Message from the Moderator — October, 2026

Greetings from your Moderator! One of the most beautiful months of the year, October, is finally here. And I want to remind you of the monthly emphasis as approved at the 2026 meeting of General Synod.

October - Jesus bestows gifts: Pastor Appreciation Month - "Let us use them." - from Romans 12:6

In his article in the latest ARP Magazine, my fellow elder at Huntersville, Sam James, gives a convincing call to all of us to support our pastors. One of his most interesting points is this: We support and walk beside our pastors by using the gifts that God has given us. This is a twist on the monthly emphasis that I like and agree with. Obviously, if aptly called to ministry, your pastor is using his gift of preaching and teaching. But are you participating in the ministries of your church, attempting to use the gifts God has given you?

So, briefly, here are the points of emphasis for October:

* The next time you speak to your pastor, let it not be a complaint. Make a positive and encouraging observation.
* Tell your pastor(s) that you appreciate him and his family. Give specific examples of how.
* Ask how you can pray for him and his family. Then pray.
* Examine how you can better use the gifts bestowed upon you to serve your church.
* Write a note, send a gift card, take him out to eat, or to coffee, or all of the above.

Thank you to all our ministers in the ARP. We love and appreciate you - for leading at the Synod and Presbytery levels, for working on the mission fields, for teaching in seminaries, for leading your Sessions, for shepherding your flocks, and, most importantly, for diligently studying, preparing, and preaching God's Word every week.

May the Lord bless you all. And may we all heed Galatians 6:6 - Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

If you are a pastor, clerk of Session, church administrator, or stated clerk of a Presbytery, would you please forward this message to the widest distribution possible under your purview?

In His Service and His Grace,
Beard McAulay
Moderator
ARP General Synod
bmcaulay@arpsynod.org
704-995-7750