Special Announcement from the PNC

July 10, 2018

Dear BSM Community,

At the outset, we, the members of the PNC, wish to thank you so very much for your understanding and patience over the past months as we have been searching for a new lead pastor for our worshipping community. We are extremely excited and pleased to let you know that we extended an invitation to the Reverend Laura Colee to serve in this important role. Laura was the unanimous choice out of the final three candidates and approximately 50 candidates considered. A graduate of Northwestern University (Religion/History) and Princeton Seminary (Hebrew Bible/Women’s Studies), Laura served as one of our Pastoral Fellows in 2010-11. Her time at BSM helped shape her vision for the church and ministry. Over the past 5 years, Laura has served as Director of Christian Education and Interim Associate Pastor at Haddonfield Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, while also teaching Hebrew Bible and New Testament to undergraduate students at Eastern University.

We believe that Laura is uniquely qualified to lead our worshipping community. While we have changed since Laura last served here, she knows us well, visiting frequently with student confirmation groups from Haddonfield. She recognizes our strengths and the challenges we face and is excited to help us shape a vision for the future. She is a gifted preacher and her sermons reflect careful scholarship, deep knowledge of Scripture and an ability to bring the text to life. A creative worship leader, Laura envisions worship as the place where we are challenged to engage with God and the world in new and fresh ways. Her care for and commitment to serving those most vulnerable is evident by her words and actions. She is a careful listener, describes herself as “a professional pot-stirrer and change initiator” and believes that the Spirit speaks through conversation and collaboration.

On July 22 at 4:00PM, Laura will join us in worship and preach. Following worship, you will have opportunity to engage with the Pastor Nominating Committee to ask questions and offer feedback. Laura will then rejoin us for a celebratory reception. It is our hope that you will attend and be part of this important day in the life of Broad Street Ministry.

While some details are still being worked out, we anticipate that Laura will formally start with us mid-August.

The PNC thanks you for your support, prayers and patience. Special thanks are also due to members of the faith team (Michele, Devin, and Allen) and to Raymond for their service and leadership in this interim period. We are grateful and humbled to be part of this incredible community, and for the opportunity to serve this community and our mission in this way.

In closing, some words about Laura from our Executive Director Mike Dahl: “Irreverent, wryly humorous, unorthodox, caring – I could be talking about the worshipping community at BSM, but instead I am talking about Laura. That’s why I know she will be a great fit for leading BSM into its next season.”

Please find Laura’s complete bio here.

The members of the PNC hope to see as many of you as possible on July 22, at 4:00PM as we begin a new transition in the life of this community.

The BSM PNC (Mike, Jess, David, Pam, Jim and Eric)