Bonhoeffer for Today? Things to learn—and maybe not learn—from his political writings

October 23, 2025

Columbia Theological Seminary - Harrington Center
701 S Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

During complicated political times, few theologians get weaponized more fiercely or misread more easily than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. But who was Bonhoeffer? What did he say and do? And how might we interpret him thoughtfully, accurately, and usefully for our present political moment?

This symposium draws together an international group of scholars to address these and other questions. Join us for workshops, a keynote lecture with Lori Brandt Hale, a screening of the Journey Films movie Bonhoeffer, and a panel discussion exploring the legacy and current relevance of this compelling figure at the intersection of faith and politics.

Info/Registration: https://events.ctsnet.edu/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x7088abcd

Town Hall: Agape Fellowship

Join Presbytery staff and leadership to learn about the Regional-Strategic Model and how our staff, commissions, and committees are shifting engagement with our congregations and leaders. In this shift, we are encouraging congregations in our Presbytery to explore deeper ways to connect with one another, support one another, and to discern how God is calling each of us to work together in ministry and mission.

Choose one of the following sessions. Content is the same in both.

• Oct 14, 2025 07:00 PM

• Oct 23, 2025 10:00 AM

Candler welcomes systematic theologian and philosopher of religion Sarah Coakley as the 2025-2026 Alonzo L. McDonald Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Life and Teachings of Jesus and Their Impact on Culture. In two public lectures set for October, Coakley will explore why “mysticism” still fascinates many, both inside and outside the churches. She will also address the 20th century’s development of several influential theories of mysticism that distorted the goals of classic Christian “mystical theology” while simultaneously adding new insights which endure.

Boxed lunches will be provided for registered in-person attendees.

Register below to attend these free events in person or online.

WED. OCTOBER 15 - 11:00 AM - “Revisiting Modern Christian ‘Mysticism’: What Did the 20th Century Mean by It, and Why Does it Still Matter?”

TUES. OCTOBER 21 - 4:00 PM - “Returning to Classic ‘Mystical Theology’: Why Contemplation and Apophasis Are Important for Contemporary Political Theology”

For more information, please email cstevents@emory.edu.

Installation of Rachel Breyer Mulgrave

Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 4 PM
Johns Creek Presbyterian Church

Join us as we celebrate the Installation of Rev. Rachel Breyer Mulgrave as Co-Pastor at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church. The service will take place at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 4 PM.

An offering is to be received to benefit the Emergency Fund for Pastors.

Installation of Shawn Thomas Smith

Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 3 PM
Northminster Presbyterian Church

Join us as we celebrate the Installation of Rev. Shawn Thomas Smith as Pastor at Northminster Presbyterian Church. The service will take place at Northminster Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 3 PM.

An offering is to be received to benefit the Emergency Fund for Pastors.

🔥🍲 3rd Annual Calvin Center Chili Cook-Off 🍲🔥

🗓Saturday, October 18

⏰12–3 PM 

Bring the whole family for an afternoon packed with:

🌶️ Delicious chili tastings

🎶 Live music

🥏 Corn Hole competition

❤️ Fun for all ages

Every bite and every game supports Calvin Center Programs—so come hungry and ready for a good time!

The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta requires all ministers of the Word and Sacrament and commissioned ruling elders, including members at large, ministers serving in a validated ministry, and retired ministers serving a church in any Presbytery-approved relationship, to take the Presbytery’s Boundaries Training once every three years.

For more information about Boundaries Training and/or to register, click the button below.

Candler welcomes systematic theologian and philosopher of religion Sarah Coakley as the 2025-2026 Alonzo L. McDonald Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Life and Teachings of Jesus and Their Impact on Culture. In two public lectures set for October, Coakley will explore why “mysticism” still fascinates many, both inside and outside the churches. She will also address the 20th century’s development of several influential theories of mysticism that distorted the goals of classic Christian “mystical theology” while simultaneously adding new insights which endure.

Boxed lunches will be provided for registered in-person attendees.

Register below to attend these free events in person or online.

WED. OCTOBER 15 - 11:00 AM - “Revisiting Modern Christian ‘Mysticism’: What Did the 20th Century Mean by It, and Why Does it Still Matter?”

TUES. OCTOBER 21 - 4:00 PM - “Returning to Classic ‘Mystical Theology’: Why Contemplation and Apophasis Are Important for Contemporary Political Theology”

For more information, please email cstevents@emory.edu.

