TFC friends and partners: Mark Mueller from The Outreach Foundation, Ethan Collins from Frontier Fellowship, and Andrew Adair from The Antioch Partners, who share some great opportunities for us to connect with each other and global centers of mission.
Advisory board member Dan Baumgartner always has a pastoral word (thanks, Dan!) and board President Timothy Scoonover shares some perspective on how we can faithfully prepare officers and candidates for examinations.
We have a new page on our website that identifies regional gatherings in all six regions of the TFC family.
Next month we will include an update on our Leadership Pipeline initiative to identify and nurture future leaders and to partner together as churches to grow younger. Mark your calendars for the TFC National Gathering April 28-30 in Zionsville, IN. The program team is excited to announce Kara Powell from Fuller Seminary and co-author of Future-Focused Church as a featured speaker. And I am excited to host the pastor pre-gathering on April 27. Registration will open soon.
In all the noise, the complexity of issues, the discouragement of ministry, let’s pray for each other, build each other up, and deepen our friendships in ministry.
Together in Christ, |
Mike McClenahan TFC Executive Director |
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Regional Connections Opportunities to Connect with TFC |
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Zoom Gathering Third Thursday of each month 10:00 - 11:00 am eastern |
| Zoom Gathering for DFW area leaders Third Thursday of each month 2:00 pm central |
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Zoom Gathering Second Thursday of each month 1:00 - 2:00 pm pacific |
| In-person Gathering Thursday, October 2 Presbyterian Church of the Master Mission Viejo, CA 11:30 am - 2:00 pm pacific $20 for lunch |
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Zoom Gathering Thursday, September 18 4:00 - 5:00 pm eastern |
| Zoom Gathering Third Thursday of each month 1:00-2:00 pm eastern |
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Jesus told his followers they would be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). Witness. Just tell what you’ve seen, heard, experienced. So Peter stands up to talk to a bunch of people he doesn’t know. Peter the failure. Peter the denier. Peter who betrayed his Lord. Peter the coward. He’s the witness. And what follows, of course, is Peter’s first sermon. He pulls no punches, lays it all out there–Jesus betrayed, Jesus crucified, Jesus resurrected, the sending of the Spirit by Jesus. Peter even tells the gathered people they have personal responsibility for Jesus’ death, and mentions the wicked state of their lives. Peter may be a rookie preacher, but he does pretty well–people listening are cut to the heart and gasp out “What should we do?”
TFC Advisory Board member Dan Baumgartner reminds us of our simple calling: to be a witness. |
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Frontier Fellowship
Dear Fellowship Community Friends,
God is moving along the frontiers! Jesus said in John 5:17, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (ESV) At Frontier Fellowship we are seeing God move. I am excited to share this frontier mission update with you and want to personally invite you and your church to join us on an upcoming frontier mission trip! We praise God for you and are looking forward to deepening our partnership with The Fellowship Community.
We currently serve global partners in the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Horn of Africa. We are very excited about new ministry opportunities being opened for us in the Persian world, the Sahel region of Africa, and in Bangladesh.
If your church has a heart for one of these regions or is already serving in one of these regions and you would like to know more about how your church could get connected, please reach out to us at info@frontierfellowship.com or (612) 869-0062.
Two opportunities for you to join us on an upcoming Frontier Fellowship global trip: 1. Egypt. June 2026. This trip will introduce you to several of our Egyptian partners and will also include being part of an Egyptian missions conference. The church in Egypt is being stirred up and is now sending out Egyptian missionaries to the Arabic-speaking, Muslim nations around them! We believe we are living in a historic movement of the Holy Spirit. We'd love to have you come see it! 2. Turkey/Central Asia Consultation. March 2026. Hundreds of church leaders from Central Asia gather each year in Turkey to share how the Lord is moving in their countries. We also lead teams into Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan) as part of this trip. Join us to see how God is moving in this unreached part of our world!
We are praying for you as you lead your teams and your congregations. May the Lord bless you in your faithful leadership!
Ethan Collins Executive Director, Frontier Fellowship |
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A Note from TFC Board President Timothy Scoonover
In July 2025 the amendments 24A and 24C were ratified by a majority of the presbyteries and now there is important work for us to do to live into the examinations of elders, deacons, and pastors.
Here’s what we know:
- Denominational leadership is unlikely to provide further clarity as to what the amendments mean or what is required prior to the next General Assembly.
- There are no new vows to answer or any required answers of any questions.
- There is still a great deal of uncertainty, and we do best when we are in conversation with each other in uncertain times.
