The Presbytery of Mississippi reported 76 ministers, 47 churches, 7476 active members (not including ministers), on January 1, 1999. These churches are located in the southern half of Mississippi, and serve 44 counties. The churches are diverse in date of establishment, location, size, and composition. The Presbytery was created in January 1986, when the churches and ministers of the Presbytery of Central Mississippi (formerly, PCUS), the Presbytery of South Mississippi (formerly PCUS), and one church and minister of the former Mississippi Presbytery (formerly UPCUSA) were merged. These are all successors of the original Presbytery of Mississippi, which was constituted by the Synod of Kentucky on March 6, 1816.

Presbyterianism came into the region in several ways. In the river area in the west congregations were gathered by missionaries from New England and from South Carolina and Georgia, with support from the Synod of North Carolina. Their work spread toward the east. In the eastern area settlers from the Carolinas brought their Presbyterianism with them. The Presbyterian Church was established as farming communities were established. In the coastal area the Presbyterian Church spread eastward from New Orleans, and Presbyterianism took root in areas traditionally Roman Catholic. The railroad brought industrial development and transportation. Development of commerce came along corridors from Jackson to Magnolia, and from Vicksburg to Meridian. This brought increased population and the growth of the Presbyterian Church. The timber industry, made possible by the railroad, is largely responsible for the rise of Laurel, Brookhaven, and McComb

At one time there was hardly a community of significant size that did not have a Presbyterian congregation. The Presbyterians provided a large portion of the local and statewide leadership. Presbyterians have also contributed significantly to the development of education in Mississippi. Within the bounds of the Presbytery, there is Belhaven College, Mississippi College (which was originally Presbyterian), and Chamberlain-Hunt Academy (the historical successor to Oakland College, another Presbyterian school).

From its early days Mississippi Presbyterianism has been diverse socially, economically, politically, and theologically. There have been wealthy plantation owners, farmers, and commercial leaders. There have always been Black Presbyterians in Mississippi. Before and during the Civil War, there were voices for abolition. Almost from the beginning Presbyterians have debated the issues which produced the Old School and New School divisions in the nineteenth century to the issues which produced the strife and bitterness of the 1960s and the division of the 1970s. The presbyteries which merged in 1986 had lost about one half of their churches and ministers in 1973 over differences concerning social change and theological perspec- tives. Since that division, the Presbyterian Church has existed as strong "pockets" of congregations in the medium and major commercial areas. The river area, coastal area, and the corridors are where the congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are now located. There are rural congregations in the eastern area with long histories, but none between Interstate 55 and the River counties.

The members of our Presbytery are in churches mostly of small and medium in size, with diverse histories, of all colors, and from all walks of life. We are still not of one mind. But we are a loyal part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Some still feel strongly the wounds of the past, but all abound in hope and are committed to ministry and mission at home and in other parts of the world.