Town Hall: Agape Fellowship

Join Presbytery staff and leadership to learn about the Regional-Strategic Model and how our staff, commissions, and committees are shifting engagement with our congregations and leaders. In this shift, we are encouraging congregations in our Presbytery to explore deeper ways to connect with one another, support one another, and to discern how God is calling each of us to work together in ministry and mission.

Choose one of the following sessions. Content is the same in both.

• Oct 14, 2025 07:00 PM

• Oct 23, 2025 10:00 AM

Service of Organization: Zo Presbyterian Church

Sunday, October 12, 2025
2:30 PM

Held at North Decatur Presbyterian Church
611 Medlock Rd.
Decatur, GA 30033

New Worshiping Community Highlight: Zo Presbyterian Church, Rev. Sarah Lane
A Vision Rooted in Faith: A Moving History of Zo Presbyterian Church (USA)
In the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, a divine spark ignited a journey of faith, unity, and resilience that would become the Zo Presbyterian Church (USA). It began with a simple moment—a drive through the city, a sign that read "Presbytery of Greater Atlanta," and a man with a vision. The Rev. Dr. Lianchinkhup Taithul, a devoted pastor and visionary leader, felt a stirring in his soul. Compelled by faith, he entered the Presbytery office and, with humility and boldness, declared his dream: to establish a Presbyterian church for his Zo people—a community of immigrants and refugees seeking a spiritual home in a new land.

His words found a warm reception with the Rev. Dr. Lindsay Armstrong, Executive Director of the New Church Development Commission (NCDC). With her steadfast support and the NCDC and Presbytery’s encouragement, the dream took root. On October 9, 2016, the Zo Presbyterian Church (USA) was born. That day, families and individuals gathered not just to worship, but to dedicate themselves to a shared vision—a church that would serve as a beacon of hope, fostering spiritual growth and community for the Zo people in the United States and beyond. The NCDC joined in the joyous celebration, providing lunch and a birthday cake, marking the occasion with warmth and fellowship.

The Rev. Dr. Lianchinkhup’s vision was expansive. He saw the Zo Presbyterian Church as more than a local congregation; it was to be a unifying force for Zo people worldwide, transcending denominational boundaries. He dreamed of a church that would nurture the spiritual and practical needs of immigrants and refugees, offering a sanctuary of belonging and healing. His vision extended to uniting Zo communities across the U.S., with plans for a National Council for the Zo Presbyterian Church within the Presbyterian Church (USA). This was a call to gather a scattered people under one spiritual umbrella, fostering connection and purpose from Atlanta to every corner of the nation where Zo people reside.

Tragically, just three months later, on January 8, 2017, the young church faced an unimaginable loss. After leading worship and delivering a sermon, the Rev. Dr. Lianchinkhup set out on a mission of compassion, accompanying a parishioner in need of urgent medical care. En route to the hospital, their car became stuck on a railway track and was struck by a slow-moving train. The parishioner escaped, but the Rev. Dr. Lianchinkhup, the church’s founding shepherd, lost his life. The Zo community was enveloped in grief, their leader taken in the very act of serving others.

Yet, in the shadow of this tragedy, the Zo Presbyterian Church chose resilience. The fledgling congregation resolved to carry forward their pastor’s vision. With the unwavering support of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta through NCDC and the Rev. Dr. Lindsay Armstrong, the church pressed on. The NCDC provided guidance and resources, helping the community navigate their loss while keeping the mission alive.

From that Presbytery office in Atlanta, the Zo Presbyterian Church has grown into a testament to the enduring power of faith. It stands as a spiritual home for the Zo people, offering worship, community, and hope to immigrants and refugees. The church continues to embody the Rev. Dr. Lianchinkhup’s dream of unity, extending hospitality and spiritual revitalization to Zo communities far beyond Georgia’s borders. Today, it is a living legacy—a movement that connects hearts, uplifts spirits, and builds a future filled with promise.

The foundation of this church was laid by the hands and hearts of its founding families and members, who stood together in faith on that inaugural day in 2016:

• Clinton Lane, Sarah Vungsuanching Lane, Angelina Nuamneihoi Lane, Cameron Mangdeiching Lane, Katherine Chingmuonlian Lane

• John Pauno Zo, Hau Lam Cing, Cing Sian Ngai Lian, Thawn Zomin Lian Khai, Cing Nian Vung

• Chin Gen Mung, Niang Nuom Mang, Cing Sian Muong, Thang Sian Tung Sang, Pau San Muon, Vung Sian Dawng

• Nel Khan Niang, Hang Do Nang

• Sharon Niangneikim Jackson, Jacob Travis Jackson, Abigail Neilam Jackson, Anable Zozam Jackson

