November 11, 2025 Presbytery Meeting Highlights

The night was long, but many hands made for productive work at the November 11, 2025 presbytery meeting. Along with celebration and thanksgiving, important work was accomplished, and most importantly, God was glorified.

Teaching Elder Chad Rodgers (Validated) opened this last meeting of his moderatorial year, quickly turning to the consent agenda which contained many important items, including the approval of a number of position descriptions shaped in light of the recent Discernment Process. Later in the meeting, Presbytery Leader Jeanne Radak’s updated the assembly on the variety of changes now underway, and the ways it is hoped these will fulfill the Presbytery’s Vocation Statement and Vision and Action Steps.

Learn more about Adrienne Poissant here

The Presbytery also voted on several new entities (commissions, committees, and teams) and new responsibilities. All of the November meeting documents can be found at the bottom of the Presbytery Meeting page, under Archived Meetings.

The Presbytery then took on one of its most important responsibilities, the examination of a Candidate for ordination. Adrienne Poissant, a recent graduate from Princeton Theological Seminary, successfully completed her oral examination. She is now set to be ordained at her home church in Philadelphia Presbytery and then installed as the Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Branchville.

Under the direction of Administration and Coordinating Commission Co-Moderator Pete Peterson (Ruling Elder, Clinton), the Presbytery approved the 2026 Highlands Presbytery Budget, which is nearly balanced — a far cry from the significant deficit that marked the first days and years of Highlands Presbytery. The applause at this news was well-deserved!

General Assembly News

Pete also asked Stated Clerk Steve Shussett to present two overtures for submission to the 227^th General Assembly (2026), one on ordinations received outside of the PC(USA), and another concerning Paid Administrative Leave. These were approved, making a total of three that will go before the Assembly in Milwaukee. Later in the meeting, Teaching Elders Michael Cuppett (Newton) and Linda Gaden (Bethlehem), and Ruling Elders Jeanne Perry (Chester) and Bisham Singh (Lamington) were elected as Commissioners to the General Assembly. You will definitely hear much more from them in the months ahead.

Learn more about the 227th General Assembly (2026)

Moderator Ryon Herin (above) and Vice-Moderator Donna Rahmann (below)

Rev. Kathi Heath (Ogden Memorial), a member of the Administrative Commission for the Oxford Second Presbyterian Church, presented the Commission’s Final Report. Under the guidance and approval of the Administrative Commission, the Church was able to support Family Promise, as well as two Presbytery initiatives to provide grants for congregations. More details to follow.

November presbytery meetings have their own traditions, one of which is the Nominating Committee’s report speaking to the membership of every commission, committee, and team of the Presbytery. Thank you to Rev. Barbara Aspinall (HR) and the Committee for its tireless discernment and action. You can find the complete report here, as well as vacancies which you may find of interest.

A second honored tradition is the installation of the incoming Moderator and Vice-Moderator, Rev. Ryon Herin (Rockaway) and Ruling Elder Donna Rahmann (Fairmount), who will take office January 1, 2026. We thank them for the commitment they have made, and for the prayers offered on their behalf and that of the Presbytery.

The installation took place during the worship service led by members of the Property and Insurance Team: Ruling Elders Ken Nickel (Boonton), Alan Ford (Bethlehem), Doug Smith (Basking Ridge), and Teaching Elders Scot McCacheren (Hilltop Church) and Steve Shussett, with the liturgy provided by Ryon Herin. The music, organ and vocals, was courtesy of Jim Wynne, Director of Music Ministries, First Presbyterian Church of Mendham (Hilltop Church). The sermon was preached by Moderator Rodgers, who also presided at the installation.

With that, the Presbytery adjourned until its next stated meeting on Tuesday, February 24 at 7pm, via Zoom. (You can find the complete presbytery meeting calendar below.)