Shared Commitments

Dear Friends,

It is a deep honor to serve alongside you as your Co-General Presbyters — and yes, we've already discovered that even getting the title right takes a bit of grace! Whether you call us Co-General Presbyters, General Co-Presbyters, or Joint General Presbyters, what matters most is this: we are here, together, for you.

Words do matter — and so do shared commitments. The shared vision and commitments of the Presbytery of South Louisiana will shape everything we do together. As a body, we are called to the work of Forming Faith, to embrace our identity as Church as Steward, and to live boldly into our witness as Church in the World. These commitments emerged from the faithful, creative work of our PSL team as they helped us reimagine what ministry in this presbytery can look like. We are grateful for that work and excited to build upon it.

As we step into this new model of shared ministry, we know that no congregation and no pastor walks alone. Smaller churches need practical support — elder and deacon training, confirmation resources, and creative ways to use place and campus as tools for ministry. Pastors need encouragement and the assurance that someone is in their corner. Congregations navigating vacancies and calls need steady, experienced guidance. New Worshipping Communities and Campus Ministries need both spiritual accompaniment and tangible financial support. The writer of Ecclesiastes said it well:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help." — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

That is a word for all of us — including the two of us. We need each other, and we need you.

We want to be transparent about how we will work together. We are two people filling one shared role, and good communication is essential to doing that well. We have committed to keeping each other informed — when you share something with one of us, our goal is to communicate that to the other within 48 hours. To help support that shared communication, we encourage you, whenever possible, to include both of us in emails and correspondence related to presbytery matters. We recognize there may be times when a conversation is meant for just one of us, and we will navigate those moments with care and discretion. What we can promise you is this: we are committed to being present, responsive, and trustworthy partners in this shared work.

Please don't hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear from you.

In faith and partnership,

Leigh Rachal leigh@pbysouthla.org 225-275-1242 ext. 109

Jeff Sims jeff@pbysouthla.org 225-275-1242 ext. 111

Note: The phone lines may not be working quite yet, but these will be our numbers once the lines are up and running.