Matthew 25: A Call for Service
Join us on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 10am PDT via Zoom for A Call to Service &
Justice: A Chat with Rev. Liz Theoharis
We are a Matthew 25 Presbytery, as such we are called to speak truth, advocate and stand with those who are trapped on the margins. Come learn about how we can FULLY live into our call as a Matthew 25 Presbytery and how we can work together with other OlyPres congregations to bring the vision of Matthew 25 to life and become co-conspirators for Justice!
Join by clicking on the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82566387400?pwd=29aJpeHv9QeeOa8gC79JkCRdBY1Lkb.1
Zoom ID: 825 9638 7400
Passcode: 124241
The Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis is a theologian, author, pastor, and anti-poverty organizer. She is Founder and Executive Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. Rev. Dr. Theoharis is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), co-pastor of the Freedom Church of the Poor, and teaches at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
Rev. Dr. Theoharis has been organizing among poor and low-income communities for thirty years with organizations such as the National Union of the Homeless, the National Welfare Rights Union, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Domestic Workers United and many more. She is co-founder and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Raised in a family committed to social justice, civil liberties and human rights, she has been involved in the movement for her whole life.
Racial Healing & Reconciliation Training
Transform the Way You Engage in Racial Healing and Reconciliation
Join this powerful two-part training designed exclusively for Olympia Presbytery leaders. You’ll gain practical skills and proven practices to:
Navigate difficult conversations with grace and compassion
Create brave spaces where honest dialogue can flourish
Move beyond good intentions to meaningful reconciliation
Lead lasting change in your congregation and community
Cultivator Dinner North
Cultivate Dinners are an invitation to meet together with other Olympia Presbytery folks who are in the beginning stages of imagining new experiments in being the Church together. Starting new things is always a challenge, but it is so much more enjoyable when you have a group of folks to journey alongside, bounce ideas off of, share resources and encouragement with, and learn together. Dinner is provided but spots are limited, so sign up asap to secure your spot!
Cultivator Dinner South
Cultivate Dinners are an invitation to meet together with other Olympia Presbytery folks who are in the beginning stages of imagining new experiments in being the Church together. Starting new things is always a challenge, but it is so much more enjoyable when you have a group of folks to journey alongside, bounce ideas off of, share resources and encouragement with, and learn together. Dinner is provided but spots are limited, so sign up asap to secure your spot!
June 18th Stated Meeting
📅 Save the Date!
Olympia Presbytery will hold an in person Stated Meeting at Westminister Presbyterian Church.
🗓 Thursday, June 18, 2026
⏰ 4:00–8:00 pm
📍 Location: 1925 Boulevard Rd. SE, Olympia, WA 98501, United States
Meeting details and registration links will be shared closer to the event.
Nov. 5th Stated Meeting
📅 Save the Date!
Olympia Presbytery will hold an in person Stated Meeting at Shelton Presbyterian Church.
🗓 Thursday, November 5, 2026
⏰ 4:00–8:00 pm
📍 Location: 1430 Shelton Springs Road. Shelton, WA, United States.
Meeting details and registration links will be shared closer to the event.
Transforming Communities Workshop
2 Day Workshop: Identity work, deep listening, making sense of data, strategic program design.
March 5th Stated Meeting
📅 Register Now!
Olympia Presbytery will hold an in person Stated Meeting at Fircrest Presbyterian Church.
🗓 Thursday, March 5, 2026
⏰ 4:00–8:00 pm
📍 Location: 1250 Emerson St, Fircrest, WA 98466
Register HERE
Trinity Hosting Dr. Salim Munayer on February 9th
For the last couple Februarys (2024 & 2025), Trinity has had the gift of being able to hear in Tacoma from both Daniel Munayer (current Executive Director) and Salim Munayer (Founder) - who are a part of an amazing Christian reconciliation organization in Israel/Palestine called “Mushalaha” (which means ‘reconciliation’ in Arabic). Salim has been on the ground for many years doing the incredibly hard work of reconciliation, justice and peace, in the face of so much injustice.
To hear more from Dr. Munayer - I’d encourage you to watch or listen to his recent conversation with Rev. Munther Isaac on his podcast “Christ at the Checkpoint” - check it out here.
Cultivator Dinner North
Cultivate Dinners are an invitation to meet together with other Olympia Presbytery folks who are in the beginning stages of imagining new experiments in being the Church together. Starting new things is always a challenge, but it is so much more enjoyable when you have a group of folks to journey alongside, bounce ideas off of, share resources and encouragement with, and learn together. Dinner is provided but spots are limited, so sign up asap to secure your spot!
