 |
Our History
Our Mission
Our Goals
|
 |
About Us
Staff
- The Rev. Carson O. Mouser,
Pastor
We are delighted to welcome Rev. Mouser and we look forward to his spiritual
care and guidance through our time of congregational transformation. Rev.
Mouser is the fifth of six children and spent his childhood and young adult
years living in Northern California. After graduating high school in 1968 he
briefly attended community college until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
He spent six years in the Air Force as an editor of the weekly base
newspaper, then supervisor of the base newspaper staff, editor of the Base
Magazine and Hometown News release program as well as part of the Disaster
Preparedness Team, both as evaluator and instructor.
- Following separation from the
military in 1973, he continued his education at Ohlone Community College in
Fremont, California, with a major in Liberal Studies. While at Ohlone, Rev.
Mouser was editor of the weekly student newspaper, which won the "All
American Award," and was awarded an honorable mention for editorials in
1974. After graduating from Ohlone College with an Associate in Arts degree,
he attended San Jose State University in San Jose, California majoring in
both Journalism and U.S. History with a minor in American Literature. He
graduated from San Jose State University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree then began a Master of Arts degree in History with a focus on U.S.
Economic History at California State University, Hayward.
- After spending many years in
the workforce in the insurance industry, Rev. Mouser began sensing a call to
a new vocation. At first it was a somewhat vague and uncertain call that
became stronger and more clearly to Ministry of Word and Sacrament. His
faith journey, up until this time, had been a searching for home.
- In early childhood, Rev.
Mouser attended and participated in a rural Southern Baptist church, then an
American Baptist church when he moved from Glen Ellen to San Leandro to a
Methodist Church, a non-denominational church, a Roman Catholic Church, and
finally the Presbyterian Church where, as he was sitting in the pew in
worship, experienced the Holy Spirit and the overwhelming affirmation that
he had arrived home.
- Rev. Mouser's call to ministry
became more clear over the years as he taught Church School, Confirmation
Class, and Senior Highs, was ordained as a Deacon visiting the homebound and
participated in Bible Study and personal disciplines of prayer. It also
became clear as his wife began telling him that he really belonged in
ministry. The clarity of his call came to fruition when he decided to speak
to the Associate Pastor of his home church-First Presbyterian Church,
Pittsford. As Rev. Mouser began to tell him that he was thinking of changing
vocations, the Associate Pastor said to him, "Well, I hope it is to
ministry because that is where you belong." His wife's affirmation, his
affirmation, and the affirmation of the Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Earl
Johnson, was the clarity for him that indeed God was calling him to this
ministry.
- Rev. Mouser attended Colgate
Rochester Crozier Divinity School, graduating in 1997 with a Master of
Divinity degree. While at seminary, he served Twelve Corners Presbyterian
Church as an assistant to the pastor, but which was by design really an
Associate Pastor position. Most of the ministry he was doing at Twelve
Corners was to work collegially with the Senior Pastor, Staff, Session,
Deacons, and congregation as they transitioned from a church in deep
conflict to a new future.
- Rev. Mouser was introduced to
the work of interim ministry as well as engaging in worship planning and
leading, youth ministry, Logos, mission and Christian Education. He
developed the position description for Director of Christian Education,
which he held until his ordination in April 1998. He has served churches in
Tupper Lake, NY, and in North Tonawanda, NY. In addition, he currently
serves on the Presbytery of Western New York's Committee on Ministry as the
Chair of Congregational Care.
- Rev. Mouser is, also, enrolled
in the D.Min. program at Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia. The focus
of doctoral studies is congregations in transition-either during the interim
time or during the transformation time-as well as other times of transition,
and how these times of transition for congregations mirror those times of
transition for individuals and the importance of reclaiming Scriptures that
will provide the language and vision for understanding and guiding the
journey of transition.
- Rev. Mouser is married to
Tina, an RN specializing in psychiatric nursing and Alzheimer patient care.
Together they have five adult children. They, also, have two dogs and a love
of tent camping, canoeing, and hiking as well as reading, photography,
writing and the arts.
We are delighted to be served by
our outstanding, capable staff. They are:
- Robert Rudolph, M.M., M.Div.,
Director of Music Ministry
- Mrs. Karen Rector,
Administrative Assistant / Financial Secretary / Web Designer
- Mr. Jon Moore, Director of
Maintenance
Session
- The Session is a Board of
Elders responsible for the mission and government of our church. It consists
of nine Elders in active service and the Pastor, who is also the Moderator
of the Session. The Session has established teams that guide the church's
programs and administer its business.
Deacons
- The office of Deacon is
primarily a ministry of service to the congregation and the community.
Following the example of Jesus Christ, our Deacons seek to minister to those
in need, to the sick, and to any that may be in distress.
- The Deacons visit shut-ins,
participate in the Sunday morning activity of ushering, sponsor coffee hours
and fellowship meals, and operate a food pantry that serves thousands of
hungry community residents each year.
|
