Save the Date!
Presbytery Stated Meetings
September 19, 2026
First Presbyterian, New Philadelphia
Saturday, 9 AM to 3 PM
217 East High Avenue
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
9 to Noon Workshop with Linda Leon
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Worship with Dr. Asa Lee, President of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
2:00 Stated Meeting
December 8, 2026
Location TBD
Tuesday evening, 6 to 8 PM
Order of the Day, June 16
Central Presbyterian Church, Massillon
47 2nd Street NE
Massillon, OH 44646
6:00 Worship
7:00 Business Meeting
Add to our Mission:)
Muskingum Valley Presbytery is committed to strengthening our churches, and fulfilling the Great Ends of the Church. We are also passionate about becoming a leading voice in our modern reformation. Help keep us going through your personal gifts.
Moderator, 2026
Lisa Rumbaugh, RE
Lisa is the Clerk of Session at Wooster First Presbyterian Church. She is a strong leader and passionate about the health of the church. She is also a proud spouse, mother (including of a PCUSA pastor), and grandma times two. She is known for her organizational skills, ability to listen, and calm demeanor.
MVP is blessed to have Lisa lead us in 2026.
Order of the Day (Draft as of June 4, 2026)
General Presbyter
Matt Skolnik
Celebrations
Rev. Deborah Bowsher will be retiring from pastoral ministry as of June 30, 2026. She has most recently been serving part-time at First Presbyterian Church of Uhrichsville.
Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson has retired. She was ordained in MVP May 27, 1984, at Ashland First Presbyterian Church after she received her Ph. D and took a teaching position as Assistant Professor in Theology at Ashland Seminary.
Rev. David Rice, Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Wooster will be retiring on August 31, 2026.
Ro Robinson will be commissioned as CRE for Minerva FPC in the near future.
Tim Pollock will be ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament on Sunday, August 9 at Bloomfield Presbyterian Church where he has served as their CRE for a number of years.
Rev. Megan Benjamin has been called and will be installed at Central Presbyterian Church in Massillon. The date of installation will soon be determined.
Commissioning Michael Wallace, TE and Beth Pansino, RE to be commissioners for MVP at 227th General Assembly of the PC(USA) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 22 to July 2, 2026
Continuing the Journey Retreat Celebration
CRE Two Track Cohort Starting in September (Regional Chaplains and Congregational Pastors)
Stated Clerk
Alison Blondheim
Omnibus Motion
Approve the Stated Meeting Minutes of March 14, 2026.
Receive the Attendance Roster of March 14, 2026.
Approve the Presbytery Statistical Report for 2025.
Approve the initial Terms of Call for the Rev. Megan Benjamin as Minister of Word and Sacrament at the Central Presbyterian Church in Massillon, Ohio beginning July 1, 2026. Installation will be set sometime in the near future.
Approve the two part-time validated ministries with Flourish Ministries and Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) for Rev. Dr. Linda Leon so that she can secure benefits with the Board of Pensions.
Approve the establishment of an Administrative Commission with original jurisdiction for Northminster Presbyterian Church of North Canton to work with the congregation in their dissolution.
Dissolution of the pastoral relationship between Rev. Kenneth Krause and Northminster Presbyterian Church as Ken leaves to take a call in the Presbytery of Lake Erie.
Additional Information
We are seeking churches willing to host 2025 Session Minutes Reviews. If your congregation can provide meeting space for Clerks of Session to gather in your region, please contact Alison. Your hospitality would be greatly appreciated as we work to make these reviews accessible across the presbytery.
Full Clerk’s ReportCommittee on Ministry
Deb Bowsher
Alison Blondheim has successfully completed her Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) training. In recognition of Alison’s faithful service and as a celebration of the diverse ways CREs may be commissioned to serve the church, the Committee on Ministry moves to commission Alison as a CRE for service as Stated Clerk of Muskingum Valley Presbytery.
This commissioning will also authorize Alison to officiate the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper throughout the bounds of Muskingum Valley Presbytery as part of her ministry and service.
