Pasadena
Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Anderson and That's the first reaction many people express when they hear a church has co-pastors. Both Dr. Barbara Anderson and the Dr. Mark Smutny have grown accustomed to the question, since Pasadena Presbyterian Church is the fourth congregation they have served as co-pastors; in fact, all of their professional ministry has been spent as co-pastors. Their answer, they say, is simple: "We both are!" "The Book of Order states that when there are co-pastors, both are Moderators of Session and are mandated to alternate Session and congregational meetings," explains Barbara. They divide the duties of pastor between them and work with the Session to determine if there are any areas of adjustment that should be made. Then these areas of responsibility are published so that all of us can know which of them is responsible for each area. That type of collegiality has always been a hallmark of Mark and Barbara's ministries. "This co-pastorate models a new style of partnership between the staff, church officers and congregation," says Mark. Mark and Barbara preach on alternate Sundays, and both bring a strong, dynamic worship and preaching ministry. "Because I believe deeply that worship is at the center of church life, I work diligently to provide life-changing corporate worship," says Mark. "Preaching is a grace-filled encounter with the Holy that changes lives. With God's help, and through carefully selected music, creatively written liturgy, prayers of intimacy, and transformational preaching, the people of God experience Christ in an embodied, living way that connects with our daily lives. We leave the sanctuary as different people." In her many years of ministry, Barbara has seen her preaching style change. "As society has become more visually oriented," she explains, "I have changed my preaching style from the traditional three-point sermon to a style that draws more heavily on story-telling, imagination and visual images. Life-changing worship is an experience of the entire being - heart and mind - aided by prayer, music, the sacraments and the preaching of the Word."
"May you live in interesting times," says an ancient blessing and curse. We begin our ministry together in a most interesting and exciting time. Society is in the midst of great change. Our communities are becoming ever more racially and religiously diverse. Families are stressed to find time for each other and to cultivate values that enrich our common life. People are living longer with better health than at any time in our history. New generations bring new styles and questions, and a spiritual hunger has spread across the land. These times call for a new style of leadership between pastors and congregation that builds on the best each brings to the partnership. God is calling us to find new wineskins for the Gospel, that we might be, for new generations, the instrument of God's transforming power that we are called to be. This is a great time to be building a vibrant church. Faithfully, Barbara Anderson
Sprinkled through my life are dazzling moments when my dreams and the hopes of a congregation converge in a way that must be the work of the Holy Spirit. I am struck by the deep yearning within Pasadena Presbyterian Church for a new day of renewed vitality that both honors your historic past and steps boldly into new ways of living the Christian faith. I yearn for a church open to the challenges of our time-- a church that fuses both classical Presbyterian forms of worship and contemporary experimentation in order to speak to the issues of our daily lives in a compelling way. At PPC we nurture the spiritual lives of adults through small group ministries and adult education. I am dedicated to this approach of building strong, growing, vital churches committed to Christ. I am deeply committed to urban ministry and the role of a downtown church in civic affairs. I believe we can be an important partner in revitalizing the city with its tremendous challenges as we engage the congregation in an active faith ministering to those beyond the walls of the church. I am impressed with the tremendous people resources, gifts, and facilities with which PPC is blessed. With God's help, we will forge a cohesive leadership team - a partnership of pastors, staff, officers, and members. Together, we will build a congregation that enlists each one in a dynamic, faith-filled, forward-looking journey with Christ in the years ahead. Let our journey together be filled with many moments of dazzling grace. Faithfully, Mark Smutny
Throughout their careers, Mark and Barbara have been
co-pastors (see below). PPC is their third parish in a downtown, urban setting.
"Churches actively engaged in the crucible of community life," says Barbara,
"can be powerful forces for good, both in individual lives and larger communities,
when they are well-administered; when staff enjoys, trusts and holds each other mutually
accountable; and when lay leadership, staff and congregation are united in a common vision
of the future!" Mark adds, "The life-changing power of the Good News of God's
love in Jesus Christ transforms people, congregations and communities. When a congregation
believes that God is actively drawing it toward a vision of God's transformational love,
the church erupts into new life."
More than 25 years ago, two seminary classmates became colleagues, then friends, fell in love and were married. Barbara and Mark have forged a partnership as ministerial colleagues serving churches in Port Clinton and Dayton, Ohio, Troy, New York, and now Pasadena. The word partnership also characterizes their role as parents of two young men, Chris (now a college graduate) and Ken (a college student). Mark and Barbara are soul mates who are committed to their family, their faith and their ministry. |
