Middle TN Presbytery Meeting Notes from August 6, 2026
By Nancy Loudermilk
I attended the MidTN Presbytery meeting on Thursday, August 6, at Bellevue Presbyterian as PLPC’s delegate. Being the procedural- and compliance-brain person that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. After confirming that a quorum was present and approving the minutes from the prior meeting, the Presbytery gathered for worship, as it does at all of its meetings. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Eddie Bellis, interim pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. The music was beautiful, and Rev. Bellis left us with this charge: “You are known, loved, and sent. Now drink the living water and go where He sends you.” What a fitting message for each of us—and for all of us—as we seek what God is calling us to in our personal lives and as the body of Christ known as PLPC.
Following worship, committee reports were given. While all were important, two especially stood out to me. First, Ms. Suzanne Cornett spoke about the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, Alabama. Founded in 1868 in Selma, Alabama, the ministry has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of the community. This reminded me that, just as Jesus met people where they were in life, the Church is called to meet the needs of the people it serves. The Home provides a place for single mothers and their minor children to live while the mothers work toward stability. Children attend neighborhood schools, while their mothers may pursue a GED, college, or trade school. They also receive support through financial-literacy classes, job training, grocery and meal planning, and other practical resources. There is also a smaller program for young women ages 19–22 who have aged out of foster care, as well as the Robinson Family Unity Program, which helps women returning from incarceration rebuild their lives and work toward regaining custody of their children. Talladega is part of our Synod, the Synod of the Living Waters.
Another significant item came from the PAC, which put forward a motion—seconded and approved by the body—that allows churches from other denominations to apply for membership in the Presbytery. Following appropriate due diligence, those congregations may become part of the Presbytery. This was especially interesting to me. I see it as a sign of the times, when past rigidity is less important than welcoming and uniting with one another to further the mission to which we are called.
Personally, I enjoyed seeing friends from my home church, First Presbyterian Church in Tullahoma. Our own Dave Nock serves on the Presbytery’s Committee on Leadership
Excellence and is faithfully present at as many Presbytery meetings as he can attend. I also had a brief check-in with John Hilley, pastor of East Brentwood, who previously served PLPC as an interim pastor. Finally, I ran into Jesse King, who served for a year as a resident ministry assistant at PLPC. She now serves in youth ministry at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville and plans to attend Princeton Seminary in two years.
I look forward to the next meeting in early November.
Following worship, committee reports were given. While all were important, two especially stood out to me. First, Ms. Suzanne Cornett spoke about the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, Alabama. Founded in 1868 in Selma, Alabama, the ministry has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of the community. This reminded me that, just as Jesus met people where they were in life, the Church is called to meet the needs of the people it serves. The Home provides a place for single mothers and their minor children to live while the mothers work toward stability. Children attend neighborhood schools, while their mothers may pursue a GED, college, or trade school. They also receive support through financial-literacy classes, job training, grocery and meal planning, and other practical resources. There is also a smaller program for young women ages 19–22 who have aged out of foster care, as well as the Robinson Family Unity Program, which helps women returning from incarceration rebuild their lives and work toward regaining custody of their children. Talladega is part of our Synod, the Synod of the Living Waters.
Another significant item came from the PAC, which put forward a motion—seconded and approved by the body—that allows churches from other denominations to apply for membership in the Presbytery. Following appropriate due diligence, those congregations may become part of the Presbytery. This was especially interesting to me. I see it as a sign of the times, when past rigidity is less important than welcoming and uniting with one another to further the mission to which we are called.
Personally, I enjoyed seeing friends from my home church, First Presbyterian Church in Tullahoma. Our own Dave Nock serves on the Presbytery’s Committee on Leadership
Excellence and is faithfully present at as many Presbytery meetings as he can attend. I also had a brief check-in with John Hilley, pastor of East Brentwood, who previously served PLPC as an interim pastor. Finally, I ran into Jesse King, who served for a year as a resident ministry assistant at PLPC. She now serves in youth ministry at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville and plans to attend Princeton Seminary in two years.
I look forward to the next meeting in early November.
Principles
by Dave Nock
What does it mean to “have principles?”
Principles of Jesus.
Jesus didn’t just have principles; He embodied a coherent, consistent, and radical framework for life that shaped His teaching, His relationships, and His mission. When you look across the Gospels, His principles aren’t abstract ideas — they’re lived commitments that redefine what it means to be human, to lead, and to love.
Principles of the Presbyterian church
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is built on a clear set of theological and organizational principles that shape how it worships, governs, and serves. These principles aren’t random rules — they flow from Reformed theology, Scripture, and centuries of shared discernment. Think of them as the core commitments that define Presbyterian identity. Presbyterian principles center on God’s sovereignty, the authority of Scripture, shared leadership, ordered governance, and a life shaped by grace, justice, and service.
