Rev. Floretta Watkins

Email: pastor@seigleavenue.org 
Extension: 201

In 2002 the Pastor Search Committee sought, and God led us to, a pastor who:

• Ministers out of a deep spiritual life and strong knowledge of the faith

• Is a creative, dynamic, and flexible worship leader capable of preaching to, challenging, and motivating a diverse congregation

• Demonstrates an open leadership style that fully engages church laity in their ministry

• Values diversity, inclusion, innovation, tradition, outreach, and peace-making as important to faithful Christian community

• Is an approachable, people-oriented person showing unconditional love, compassion, humility, humor, and pastoral-care ability

• Is able to teach from a perspective that relates to the experiences and needs of a diverse congregation and able to guide an education program to do the same

• Is visionary and able to patiently lead a community through change or conflict

• Ministers / Advocates with ‘the least of these’

After over a year of work, the Pastor Nominating Committee is overjoyed to present the Rev. Floretta Laurastine Watkins as our unanimous nominee to become the next Pastor of Seigle Avenue Presbyterian Church. It was undoubtedly the providence of God that let us to her. Here is a brief introduction of this visionary and gifted woman of faith (a 4th generation Presbyterian)!

In Her Own Words

On her faith journey - “I am a child of the church, I was reared in the church, and have always been a part of the church, the problem was that the church wasn't in me until I reached my 20's. I then discovered what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ. My life has not been the same. I entered seminary in 1990 and I knew that God had called me to preach and teach and proclaim God's message. My faith has always been present but it is now stronger than ever. I have found that the more I surrender my will to God's will, the more God is able to use me for God's service. I am ready, willing, and able to be used by God to lead the people of Seigle and the community to reach for the stars! I believe that God does all things well, and this is no exception. I am thankful to God for this opportunity to serve humanity [through] Seigle Ave.”

On theology - “Jesus Christ is head of the church. Jesus quoted from Isaiah, in Luke 4:18-19 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Theologically, the key issues facing our church fall under categories of oppression. Therefore, our key issue is still oppression in the form of discrimination. The church’s response to these societal ills must come from understanding the power of the gospel to liberate, not oppress. The church must therefore become a change agent in the world.”

On what excites her about Seigle - “What excites me is … the intentionality to inclusivity, the willingness to be an agitator in a good way means that we do not accept the norm just because. Seigle is a place that needs a leader who thinks outside the box, because it’s a church that does the same. I like the passion and ethos of Seigle, not to mention that laid back-ness. That style fits me to a “T”, and that is exciting. The fact that you don't have to talk people into doing the work of Christ, is also exciting. We cannot just do the work of Christ in our community but spread the word as far as God can send it! That's exciting, and that's the vision, to be the liberating voice of God.”

On her leadership - “I am a visionary leader. Walt Disney once said, ‘if you can dream it, you can do it.’ I live by this motto! I see the big picture, more than details. Therefore, my style of leadership is participatory. I view my style of leadership as shared ministry. I see my role as one of coach; to encourage, to empower, and to equip the saints for ministry. I also see my role as one who is able to assess situations and offers options within the rubric of our Presbyterian polity. I am far from an autocratic leader, because I sincerely believe it discourages innovation and the Holy Spirit’s movement.”

On person-hood - “For over 20 years we have struggled with the ordination of homosexuals, and in my opinion we have wasted too much precious time. God calls, God grants gifts to whomever God calls. The ordination issue has preoccupied our time, which has caused our church to ‘strain out a gnat and swallow a camel’. There are weightier matters to deal with. Matters the deal with person-hood and equality deny that we were all created in God’s image after God’s own likeness. Anything that denies [this] denies God.”

 Seigle Avenue  Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbytery of Charlotte in the Presbyterian Church (USA)

PO Box 36524 Charlotte, North Carolina 28236    |    voice: 704-338-1914    |    fax: 704-338-1154     |     info@seigleavenue.org

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