Sean will lead the church’s electronic and print communications, working closely with the senior pastor, clergy, staff and officers in promoting the mission and ministries of the church.

Sean is relocating to Manhattan from New Haven, Connecticut, where he serves as senior writer for the Yale University Office of Development, Marketing and Communications. He has been part of the university’s development team for eight years. Previously, he was the assistant director of admissions and recruiting at Yale Divinity School. He also worked for two years as a writer, editor and photographer for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

“I am overjoyed to join the Fifth Avenue community,” Sean says. “The breadth of the church’s ministry and the diversity of members are inspiring. It is easy to speak of such things as building community and welcoming all people. It is quite another to do them. Fifth Avenue not only performs these vital roles in the work of Christ, it is a leader in them. I am honored that the church has chosen me to help tell its stories.”

A native of East Providence, Rhode Island, Sean grew up in a large, Roman Catholic family. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Boston College, and a master of arts in religion from Yale Divinity School and the Institute of Sacred Music. Through his studies at Yale, and his longtime interest in theology, he brings a rich understanding of the Protestant tradition to his work at Fifth Avenue.

“In our search for the best candidate to lead our communications and development program, we threw the net wide and reached out to a network of people across the country,” says Senior Pastor Scott Black Johnston. “This careful, extensive, prayerful process has resulted in a truly gifted individual. Sean is a wonderful writer and creative thinker. His former boss describes him as ‘a connector of people and a consummate ambassador.’ We are excited that he will soon be an ambassador for Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, and we are confident that he will tell this church’s compelling story in creative and faithful ways.”
 
Sean succeeds Tim Palmer Curl, who has served as the interim Director of Communications & Development for the past year. Sean joined us for worship for the first time this past Sunday and was on hand for the Betsey Jackson events as well. We will introduce him to the congregation following worship on Sunday, June 18.