On Tuesday night, the Session unanimously approved Hannah Garrity as the new Director of Christian Faith, Life, and Arts. Hannah and Ginger will overlap over the next two months, and then we will celebrate Ginger's transition to glorious retirement and Hannah's transition into this role.

Personnel Chair Jonathan Heckel led a thoughtful team to update the job description (read the description in full here), post the job opening, and then conduct interviews. Our thanks to the team who worked to make this happen: Marjorie Clark, Betty Dickie, Amanda Healy, Jonathan Heckel, Allison Mays, Allison Vogler, Alex Evans, and Kate Fiedler.

We give thanks for the clear work and presence of the Holy Spirit in this transition. Join us in celebrating with Hannah and her family--Rick, Whitner, and Ada.

Hannah Garrity and Ada, Whitner, and Rick Lilly

from Hannah's letter to the Second Presbyterian congregation:

Dear Second Presbyterian,

It is with a joyful heart that I accept the role of Director of Christian Faith, Life, and Arts at Second Presbyterian Church!

Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “life purpose” or “reason for being.” I first read about it a few years ago in the Harvard Business Review in an article that tried to enable income inequality through the gig economy. For the last decade, I have made sure that my vocation, my passion, my mission, and my profession align. However, I have achieved this by working in the parallel lanes of ministry and education. Accepting your offer for the role of Director of Christian Faith, Life, and Arts weaves these four ikigai categories together more tightly than I ever could have imagined possible! It is who I truly am.

I now have 17 years of education experience; ten years as liturgical artist on the Montreat worship team; 6 years publishing regularly as a founding creative partner with A Sanctified Art; 4 years as a member of 2nd Pres; and this year ordained as an elder to our session. In an effort to continue to expand my personal journey into faith and the Church, I have applied to Union Presbyterian Seminary to pursue an MDiv/MAPT degree in the coming years. Please review my portfolio, website, and work at A Sanctified Art to gain a more comprehensive understanding of my service to the larger Church.

These experiences set me up with a unique skill set in education and ministry and have prepared me for the position of Director of Christian Faith, Life, and Arts at Second. I look forward to beginning this important work.
Sincerely,
Hannah

Hannah Garrity called as Director of Christian Faith, Life, and Arts!