Introducing the Reverend John M. Zuercher
God has led your PNC to an extremely solid candidate in the person of seasoned pastor, the Rev. John M. Zuercher. Pastor John has 28 years’ experience, 20 as solo pastor in a small Presbyterian church in Kingwood, WV. In the past 7+ years, he has served as Interim Pastor at churches in Steubenville and Lima, OH, and Flemington, NJ, and now wishes to truly pastor a congregation such as Condit.
The 58-yr.old Rev. Zuercher has two grown children, both associated with the Univ. of West Virginia in Morgantown. His wife, Cathy, whom he met in Lima and married three years ago, is a RN and has served as a public health nurse in NJ, and her two grown children are in the Columbus and Lima areas.
Rev. Zuercher shows excellent administrative and organizational skills, has a strong stewardship and financial emphasis. He has a passion for music and its accompaniment to his primarily traditional, yet informal, services. Pastor John utilizes lay persons in his Reformed tradition worship and, from time to time, likes to adapt some alternative styles for the congregation’s benefit. He has relevant Christian Education experience and has vision for our Youth Ministry at Condit, adapting programs and activities from his previous calls. These two attributes were prerequisites of your PNC’s search.
The Zuerchers purchased a home in Sunbury. They are becoming involved in the life of the community as well as the church, and help with Condit’s mission outreach at Friends Who Share, the BW Ministerial Assoc., the Scioto Valley Presbytery and the Synod of the Covenant.
“I desire to serve a congregation that is filled with the joy of being God’s people, and eager to express that joy in creative, inclusive worship, that is diverse in appeal to all ages and conditions of persons,” he writes in his PIF. “I desire to serve a congregation that seeks to deepen the level of discipleship of its members. I want to lead the congregation toward increased enthusiasm for study, eagerness to be involved in mission, delight in fellowship and care for each other, a search for spiritual depth, and an embrace of the gift of grateful stewardship.” He, your PNC unanimously feels, is an excellent match for Condit.
Rev. Zuercher has pledged 10 years to Condit, should health or unforeseen circumstances not intervene. He understands our church’s location is on the fringe of one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, and sees that Condit must realize a share of that growth in order to remain a viable church congregation. But he also realizes Condit is a ‘family’, and will lead and nurture us to continue those characteristic relationships which make us such.
