Pastor Sam Alexander’s Letter to the Congregation (April 2021)
It's All Hands on Deck!
Earlier this week, at the recommendation of the PNC, your Session voted unanimously to engage me as your full-time pastor for a period of three years. Why do that now? Because they know the time is ripe for this congregation to take a real shot at growth, and you need pastoral leadership to do that. That’s true, but I can’t take that shot alone! My intern supervisor, (a proven wizard at new church development), had a mantra: “it’s all hands on deck.” That’s my message for all of you, right now, as we reinvent ourselves post-pandemic. Some might ask, “if churches have been emptying at a rate of 2.6% a year for over 30 years, do we have any chance at success?” It’s a legitimate question; I’ve got two answers. The first one is, “YES,” and it’s solid reasoning, not just wishful thinking that makes me say that. Spirit is alive here!! …
What I Do Not Believe
About Rev. Sam Alexander
Rev. Sam Alexander is Pastor of Rockville Presbyterian Fellowship. As a Presbyterian pastor for more than 20 years, Pastor Sam has served congregations in Maryland and in the San Francisco Bay area. He serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Homiletics (the art of preaching) at San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., and Union Seminary in Virginia, M.Div.
Pastor Sam emphasizes giving a provocative sermon followed by congregational discussion of the message after service, aiming to deepen faith and explore modern interpretations of Scripture. He blogs at www.gracecomesfirst.net and is a popular speaker.
Pastor Sam came to Rockville Presbyterian Fellowship as an interim pastor in 2020, and was engaged as the full-time pastor in May of 2021.