You may not know this, but when I first walked through the doors here in 2006, I was considering leaving the church altogether.

Like so many who have sat in our pews, I had reached the point where I could no longer reconcile the content of my faith with my experience of the church. I desperately wanted to be part of a faith community, but I hadn’t found one that felt like home.

Yet there I was, sitting in the farthest corner of the Sanctuary, quietly praying that God would meet me in your midst.

God answered my prayer that day. From the moment I entered this church, God has met me more times than I can count, and probably more times that I am aware. Within the hallowed walls of Fifth Ave, I found the community of faith I had been longing for my entire life—a community bound by a genuine love of God, a passion for people, a commitment to justice, the courage to ask questions, and the humility to listen.

Thanks to all of you, not only did I not leave the church, I realized that God was calling to me serve the church. As a pastor. As your pastor.

You have blessed me with your stories, welcomed me into your precious lives, and become a vital part of mine. Together we have broken bread, baptized babies (yours and mine), mourned loved ones, made covenants, laughed, cried, celebrated and grieved. For the past 10 years, we have not only done good church together, we have done good life together.

But as our tradition reminds us, calls are not a one-time thing. As Presbyterians, we confess that God is still speaking in our midst, still calling us to serve, still beckoning us to go to places unknown.

The time has come for me to do just that. In July, the Pastoral Nominating Committee of First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley extended a call to me to serve as their Senior Pastor, and (pending a congregational vote on Aug. 30) I plan to accept.

Unlike the call to serve at Fifth Avenue, this is not something I sought out or expected. The thought of leaving Fifth Ave and New York City makes my heart ache. And yet, over the past year, the Spirit has been speaking to me in ways I have never experienced before. And when the Spirit speaks, you listen. After nearly a year of discerning and dreaming, growing and grieving, I knew in my soul what God was calling me to do.

There will be a time when I can say this to you in person, but for now, let it be written: Thank you. I am the pastor and person and parent and partner I am today because of this community. You have embodied the love of Christ in my life and in the world we live in.

You are the hope I have in the church. 

• To Scott, thank you for always believing in me, rooting for me, championing me, and showing me what courageous and compassionate leadership looks like.
• To Kate, Werner and Randy, thank you for being the best of friends to me in ministry. Because of you, I have never felt alone in this call and will carry you with me wherever I go.
• To the staff, past and present, you make this church shine in a world so desperately in need of God’s light. The best part of my job was getting out of the way and watching you do yours so beautifully.
• To the servant leaders of this community, past and present, ordained and un-ordained, let it be known that while the pastors may be the ones wearing the robes, YOU are the ones who have guided and led this congregation through the ages. You are the ones Jesus called to go out into the world. You are the ones living out the Gospel. You are children of the most high God.

My time as a pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church may be coming to an end, but if you have taught me anything it’s that the tie that binds us together is stronger than we will ever know. As we enter into a new chapter of our lives together, I will hold onto that beautiful hope with gratitude in my heart.

With love,
Charlene

I have known for some months that First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California, was increasingly interested in Charlene Han Powell as their next senior pastor. After nearly a year of conversation and discernment, the church has extended a call to Charlene, and she has accepted.

I’ll confess that fielding reference phone calls from their eager search committee made me nervous. But I could not lie to them. It is no secret to any of us that Charlene is just plain awesome!

In talking with the good folk from Berkeley about Charlene’s uncommon skills, energy, intelligence and pastoral gifts, and in talking with Charlene as she processed her conversations with this church, two thoughts intertwined: 1) It will be really tough to lose the good reverend from this staff, and 2) this truly seems like “a call”—a summons from God, beckoning Charlene to “head west” and lead an amazing congregation in an area of the world that Charlene and her family know and love.

I will say more about our beloved Executive Pastor at a Congregational Meeting (via Zoom) I plan to call for 12 pm Sunday, Sept. 27. For the moment, I want to outline next steps to you.

• Today, both congregations (Fifth Avenue and First Presbyterian Berkeley) will learn that Charlene is the Pastoral Nominating Committee’s choice to be that church’s next Senior Pastor.
• On Sunday, Aug. 30, the congregation of First Presbyterian Berkeley will meet (by Zoom) to hear Charlene preach and to elect her as Senior Pastor.
• On Sunday, Sept. 27, Charlene will preach her final sermon as the Executive Pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. We will have a Congregational Meeting that afternoon to dissolve her call to serve this church and release her to serve in California.

Normally, we would have a big party that day, but given the pandemic, Charlene and I have agreed to schedule a celebration of her ministry sometime in the spring. We look forward to welcoming Charlene, Jordan and the girls back for that event.

Throughout this process, Charlene has been gracious and forthright with me and the Personnel Committee. Her respect for this church has allowed us to prepare for her departure and for the next person God will call as the Executive Pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Sometime this fall, the Personnel Committee (as per Fifth Avenue tradition) will bring forward to the congregation a slate of those who will serve on an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee. The Personnel Committee is already working with Charlene, the senior staff and me to reassign her responsibilities for the short term, and we are considering interim help for the longer term.

Please pray for Charlene and her family. Pastoral transitions put a person through an emotional wringer. I know you will be gracious to Charlene and her family as they make ready to depart. Meanwhile, watch for a letter from Joyce Hansen, chair of the Personnel Committee, that will describe one way we intend to say “thank you” to Dr. Han Powell for her ministry in this sacred place. Finally, I totally agree with Charlene:

In the midst of life’s changes, God holds us secure. God’s Spirit binds us to each other.

I pray that we will all feel the strength of this sacred connection in the days and weeks ahead.

Bless you, my friends,
Scott