The Interim Pastor Search Committee is happy to introduce The Reverend Doctor Jonathan F. Smoot (Jon) who has been called by Session as Interim Pastor for Bradley Hills.

Jon has just completed two years as the Interim Senior Pastor/ Head of Staff of Old Presbyterian Meeting House (OPMH) in Alexandria, VA. OPMH is a 1,000 member church with a staff similar in number to Bradley Hills. Prior to OPMH he served for three years as Interim Associate Pastor at the Wallingford Presbyterian Church in Wallingford, PA, a suburban church with 625 members. He has served as pastor and head of staff at churches in Madison, Wisconsin and Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Jon has a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from King’s College, University of Aberdeen, Scotland and a Master’s of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California where he won the Preaching Award and Overseas Study Fellowship. His bachelor’s degree was in Communication Arts at Wheaton College, Illinois. He has also received the Interim Ministry Training that our denomination offers.

His Personal Information Form describes the kind of church he desires to serve: “…a learning church – a church that stretches and grows in response to fresh leading of God’s Spirit. God’s people are on a journey, led daily through active obedience to, and adoration of, God. The rhythm of worship and work matters to these people, and they desire leadership that models this rhythm and encourages them in their own journey.”

Jon is married to Mary Hobbie, a senior member of the Office of General Counsel at the Department of Agriculture. He has a step-daughter, Rachel, who is a freshman at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina; a daughter, Katie, who just graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois; a son Joel, who is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin in Madison; and a son Tom who is a senior in high school in Madison, Wisconsin. Jon and Mary will continue to live in Alexandria, Virginia.

Jon and Mary will be attending the congregational brunch on Sunday, September 10, at 9:30 am. Jon’s start date at Bradley Hills will be Monday, September 18, 2006. The Search Committee was unanimous in its recommendation of Jon to Session and hopes you will all warmly welcome Jon and Mary into the Bradley Hills Church community.

Sincerely,

Cathie Lutter
for the Interim Pastor Search Committee: Jenni Biggs, Corky Hickey, Cheryl Hostetler, Lou Kallas, Margaret Rick and Alvin Stenzel