The governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are sessions, presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly. A presbytery is made up of a collection of churches, represented by each church’s Session. This governing structure is laid out in the PC (U.S.A.) Book of Order.
The Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley was established in 1988 by a merger of several smaller central Alabama presbyteries, and is named for missionaries William Sheppard, Lucy Gantt Sheppard, and Samuel Lapsley, who served as missionaries to the Congo beginning in 1890. The name helps keep central the presbytery’s mission heritage. Its stated purpose is to “partner with and equip present and emerging PC (USA) faith communities in central Alabama to serve Christ and our neighbors.” Click here to see the presbytery’s web site.
Living River: a Retreat on the Cahaba
Living River: a Retreat on the Cahaba continues the presbytery’s deep tradition of camping. It offers retreat space for secular and faith-based groups and regularly hosts conferences and annual summer camps.