SeaPres Podcast

On Being An Elder: After Session Service

You’ve been nominated, elected, and installed as a ruling elder at your church. You show up for your first session meeting and…

God calls and equips us to serve as spiritual leaders of congregations but what that really means and how that is lived out in real time — and with real people — can be mysterious and sometimes challenging.

In our podcast series “On Being an Elder” we invite both ruling and teaching elders to share their experience of working together as a session to lead the church. Real conversations about the real experiences of church leadership.

After Session Service with Rev. Kristy Farber and Ben McConaughy (Mercer Island Presbyterian Church)

Once an elder, always an elder. But what happens when an elder rolls off their session term?

On Being An Elder: Session Dynamics

You’ve been nominated, elected, and installed as a ruling elder at your church. You show up for your first session meeting and…

God calls and equips us to serve as spiritual leaders of congregations but what that really means and how that is lived out in real time — and with real people — can be mysterious and sometimes challenging.

In our podcast series “On Being an Elder” we invite both ruling and teaching elders to share their experience of working together as a session to lead the church. Real conversations about the real experiences of church leadership.

Session Dynamics with Revs. Scott Lumsden and Eliana Maxim (Seattle Presbytery)

Session meetings are not just about the business of the church. It should get at the heart of the congregation’s identity and purpose. How do you get there?

On Being An Elder: Discernment and Communal Decision Making

You’ve been nominated, elected, and installed as a ruling elder at your church. You show up for your first session meeting and…

God calls and equips us to serve as spiritual leaders of congregations but what that really means and how that is lived out in real time — and with real people — can be mysterious and sometimes challenging.

In our podcast series “On Being an Elder” we invite both ruling and teaching elders to share their experience of working together as a session to lead the church. Real conversations about the real experiences of church leadership.

 Discernment and Communal Decision Making with Revs. J. P. Kang (Japanese Presbyterian Church) and Heather James.

Much of the session’s work is making decisions, big and small. How do you arrive at a consensus? And what if you can’t?

On Being An Elder: The Ordination Questions

You’ve been nominated, elected, and installed as a ruling elder at your church. You show up for your first session meeting and…

God calls and equips us to serve as spiritual leaders of congregations but what that really means and how that is lived out in real time — and with real people — can be mysterious and sometimes challenging.

In our podcast series “On Being an Elder” we invite both ruling and teaching elders to share their experience of working together as a session to lead the church. Real conversations about the real experiences of church leadership.

The Ordination Questions with Rev. Scott Anderson (St. Andrew) and Christine Corneille (Bellevue Presbyterian Church)

You said “I will” and “I do” to significant questions at ordination, but what do they really mean?

SeaPres Conversations: Thriving Congregations Initiative (September 2025)

An update on the Thriving Congregations Initiative, featuring Rev. Dr. Tali Hairston, Revs. Maggie Breen, Eliana Maxim, & Scott Lumsden. 

SeaPres Conversations: Colombia Partnership

Seattle Presbytery will soon be celebrating the 10th anniversary of a missional partnership with the Presbytery of the North Coast in Barranquilla, Colombia. Pastors and members of over 9 Seattle Presbytery churches have participated in this ministry.

Join Haley Ballast (Wallingford PC), Phil Lewis (Union Church), and Eliana Maxim (Presbytery staff)  and hear about the distinctiveness of this partnership, what we are learning, and how you can be a part of this growing community.

SeaPres Conversations: Olympia Presbytery Partnerships

Featuring: Rev. Eliana Maxim (Co-Executive Presbyter, Seattle Presbytery), Rev. Dexter Kearny (Parish Mobilizer, One Parish One Prisoner, Underground Ministries), Rev. Deanna Gemmer (Pastor, Hagar's Community Church).

SeaPres Conversations with Co-EPs Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden

January 2024 SeaPres update with Co-EPs Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden.

Seattle Presbytery website

SeaPres Conversations with Co-EPs Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden

August 2023 SeaPres update with Co-EPs Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden.

Seattle Presbytery website

SeaPres Conversations with Co-EPs Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden

February 2023 update from Co-EPs Revs. Eliana Maxim and Scott Lumsden.

SeaPres Podcast: Thriving Congregations Initiative Leadership Forum (Part Two)

Featuring: Rev. Dr. Tali Hairston, Rev. Paul Kim & Rev. Eliana Maxim.  You're invited to the Thriving Congregations Leadership Forum Sep. 31-Oct. 1.

The Leadership Forum is not the usual conference with speaker and listener.  The Forum is a space for robust dialogue among pastors, staff, and senior leaders about the church’s place in a most critical time in the history of the church.  The church has experienced decline exacerbated during pandemic and social unrest.  Some are not returning after two years of online church, others are tired of a church that appears at a loss on social issues, and still others wonder about the relevancy, both now and in the future, of our churches in our communities.

This week’s podcast continues the conversation about themes that are emerging as we work with Thriving Congregation Initiative cohorts, dialogue with leaders and practitioners nationwide, and present opportunity in spaces like the Leadership Forum.

We invite you to the Leadership Forum as we engage in dialogue about where we are as a church and what resurrection might mean for the church.  Consider the spiritual practice of learning as a way of engaging community-based knowledge and assets.  Interact with leaders who are concerned for the welfare and future of our churches and communities.

SeaPres Podcast: Thriving Congregations Initiative Leadership Forum

Featuring: Rev. Dr. Tali Hairston, Rev. Maggie Breen & Rev. Paul Kim.  You're invited to the Thriving Congregations Leadership Forum Sep. 30-Oct. 1.

The Leadership Forum is for pastors and senior leaders (e.g. staff, elders) to develop capacity to lead learning congregations.  We will be interacting with fellow colleagues and community leader-practitioners including leaders from the Presbytery of the Coast in Barranquilla, Colombia.  We anticipate a rich time for robust dialogue, reflection, and learning for everyone.

Learn more & register.  Registering by Sept 15 or earlier would be a great help!  (Note: for Friday there is an online option!)

SeaPres Podcast: June 2022 Update from Co-Executive Presbyters

June 2022 update from Co-EPs Revs. Eliana Maxim and Scott Lumsden.

Online: June 21st stated meeting information.

SeaPres Conversations: Colombia Mission Partnership

Eight years after embarking on a unique partnership with the Presbytery of the North Coast (Presbyterian Church of Colombia), Seattle Presbytery staff discuss this pivotal time of deeper engagement and mutual learning invitations. Join Revs. Scott Lumsden, Tali Hairston, Maggie Breen, Paul Kim, and Eliana Maxim as they talk about what this means for our local congregations and communities.

More: see pictures from the 2022 Colombia partnership trip.

SeaPres Conversations with Co-EPs Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden

New episode: SeaPres Podcast. Co-Executive Presbyters Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden recap the October presbytery meeting, look ahead to the next few months, and share an important message for our pastoral leaders. 

Scott and Eliana shared this written report at the October SeaPres meeting.