The Presbytery of Western New York
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| The history of Christian mission in western New York goes back to 1611 with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries who prayed and taught with the Iroquois of the area. In the early nineteenth century, Presbyterian pastors and their families came to live and work with Native American families on reservations. The Rev. Asher Wright and his wife, Martha Edgerton, lived and worked on the Cattaraugus Reservation for over fifty years. They published a newsletter in Seneca (Ne Jaguhnigoagesgwatha) and English (The Mental Elevator). They also produced spelling books in both Seneca and English, as well as a hymnal in Seneca.
Located just across the Niagara River and Lake Erie from Canada, many congregations, including West Avenue in Buffalo and First in Lewiston, helped provide shelter and transportation to African Americans fleeing the oppression of slavery, as part of the Underground Railroad. The legacy of this early mission work continues today. The Presbytery of Western New York is home to three Native American congregations among its 69 congregations and 15,335 members. The presbytery is also home to the Duffield Presbyterian Center. From its earliest day, the Presbytery of Western New York has reached out to people living on the margins—the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. For the past several years the Presbytery Youth Connection, along with the Rev. Michael Burkley, has hosted a holiday party for young families connected to Buffalo Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Services. They serve dinner and present gifts to all the parents and children in attendance and everyone has a great time. The presbytery also reaches out to migrant and rural workers through support of Chautauqua County Rural Ministry. Food, clothing, and shelter are available to those in need through its location in Dunkirk. The presbytery supports ministry with refugees through the work of Vive la Casa and Journey’s End Refugee Services. Vive provides shelter and legal assistance to those who are seeking political asylum in Canada or the United States. Journey’s End helps families resettle in the western New York area. Through partnerships with the congregations families find homes, schools, medical care, English language classes, and employment. Congregations also provide the personal touch of friendship, community, and connection. |
 Presbytery Staff Rev. Bronwen Boswell, stated clerk Rev. Timothy Rogers-Martin, interim transition leader Carol Lally, business manager Elder Mary Mohlke, resource center director/Christian educator Rev. Laura Norris-Buisch, interim director, Duffield Presbyterian Center Deacon Mary-Diana Pouli, youth coordinator Elder Jan Tyson, administrative assistant Elder Al Walter, bookkeeper/reservationist PC(USA) General Assembly Staff Karl Mattison, FDN Suzanne Mauck, WMD Rev. David Maxwell, PPC |
 Many women were also there . . . ; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him (Matt. 27:55). |
 Ps. 81, 116, 143, 147:12–20 Judg. 4:4–23 Acts 1:15–26; Matt. 27:55–66 |
