Phil Hulst
Dr. Beth LaRocca-Pitts has been named as the new Senior Pastor at Saint Mark. Beth’s first Sunday with us will be Sunday, June 27th and she and husband Mark and ten-year old twins Joe and Ellie will be moving to Atlanta earlier that week. Beth visited Saint Mark last week to meet with staff and I had an opportunity to interview her for our blog.
I had been predisposed to like her. Her reputation as a warm, caring, and accepting person was evident both in conversations with people who knew her and in her presence on the internet. I had been particularly pleased at her caring comments to her own Watkinsville Church members about her reassignment when she said in an email to them in part, It may also please you to know that Saint Mark is a unique church with a beautiful loving congregation much like your own which will be a wonderful ministry setting for me. Simply put, it was the Bishop’s opinion that I was the person needed at this time to serve there.
Meeting her immediately confirmed what I had already heard. She is charming, personable, and has a great sense of humor, often breaking into spontaneous laughter, but most importantly, she is very happy about the move to Saint Mark.
Beth: First, I have to say I love my folks at Watkinsville; I adore them very much. However, for the last six years I have told almost anyone who joined the Watkinsville church when they would ask 'how long are you going to be here? Don’t Methodist ministers move frequently,' they would ask? I would explain that if you’re not on the move list, if the church doesn’t want you to move and you don’t want to move, that the Bishop doesn’t even look at you for a possible move. But I said in all honesty, there are probably only three situations I could envision the Bishop moving me when I wasn’t on the move list. One would be if he needed a District Superintendent and everyone else was dead; the second would be to a church that would only listen to someone with a PhD and I have one. And the third would be to Saint Mark. And I knew that if I were asked, I would gladly go to Saint Mark.
I wrote on my Facebook page one time that I worshipped Saint Mark from afar. Saint Mark is a lot like Athens First, where I grew up, in the sense of having a traditional culture and a beautiful music program. I think I’ll have died and gone to heaven the first time I hear the Saint Mark choir sing...honestly.
The question is who wouldn’t want to come to Saint Mark? I’m always editing my speech in other places. I’m always trying to meet people where they are. And there have always been people with whom I can relate very well and be honest without scandalizing them. There are always people that you can be yourself with. And I’ve always felt I can be more myself at Saint Mark than at just about any other church.
When I talked to Bishop Watson, and he asked me on March 25th if I would consider coming here, I was at first shocked because I wasn’t on the move list, my people didn’t know I was moving, and I love Watkinsville: it’s a wonderful sweet church and I didn’t want to hurt anybody. The Bishop said at one point in our conversation, 'I want to protect Saint Mark' and I said I’m glad to hear that.
There has been somewhat of a feeling in the past that for a minister to move to Saint Mark might be damaging to their career? What do you say to that?
Beth: I used to refer to that as career kryptonite. If the idea of being a supporter of gay rights is career kryptonite then that horse was already out of the barn about me in the public in the annual conference a long time ago. Maybe it’s because I come from a Catholic background where I wasn’t allowed to be ordained, it has always been my idea that I will serve where I’m called to serve. It doesn’t matter where because God’s people are everywhere. So, why not be who I am? Saint Mark is the largest church in the North Georgia conference that has ever called a woman. I think I’m being placed here not because I’m a woman, however, but rather I’m being placed in a church that I’m most like.
What do you think generally is the perception of Saint Mark in the conference?
Beth: I think you have a reputation for being brave. You have a reputation for being open and welcoming. You have a reputation for being artistic, although that’s not exactly the right word. I’m referring to the level of music and art culture that’s at Saint Mark. I first put Saint Mark on my radar when you had the first Hispanic congregation in the conference. I think the general perception of Saint Mark is that it’s a place where there’s a diverse congregation and a very friendly and beautiful atmosphere.
Where do you see yourself and Saint Mark in the near future?
Beth: The old cliché for Methodist ministers is based on the 'oil and the underwear' principle: that is that during your first year, you should only change two things, the oil in your car and your underwear. I don’t always follow that rule, however. If I see changes that need to be made, I’ll work toward making those changes. But, I plan to do a lot of listening and hearing.
I must confess that I have never lived in Atlanta. I don’t know much about Atlanta and I need to learn who the community is; I need to learn who Saint Mark is, so I don’t really have a grand scheme of things. I would love, however, to see us have a higher percentage of the membership in worship on Sundays.
Do you see yourself being involved in the community... in organizations that reflect the interests and needs of Saint Mark?
Beth: Sure. But I’ll need Saint Mark’s help in understanding what are the important groups. In the past, I have been on the AIDS Athens board when I was at Athens First and know how important community involvement is. Essentially, I’d like to take Saint Mark’s advice about where you think my presence is most beneficial.
In terms of the Monday through Friday operation of the church as a business, what is your leadership style?
Beth: I’m not a micromanager type of person. When I worked for Garnett Wilder at Athens First, I’ve adopted his philosophy of having the goal of hiring the type people you trust to run their department without constantly sticking your hand into what they’re doing. You’re there as a resource, as a support; you’re there to help the departments work together, and to have a finger in every pie is not necessary. Although every now and then, if it’s necessary, I don’t mind sticking my finger into that pie.
What has been the most fulfilling thing you’ve done in your ministry to date?
Beth: I love to preach; preaching is one of my favorite things to do. I also love to teach Bible. My degree is in Old Testament studies and I really did that degree for personal enrichment, not because I enjoyed academia all that much. It is also fulfilling to be involved in the sacramental moments of peoples' lives.
I am also pleased that during my time at Watkinsville I helped resurrect their building program that had declined because of a shortage of funds in their capital campaign. I am happy that succeeded for them the second time around.
Beth: Generally, the whole family is excited about the move. Mark is currently a hospital chaplain at Athens Regional Medical Center and is interviewing for positions in Atlanta. As for the twins, Joe is happy now that he knows his X-box live membership will follow him to Atlanta. Ellie loves to shop and is interested in rearranging furniture in her new room. Ellie is a child who’ll tell you exactly what’s on her mind; Joe is a child who’ll try to protect other people’s feelings. They’re doing well with the move; they actually kept the secret since March, even though the upcoming move was leaked to the local Oconee paper ahead of the Staff Parish Committee making the announcement at Watkinsville First.
We’ve found a house we can afford in the Lake Clair area that we’ve made an offer on because we wanted to be near Saint Mark and in the Inman Middle and Grady High School attendance zones. I think our house is right on the edge of the attendance zone, the farthest you can be and still attend Inman.
