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Introducing Roy W. Howard This is the text of the brochure presented by the Pastor Nominating Committee to introduce Roy Howard as candidate for Pastor at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church. He was presented to the congregaton on January 21, 2001. |
Roy and Claudia |
Introduction
The Pastoral Nominating Committee presents for the approval of the Saint Mark congregation our recommendation for pastor, Roy W. Howard. We have found in Roy a loving teacher and counselor, skilled communicator, servant leader; one who will inspire us in our journey of understanding God in our lives, who will work with us in reaching out to our community, and will bridge generations and encourage diversity. In our brief time with Roy, we have gained affection and admiration for his intellect, his spirit, his humanity, and for his warmth and sense of humor. We believe, with Roy as our pastor, we will reach with energy and effectiveness toward realizing God's purposes for us.
Roy's Background
Roy attended Florida State University where he received BA and master of Social Work degrees. He worked as a social worker and consultant. Then, in 1984, he was selected as a Woodruff Fellow and attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta where he received his Master of Divinity (Magna Cum Laude) in 1987. During this time he also worked for Amnesty International and for the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and served as Interim Outreach Minister of First Presbyterian, all in Atlanta.
In 1987, he became Associate Pastor of Second Presbyterian in Lexington, Kentucky, a church of more than 1000 members with a staff of six, working with youth and families and particularly with community ministry. In 1993 he accepted a call as Pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Staunton, Virginia.
Bethel is a three hundred member historic Presbyterian congregation. Roy reports:
My ministry is shaped by four acts: preaching, teaching, pastoral care and mission. The center of our congregational life is worship. During my pastorate, we have strengthened the children's choirs, formed an adult bell choir, added a summer contemporary worship service, including music and liturgy from the Taize and Iona faith communities. I devote attention to the Christian education and spiritual formation of our members, teach adult classes regularly, and oversee a small group meeting for contemplative prayer and scripture study. I have the privilege of encouraging the congregation in mission to the world. Under my leadership Bethel PC has sent work teams to Mexico with the Presbyterian Border Ministry, participated with the Appalachia Service Project and Habitat for Humanity, supported members in mission to Haiti and Ethiopia. I have traveled to Ethiopia representing the global mission of our Presbytery. My role is to discern places of need and invite people to express their faith through compassionate service. I believe congregations find new life through giving life in mission. I enjoy being with people in celebration or sorrow, at work or at play. It is with gratitude to God that I offer myself in service to the congregation.
Service To Church and Community
Throughout Roy's career, his service has extended beyond his congregation. In Staunton, he is on the boards of a theater group reaching young people and Habitat for Humanity. He has volunteered, with his wife Claudia, as co-coordinator of an elementary school volunteer reading program and as guest creative writing instructor at the high school. In Lexington, he served on the steering committee of Campaign for the Homeless and was a founding member of Canaan House, an ecumenical residence for mentally ill, homeless persons. For the past 20 years, he has served as a trainer and consultant for Prisoner Visitation and Support, an ecumenical ministry visiting isolated prisoners in federal and military prisons.
In the Presbytery of Shenandoah, he serves on the Committee on Ministry. He is a mentor and facilitator for congregational leadership programs in spirituality and conflict transformation and retreat leader. He was a Spiritual Director for the Shenandoah Presbyterian Pilgrimage Community.
Continuing Education
Roy believes in lifelong education. He has participated in many conferences, retreats and seminar programs, including one this Spring at Westminster College, Oxford. He is a candidate for a Doctorate in Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary, completing his work this next month. His project was creating and facilitating seminars for congregational leaders, pastors and laypersons, on the subject: "Spiritual Disciplines and Conflict Transformation Skills for Congregational Leaders".
Lesser Known Facts
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Roy's Family
| Roy lives with Claudia, his wife of 24 years, and his two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel. Claudia teaches music at the elementary school and gives private lessons in piano. She also serves as the Children's Choir Director at Bethel. Rachel, 18, is in her freshman year at Mary Washington College and is a member of the leadership team for the ecumenical Christian Campus Ministry. She is an accomplished flautist and had a solo performance this past Spring at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Chamber Symphony Orchestra. Rebecca, 13, is in the eighth grade and plays several musical instruments. She participates in youth theater and plays soccer. |
Rebecca and Rachel |
A Message from Roy to Saint Mark
I am honored and blessed to be asked to serve as the pastor of Saint Mark. I believe that God, in the mystery of providence, has brought us together to continue the witness of the gospel that has been the legacy of this congregation since the beginning. I intend to honor that legacy by offering my gifts and skills and serving among you as pastor and friend. While this process moved slowly toward clarity, I began a daily practice of praying for the members of the congregation using the church directory as my guide. As we come to know one another in friendship, worship and service, I will continue to pray daily that the grace of Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be present among us. This is a wonderful way to begin the new Millennium. My family and I are delighted to join with the people of Saint Mark as together we embrace God's future for us.