ABOUT
PAOLI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
THE STAFF
THE PASTORS
THE DIRECTORS
Director of Adult Discipleship and Intergenerational Mission
THE SUPPORT STAFF
Our Pastor Emeritus is Dr. Richard Streeter, our Parish Associates are Dr. Marcia Woodruff and David Hall.
DEACONS, ELDERS, & SESSION
In the Bible, Jesus does a lot of stuff for others. And after his ascension, his disciples took on that mantle. From then on, elders and deacons have been an integral part of helping the body of Christ serve. Deacons are people who get their hands dirty, "caring for widows and orphans" as it were. Elders often have the role of overseer, helping people within their area of interest accomplish what needs to be done. And Session is a decision-making body made up of elected elders, pastors, and associate pastors.
VALUES
Paoli Presbyterian Church began in 1899, and from then until now the congregation has valued the same things: gathering to glorify God, helping everyone be known and loved, enabling young people to thrive, joining Jesus in his mission, and looking toward the future while never forgetting the past. With these values in mind, we have a vision to end relational poverty in our area.
HOW DO WE END RELATIONAL POVERTY?
BELIEFS
The faith we confess unites us with the one, universal church. The most important beliefs of Presbyterians are those we share with other Christians. Diversity remains. But we are thankful that in our time the many churches are learning to accept, and even to affirm, diversity without divisiveness, since the whole counsel of God is more than the wisdom of any individual or any one tradition.
The following is the list of confessions Paoli Presbyterian Church holds to:
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The Nicene Creed
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The Apostles' Creed
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The Scots Confession
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The Heidelberg Catechism
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The Second Helvetic Confession
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The Westminster Standards
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The Theological Declaration of Barmen
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The Confession of 1967
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The Belhar Confession
Want to read them? They're all compiled here.
VISION
Paoli Presbyterian Church is a community of people on a mission to end relational poverty. God created us to be connected, both with God and with one another, so together we seek to bring healing, understanding, and a sense of community through building authentic relationships. Called by God, compelled by the love of Jesus, and empowered by the Spirit, we will cross whatever boundaries need to be crossed (age, class, race, gender, affiliation) to end relational poverty in our area.
As a community, Paoli is committed to the following 5 initiatives:
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Connect The Generations
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Build Community Through Personal And Intentional Relationships
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Be Passionate About Energizing Our Children, Youth And Families
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Live The Gospel In Both Word And Action
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Catalyze Young Adults To Expand Our Ministry Of Worship, Discipleship And Mission
You can be a part of that, too!
MEMBERSHIP
The calling of Jesus to love God and love your neighbor is a high calling. And you can do that on your own, or at least you an try. But it's a lot more effective to do it in community.
Becoming an official member of Paoli Presbyterian Church comes with some perks:
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Practically, you can reach greater potential for leadership in the church, such as being a deacon or elder.
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Socially, when you're on the member's list you have more access to care, discipleship, and relationship from the existing teams of deacons and elders and pastors.
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And spiritually, it's a discipline to commit to something or someone, to put down roots, grow deep, and be in for the long haul.
Over all, membership is a way to tell a particular community that you're worth their investment, that you're ready to love and be loved.
Want to learn more?