.jpg) Pastor Transition Process
The Rev. Richard Kannwischer, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church San Antonio since March 27, 2005, left to become Co-pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California in September 2009. The Personnel and Property Committee of First Presbyterian, in conjunction with Mission Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, is mapping a path of the process First Presbyterian Church will undertake. The process would most likely take at least one year and could be as long as three years.
Format of This Web Page
This section of the First Presbyterian Church website will be updated whenever we receive news from the people involved in the pastor transition process. We place the most recent stories at the top of the page. You can also stay updated with news about the pastor transition process by following FirstPresSA on Twitter or by joining the Facebook group for First Presbyterian Church San Antonio HERE.
Congregation approves Pastor Nominating Committee members at January 31 meeting
February 1, 2010 - The congregation of First Presbyterian Church San Antonio approved unanimously a slate of church members to serve on the Senior Pastor Nominating Committee at a called meeting Sunday, January 31. This committee will select its chair and begin work immediately to seek a new senior pastor for this historic Protestant church in the heart of San Antonio.
The names and biographies of the members of the Pastor Nominating Committee follow:
 David Peeples has been married to Emily Peeples for 41 years. They have three children, Rebekah, Anne and David, and two grandchildren. David has been a member of FPC for 32 years. He has served on two Associate Pastor Nominating Committees and has served as both a Deacon and Elder since 1982. David has taught Sunday School for adults, youth and children as well as Wednesday evening classes. In addition, he has chaired the Officer Nominating, Adult Education and Children’s Ministry committees. David has also served as Commissioner to the PC(USA) General Assembly (1990), Special Prosecutor for Presbytery in a church discipline case and was a member of Presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission. He has served on the FPC Children’s Center, Child Advocates San Antonio and Morningside Ministry boards. In addition, he has also served on Habitat for Humanity projects and various legal committees. He is a Judge. David’s hobbies include playing bridge, reading, hiking and working on projects around the house.
 Lynnda Barnes has been married to Field Barnes for 32 years. They have a daughter, Blaire (23). Lynnda has been a member of FPC for 29 years. She is an Elder, has served as a Deacon, and is a Circle member. She has been Chair of Presbyterian Women and has served on the PW Council. Lynnda has also served on the following committees: Officer Nominating, Children’s Ministry, Family Ministry, Personnel and Property, Evaluation/Compensation, and Search Sommittees for Children’s Ministry Director and Director of Middle School Ministry. In addition, she has served as a Presbytery Commissioner, VBS Coordinator, Mo-Ranch All-Church Retreat Coordinator, and Sunday School Teacher for three-year olds, 6th grade and 7th grade. She is a member of Bridges Sunday School class and the Thursday Morning Bible Study, 40 Days and Life Groups. Lynnda has served as Vice President for Service, Vice President for Building and President of the San Antonio Junior Forum. She is a homemaker. Lynnda’s hobbies include reading, exercise, gardening and cooking.
 Kirby Carpenter is married to Sylvia Z. Carpenter. He is the son of Bill Carpenter, deceased, former Moderator of Palo Duro Presbytery, and Betty Carpenter, former FPC PW President. Kirby has two sons, Ben (25) and Blake (21), and two stepsons, Malcolm Torres (20) and Spencer Torres (18). He has been a member of FPC for 15 years, is an Elder, has served as a Deacon and a former Chair of the Global Missions Committee. Kirby has been active in FPC Border Missions from 1999 to the present and FPC Refugee ESL Ministry from 2008 to the present. He has also served on an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee for a Youth Minister. Kirby is a Central Texas Area Manager for Asco Texana Machinery. His hobbies include landscape gardening and being a basketball fan.
 Meg Culp is married to John Culp and they have two children, Lenna (6) and Miller (3). Meg has been a member of FPC for four years. She serves on the FPC Nursery Ministry Committee as the Chair and the Children’s Ministry Committee. In addition, she is a Wee Worship Leader, Director of the Basecamp Adult Sunday School class and a VBS Teacher. Meg serves as the Vice-President of the Howard PTO (AHISD) and is a member of the Southwest Foundation Forum. She is a stay-at-home mom and a certified Spanish teacher. Meg’s hobbies include reading, cooking, outdoor sports and activities.
