About Mr. Aaron Frank, Pastoral Associate
Please provide a warm welcome to our new Pastoral Associate, Mr. Aaron Frank, whose first Sunday in worship will be November 30, the first Sunday in Advent! Yes, indeed, after several months of careful and prayerful searching, the Interim Associate Pastor search team and the Session have identified and extended a 1-year contract to a gifted and exciting pastoral associate.
Aaron comes to Colesville by way of Alexandria, Richmond, Holland (Michigan, that is), and Chicago. Aaron grew up outside of Chicago in Palatine, Illinois. His mother was (by Aaron's own description) "the Church Lady," organizing missions and drives of all types and regularly working on the South side of Chicago with church groups and organizations. Aaron's interest in mission and social justice comes from sharing in these early experiences. He swam and played water polo competitively in high school and college. At Hope College, in Holland, Michigan, he studied both English Literature and Religion, while also taking a Philosophy minor. Aaron attended Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Aaron's primary interests at Union were in theology and ethics. He was a member of the Institute for Reformed Theology, a group that gathers scholars, pastors and students for in-depth study and discussion of specific topics. Aaron's group was entitled, "The Reformed Tradition and Public Ethics." While at Union, Aaron volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and participated in a Central America Immersion Seminar. Aaron also spent a summer in Grand Teton National Park as a Chaplain, preaching amongst the trees and mountains to visitors from around the nation and the world.
Following Seminary, Aaron served as Ministry Intern at Westminster Presbyterian, in Alexandria, Virginia. While at Westminster, he assisted the ordained staff working in every aspect of the Church, including preaching, youth groups, missions and teaching. Aaron was accepted into the Master of Theology program at Union but chose not to return to school, and instead found work with U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman in Washington, DC, as a congressional intern. He then joined Pillsbury Winthrop, and later Hunton & Williams as a Paralegal. Aaron has enjoyed these diverse experiences, but has always retained a sense of call to ministry. He has been active at his home church, New York Avenue Presbyterian, teaching, preaching and serving as liturgist as often as possible. In coming to Colesville, Aaron hopes to begin the process of returning to full-time church ministry. He looks forward to the coming year and the many opportunities we can share.
Aaron's hobbies include swimming, reading, and woodworking. He and his wife Marcy Cathey live in Bowie. They have two daughters—Emily, who is a consultant for Deloitte, and Ellen, who is a freshman at Virginia Tech, studying Food Science. Aaron and Marcy have one cat, Sherlock, and a new puppy, Gwyn.
Aaron will be handling many of the same duties and responsibilities as our former Associate Pastor (Andy Acton) except for events such as leading weddings, baptizing, and celebrating communion, since he is not yet ordained. He may assist at communion, but may not do the words of institution, as that is reserved for ordained pastors. He may do funerals unassisted and provide pastoral care, as ordination is not required for those ministerial functions.
Please provide a warm welcome to our new Pastoral Associate, Mr. Aaron Frank, whose first Sunday in worship will be November 30, the first Sunday in Advent! Yes, indeed, after several months of careful and prayerful searching, the Interim Associate Pastor search team and the Session have identified and extended a 1-year contract to a gifted and exciting pastoral associate.
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