Pastor Jon’s first Sunday with us will be August 21, 2022. The worship service will begin at 10:00 AM, and we will have a buffet luncheon in the fellowship hall afterward to welcome Pastor Jon and his family to our church family. If you plan to join us for lunch, please let us know by contacting Jeanna in the church office (336-248-2140 or office@fpclexnc.com) by August 14.
New Pastor Elected!
At our congregational meeting on Sunday, June 26, Rev. Jon E. Martin was elected by unanimous vote, 99-0, to serve as the next pastor of First Presbyterian Church.
Originally from northern California, Rev. Martin comes to us by way of Abingdon, Virginia. He and his wife Susanne, who is also a Presbyterian minister, have two grown children, Katherine, a college graduate who is working as a video game artist in Los Angeles, and Jonah, who will be a sophomore at UNC-Charlotte. They also have a golden retriever.
In 2019, Rev. Martin was commissioned in the United States Navy Reserve and presently serves as the Chaplain to a Marine Reserve Battalion based in Pasadena, California. He started his working life as an aerospace engineer just out of college, but has been a pastor for twenty-four years.
Rev. Martin has worked with every age group in the church and has been very actively involved in the ministry and life of the church as he has served. He has both led and stepped back to allow others to lead. In his profile, he notes, “Young adults are spiritual, and I want to understand how they value faith and service. God has a place for them in the church, and I want to discover how the church can be a place for them to thrive. I appreciate that they have much to teach me, as they take a greater leadership role in the leadership of the church.”
We are looking forward to learning, working, and ministering alongside our new pastor! His first Sunday with us will be August 21st. If you were not able to be present for the congregational meeting and wish to know more about Rev. Martin, you may pick up a copy of his profile at the church office, or you may contact the office (336-248-2140 or office@fpclexnc.com) to have one mailed to you.
Update Given in Worship on May 1
We have been working steadily and faithfully in the process to narrow down our pool of over 100 candidates. We have weeded out and prioritized and now down to a workable number. It is a lengthy process to review PIFs and listen to sermons. This has been a very positive experience for all of the committee members, and we are feeling very good about the process and where we are now.
Once we feel we have a strong candidate, we meet with the COM Transitions in Ministry for a fit and suitability interview. When that is approved, we discern whether this is the candidate to present. If so, we begin negotiating terms of call. If someone is coming from outside our presbytery, then they have a meeting with the examination team. While we might think we have the right person, the candidate is also discerning if FPC is the right church for them. Please continue to keep the PNC in your prayers.
Ann Cathy
Adrianne Jackson
Brian Ryan
Work Continues
We are working steadily and faithfully in the process and are at a point where everything is highly confidential. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Your PNC,
Ann McMurray
Adrianne Staten
Ryan Harman
Cathy Fulp
Brian Turlington
Jackson Greer
Personal Information Forms Now Being Received
The PNC submitted the Ministry Information Form (MIF) to the Committee on Ministries (COM) and it was approved on January 27. The MIF has now been posted online with Presbytery. The PNC is beginning to receive Personal Information Forms (PIF) from prospective pastors.
Please keep our committee in your prayers as we go about the work of seeking a new minister for FPC.
Your PNC,
Ann McMurray
Adrianne Staten
Ryan Harman
Cathy Fulp
Brian Turlington
Jackson Greer
For a better understanding of where we currently are in the call process, please see this page.
PNC Update for January 16, 2022
Session approved the MIF (Ministry Information Form) at their stated meeting on Sunday, January 16. This is a huge step in the process of calling a new pastor. The next step is to send the MIF to the Transitions in Ministry Task Force of Salem Presbytery for their approval on January 27.
Once the form has been approved, the next step will be to have the Presbytery office help us to put the MIF online for prospective candidates to review.
We will continue to keep you posted on our progress.
Your PNC,
Ann McMurray
Adrianne Staten
Ryan Harman
Cathy Fulp
Brian Turlington
Jackson Greer
