Interim Pastor Update
Dr. David Fisher has been called to be the interim pastor with a successful congregational affirmation. Dr. Fisher is scheduled to start February 23. Insert includes Dr. Fisher’s bio and the procedural information are following:
Dr. David Fisher Interim Pastor Candidate Biography I recently retired after 43 years of pastoral ministry and am available for interim/transitional ministry. My wife and I live in southern Ohio half an hour east of Cincinnati. • Ordained in 1971 by First Baptist Church, Goldendale, WA. • My special interest is the lost discipline of Pastoral Theology. I teach an annual Doctor of Ministry course in Pastoral Theology at Western Seminary (Portland, OR) & have taught the same course at 3 other seminaries. I have also written a book that is a preface to pastoral theology titled, The 21st Century Pastor (Zondervan). • I have also taught Doctor of Ministry courses in leadership & preaching & was honored to give the Peterson Lectures on Preaching at Lutheran Brethren Seminary. • M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School • Th.M., Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary • D.D. (honorary), Piedmont College • Fellow of the Cathedral College (research & writing on preaching) • Married Gloria Honaker in 1965. • Gloria is a RN with 35 yrs. experience in cardiac nursing. • Gloria’s ministry interest is mentoring young women. • We have 3 grown children who have given us 6 grandchildren. • We enjoy traveling, sports, gardening, reading & English costume dramas. • My father was a pastor, Gloria’s uncle was a pastor and two of her brothers are pastors. Our daughter is married to a pastor. Ministry is the family business!
Procedural Information Interim Pastor Ministries recommended two pastors for the interim position at Park Street. The search committee asked for a third candidate, all of which were interviewed via a conference call with the entire search committee. After the moderator called references, Dr. David Fisher was recommended to the board. Dr. Fisher and his wife, Gloria, visited Ashland on January 25 and 26. A dinner for the Fishers with the Leadership Board and search committee was hosted by a family of the church. Congregation members had an opportunity to meet the Fishers Saturday evening during a reception. Dr. Fisher preached at both services on Sunday and the staff had lunch with the Fishers after church on Sunday. The staff also recommended Dr. Fisher to the board. During his visit, Dr. Fisher identified several aspects of his interim ministry, which will revolve around preaching and seeking to discover the story that each of us has at Park Street. During the interim process, which Interim Pastor Ministries has found typically takes 18 – 24 months, Dr. Fisher will be leading a transition team as we, as a congregation, seek to understand and work out this chapter in Park Street’s story. When the time comes, he will oversee the search for our next lead pastor; he is especially interested in helping us discover the gift that we can give to the next pastor. He will be in Ashland five days a week while he and Gloria maintain their home in Amelia, OH. The Leadership Board recommends Dr. Fisher as the interim pastor at Park Street Brethren Church.
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