 Pat Johnson is married to G.W. (Buddy) Johnson and they have two sons, Matt (34) and Brad (30). Brad is married to Lisa. Pat has been a member of FPC for 24 years. She is an Elder on rotation and a current Deacon. She taught Confirmation Class as well as other Sunday School classes for children and youth and was a Confirmand Mentor. Pat is a Past President of Presbyterian Women, Circle Leader and Bible Moderator. She has served on the Personnel and Property Committee, Hoon/Bullock Lecture Committee, Youth and Family Committee, Welcoming and Belonging Committee and was Chairman of the Officer Nominating Committee. Pat attends Thursday Morning Bible Study, Bridges Sunday School class, and is a member of PW Circle 7. Pat is a Master Gardener at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and a volunteer at the Christian Dental Clinic office. Pat’s hobbies include reading, golf, fishing, water aerobics and gardening.
 Ben Mathews’ parents, Jim and Melissa, live in Austin and he has two brothers, Lucas in Dallas and Ethan in Washington, D.C. He has been a member of FPC for almost two years but has been actively involved at FPC since his student days at Trinity University. Ben has served FPC in many capacities which include: Assistant to Middle School Youth Group (2002-2003), Student Leader for The Well at Trinity University (2003-2005), Trip Leader on a one-week mission trip to Piedras Negras (2005), Loaves and Fishes participant (2005-2006), member on a five-week mission to Uganda (2007), Core Group Leader (2008-2009), Local Missions Committee member (2009-present) and Confirmation Class Mentor (2009-present). Ben volunteered for Habitat for Humanity (2003-present) and was a Volunteer Coordinator for Hurricane Katrina refugees (2005). He is a 4th Grade Teacher. Ben’s hobbies include adventure sports, fishing, hunting, photography, collecting animals and wilderness survival.
 Tom Ray has been married to Pamela G. Ray for 23 years. They have three children: daughter Kelsey, now a sophomore at Texas A&M University; and two sons, Carter, a senior at Floresville High School and Mason, an 8th grader at Floresville Middle School. Tom has been a member of FPC for 16 years. He served as a member of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee for Ruthie Seiders. He is an Elder, has been a High School Sunday School Teacher for the past seven years, a Youth Committee member, a member of Genesis II Sunday School class and an 11:05 a.m. traditional worship service usher. Tom has been a Floresville Independent School District Board of Trustees member since 2003 and is the current Board President. He is the Wilson County Appraisal District Board Vice President (2008-2010), Founder and Original President of the Wilson County Tax Payers Association, Board of Directors, Dairy Farmers of America (1997-2005) and a Wilson County Junior Livestock Show corporate Sponsor. Tom’s hobbies include hunting and flying.
 David West is married to Carol Davis West. They have three children: Bond (21), Libby (18) and Holt (15). David has been a member of FPC for 25 years. He has previously served on a Pastor Nominating Committee for the Senior Pastor at University Presbyterian Church, Austin and Search Committees for the Director of Youth Ministries and Director of Children’s Ministries at FPC. He is an Elder on rotation, and has served as Chair of the Officer Nominating Committee, a member of the Stewardship and Finance Committee, Chair of the Children’s Ministry Committee, and a member of the Personnel and Property Committee. David is a Board member of Morningside Ministries, Bexar County Detention Ministries, St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation, Alamo Heights School Foundation and the San Antonio Bar Association. He is an attorney. David’s hobbies include hiking, swimming, kayaking, music composition and writing plays/sketches.
