INSTRUCTIONS
1. Print and complete this form.
2. List name of church and location (Example: Second, Richmond)
3. Complete this form and bring it with you to the Called Presbytery meeting on August 26, 2013 at Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church, 7000 Park Ave., Richmond, VA 23226 (804-282-2860). Place this form in the “Express Registration Basket” on registration desk at the meeting and receive your name tag.
My Name is: ______P R I N T Y O U R N A M E H E R E
I am a member of ______Presbyterian Church
N A M E O F C H U R C H
My church is located in ______City/County
W H A T C I T Y , C O U N T Y O R T O W N
Place an “X” in the most appropriate box below. Mark only one box.
Ruling Elder CommissionerTeaching Elder
Other Ruling Elders
Certified Christian Educator VOICE, NO VOTE
(Allen, Brown, Shaw)
Visitor NO VOICE, NO VOTE
DOCKET
*Order of the Day
*2:30 pm Call to Order Moderator, Teaching Elder Arch Wallace
Welcome Teaching Elder Patrick Dennis, Tuckahoe Church
I. Committee on Nominations Teaching Elder Gordon Lindsey, Scottsville Church
II. Committee on Ministry Teaching Elder Todd McCoy, Louisa Church
A. That the following persons be examined for ordination:
Candidate Kathryn Lester-Bacon, Philadelphia Presbytery, to become
Associate Pastor, Second Church, Richmond p. 5
Candidate Todd Davidson, POJ, to become Associate Pastor, Three Chopt Church p. 10
Candidate Katie Preston, Greater Atlanta Presbytery, to become
Director, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light (VICPP) p 14
Candidate Nelson Reveley, POJ, to become Religion Teacher at St. Christopher’s and Assistant Director of The Summer Institute p. 18
B. That the following process be followed: each candidate will preach a sermon in a specific location after which each candidate will be examined individually.
Candidate Lester-Bacon (Green Star) Wilson Hall
Candidate Davidson (Silver Star) Room 106
Candidate Preston (Red Star) Fellowship Hall
Candidate Reveley (Blue Star) Sanctuary
4:00 pm III. Conversation about Settlement Agreements: led by Teaching Elders Ron Bullis, George Conway and Sarah Nave (pp. 23-26)
Adjournment
Closing Prayer Moderator, Teaching Elder Arch Wallace
Page 40Presbytery of the James / Called Meeting, Tuckahoe prsbyterian church ---August 26, 2013
COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
PRESBYTERY OF THE JAMES
August 26, 2013
I. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
That the Presbytery elect the following person to serve on a Presbytery committee:
• Committee on Ministry:
• Todd McCoy, Moderator, Teaching Elder, Louisa, Class of 2014. Todd will complete the term of Moderator that has become vacant as a result of the resignation of Ruling Elder Larry Moffett.
COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY
PRESBYTERY OF THE JAMES
August 26, 2013
Kathryn Lester-Bacon
Ecclesiastical Status: PC(USA) Candidate
Member Presbytery: Philadelphia
Candidacy Date: 05/07/2009
Formal Education:
· Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, graduated May, 2009, Master of Divinity.
· Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, graduated May, 2006
o Bachelor of Arts: Religion, English
o Magna cum laude, graduated “With Distinction” in Religion
o Senior Honors Thesis: “
· University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, completed Fall 2004
o Courses included: Classical Latin, History of Philosophy, Early Church History
Continuing Education:
· Clinical Pastoral Education
o Duke Hospital Pastoral Services Department, Durham, NC (3 units) completed May, 2010.
o Additional Training: trained in palliative and spiritual care for African American through APPEAL conference from Duke Institute on End of Life Care.
o Residency Project: “Hospital as Wilderness: Naming Awe-fullness”
o Awards: Wes Aiken Award for “Excellence in Pastoral Care and Appreciation of Service.”
· Phoebe Ministreis at Phoebe Home, Allentown, PA (1 united); completed August, 2008.
o Additional Training: certified as an “Abider” for end of life spiritual care
· Young Children & Worship curriculum
o Trained as teacher/story-teller; Pottstown, PA; completed, May, 2009.
Experience Level: First Ordained Call
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Types (with experience)—Associate Pastor (other), Chaplain, Associate Pastor (Christian Education), Associate Pastor (Youth), Associate Pastor (Young Adult), Pastoral counselor.
Primary Skills: Children’s Ministry; Corporate Worship/Sacraments, Group Process Facilitation, Hospital and Emergency Visitation, Older Adult Ministry, Pastoral Care, Preaching, Spiritual Development, Teaching, Youth Ministry.
