On May 2, at its regular meeting, the Session of Worthington Presbyterian Church hired Roger Au to serve as our Parish Associate.

This position is one that is established for the purpose of hiring an ordained PC(USA) Minister of Word and Sacrament to particular tasks in the life of a congregation.  It is not the same as being an installed pastor in which the congregation votes to issue a call to an individual to serve in a permanent position.  A Parish Associate is hired by the Session, with the approval of presbytery, and the church/Parish Associate relationship is reviewed by the presbytery on an annual basis.  The ministry tasks to be performed are defined by the Session and that individual, and under normal circumstances that work is provided on a part-time basis.  In many cases, a Parish Associate is either an honorably retired PC(USA) minister, an active minister member of the presbytery who is not in a position to work full time in a local congregational setting, or serving in a part-time church position elsewhere and looking to supplement that work.

Roger was both a member and elder at WPC for many years until his ordination to ministry made him a continuing member of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley.  When he made the decision to attend Louisville Seminary and become a candidate for ministry, his initial endorsement came from the Session of our congregation and then he was taken under the care of this presbytery.  Throughout his seminary career, WPC continued to support him along with the presbytery's Committee on Preparation for Ministry.  Roger graduated from seminary last year at this time and since then has been serving 1st Presbyterian Church in Reynoldsburg on a part-time basis in an unordained capacity.  Recently, the congregation in Reynoldsburg was able to fulfill its reponsibility in providing for Roger's employment in such a way that he could be ordained.   That service took place this past April 10 where a number of us from WPC participated, and celebrated his joyous day. With his ordination behind him, the way was clear for us to talk to Roger about the Parish Associate position.  Roger will have the distinction of being in ministry in two different churches in the Columbus area: 1st Presbyterian, Reynoldsburg, as well as WPC.

The position itself here was established in light of Rev. Jon Hauerwas' departure to serve a congregation as solo pastor in Bellingham, Washington.   The Session is presently engaged in a process of discernment and has chosen not to commit to a new search process for an Associate Minister until we have a sense about where we are going next in regard to program and staffing.  In the meantime, our church has a good number of visitation needs and Roger will be assisting Amy and myself in that regard.  In addition, he will assist us in the 8 A.M. Sunday Communion Service rotation, and will occasionally assist at 9 A.M. worship as well.  This still gives Roger adequate time to be in Reynoldsburg by 10:30 A.M. on Sundays.  Roger will occupy the office where Jon was and now has an e-mail address at the church: rau@worthingtonpresbyterian.com.

We are excited about this new relationship with Roger, as well as with his wife Lorel (long-time member of our congregation), and look forward to his ministry in our midst!   Please be sure to welcome him aboard when you see him.

Jeff