Our vision:

One stream of information flowing through every Presbyterian neighborhood.

Presbyterian Neighbor News debuts summer 2008 not as another news agency.

It is a network where existing news sources can merge to be even more useful and easier to navigate for Presbyterians everywhere.

Journalistic integrity and neighborly accessibility are our standards.

PNNews.org exists only because of the mutual trust and financial support among synods. We hope that you Presbyterian readers will grow to trust PNNews.org as a trusted destination to inform and inspire your mission.

I'm happy to have started this project saying, "We've never done it this way before."

Thanks be to God,

Shane Whisler
editor @ pnnews.org

 PAQs

"Possibly Asked Questions" 

1) What are you trying to do here?

We're making one website that helps inform and inspire Presbyterians across the PC(USA) starting with their own "neighborhood." 

2) Is this another news agency?

No. In fact, part of our motivation to create PNNews.org was to make the existing news about the PC(USA) more accessible.

3) Isn't "neighborhood" a euphemism for "synod?"

Yes. It seemed natural and manageable to organize news according to the 16 regions called synods. We hope readers can claim their region of the country as their neighborhood to see news there and within their presbyteries.

4) Have you done it this way before?

Not even close. So bear with us as we develop the site for your neighborhood. See map and list on the home page: PNNews.org. 

5) Who's behind this thing?

PNNews.org exists only because of the mutual trust and financial support among synods. We hope that you Presbyterian readers will grow to trust PNNews.org as a trusted destination to inform and inspire your mission. 

6) How can you be trusted?

We won't tell you to "trust us." We can tell you that we already trust each other (synods). And our work ethic is based on journalistic integrity and neighborly accessibility. The lead partner, Synod of the Sun, is a member of the Associated Church Press which follows these standards.

7) How did it start?

It started with the collegiality of the Presbyterian Communicators Network and an article published on a neighborhood news site in Dallas, Texas. A site called Lakewood-Now.net covered a story of two Presbyterians who led an event called U2/OnTap in the back of a neighborhood sports bar. One of the leaders saw that the publishing system would be the perfect tool for sharing news across the synod. 

8) And then what happened?

Shane Whisler, director of communications in Synod of the Sun, contacted the creator of the news publishing franchise, "black, white, read, LLC" and drafted the vision. Synod of the Sun Executive Judy Fletcher shared the vision with other synod executive and the vision became a partnership. 

NOTE: The monetary pledge which completed the initial cost of this project came from a board of publications in Pines Presbytery (Southern Arkansas-Northern Louisiana).

 9) What's next?

We will gradually train editors for each neighborhood edition. This will take some time. The first site in the PNNews.org network is the Sun Edition and is further developed than others which are just getting started, June 21, 2008. As of then, 12 of the 16 synods in the PC(USA) are participating. Some are awaiting their turn to start their site and others are in the process of naming an editor. The home page of the network is where you can find who's online.