• Thang Lam Lian, Hang Ngai Nieng, No Nun Nuom, Hang Muon Khuol

• Thang Muon Lian, Lam Bawi, Cing Deih Niang, Khai Sian Muan Thang, Pau Sian Piang, Lian Ngai Khuol

• Thang Khen Pau, Cing Dei Man, Hau Tung Lian, Cing Sian Lun, Niang Man Huoi

• Pau Lian Khai, Ngai Lian Ching, Thang Van Muan, Cing Lun Hoih

• Thang Lian Hau (Haupa), Mang Muan Cing

• Rev. Dr. Lianchinkhup Taithul – Founding Pastor

• Chin Lam Lun

• Lam Khaw Lal

• Thang Lam Hau

• Khup Lian Khuol, Ciin Ngai Ching, Suon Pum Dal, Khai Sian Lian Mung

• Khup Sawm Lian

Today, the Zo Presbyterian Church (USA) honors the memory of its founding pastor and the faith of its founding members. Their courage, dedication, and love continue to guide the church as it grows, serving as a light to the Zo people and a testament to God’s grace. As the church moves forward and becomes an official congregation of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. on the 9th anniversary of our founding, it carries the torch of the Rev. Dr. Lianchinkhup’s vision, uniting communities, nurturing faith, and building a legacy that will inspire generations to come. To God be the Glory!

Welcome to the Philadelphia Presbyterian Church’s 200th Anniversary Celebration! Join us in person at 351 Morrow Rd as we commemorate two centuries of faith, community, and service. Come together with fellow congregation members, old friends, and new faces to honor our rich history and look forward to a bright future. Let’s celebrate this milestone with joy, gratitude, and fellowship. We can’t wait to see you there!

Agenda

09:30 AM – 10:45 AM Meet and Greet – Coffee and Danish in Welcome room

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Celebration Service – In Sanctuary

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Fellowship Meal – Catered luncheon in Fellowship Hall

Central Regional Agape Fellowship
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
October 11, 2025 - 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

If your church/NWC has not received an invitation, reach out to the Consultant or to Aisha.

Service of Organization: Ormewood Church

Ormewood Church
Sunday, October 5, 2025
11 AM

New Worshiping Community Highlight: Ormewood Church, Rev. Jenelle Holmes

Nearly a year to the date after the former Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church closed its doors with 15 remaining members, signs of new life at the historic sanctuary on Delaware Avenue emerged in the spring of 2017.

Ormewood Park neighbors, families of the Ormewood School, and fans of the well-loved Ormewood Dog Yard gathered with NCDC throughout the spring and summer of 2016 in pot-luck style community meetings to discuss the vision of the neighborhood and area. The priority was not a question of property; the top priority was to get to know the area and discern what God was already doing in Ormewood. From there, a clarion call emerged. The people needed community, and they desired a neighborhood gathering place that offered refreshing and creative new ways for folks to engage with one another and with their faith.

From these gatherings, a group of 12 southeast Atlanta residents of all backgrounds met in the fall and winter to dream how a new church could look in the neighborhood. These 12, with the guidance of NCDC Executive Director Lindsay Armstrong, drafted and published an advertisement for an organizing pastor. This was followed by months of interviews, discussion, and eventual unanimity in a way forward, hiring Jenelle Holmes as organizing pastor of “Ormewood Church.” The first worship service of this fledgling group was held Easter of 2017, new life emerging on the property of a closed church.

Eight years later this neighborhood church is known for its friendliness, creativity, and come-as-you-are spirit. It reflects the neighborhood in its gaggle of young children, LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, and deep curiosity in the many ways a life of faith emerges in people and community.

The values of Ormewood Church are to welcome others, be of service, open our minds, and participate. Our mission is to cultivate a shared community of curiosity, spirituality, and belonging.

We cultivate this community by maintaining a very porous relationship between the neighborhood and our beloved property, hosting things like parking lot pizza gatherings, the community Dog Yard and preschool, Federal Worker Support Groups, prayer vigils, and birthday parties for folks crawling to using a cane. We cultivate this community by being curious about faith instead of prescriptive–inviting people to ask good questions, read interesting books, and gather with others for faith-full conversation. We cultivate this community by hosting a creative and thoughtful Sunday morning worship service, sensitive to those in our community still wary to cross the threshold of a sanctuary because of church hurt.

