Dear Members and Friends of First Presbyterian Church,
Last year, in the first week of October, I attended a continuing education event near Kansas City followed by a retreat in the Ozarks. Those two experiences gave me a strong sense that my ministry here in Columbia was ending, and God had in mind for me a new call. Laura and I prayed about this, and we decided that I would update my resumé. Since then, several congregations and organizations have contacted me. In June, two congregations offered me calls within a couple of days of each other. I declined one, but I have accepted the other—to be the new Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Haddonfield, New Jersey.
My ministry at First Presbyterian Church has been an immensely rewarding experience. When I arrived in 2016, the congregation had recently adopted a new mission statement. Among other things, you committed to “embracing all people.” Since then, you’ve really embraced that commitment. Today you have youth elders and deacons. Your session has adopted a strong statement about inclusion. You have walked the walk of inclusion in the calls to ministry you’ve extended. Laura and I are grateful for the hospitality you’ve extended to our family. God knew what he was doing when God called us here. God put our family in just the right place at just the right time in our lives.
I’m grateful for what I’ve learned from your talented staff and the faithful and loving elders and deacons with whom I’ve served as shepherds of this flock. You’ve given us many memories to cherish—sipping hot chocolate while our musicians performed at Living Windows, fun and fellowship at Twin Lakes Park every September, donning hair nets and packing 10,000 meals for Haiti in the Ramsey Center, Cardinals games with the men of FPC, joyful weddings and bittersweet funerals, candles on Christmas Eve and brass on Easter Sunday. And how could any of us forget Marvin the lockdown videographer/sound engineer/preacher? I’ll try to forget, but alas, I may never!
My last Sunday will be August 14, and my last day in the church office will be Thursday, August 18. Rev. Deborah Boucher-Payne, our General Presbyter, will assist you on every step of the way as you search for a new pastor. There are many details to share with you about next steps. In the coming days and weeks, we will strive to overcommunicate with you about the process.
“Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
Grace and Peace to you,
Marvin
Rev. Marvin Lindsay, Ph.D.