The Administration Committee is working to recruit an Interim Pastor who will help us manage the transition process outlined in the Book of Order. The Interim Pastor will also moderate the Session, carry on the ministry of the church, lead worship, and conduct funerals and weddings. Finally, s(he) will support the Pastor Nominating Committee but will not be directly involved in its work. This position is usually a 12 month contract, and our plan is to have an Interim Pastor in place sometime this fall.


The Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, the Session, and the Book of Order is helping guide this process. A Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) will solicit suggestions from the congregation for nominees for the Permanent Senior Pastor in the future.


Please continue to provide suggestions for preachers, teachers, and contacts for interim staff. The Administration Committee is eager to answer any questions you may have.


Please contact any of the following FPC Administration Committee members if you have questions:


Terry Love, Chair

Jim Roberts

Marti Downey

bridge pastor- Rev. Claire Berry

Rev. Claire Berry is currently serving as a part-time Bridge Pastor this summer to assist with staff support, preaching, teaching Sunday school, moderating the session, and performing other pastoral duties. 


She currently serves as the Executive Director and Campus Minister of UKirk Nashville, the Presbyterian fellowship for students at Vanderbilt and Belmont. Claire grew up in Nashville and graduated from Harpeth Hall. She went on to Yale, where she majored in Women’s Studies and developed interests in social equity and education.  She graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary; was ordained in 2017; and served as an Associate Pastor for a PC(USA) congregation in Austin, Texas before assuming her current position with UKirk in 2021. 


Claire and her husband Mauro, an artist, welcomed their first child, Teodoro, in 2022.  When not working with college students  or spending time with her family, Claire enjoys playing the ukulele, practicing the art of spiritual direction, and reading widely.  


As Claire wraps up her time at FPC in mid-August, we are extremely grateful for her leadership through this transition. 

bridge pastor -  warner durnell

We are excited to share that Warner Durnell will be joining us as a second part-time Bridge Pastor from September 1 - December 31.


During this time Warner will share in shaping and leading public worship, provide pastoral care for the congregation along with other staff and leaders, moderating session meetings and attending various staff and committee meetings.

 

Warner is no stranger to FPC having preached here several times during the six years he was Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee. Over the course of his career, following receipt of his Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary, he has served as Executive Presbyter of the North Alabama Presbytery; Associate Synod Executive, Synod of Living Waters; and installed positions in Alabama and North Carolina. Though retired now, he continues to serve the denomination in temporary or transitional positions most recently in Lebanon, McMinnville, and Tullahoma as well as interim at First Springfield.

 

Warner is currently on the Board of Directors, NaCoMe Camp and Retreat Center and served on the Board of Trustees, Louisville Seminary from 2012-2018.

THank you

The FPC Administration Committee is grateful to serve the Church in our role. Thanks again for your support, prayers, and patience.