Welcome, David!

We are extremely fortunate to have our interim pastor starting at the beginning of January!

According to the Office of the General Assembly,

Interim Pastors offer to the congregations they serve:

• Worship leadership and preaching
• Pastoral care
• Work with the session to provide for the life and ministry of the congregation
• Administrative work including supervision of other staff persons
• Staff support for programs and committees of the congregation

In addition, an Interim Pastor leads a congregation during the transition time after an installed pastor has departed, helping the congregation prepare to welcome the leadership of a new installed pastor. Interim Pastors understand the dynamics of a congregation in transition, including feelings of grief, loss, and, sometimes, relief or anger.

Interim pastors will help the session provide for continuity of essential programs, and may assist the session in assessing needs for changes in programs and ministries of the congregation….

A good interim pastor will “hit the ground running," beginning his/her time with the congregation with intensity and energy, and will leave with intentionality, engaging in a “good goodbye” with the congregation and its staff. A good interim pastor is fully present with the congregation from the beginning, and really leaves when she/he leaves.*

The Reverend Doctor David Hodgson is a retired Presbyterian minister with 47 years’ experience as a church or interim pastor. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He and his wife Deanne live in Phoenix; most recently he has been serving as Interim Head of Staff at Chandler Presbyterian Church in Chandler, Arizona.

David is definitely “hitting the ground running;” his first Message was our last blog post, and he will be preaching his first sermon for us on January 3rd.

The members of the selection committee are very happy to have David on board; please join them in giving him a warm First Presbyterian welcome!

*Quoted from: http://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/ministers/interim-pastors/