First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, Pastor/Head of Staff

May 2020 - present

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• Collaborated with church leadership to develop a vision for the church

• Communicated the vision of the church to the congregation, the staff, and the community, and secured their ownership of that vision

• Nurtured and encouraged the gifts and potential of the staff and lay leadership through coaching, supervision, and leadership development

• Planned, organized, and collaborated with staff and lay leadership to lead heartfelt, stimulating, and Christ-centered worship, including regular Sunday services, seasonal and special services, weddings, and funerals

• Championed and encouraged the missional vitality of the congregation

• Created a culture conducive to collaboration and effective goal achievement among the staff and lay leadership

• Supervised one associate pastor and eight other staff members and created a healthy workplace environment that ensured the success of daily and long-term operations

• Ensure that every member of the church is cared for well by equipping individuals and groups to be spiritual care-givers.

• Provided essential faith formation in the church through teaching Bible study and counseling and supporting people in times of need.

• Collaborated with ecumenical, interfaith, and community groups to nurture relationships between our groups and to serve our community together

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Presbytery of Genesee Valley, Minister

​September 2016 - present

 

• Awarded Presbytery grants to congregations and community agencies after careful committee review of which projects best aligned with the Presbytery's mission 

• Collaborated with a working group to evaluate the Presbytery's current use of certain restricted funds and made recommendations on a way forward to the Big Picture Team

• Coordinated and supervised the work of the five working-groups of the Healthier Congregations Team as part of the team's Coordinating Council

• Led a training workshop for newly-elected ruling elders and deacons from congregations throughout the Presbytery during Congregational Learning Day

• Taught a seminar on the content and process for launching and facilitating a leadership development group for congregations at a Healthier Congregations Team Gathering

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Corfu United Presbyterian Church, Pastor

July 2016 - May 2020

 

• Led inspiring and engaging weekly worship services by preaching sermon series based on biblical texts, administering sacraments, encouraging lay leadership in worship, and praying

• Organized and led special worship and prayer services as appropriate throughout the year, including piloting new services that as meaningful and spiritually enriching

• Cared for the spiritual and emotional lives of people through coaching and discipleship, visiting homes and medical centers, counseling through grief and other life challenges, officiating funerals and weddings, and resolving interpersonal conflicts within the church

• Supervised four staff members and created a healthy workplace environment that ensured the success of daily and longterm operations

• Introduced and developed a ministry to younger people by coordinating a middle and high school youth group (including leading regular meetings, planning service projects and fun activities, and recruiting volunteers), teaching confirmation, and developing relationships with students at local colleges

• Strengthened church relationships with the community and increased church visibility by developing relationships with local schools, collaborating with neighborhood churches and other community organizations, organizing a church softball team, and launching a weekend food program that has become vital to area families

• Collaborated with ecumenical and interfaith groups to nurture relationships between our groups and to serve our community together

• Provided essential faith and leadership formation in the church through teaching Bible study, leading prayer groups, and launching and facilitating a leadership development group

• Implemented a church growth strategy that saw an increase in membership, worship attendance, and financial giving

• Streamlined administrative practices and protocols​

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Princeton Theological Seminary Dead Sea Scrolls Project, Editorial Specialist

​August 2013 - June 2016

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• Edited Hebrew transcriptions and English translations of a critical edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls

• Collaborated with a team of researchers to meet publication deadlines

• Researched the significance of the Qumran manuscripts to Jesus and early Christianity

• Excavated along the Mediterranean coast of Israel at Ashdod-Yam with an international team of archaeologists

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Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, Ministry Intern

September 2014 - June 2016

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• Collaborated with a team of staff members to lead Sunday worship services

• Preached sermons based on biblical texts that were focused on the pastoral needs of the congregation

• Offered spiritual care to parishioners who were hospitalized or otherwise needed pastoral care

• Built connections with an interfaith network of religious communities near the church

• Partnered with staff members to lead a confirmation class for the church's youth

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Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Chaplain Intern

May 2015-August 2015

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• Offered spiritual care to medical patients

• Comforted family and friends of terminally ill or deceased patients

• Responded to emergencies with other rapid response personnel to provide a prayerful and helpful presence to hospital staff, patients, and visitors

• Shared patient care with an interdisciplinary team of palliative care physicians and chaplains

• Reflected on how my religious tradition intersects with my ministry and my interaction with other religious traditions​

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Presbytery of Western New York, Pulpit Supply

January  2013-December 2015

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• Preached sermons based on biblical texts made applicable to modern day life

• Collaborated with leadership committees at churches from various denominational traditions to organize Sunday morning worship services

• Met the needs of parishioners in the absence of their full-time pastors