First Presbyterian Church, Evansville

Greetings, First Pres!                                                                    November 15, 2022

The Transitional Pastor Search Committee has been meeting weekly with the of the Presbytery in the process of searching, selecting, and negotiating terms for a transitional minister as we move forward in the ministry of our congregation.  The Committee is pleased to announce that the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry recently voted unanimously to:

• Approve the pastoral agreement between the Reverend Anna vonWinckler and First Presbyterian Church, Evansville;
• Authorize the Session of First Presbyterian to act on her nomination as Transitional Pastor, which the First Pres Session approved unanimously in its regular meeting last week;
• Receive the Rev. vonWinckler as a minister member of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley, effective January 9, 2023.

The TPSC will continue to meet as they debrief the search process and prepare to receive Rev. vonWinckler in January, with special thanks to Presbytery representatives Bill Henderson and Susan McGhee for their support.

Rev. vonWinckler’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montclair State University, a Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University, and a Master’s in Divinity from the Princeton Theological Seminary. Additionally, she has been formally trained in interim ministry, with her most recent certifications received in 2018 and 2020.  Originally from New Jersey, Anna was ordained on May 23, 1993, and has held many leadership positions throughout her career.

Anna brings a great deal of experience as a transitional pastor, with several positions in interim and bridge ministry.  She currently serves a diverse congregation of immigrants as Bridge Pastor for All Nations Presbyterian Church in Florida.  We are grateful for All Nations Church, who will continue to flourish under new leadership following her time there.  In addition to transitional ministry, Anna has international experience, working in an educational setting in Cameroon.

We all are excited for this time of transition and renewal for First Pres.  Over the next few weeks, we will begin to get to know Rev. vonWinckler and to welcome her as First Pres always has: with hospitality, grace, and the desire to serve others.

The congregation will also continue to be nurtured through the end of the year by our Bridge Pastors, the Reverends John and Wendy VanderZee, who bless us with their good work as we look forward to a smooth transition.  We are continually grateful for them and their time with First Pres.

The TPSC acknowledges that for some, change is very hard.  Sometimes change is subtle, like simple procedures and better habits.  It can also be daunting, as First Pres experienced earlier this year, and some of that will likely continue for a while.  But as we continue to move through this time of change, we ask all to keep supporting and taking care of each other.  And please know that your continued prayers and support have been deeply appreciated by the members of the TPSC. 

Amen!
Elders Sue Hartig, Gary Morris, Michael Thissen, and Gerald Summers
The Transitional Pastor Search Committee