Cultivator Dinner South
Cultivate Dinners are an invitation to meet together with other Olympia Presbytery folks who are in the beginning stages of imagining new experiments in being the Church together. Starting new things is always a challenge, but it is so much more enjoyable when you have a group of folks to journey alongside, bounce ideas off of, share resources and encouragement with, and learn together. Dinner is provided but spots are limited, so sign up asap to secure your spot!
Jessica Reeves-Rush Commissioning service in Tenino
Nov. 23rd Jessica Reeves-Rush Commissioning service in Tenino
Mission Possible
The Innovation Committee is going to co-host the Mission Possible game night with Lakewood Pres at Trinity Pres on November 19th from 5-8pm, dinner included.
Join us for dinner and evening of design thinking and innovation!
Brought to you by Rooted Good, Mission Possible is a fun, engaging, challenging workshop-in-a-box that will inspire creativity, resourcefulness, and teamwork. The game challenges multiple participant groups to take a set of “dealt” resources” and create a team project for the most transformative or creative solution to a complex social problem.
It calls them to apply principles and practices related to:
Design thinking.
Teamwork.
Idea generation and evaluation.
Impact measurement.
Presenting skills.
Groups will play against each other to come up with the most transformative or creative solution to their given problem. Learning objectives include design thinking principles, idea generation and impact measurement!
Registration is required for planning purposes to equip us to set the table for all who wish to participate.
Jon Guerra at Trinity PC
Jon Guerra is coming to Trinity PC on Friday, November 14th. Doors at 6:30pm, show at 7.
Tickets are available here. $25 presale; $30 at the door - also, a family rate available. Learn More Here
Trauma Informed Care Workshop
Retreat Home
Trinity Presbyterian Church Trauma Informed Care Workshop 9-12p.m.
At the Bryant Neighborhood Center
November 6th Stated Meeting
Our next meeting of Olympia Presbytery will take place at Harrison Square
📅 Date: November 6th
📍 Location: 1227 Harrison Avenue, Centralia
✨ Together we will consider the updates from COM, CPM, Leadership Council, the Trustees and more. You don’t want to miss this opportunity for fellowship, discussion, a good meal, learning, and more.
🔜 Register HERE by Nov. 4th
Make sure to mark your calendars and make plans to ride share to Centralia.
Workshops are open to Olympia Presbytery clergy, ruling elders, guests, and church staff. To learn more contact Nivia admin@olypres.org
1-Congregations supporting Immigrants Join our Matthew 25/Peacemaking Task Force for training with the ACLU about suggested actions concerning treatment of immigrants in our churches and communities.
2-Coaching for Ministry Context Join Taeler Morgan, our Missional Cultivator, together with Kate Davis and Stephanie Bulthuis from The Center for Transforming Engagement at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, to learn about a coaching program OlyPres is piloting with The Center for Transforming Engaging this spring March 13, 14, 2026.
3- True North Visioning Report Join members of our True North Rollout Team and Rich Hurst, with Leighton Ford Ministries, to learn about the OlyPres thriving culture project that began in 2024 and is taking shape in the form of six strategic initiatives.
Creatives Faire
Creatives Faire at the November 6th Presbytery Meeting
A Marketplace for Authors, Artists, Bloggers, Musicians, Podcasters, and More!
Longview Regional Gathering
The Commission on Ministry invites you to Join us in Longview!
Oct. 30th at 12p.m. at Farmsook Thai Eatery for lunch and conversation, compliments of COM.
Don’t miss our next Regional Gathering as we welcome Katherine Pater from New York for a time of connection, inspiration, and conversation.
To save your place at the table Register HERE
Questions? Contact Nivia email admin@olypres.org for event details.
Trauma Informed Care Workshop
Retreat Home
Trinity Presbyterian Church Trauma Informed Care Workshop 9 am -12 noon p.m.
At the Bryant Neighborhood Center located at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tacoma
Telos Re-Story Information Session 1
Telos ReStory April Trip Information Session
Endorsed by UPPC and Olympia Presbytery's Anti-Racism Task Force, Telos's ReStory U.S. Pilgrimage is a highly transformative experience that will give you tools, relationships, and inspiration to address the roots of racial injustice in our own hearts, our local communities and beyond. Learn more about the pilgrimage at one of the 2 information sessions being held THIS MONTH Hear from past participants and former co-trip leader, Lisa Woicik, on why this is an experience you don’t want to miss.
Register below: Oct. 20th Information Session Zoom link will be sent once you register.
James Alison at Immanuel PC
Join Immanuel PC on Friday October 17 at 6:30 pm.
James will give a talk, there will be Q & A, and then a hosted reception downstairs.
