A Word from Laura: Meet Dean McDonald
Western Friends,
I am thrilled that Rev. Dr. Dean McDonald has agreed to serve as the part-time, temporary stated supply pastor while I am on sabbatical. She will be with us in worship and for coffee hour this Sunday, May 21, and I encourage you to introduce yourself. By way of introducing Dean, here are a few things you should know:
Dean and I were associate pastor colleagues (twenty-five years ago!) in my first call at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church. She was generous and kind with her wisdom to a newbie to ordained ministry. While she was on sabbatical there, I assumed responsibility for her duties.
Dean has served in multiple types of ministry, teaching, and as a certified marriage and family therapist. She has taught at the seminary level at Wesley and San Francisco Seminaries and in middle and high school at National Cathedral School and Sidwell Friends, as well as chaplain at National Presbyterian School. Wherever she serves in leadership, Dean brings a deep sense of compassion, a commitment to justice, and a beautiful blend of seriousness and humor.
I reconnected with Dean and her spouse Jim after they moved back from San Anselmo, CA, where Jim served as the president of San Francisco Theological Seminary. They are proud parents of three and grandparents of (I think) four! Their daughter Ruth works on the Hill and has been known to worship at Western on occasion.
When I approached Dean about serving in this capacity, she already had vacation plans for the summer; she will be with Western May 29 – June 21 and July 6 – August 20 – ten of the twelve weeks I am away. (Rev. Irene Bennett will be the pastor on call between-times.) June 4 will be her first Sunday. While she is here, she will be planning and leading Sunday worship, moderating the session, serving as head of staff and providing pastoral care as needed.
Her twenty hours a week will include office hours at the church on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You’ll be able to send her an email at dean@westernpresbyterian.org; we’re still working out phone arrangements!
The contract approved by the session includes a commitment on the part of the congregation to support Western’s ministry and assist her in any way necessary, to provide financial compensation (as already included in the church budget) and to pray for her during this period. I hope you will continue to extend a Western welcome and to support Western’s ministry by supporting Dean in this role.
As we all prepare for this period, please be in touch with me before May 28 if you have further questions. After that time, Dean will be your contact – and a wonderful pastor for you this summer!
Blessings,
Laura