The origins of the Presbytery Pastoral Care Network (PPCN) date to the early 1990s. At that time a small group of presbytery executives and associate executives agreed to gather annually in advance of the churchwide staffing conference to discuss issues relating to the pastoral care of ministers.
By 1999 the original group had diminished in size, and the remaining members conducted a churchwide survey to determine what was being done to provide pastoral care to ministers at the presbytery level, what the needs were, and who was doing this work. The findings of this research indicated that there were real needs for care to ministers, and a revitalized effort to build the network began. The first national gathering of a renewed PPCN took place in Philadelphia in 2000 and continues to develop partnerships with Education & Research Leaders at Seminaries, CPMs, COMs and regional PPCN representatives. It is hoped that these partnerships will bear fruit in the impact of future ministries.
What began as an informal network is now a growing nationwide effort involving more than 175 Presbyterians from more than 33 states throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who are engaged in and concerned about the care and support of ministers. In March, 2002, the network was officially organized as a not-for-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On July 1, 2002, the corporation received recognition of exemption from federal taxes under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.