 Sidney Wilkins is married to Dr. Kaye E. Wilkins and they have three grown sons, David, Stephen (a Presbyterian Minister in Georgetown, South Carolina) and Allen; daughters-in-law Margie and Carol; and four teen-age grandchildren. She has been a member of FPC for 36 years. Sidney served on the Associate Pastors Nominating Committees that brought Ed Walthall and Bryan Eckelmann to FPC. She taught kindergartners in Sunday School. In addition, she served as a Nursery Angel and Church Godmother, Circle Chairman and President of Presbyterian Women. She has also served on the following committees: Local Missions, Global Missions, Senior Adult Ministry, Property and Personnel, Prayer Ministry and Officer Nominating Committees. Sidney was ordained as an elder in 1983. She served on several civic and community boards in the past, but now enjoys being a docent at Haven for Hope, showing and telling people about this wonderful project. She is a homemaker. Sidney enjoys many hobbies, mainly those that involve people. She loves to get recharged by spending time in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado with family and friends.
Committee to Recommend Overview
Barbara Anne Stephens, Chair of the Committee to Recommend, submitted this report with the proposed slate of PNC members. It is included here for the sake of completeness.
The members of the Committee to Recommend (CTR) were suggested by the Personnel and Property Committee and approved by the Session. Members of the Congregation were encouraged to place names of FPC members before the committee for consideration. CTR employed the same process that is used for nominating officers for the church. The process included a nominating form on the church website, printed forms in the Mauze Lobby and delivery to Barbara Anne Stephens’ personal e-mail. Approximately 100 names were brought to the committee for consideration. Each committee member received copies of every nomination form and every e-mail for review.
The CTR also developed the following list of spiritual traits and personal skills that will be helpful in a PNC person—one who
- Is committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
- Trusts God and seeks his kingdom
- Is humble and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit
- Worships regularly, grows intentionally and serves generously
- Is able to surrender their personal desires and preferences
- Is available to meet two–three hours every week for an extended period of time (e.g. 18 months)
- Is willing to read extensively outside of meetings
- Is devoted to personal prayer
- Will travel, listen to sermons online and on CD, and will communicate via e-mail
- Possesses strong administrative, written communication, and leadership skills
- Welcomes God's surprises
In our deliberations, the CTR members were very conscious of the following demographics: gender, residential zip codes, age, worship attendance, spiritual growth and service both to the members of FPC and to the greater community. We considered those who attend traditional worship and those who attend contemporary worship. We looked for those who are passionate about Christian education, those who work with the nursery and children, those who teach Sunday School, those who participate in Presbyterian Women, those who devote themselves to mission work, and those who have the spiritual gift of administration.
We bonded as a committee and we were respectful of each other’s opinions.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Anne Stephens, Chair
Members: Court Allen, Virginia Beeler, Jeanne Douglas, Barry Kruger, Billy Lyons and Willie Willming.
Find Out Who Is on the Recommended Slate for Pastor Nominating Committee
January 21, 2010 - The Committee to Recommend (CTR) a slate of people to serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has solicited input from the congregation concerning the membership of the PNC and has finalized its recommendations. It is now ready to present nominees for the PNC to the congregation for its approval.
You can download a PDF of their names, photos and biographies HERE.
be sure to attend the called congregational meeting on Sunday, January 31, following the last worship service in the Sanctuary to vote on this slate and/or make further recommendations for membership on the PNC.
.jpg) Called congregational meeting January 31
January 14, 2010 - The Committee to Recommend (CTR) a slate of people to serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has solicited input from the congregation concerning the membership of the PNC and has finalized its recommendations. It is now ready to present nominees for the PNC to the congregation for its approval. You are therefore requested to attend a called congregational meeting Sunday, January 31, in the Sanctuary, following the 10:45 and 11:05 a.m. services, for the purpose of receiving a report from the Committee to Recommend (CTR) people to serve on the Senior Pastor Nominating Committee. A reminder that although this meeting is open to everyone, only members of First Presbyterian Church may vote.
.jpg) Jim Capps to Serve as Interim Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church San Antonio
December 15, 2009 - In July the Session appointed a committee to serve as the Interim Pastor Search Committee (IPNC). The IPNC met weekly—and sometimes more often— to review resumes, listen to sermons, talk to numerous references, discuss and pray about who they believed God was calling here to serve as our Interim Senior Pastor. In late November a Special Session meeting was called to receive the report of the IPNC. They enthusiastically recommended that the Rev. James (Jim) A. Capps be contracted to serve as our Interim Senior Pastor. The Session voted unanimously to invite Jim to serve in this capacity and the Committee on Ministry of Mission Presbytery has concurred.
