Below you’ll find the latest news and updates from South Highland.
Children’s Ministry (Part-time)
Part-time Children’s Ministry Director Hourly Expectations: 20 hours/week Reports to: Associate Pastor Rev. Abby Gatliff (will report to Sr. Pastor Rev. Cort Gatliff while Associate Pastor is on maternity leave) Position Summary: Plan and implement discipleship ministry to families and children 0–5th grade. Roles and Responsibilities: Skills/qualifications: To apply, please send résumé to shpcjobs@gmail.com.
Sexton
South Highland is currently looking for someone to join our team of Sextons, which perform janitorial and custodial tasks, among other duties. Must be able to lift at least 30 pounds, work 35-40 hours per week, some weekends and occasional nights till 8-9 p.m. Must have a good work ethic and love to serve! Great environment and congregation. Good pay and after 90 days, eligible for medical insurance, vacation pay and other benefits. A person that can do light maintenance…
Refugee Families Thriving
This is an update from Matthew 25 Ambassador Linda Butler on the Afghan refugee families who have settled in Birmingham and are being supported by SHPC members through Inspiritus. Gul Bakht, Nasir, Omid, and Arman Akbary are so appreciative of the opportunity to build a life in Birmingham. Omid (second grade) and Arman (kindergarten) continue to thrive at Hall Kent Elementary in Homewood. Arman gets sad when there is a holiday or weather event and he doesn’t get to go…
Progress and Challenges in Madagascar
Here is a condensed version of a winter 2025 update from our mission partners in the island nation of Madagascar. Dan and Elizabeth Turk, mission co-workers serving in Madagascar whom we support, send their greetings! PC(USA)’s partner church, the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, whose initials in the Malagasy language are FJKM, continues its holistic work to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the Malagasy people. The Fruits, Vegetables, and Environmental Education Program (FVEE) that Dan works…
PC(USA) Immigration Statement
Below is a statement on the PC(USA)’s stance on the issue of immigration, which SHPC has sought to live out in our own context. You can find more information about our denomination’s work here. Guided by our faith’s call to welcome the stranger and belief in the inherent dignity of all people, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) actively advocates for and works toward more just immigration laws and processes. The work and ministry of PC(USA) offices, advocates, and partners enable the…
An Expression of Gratitude
In 2009, South Highland began supporting an orphanage in Zimbabwe called the Lovemore Home, through the Outreach Foundation of the PC (USA). Due to economic and other factors, the home was forced to close in 2014, leaving many young people in a difficult situation. But our church was able to maintain contact with some of the boys, following and supporting their progress through the educational system. The letter below, sent to South Highlander Lee Cooper, is from one of the…
Building a Life in Alabama
Inspiritus, Birmingham’s local refugee resettlement organization, has been active in Birmingham for three years now and has settled 326 refugees in our area. For most of the first year, the new arrivals were from Afghanistan but now they are from all over the world. The Akbary family fled Afghanistan on August 24, 2021, and arrived in Birmingham in January of 2022. They were welcomed by Inspiritus and a care team of South Highlanders. This care team relationship has evolved over…
Building Project Progress August 2024
Various projects of SHPC’s building renovation continue to make progress. Pointing Repair work is fully underway on mortar joints in the exterior block of the 1926 Education Building (now housing our offices, library, youth and music suites). The process involves pressure washing the surfaces, preparing and injecting material into the joints. Rotted Wood Window frames and other rotted wood are being replaced with long-lasting mahogany. Roof Repairs Our church’s beautiful slate roof is being lovingly tended to. G-15 and G-16…
Missional Lunch Report
As part of our church’s interim period between called Senior Pastors, Transitional Pastor Rev. Dr. Sam Henderson led the congregation through a series of three exploratory conversations centered around our mission as the body of Christ. These lively, well-attended events focused on Participants were prompted to record answers to specific questions within those areas and post them on the wall; the responses were compiled by the Mission Conversation Team into a report which was presented on Sunday, August 11. In…
Congregation Votes on PNC Recommendation
The congregation of South Highland Presbyterian Church has called The Rev. Cort Gatliff as its next Senior Pastor, after a unanimous vote on Sunday, July 14, 2024. Cort was welcomed with thunderous applause from over three hundred members and family in attendance at the congregational meeting. In its report to the congregation (available here), the Pastor Nominating Committee stated that “Cort exhibits all the traits that our congregation felt were important for our next senior pastor. He is compassionate, relationship-oriented…
Report to the Congregation Scheduled July 14
The Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, July 14, in the Sanctuary, immediately after the 11:00 a.m. worship service, to hear and act upon the report of the Pastor Nominating Committee. All members of the congregation are strongly encouraged to attend this important meeting.
PNC June Update
As we enter into June, our South Highland family is approximately eighteen months into seeking who God has called as the next Senior Pastor of South Highland Presbyterian Church. We, as the PNC, are an extension of the congregation and this search encompasses the wisdom and prayer of the entire church family. In the coming weeks we will move into the final stages of this process and look toward final communication with the SHPC family. During this time may we…