In these eight years of planting, watering, and growing this new worshipping community in southeast Atlanta, Ormewood Church has been enriched by the support and wisdom of the PC(USA). Our diverse group of congregants appreciates the collaborative nature of decision making, the representative form of government, the breadth of theological wisdom, and the ways a Reformed faith takes seriously our responsibility in the world. Chartering as a formal congregation of this denomination feels like a confirmation of the ways in which we want to be held accountable and guided in community. We are grateful for the New Church Development Commission’s continuing support and the openness of this Presbytery to think creatively and listen well to a community that was ready for a different kind of church.

Peace & Global Witness
September 7-October 5, 2025
Support peacemaking, reconciliation and global witness. 

A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering for peacemaking efforts that align with their passion. Mid-councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.

Information/Resources: https://pcusa.org/special-offerings/peace-global-witness-offering

Table Talk: Gathering to Heal the Divide
October 1, 2025 - 6-9 PM

Clairmont Presbyterian Church
1994 Clairmont Rd
Decatur, GA 30033

Description:

The Racial Healing Committee in collaboration with Central Presbyterian Church and Clairmont Presbyterian Church invite you to Table Talk: Gathering to Heal the Divide.

We live in challenging, complicated, and contentious times. As Christians, we are called to unity and our witness is stronger when we speak with one voice. Yet it is hard to be faithful as a Church amid so much confusion and division about race, gender, sexuality, immigration, Christian nationalism, and other matters. This event invites people of faith to talk together about our most pressing issues with the goals of mutual understanding and clarity rather than judgment and conformity. Join us for dinner, a roundtable panel discussion, and hopeful conversation. 

Panelists & Bios:

•  John Blake is an award-winning author and senior writer at CNN.com, the online site for CNN. He is also the author of “More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew.” Blake’s memoir was named the winner of the 2024 Christopher Awards, which celebrates books that “affirm the highest value of the human spirit.” His memoir was also a gold medal winner in the Nonfiction Book Awards, a gold medal winner in the memoir/inspiration category in the Illumination Book Awards; and a gold medal in the Nautilus Book Awards, which recognize books that promote social change and spiritual growth. He was named the 2024 “Georgia Author of the Year.” Blake’s work as a journalist has been honored by the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Academy of Religion, and the Religion Communicators Council.

• Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner is the pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta.  Rev. Kershner has been at Central for two years, having come from the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, IL.  She is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary (1999) and serves in leadership on the Board of Trustees for Princeton Theological Seminary.  

• Rev. Megan Johnson is in her fourth year as Pastor and Head of Staff at Clairmont Presbyterian Church where the congregation is celebrating the completion of a major building renovation and are honored to host this event in their newly renewed space. Megan is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Creative Writing and Public Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where she is exploring how faith takes root in story, community, and everyday grace. Married to Eric for over 27 years, they just became in-laws in September with the marriage of their oldest of three sons and are delighted to welcome a daughter into the family! Theo and Wynnie, two "doodles" demand mention as well!

• William Yoo is Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary and the author of several books about race, religion, and politics in U.S. history. His most recent book is Reckoning with History: Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Making of American Christianity.

Register by Sunday, September 28, 2025.

Conversations with the Clerk

Join Stated Clerk Andy James and Executive Presbyter Aisha Brooks-Johnson for a special conversation with Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency.

Upcoming Conversations:

• Tuesday, September 30: Conversation with the GA Stated Clerk/IUA ED - 7-8:30 PM

  • Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5mZ_ddefQWyhemYKwFyR0w

• Thursday, November 13: Clerks of Session Open Conversation - 7-8:30 PM

  • Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pVEPTDTPT7SG9XpafkOZKg

Previous Conversations with the Clerk can be viewed on YouTube > Playlist: Conversations with the Clerk.

Presbyterian Homes of Georgia’s
19th Annual Caring Hands Classic Golf Tournament
September 29, 2025 - 9:30 AM tee time
Atlanta Athletic Club

The annual Caring Hands Classic golf tournament provides significant financial support for the Caring Hands Fund. Played each year at the Atlanta Athletic Club, home club of the legendary Bobby Jones, the Classic provides corporate and business leaders the opportunity to come together for a day of fresh air, exercise, and camaraderie while playing a magnificent course and raising vital funds to assist residents of Presbyterian Homes communities who may be in need.

Each year, the Caring Hands Classic Golf Tournament draws more than 300 of the most distinguished business and community leaders from Atlanta and around the state of Georgia. For information about the 19th Annual Caring Hands Classic Golf Tournament coming up in 2025, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please call 229.263.6194 or email Jerry Dean Weber or Robin Sumner.

Information: https://www.phgainc.org/caring-hands-fund/annual-golf-tournament/

THE REVEREND JODY ANDRADE WILL BE FEATURED GUEST ON SEPT. 28 EPISODE OF “DAY1.”

