The Pastor Nominating Committee, unanimously and enthusiastically, presents to you the Reverend Thomas J. (TJ) Parlette as the person we believe God is calling to be the next Senior Pastor/Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church, Rochester.
After reviewing more than 115 dossiers, we believe we have found in TJ the combination of gifts and enthusiasms that will help First Presbyterian Church venture into new areas of spiritual and communal growth, while respecting who we are as a congregation. He is thoughtful, intelligent, committed, enthusiastic, and willing to listen. His preaching is both down to earth and intellectual, leavened with humor. He has a commitment to encouraging people not just to “Give”, but get out and “Do.”
“A healthy congregation is one which prays together, offers praise together, studies together, serves together and plays together. A healthy congregation will honor what works and celebrate the activities and traditions that people hold dear while encouraging the new ideas and nurturing the emerging leaders that want to try something different. A healthy congregation doesn’t necessarily succeed at everything they try every time. A healthy congregation is not afraid to fail, will learn from mistakes and keep their eyes open for the next big thing God wants them to do.” – Rev. TJ Parlette
Reverend Parlette will preach to the congregation on Sunday, March 14, and the congregation will vote on the call at a special meeting called for 12:00 noon, following the second service.
About the Rev. TJ Parlette and his family
T.J. Parlette was born in San Antonio, Texas on November 1, 1963. He grew up in many different places, including Kentucky, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Growing up in the Presbyterian Church, he was active in youth groups, choir, and camping ministries, including working as a counselor at the camps that his church ran for the elementary, junior and senior high students. In the summer of 1988 TJ had his first introduction to the great state of Minnesota when he served as a counselor and village leader at Good Earth Village in Spring Valley.
He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1986, where he majored in Psychology and was an active member and Vice-President of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity; and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1990, where, in addition to his academic studies, he also worked at the speech studios of the Seminary and served as intramural sports coordinator.
Since his ordination in 1990, TJ has served three churches - Westmont Presbyterian Church in Johnstown, PA as Associate Pastor; Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church in Bridgehampton, NY as solo Pastor; and Brookville Presbyterian Church in Brookville, PA where he has been Pastor/Head of Staff since 2003.
While at Bridgehampton, he married his wife Juliet, and they had their first son, Grafton in 2002. In 2006, TJ and Juliet welcomed their second son, Thomson, to the family. Two young sons didn’t seem like enough excitement in the house, so a frisky black lab named Chelsea was added to the fold soon after Thomson’s arrival.
Juliet is a high school English teacher with a strong background as a theater teacher and director. She is also a high school swim coach and accomplished master swimmer. Grafton and Thomson share their mother’s love of swimming and also enjoy soccer and video games. Chelsea loves long walks in the snow, splashing around in icy waters and lying in front of a warm fire.
This past year, TJ earned the certification as a Master Biblical Storyteller through The Network of Biblical Storytellers. He enjoys golf, tennis, skiing and theater, as well as telling stories. The whole Parlette family is looking forward to everything Rochester has to offer and the opportunity to get to know all the members of First Presbyterian Church.
Members of the Pastor Nominating Committee:
Jon Closson, Lucinda Cutrer, Barbara Depman, Donald Hann, James Dyck, Daniel Pennington, Elizabeth Remfert, Sylvia Rogers, James Walts, and Jay Youmans. Lucinda Cutrer and Daniel Pennington served as co-chairs of the committee; Janice Dickinson, of St Paul, as Committee on Ministry (COM) representative.
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