Red River Presbytery met on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Burns Flat Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Burns Flat, Oklahoma, with Reverend Duawn Mearns, pastor of Covenant Church, elected as Moderator and Reverend Keith King, pastor of Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, elected as Vice-Moderator. Twenty-six delegates and three candidates were present.
Reverend Tom Spence served as Pastor Host and Worship Leader. Candidate Amy Duggins from the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church presented the message from Luke 10:1-20, entitled “Ten Principles for a New Model of the Church’s Mission Mirroring Jesus’s Commission.”
Denominational representatives who addressed the assembly were Reverend Linda Snelling (Ministry Council, Pastoral Development Ministry Team, and Louisa Woosley Preaching Initiative), Rev. Dr. Chris Fleming (ENGAGE program via video presentation), Reverend Duawn Mearns (Memphis Theological Seminary and Program of Alternate Studies), and Reverend Dusty Luthy (Cumberland Youth and Family Services with President & CEO Courtney Banatoski via video presentation).
Reverend Joe Spears, Stated Supply at Stonegate Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was received as a candidate for ministry and approved unanimously for participation in the Program of Alternate Studies. Candidate Amy Duggins was approved as a licentiate. Candidate Carissa Welch was removed from the roll of probationers.
A Letter of Dismission for Reverend Shelia O’Mara was received from Del Cristo Presbytery and Reverend O’Mara was received into Red River Presbytery.
The pastoral relationship between the Zion Valley Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Reverend Dave Tucker was approved and a commission to install elected. The pastoral relationship between the St. Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Reverend J.P. Butler was dissolved, and Reverend Dusty Luthy approved as interim Moderator.
Two proposed Constitutional Amendments referred from the 194th General Assembly were approved unanimously. Responsibility for the annual review of the Session Minutes was reassigned from the Board of Missions to the Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee was also tasked to draft and propose an Attendance Policy to address low participation by ministers and elder delegates at presbytery meetings.
Covenant Church in Ada, Oklahoma was selected as the meeting site for the Fall 2026 Meeting on September 26, 2026. The presbytery adjourned to meet for its Spring 2026 Meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Lifeline Church, Ft. Worth, Texas.