“Day1”, the national weekly ecumenical radio program produced by the Alliance for Christian Media, is excited to announce episode 4201, featuring guest the Reverend Jody Andrade, currently a Transitional Minister in the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. The episode will air on Sept. 28, 2025 and is hosted by The Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime. 

“Day1” can be heard on select radio stations, online at Day1.org, on the “Day1” YouTube channel and on Apple and Spotify podcasts. 

The episode features Andrade’s sermon “Dinner With a Prophet” which is drawn from Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, which recounts God’s instructions to Jeremiah, who is imprisoned during Babylon's siege of Jerusalem. He is told to purchase a field, have the deed witnessed, and seal the document in a clay jar as a prophetic symbol that commerce will again thrive in Jerusalem. “Surely any investment in land, land which soon will no longer belong to you, is money wasted. And yet Jeremiah carefully describes exactly how he’s chosen to invest in the future,” Andrade says. “Today’s word from Jeremiah is a call for God’s people to invest in hope. In the midst of the storms of this world, we are to focus on this bit of hope buried deep in our news-weary selves. The program includes an interview with Andrade, conducted by Kime, who is the host and executive producer. 

About the Guest 

The Reverend Jody Andrade grew up in Atlanta, GA. She holds an Economics degree from Wake Forest University, a Master of Education from Georgia State University, and a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary, where she received the preaching award. She was ordained in the PC(USA) denomination in 2014 and particularly loves the ministries of preaching and pastoral care. Jody has a special interest in mentoring ministry candidates and working with people of faith to seek shalom in times of conflict. She is currently a transitional minister in the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, walking with congregations through transformation and reminding them that during pastoral leadership changes, God continues to hold them tenderly. Jody and husband Billy have two adult children and a tiny, beloved dog, Honey. 

Read More (Press Release)

Contact 

• Evyenia Constantine, Director of Communications, Day1

• Email: evyenia@day1.org

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The Maria Fearing Fund Women’s Symposium

Saturday, September 20, 2025
10:30 AM-2:30PM

Join us for a morning of wisdom, truth-telling, and inspiration as five powerful women take the virtual stage to speak into the heart of our times. The Maria Fearing Fund Women’s Symposium is a gathering for those ready to be informed, empowered, and stirred to action — a space where faith meets justice, and courage meets community.

Information and Registration: https://hearingthevoicesofwomen.eventbrite.com

East Regional Agape Fellowship Gathering
Stockbridge Presbyterian Church
September 20, 2025 - 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

If your church/NWC has not received an invitation, reach out to the Consultant or to Aisha.

Thriving on a Riff:  Jazz and the Spiritual Life

Saturday, September 20, 9 am - 3:30 pm (lunch included)

Great Hall
Shallowford Presbyterian Church
2375 Shallowford Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30345-1342

Jazz is the music of mystery. Creative, collaborative, and soulful, the syncopated sounds express the full range of emotions. How do we explain its power? And what does it reveal about our humanity? 

Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet are the best-known musicians playing "sacred jazz" in the United States. Through presentations, conversation, and musical demonstration by the Presbybop Quartet, this seminar will demystify jazz by exploring three of its intersections with the human spirit: the potential for creativity, the processing of pain, and the surprise of ecstasy. We will growl with the blues and reach for transcendence, all in service to a richer spiritual life.

Organ Concert by Monica Berney

Friday, September 19, 2025 - 7:00 PM

Free admission and on-site parking

Druid Hills Presbyterian Church
1026 Ponce de Leon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
www.dhpc.org

Syncopated Leadership: Jazz for Preachers, Teachers, and Other Servants of Grace

September 19, 2025
Harrington Center Chapel at Columbia Theological Seminary, 701 S Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

Join us for this leadership seminar and live jazz concert with the Rev. Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet!

Even in times of division and diminishment, jazz music thrives through imagination, improvisation, and the building of community within diversity. Could jazz also be a model for leadership? Explore the dynamics of creativity, collaboration, risk, and rhythm, and how they can enrich your leadership with pastor and jazz performer Bill Carter and his quartet.

Attendees can register for the leadership seminar, the jazz concert, or a combined ticket offering discounted access to both. Registration for the combined ticket closes on August 29, 2025.

Schedule

• Leadership Seminar - 1:00-5:00 PM

• Optional Dinner - 5:00-6:30 PM

• Jazz Concert - 7:00-8:30 PM

Note: seminar participants are welcome to attend the 10:10 AM seminary-wide jazz chapel service with Presbybop.