Principles of Emergency Management
The principles of emergency management are the foundational ideas that guide how communities prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. They’re not just academic concepts — they shape real-world decisions, leadership, and coordination. They’re about risk, interdependence, coordination, and stewardship. They are:
Principles of Life
The principles of life aren’t a single official list — they’re the deep, recurring patterns that show up across philosophy, Scripture, psychology, leadership, and lived human experience. When you synthesize them, you get a set of guiding commitments that helps a person live with clarity, purpose, resilience, and integrity. The principles of life revolve around meaning, relationships, character, stewardship, and growth — the things that make a human life coherent and good.
Principles of Jesus.
Jesus didn’t just have principles; He embodied a coherent, consistent, and radical framework for life that shaped His teaching, His relationships, and His mission. When you look across the Gospels, His principles aren’t abstract ideas — they’re lived commitments that redefine what it means to be human, to lead, and to love.
- Love God with your whole being
- Love your neighbor as yourself
- Love your enemies
- Love through service and sacrifice
Principles of the Presbyterian church
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is built on a clear set of theological and organizational principles that shape how it worships, governs, and serves. These principles aren’t random rules — they flow from Reformed theology, Scripture, and centuries of shared discernment. Think of them as the core commitments that define Presbyterian identity. Presbyterian principles center on God’s sovereignty, the authority of Scripture, shared leadership, ordered governance, and a life shaped by grace, justice, and service.
- Worship (God-centered, not personality-centered)
- Leadership (humility, not self-importance)
- Mission (trust in God’s work, not human control)
Principles of Emergency Management
The principles of emergency management are the foundational ideas that guide how communities prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. They’re not just academic concepts — they shape real-world decisions, leadership, and coordination. They’re about risk, interdependence, coordination, and stewardship. They are:
- Comprehensive
- Risk Driven
- Integrated
- Collaborative
- Coordinated
- Flexible
- Professional
- Ethical
- Community
- Grounded in stewardship and justice
Principles of Life
The principles of life aren’t a single official list — they’re the deep, recurring patterns that show up across philosophy, Scripture, psychology, leadership, and lived human experience. When you synthesize them, you get a set of guiding commitments that helps a person live with clarity, purpose, resilience, and integrity. The principles of life revolve around meaning, relationships, character, stewardship, and growth — the things that make a human life coherent and good.
TOMORROW!
Saturday
August 22, 2026
All men of the church are invited to gather for breakfast and fellowship. During this meeting we’ll also finalize plans for the Annual Labor Day Bar‑Be‑Que.
If you’re helping with any part of the BBQ, please make every effort to attend — your input is important as we wrap up the details.
If you’re helping with any part of the BBQ, please make every effort to attend — your input is important as we wrap up the details.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
(we are skipping the 3 Thursday in August)
5:30 – 6:45 PM
Our next gathering will continue Life Changing Love by John Ortberg as we explore Chapters 11 & 12 (pages 184–211), which bring this wonderful book to its conclusion. This week’s themes — “God Searches for Hiding People” and “The Ragged God” — invite us to reflect on the ways God meets us in our most vulnerable places and draws us toward grace.
Come ready for thoughtful conversation, shared insight, and the joy of finishing this study together.
Come ready for thoughtful conversation, shared insight, and the joy of finishing this study together.
Upcoming Stuff to put on your calendar
Saturday, August 29, 2026
9am - Noon
District 29 Community Cleanup and Bulk Item Drop-off
There will be bulk-item drop-off in the parking lot of Compton's Foodland (2808 Old Smith Springs Road)
There will be bulk-item drop-off in the parking lot of Compton's Foodland (2808 Old Smith Springs Road)
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
9am - Noon
PLPC Volunteer Day at The Branch
Click here to Register on-line to volunteer
Questions: Amy Aviles or Jeff Binns
Click here to Register on-line to volunteer
Questions: Amy Aviles or Jeff Binns
Monday, September 7, 2026
Church Office Closed
LABOR DAY
LABOR DAY
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
7:00pm
Choir Practice Resumes
Enter down the ramp/ side door to the Education/SS Classrooms
WE WELCOME NEW VOICES!
More info - Amy Aviles
Enter down the ramp/ side door to the Education/SS Classrooms
WE WELCOME NEW VOICES!
More info - Amy Aviles
OCTOBER
Come to the Table
Resumes October 13 - 11:30 am
More Info Soon
Resumes October 13 - 11:30 am
More Info Soon
NOVEMBER
Annual Church Bonfire
November 1, 2026
More information to Come
November 1, 2026
More information to Come
Bring a favorite dessert to share — homemade or store‑bought, all are welcome