Sexual Misconduct Self-Certification Statement:
I certify below that no civil, criminal, ecclesiastical complaint has ever been sustained or is pending against me for sexual misconduct; and I have never resigned or been terminated from a position for reasons related to sexual misconduct.
I have read this certification and release form and fully understand that the information obtained may be used to deny my employment or any other type of position from the employing entity. I also agree the I will hold harmless the employing or judicial authority or any other entity from any and all claims, liabilities, and causes of action for the legitimate release of any information related to sexual misconduct.
Past Experience:
Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church, Durham, NC (700 members)
Director of Family Ministries Jan 2013 – present
Accept newly created position to work with children, youth, and families to deepen and strengthen the life of Christian spiritual formation and fellowship. Help facilitate a church-wide cultural shift from pastoral-driven to lay-empowered. Implement intergenerational programs. Oversee weekly program for children and youth. Lead two ministry teams. Organize regional church camp. Supervise child care workers.
Director of Youth Ministries July 2010 – Dec 2012, Create, implement, and lead weekly program for 6th-12th graders. Co-lead monthly program for 3rd-5th grade. Lead youth in discussion, service, and worship experiences. Teach weekly Sunday school class and periodic adult education opportunities. Organize and train volunteers. Lead fundraising initiatives. Manage annual budget. Plan and lead retreats and summer trips. Coordinate and lead Youth Ministry Team.
Volunteer Newsletter Editor Jan 2012 – June 2012, Used Microsoft Publisher to coordinate, create, and edit monthly church newsletter. Duke Hospital and Duke Homecare and Hospice, Durham NC June 2009 – May 2010
Chaplain in Pediatrics and Hospice (CPE): Provided spiritual care throughout hospital and to caseload of hospice patients. Initiated relationships with patients and staff on pediatric units. Responded to crises, deaths, and Advanced Directive inquiries during regular on-call shifts. Led Sunday worship and weekly spirituality group. Identified pastoral needs and wrote spiritual assessments.
Trinity Episcopal Church, Rocky Hill, NJ (100 members) Sept 2008 – May 2009
Children’s Sunday School Teacher Co-created, organized, and led weekly activities for ages five to thirteen. Phoebe Home and Rehab Center, Allentown, PA June 2008 – Aug 2008
Chaplain for Older Adults and End of Life Care (CPE): Provided pastoral care in skilled-nursing facility. Led worship through daily devotions, monthly spirituality groups, and Sunday services. Received training for end-of-life spiritual care.
First Presbyterian Church of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA (400 members) Sept 2007 – May 2008:
Pastoral Intern
Led and assisted in Sunday school, worship, pastoral care, and fellowship at inner-city church.
Ghost Ranch Retreat and Conference Center, Abiquiu, NM June 2007 – Oct 2007
Program Assistant
Facilitated creative envisioning conversations between staff, participants, and faculty. Created 2008 course catalogue, by processing applications and organizing course data. Communications and Publications Office at PTS, Princeton, NJ Sept 2006 – May 2008
Student Editorial Assistant
Interviewed, wrote, and assisted for the publication of Princeton Seminary’s alumni magazine.
Other Services:
Presbyterian Campus Ministry at Duke; Durham, NC
Vice-chair Jan 2012 – present, Liaison for New Hope Presbytery Campus Ministry Committee Sept 2011 – present
Board member Sept 2009 – present, Friend of Iona Community, Iona, Scotland, UK May 2012 – present Companion of Casa del Sol, Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM April 2012 – present
Friend of Duke Chapel, Duke University, Durham, NC March 2012 – present
Duke Chapel Pathways Program; Durham, NC
Co-leader for Vocational Discernment Group Spring 2012 – present
Member of Duke Theological Days Panel Oct 2009
Selected Student Preacher Feb 2006
Pathways Scholar Jan 2005- May 2006
Duke University Hospital; Durham, NC
Guest Presenter on Family Systems for Pastoral Services Fall 2011- present
Rainbow Volunteer on Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit Spring 2011
First Presbyterian Church; Durham, NC
Covenant Network Conference volunteer Oct 2011
Godly Play instructor Oct 2009- May 2010
Princeton Theological Seminary; Princeton, NC
Worship Leader for Daily Prayer Service Jan 2009
Seminarians for Peace & Justice Sept 2006-Sept 2008
Duke University Chapel Choir, member Sept 2002-May 2006
President Sept 2005-May 2006
Westminster Presbyterian Fellowship, member Sept 2002-May 2006
Service Chair Jan– Dec 2005
Website Coordinator Jan– Dec 2004
Historian Jan– Dec 2003
Publications:
“To Do or Not to Do.” Published by Young Clergy Women Project. May 2012.