Fellowship with one another and have an opportunity to chat with James.
The event is FREE.
Father James Alison will be with us for a talk and event highlighting his newest book, You Can, If You Want To
Mission Possible
Join us for a pizza dinner and evening of design thinking and innovation on Thursday Oct 9th, 6-8pm, at Fircrest Presbyterian Church!
Brought to you by Rooted Good, Mission Possible is a fun, engaging, challenging workshop-in-a-box that will inspire creativity, resourcefulness, and teamwork. The game challenges multiple participant groups to take a set of “dealt” resources” and create a team project for the most transformative or creative solution to a complex social problem.
It calls them to apply principles and practices related to:
Design thinking.
Teamwork.
Idea generation and evaluation.
Impact measurement.
Presenting skills.
Groups will play against each other to come up with the most transformative or creative solution to their given problem. Learning objectives include design thinking principles, idea generation and impact measurement!
Registration is required for planning purposes to equip us to set the table for all who wish to participate.
Olympia Regional Gathering
The Commission on Ministry is hosting regional luncheons to welcome pastors who have moved here to accept new calls from Tennessee, Iowa, Oregon, and New York.
Please join us welcoming three new clergy members to Olympia Presbytery. This gathering is taking place on Tuesday October 7th at 12 noon in Olympia at the waterfront.
Anthony’s HomePort Restaurant
Welcoming Revs. Matthew (lead pastor at Westminster Olympia) and Bethany Benz-Whittington (Validated ministry), and Cynthia Benz (retired)
Register HERE
Presbyterian Advocacy Hour
Join the monthly online gatherings each fourth Wednesday of the month - hosted by the Presbyterian Church (USA)!
Kelso Regional Gathering
The Commission on Ministry is hosting regional luncheons to welcome pastors who have moved here to accept new calls from Tennessee, Iowa, Oregon, and New York.
Please join us in welcoming Anna to Olympia Presbytery. This gathering is taking place on Tuesday September 23rd at 12 Noon to welcome Anna who has recently moved to Kelso from Iowa.
The Red Lobster at Three Rivers Mall (Kelso)
Welcoming Rev. Ann Dee Small
Register HERE
WCCW Tour
Tour the Washington Corrections Center for Women located in Purdy (near Gig Harbor)
Friday September 19th from 1-3 pm
Curious to know more about the context in which Hagar’s Community Church ministers? If so, this is for you. We just learned from WCCW that registration is needed by end of day tomorrow, (SEPTEMBER 5TH), for security screening. So don’t delay!
Registration is closed
Chehalis/Centralia Regional Gathering
The Commission on Ministry is hosting four regional luncheons to welcome pastors who have moved here to accept new calls from Tennessee, Iowa, Oregon, and New York.
This gathering is taking place on Tuesday on September 16th at 12 Noon.
Please join us for this gathering to welcome Thomas to Olympia Presbytery. Thomas and his family have recently moved here from Oregon.
Olympic Club (McMenamins restaurant)
Welcoming Rev. Thomas Walters
Register HERE
Installation Service
Installation Service
Rev. Matthew Benz-Whittington
Join Westminster Presbyterian Church of Olympia for the installation service for their new Lead Pastor Rev. Matthew Benz-Whittington at Westminster on Sunday, September 14th at 3:00 pm. There will be light snacks and refreshments in the fellowship hall following the service.
Pastoring in Polarizing Times
Find your footing again in a time of division. Gather online with us for this free, two-day summit designed for ministry leaders navigating divided times.
Who is the Summit for?
This summit is for ministry leaders who are navigating the complexities of leadership in a divided world.
Whether you’re a pastor, clergy member, or faith leader serving in congregations or communities, if you’ve found yourself asking:
How do I lead with courage when everything feels so fragile?
How do I speak truth without alienating people I love?
Is there a way forward that honors both my calling and my community?
Then this space was created with you in mind.
Presbyterian Advocacy Hour
Join the monthly online gatherings each fourth Wednesday of the month - hosted by the Presbyterian Church (USA)!
Clerks of Session Training
There will be a Clerks’ Zoom at 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 21, 2025, and you are invited! This is an opportunity for Clerks to gather together and discuss what is going on around the Presbytery, issues and updates of interest to Clerks, and just generally sharing information.
If you have a particular question that you would like to ask in advance please send to: statedclerk@olypres.org
Otherwise, the following are some likely topics of conversation:
Parliamentary Procedure & Minute Taking.
Governance & Session Training.
Commissioners to higher councils.
For planning purposes please register below:
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sYP98dp4RQu9AEOsf0q55g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.