Jim Capps was born in Michigan City, Indiana and grew up in Southwestern Michigan. His faith journey began in a little country church when he was nine years old. He graduated from a small high school where he served as the president of his class as well as president of the student council and won letters in four sports.
Jim is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Indiana Central College, Indianapolis and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has done doctoral studies at LPTS as well as Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California. He is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. Jim took interim pastor training at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
In more than 40 years of ministry, Jim served as a youth director of a church in Indianapolis while attending college and his first year of seminary before becoming the student pastor of a small church in Southern Indiana his last two years of seminary. He served as an assistant, associate, and co-pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, Illinois before serving as the Senior Pastor of the Bonhomme Presbyterian Church, Chesterfield, Missouri and the Southport Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis.
Elected to the first national Board of Directors of Presbyterians for Renewal, Jim served as both vice-president and president during those early years. Jim has served on the Board of Kairos Prison Ministry International and was a spiritual director on two Kairos events in Maghaberry Prison just outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has served as a spiritual director on approximately 80 “Cursillio” type weekends. Jim has helped give leadership to 13 building campaigns in the churches he has served.
Jim and his wife, Alice, a graduate of Indiana University, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2009. They are the proud parents of Becky, who is a graduate of Wheaton College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and has been an associate pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg, South Carolina for nearly six years. Becky will be married in Spartanburg on April 24, 2010. Jim and Alice are also the proud parents of Minnie, a 5½ pound Yorkie they inherited last summer from Alice’s mother.
As an avid sports fan, Jim served as president of the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in St. Louis. He did chapel services for the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals and the then St. Louis Football Cardinals. From his boyhood he has been a loyal fan of the University of Michigan Wolverines and has become a die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan. Jim also enjoys reading and movies.
Many thanks to the IPNC (Charles Smith – Chair, Cynthia Robinson, David Rogers, Ron Tefteller and Jane Watson) for their hard work on behalf of the Session and for the congregation. Please welcome Jim when you see him at First Presbyterian.
Committee to recommend Pastor Nominating Committee slate named
September 29, 2009 - At a September 28, 2009 called meeting, the Session of First Presbyterian Church appointed seven persons to serve on the Nominating Committee that will eventually present to the congregation a recommended slate for the Senior Pastor Nominating Committee.
The members are: Barbara Anne Stephens (chair), Court Allen, Jeanne Douglas, Barry Kruger, Bil Lyons, Willie Willming and Virginia Beeler. The Session moved to allow the committee to select its own chairperson and to use its own best good judgment to select members of the PNC. Members of the Nominating Committee and their spouses are not eligible to serve on the PNC.
The Nominating Committee will solicit input from the congregation concerning the membership of the PNC. Once the Nominating Committee has finalized its recommendations, the names of those nominees for the PNC will be presented to the congregation for approval.
The committee can begin its work now, but the recommended names of potential PNC members cannot be presented to the congregation until an interim pastor is in place.
The PNC will need to be small enough to work effectively yet large enough to be representative of our congregation—perhaps six–12 members.
Please be in prayer as we seek the person God has already chosen to be the new senior pastor of First Presbyterian San Antonio.
Or download a PDF of the printed form and return it to the church no later than October 29, 2009.
Interim Pastor Nominating Committee members named
August 11, 2009 - At its August 10, 2009 meeting, the Session of First Presbyterian Church appointed five persons to serve on an Interim Pastor Nominating Committee.
The task of the IPNC is to conduct a search for, and ultimately present to the Session, a candidate to serve as Interim Pastor until such time as a new Senior Pastor is called by the congregation. (The Rev. Robert Shelton and the Rev. William Bryant previously served as interim pastors prior to First Presbyterian's calling of the Rev. Richard Kannwischer.)
The members of the IPNC are Charles Smith (chair), Cynthia Robinson, Ron Tefteller, Jane Watson and David Rogers. The IPNC will begin its search right away, but it is not yet possible to estimate when it will complete its work.
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