Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago has a new pastor

Talk about tough shoes to fill. Call it a job difficulty rating in the high nines, if it were an Olympic competition.

That was the task assigned for the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago nominating committee in their search to find a new lead pastor for their proud church.

Highly popular pastor Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner had left a couple of years ago. Retirement beckoned for interim pastor Rev. Tom Are Jr. The nominating committee was already at work, searching for the new pastor.

It was no easy task. A large, gaping hole indeed.

Fourth Presbyterian Church is one of the largest and most prestigious churches in Chicago. It sits in high visibility right in the heart of North Michigan Avenue, and its services in helping the surrounding community are numerous,  including meals ministry, social services assistance, tutoring, showers, and clothing for the needy, and much, much more.

So, the task for the nominating committee was to find that perfect person–the just-right fit to come in and be able to lead this large congregation.

The search went for nearly two years, and the look went far and wide, with hundreds of possible names considered.

In the end, a select group of applicants was chosen for serious consideration, and each was interviewed carefully. Along the way, the nominating committee had its disagreements and differences of opinion, but it seemed that when final votes were counted, one name showed up as the first choice of just about everyone.

After the candidate was contacted and after her careful consideration before accepting the job, the nominating committee had hit its jackpot.  A Bingo across the board.

On May 18, when the congregation voted on her nomination, Dr. Camille Cook Howe was elected the church’s new pastor.

Finally, after a couple of long years of anticipation and a grueling recruiting process, Fourth Church had found its new leader.

Dr. CamilleCook Howe comes from Georgetown Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., where she has been the senior pastor and head of staff since 2010. Since she was loved very much by her D.C. church,it was as tough a loss for them as it was a great gain for Chicago.

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Dr. Howe’s pastoral experience runs deep, previously serving churches in places like Oxford and London, England; Johannesburg, South Africa; and St. Paul, Minn, before her recent post in Georgetown.

Although not leading services yet, Dr. Howe comes in with impressive credentials. She is young, has a clear confidence about her, as well as a certain calming and steady presence. In addition, she is well-known for being a gifted orator and much sought after as a preacher, teacher, and leader of pastoral retreats.

By all accounts, Dr. Howe appears ready to take the helm of this large congregation and lead it into even greater things ahead.

The city of Chicago, and of course those at Fourth Presbyterian Church, welcome her and wish her all the best in this new venture.

Sunday, Sept. 21, will be her first time leading worship at Fourth Church. Her official installation will take place on Sunday, Oct. 19, at a 9:30 a.m. worship service.

After all that is done, the members of the nominating committee can then take a bow and finally settle in for a nice, long, well-deserved rest.