Church Characteristics Desired:
I offer four hopes for the congregation I might serve:
First, may this congregation yearn to be a gathering space for a strange collection of pilgrims, for Christians who span generations, politics, fashions, and backgrounds. As a youth director, I lead weekly programs that strive to build this connectional community amongst a teen-aged bunch of saints.
Second, may this congregation believe worship happens on Sundays in sanctuaries—and at a hundred other unexpected times and places. I’ve led worship in many settings, from youth lock-ins to Alzheimer’s’ units, from Duke Chapel to an intensive care hospital room. Christ already walks with us into the unknown; we must awaken to perceive it.
Third, may this congregation be open after Sunday morning. In teaching small groups of many ages—youth, parents, college students, and older adults—I relearn each time how deeply we are shaped by what we do each day and with what people we interact. Together we must ask what difference our church makes to the people around us, in our congregation and community, beyond Sunday.
Finally, may this congregation choose to wonder aloud and dream together. If we each are lovingly formed by God, steadfastly claimed by Christ, and continuously beckoned by the Spirit to join in God’s work, then where is the Spirit calling us right now? As a motley community of saints, may we seek to respond with all our hearts, minds, and strength.
Three weeks after I began my current call, the beloved senior pastor left. During the congregation’s tough transition, I continuously needed to use my skills in group dynamics, pastoral care, and hopeful envisioning. Then and now, I strive to create a space of safe fun and meaningful community for youth. Through the cultivation of new traditions—like Sunday morning prayer with middle schoolers or the tag game “Alien”—I aim to deepen a sense of group identity. I lead groups in conversation about topics ranging from the Bible to bullying to social media. Through art projects and scavenger hunts, I work to engage youth with their worship spaces in new ways. At the encouragement of the new senior pastor, I develop periodic intergenerational, multi-sensory worship services, and tap youth to help lead. I’ve advocated for a new youth deacon position. I connect youth to the wider congregation and world by leading ecumenical mission trips to D.C. and Montana and by starting a youth-led “Good Neighbors’ Walk.” I also co-organized a neighborhood clean-up. Throughout, I’ve concentrated on effective communication and organization. Recently, during an intergenerational envisioning meeting, conversation participants identified the following strengths in the program: “enjoyable”, “cohesive”, “connected”, “highly visible”, with “great things happenings.” These words make me happy. I am grateful for what has been accomplished in two and a half years.
Leadership Style:
I lead with curiosity, creativity, honesty, and energetic spiritual formation. I’ve offered leadership to diverse populations in diverse settings, including inner-city high schoolers, small-town older adults, critical hospital patients, and discerning college students. Thus, I’ve developed a distinct and thought-full style: I ask questions and dig deeply into the responses; I seek and name talents of individuals; I examine why we communicate a particular presentation of our selves; I create organizational structures that aim to empower and nurture those who offer their time and talents to the
church. I’ve learned to do this in different ministry work. As a chaplain and youth director, I first listen and watch, learning from people and processes. As coordinator of volunteers, I connect with people one-on-one, in order to discover how to use individual gifts in meaningful ways. In the past, as program assistant at a retreat center or as newsletter editor at a mainline church, I’ve examined how to more adeptly communicate the vision of that unique organization. In the future, as a teaching elder and minister of Word and Sacrament, I hope to lead by exploring the existing narrative of our communities and selves, asking: Why do we do this? What is our purpose here and now? In life, I seek depth of spiritual awareness, rather than easy answers. In leadership, I seek to meet others, so that we might encounter how the Spirit is working in our life together.
Key Theological Issues:
What role will the Church play in people’s daily lives? How will we claim Christian community in this time and space? Contemporary society is struggling to understand what individual purpose and community look like, in an age of social media and 24/7 access to information. The church must participate in these cultural conversations in three ways. First, the Church must teach people how to take time to look at their lives, through a lens of theological reflection and grace-filled contemplation. Second, we must show people how to engage the world with loving and humble hands. In doing so, together, we can discover how the gospel is already unfolding in our midst. Third, we must not hide from the rest of the world. We must intertwine our churches in the daily life of our neighborhood and congregants, by opening our doors to create a safe space for community events and by looking inward to create a safe space for individual spiritual reflection. We are entering a new age with ancient yearnings. Our theological conviction assures us that the Church is Christ’s body and will not die. By grace, the Church is not only transformative; it is transforming. We are equipped to respond to the gifts that God is already giving, the love that Jesus is already redeeming, and the work that the Spirit is already doing. Together, we must claim this blessing and purpose both in individual lives and in our community and we must teach others to do the same.