- The amendments hold up Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, including “freedom of conscience” and “mutual forbearance”, and the new expanded language of non-discrimination still includes “theological conviction.”
- The resources and guidance we provided at our 2025 National Gathering Discussion of the Amendments are still current and can be accessed here.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how to move forward. It will vary from presbytery to presbytery, even session to session. But we do believe there are themes that are important regardless of your context. |
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The Outreach Foundation
For 47 years The Outreach Foundation has had the privilege of helping pastors and members of PCUSA churches form trusted partnerships with the global church. Our vision is to raise up a new generation of church leaders who will keep Christ’s global mission at the front of their missional focus. We do this with nearly 100 trusted partners in 60 countries, and that list is expanding! We especially invite Presbyterian Churches in the Fellowship Community to join us in 2026!
In next month’s newsletter we will provide details of an opportunity in Pakistan with two of our trusted partners: Forman Christian University and College and PAK Mission Society February 8-18.
Together in Mission! Tom Boone, Associate Director of Mission Strategy Doug Stewart, Associate Director of Mission Partnerships Mark Mueller, Executive Director |
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Welcome, Brittany!
TFC is thrilled to announce that we have hired Brittany Kirkpatrick to serve as the Coordinator for our 2026 National Gathering! Brittany and her family live in WA State, where her husband serves as the pastor at Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church. Brittany has enjoyed having the flexibility to serve in their church community through various involvements with children’s ministry, VBS, preschool, young family ministries, and as a deacon. Up until accepting this position, Brittany has felt fortunate to be home with their two children: Leif (5) and Noemi (3). Before having kids, she served as a 7th grade ELA & Leadership teacher. While her husband was at Fuller Seminary back in 2013-15, they found community at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood and have been thankful for friendships that have continued from that time. She is looking forward to forming connections within The Fellowship Community and serving alongside such caring leaders and brothers and sisters in the faith. |
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The Antioch Partners
TAP is excited about the privilege of partnering with TFC and serving TFC churches. We believe every follower of Jesus is called to live on mission with God, and for those called to long-term, cross-cultural, incarnational engagement, special support structures are needed, and that’s what TAP exists to provide. We serve local churches in the assessment, training, sending and support of those called to long-term mission service. TAP is committed to helping these servants thrive in their ministry contexts so they can accomplish all God is calling them to do. The TAP community is passionate about God’s global purpose in Christ, and we look forward to partnering with TFC as together “We demonstrate the Kingdom of God and invite our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus!” Click here to learn more about TAP or email Teri, TAP’s HR Director. In Christ, Andrew Adair Executive Director, The Antioch Partners |
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A Note from TFC Board Secretary Cynthia Betz-Bogoly |
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Many presbyteries have already opened nominations for General Assembly Commissioners for the 227th GA of the PCUSA to be held at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 22-July 2, 2026. Please consider self-nomination or nominating your colleagues, pastors and ruling elders, to serve as commissioners or YADs on behalf of your presbytery's delegation. The Fellowship Community provides prayer, collegial support on-site at GA, as well as information to assist in debates and discernment for our TFC friends at General Assembly and in the weeks of preparation leading up to GA. We want to continue to support your involvement in the leadership of our denomination as an evangelical voice. |
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TFC is committed to helping churches find compatible leaders - and vice versa! To that end, we invite you to check out the "Find a Call" page on our website, where you can see a variety of open positions throughout the country. We have received quite a few new postings recently, so be sure to stay connected!
If you would like to post a position on our site, please send us an email. All positions welcome - pastoral, administrative, mission service, etc.
We are also looking for ways to improve this feature, so please think about how we might serve best in this area and send us any ideas or feedback. |
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Do you have an idea for a future story? Are you involved in a ministry others need to know about? Let us know, and we'll include it in a future month's Together!
Are you interested in learning more or becoming part of the Fellowship Community? Click here for more information. |
Thanks for reading and connecting with us. Reach out with any questions, and know that we are praying for you and your ministry. |
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Board Members Timothy Scoonover - President Cynthia Betz-Bogoly - Secretary Jim Witherow - Treasurer Paul Cunningham John Fullerton Eric Hoey Sung Joo |
| John Joseph Jennifer Kenney Daniel Ko Tamara Mitchell Clint Tolbert Jonathan Tony Jason Tucker Jill WIlliams |
| Staff Mike McClenahan - Executive Director Ray Garcia - Coordinator for Connections & Recruitment Andrea Hall - Administrative Coordinator Brittany Kirkpatrick - National Gathering Coordinator |
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