|
The Reverend Dr.
E. Chris Curvin has served as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church
(USA) for nearly two decades. Most recently he has served as
Pastor of Evangelism for Church of the Palms in Sarasota, Florida,
a 3,000 member congregation which has over 200 affiliate members.
His ministry in Sarasota provided him the opportunity to initiate
two new contemporary services in his own congregation, build
worship attendance and assist numerous churches to develop
additional worship services of their own. His previous
congregation now has four Sunday morning services, (one
televised), and is now in the top 1% in weekly worship attendance
of our 11,000 Presbyterian churches nationwide.
Through his
leadership “Chris” has helped to recruit over 2,500 new members
into congregations he has served over the last two decades. His
former congregation continues to enjoy over ten-years of growth in
membership, stewardship, mission, worship and educational
programs. Dr. Curvin says, “I believe
the Christian church has good news to share with others and should
make the difference in the community in the name of Jesus Christ.
I am grateful to God for my experience in leading ministry teams
in large, “cathedral sized congregations” that have embodied a
compassionate spirit and a positive attitude. In every
congregation I have served I have worked with ministry
teams of people who have embraced the motto that, ‘The
best years are before us, not behind us!’ “This motto and
spirit of momentum is one I hope bring to the wonderfully gifted
people of Northwood who are already faithfully following Jesus
Christ in so many ways.”
Dr. Curvin
served from 1991 to 1999 as a Associate Pastor and later as
Executive Pastor, in the First Presbyterian Church of St.
Petersburg, Florida, (a congregation in the top 2% of membership
growth in our denomination). While in St. Petersburg he provided
key leadership in the areas of outreach, mission, preaching,
pastoral care and administration, during which time he
became a certified counselor in marriage
preparation and enrichment.
His love for mission is evidenced from his leading mission
and study trips to Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Scotland, Russia and
the Holy Land as well as working locally in community mission
projects.
Dr. Curvin
says, “It is a joy to have the opportunity to serve the wonderful
people and talented staff of Northwood Presbyterian Church. I
have enjoyed learning through your Pastor Nominating Committee
about your creativity and energy which is reflected in you wide
range of church programs and staff leadership. My wife, Joyce, and
I have discovered getting to know you through them that
Northwood’s compass is pointed directly to Jesus Christ and
welcoming others into this community of faith. I can honesty say
that through these many months that I have fallen in love with all
of you at Northwood before ever setting foot on your beautiful
campus.”
“Trust is where
ministry begins for me. Integrity, honesty and collaborative
leadership are key ingredients in my understanding of leadership
in ministry. I rely upon scripture, prayer, experience, and the
goals of the local congregation to guide my efforts. However,
unless the work rests upon trust between us as we seek to discern
God’s will, the labor will be in vain.”
During his ministry in Sarasota Dr.
Curvin served as a Chair of Peace River Presbytery’s Evangelism
and New Church Development Committee. In 2004 he recruited a
strong core of charter members 15 miles north of his congregation
and began a new church in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. His vision and
efforts recently culminated in the call of the church’s first
Organizing Pastor and the development of several other new church
development projects in Southwest Florida.
His
understanding of ministry has been intimately shaped from an early
sense of calling from his small, home church in Soddy-Daisy,
Tennessee. “My call to faith and ministry was nurtured in my youth
by a supportive congregation which began with my family being
invited to worship with a fellowship of welcoming Presbyterians!
My experience has taught me that Presbyterians can share the good
news of Christ and do it as well or better than any other group of
Christians I know.”
Dr. Curvin has
also served congregations in Alabama and in Edinburgh, Scotland
before serving two of the largest Presbyterian Churches in
Florida. He has served churches in various positions as Youth
Director, Associate Pastor, Executive Pastor, and as Pastor/Head
of Staff. In each congregation he has served his ministry has
focused on building up the body of Jesus Christ and caring for
others.
He is a graduate
of Middle Tennessee State University and received his theological
education at Columbia Theological Seminary and the
University of Edinburgh's New College Divinity School. He is
married to Joyce Kenfield, who is an artist and visual designer.
Chris and Joyce have two children, both boys, Will (12) and Ben
(9).
His hobbies include sports, reading, writing
and the outdoors. “I have lived near the coast or fresh water
lakes all my life and enjoy fishing and boating (but only in calm
waters!)
What do you call a Pastor? In formal
settings he is known as “Dr. Curvin”. His staff at the church and
almost all of his members call him, “Chris” which he prefers.
MINISTRY HISTORY
2005 – Present
Northwood Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, FL
Pastor/Head of Staff
2004 - 2005 New Church
Development, Lakewood Ranch, FL
Project
Director/Steering Pastor
1999 - 2005 Church of
the Palms, Sarasota, FL
Pastor of Evangelism
1991-1999 First Presbyterian Church, St.
Petersburg, FL
Executive Pastor (1995-1999)
Associate Pastor
for Evangelism
and Mission
(1991-1994)
1988-1991 First
Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, AL
Pastor/Head of Staff
1986-1988 Morningside
United Church, Edinburgh, Scotland
Associate Pastor
1985-1986 Mountain Brook Presbyterian, Birmingham, AL
Supply Pastor, Director of Youth
1984-1984 Government
Street Presbyterian Church, Mobile, Alabama
Seminary Intern and Director of Eastern Shore Ministry
1981-1983 First Presbyterian Church, Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
(Suburb of Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Assistant to the Pastor, Director of Youth Ministry
Dr. Curvin was born December 17, 1960
He was ordained as a Minister of the
Word and Sacrament on June 15, 1986 |
