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Building a New Denomination: More than Just Nimble Structure
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In light of the multiple thousands of denominations existing over and against Je...
ECO’s Personnel Committee is pleased to announce that we have prayerfully and enthusiastically called Rev. Nate Dreesmann to the role of Executive Director of Ecclesiastical Support.
The purpose of the ED of Ecclesiastical Support is to “enhance the mission of ECO by facilitating the ecclesiastical responsibilities of the denomination at the national level, as well as supporting presbyteries as they live out the polity while maintaining the ethos and values of ECO.” The Synod Executive Council and the Personnel Committee felt that the establishment of this position is vitally important in order to assist our growing number of presbyteries. Hiring a new ED allows our Synod Executive, Dana Allin, to focus on the broader needs of ECO. Especially important areas that Dana will be now freed to cultivate are internal and external resources that will allow our congregations to fulfill their greater purpose.
The committee received eighteen applications for the positon. We gave written follow-up questions to over half of the candidates and did interviews with a third of the candidates. The committee unanimously felt the Lord’s leading to Nate. Nate is someone who has the perfect combination of experience, gifts, personality, and track record to thrive as the Executive Director of Ecclesiastical Support.
Currently the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Jerome, Idaho, Nate was the Moderator of the Presbytery of the West. In his position as Moderator, he helped facilitate the establishment of several new presbyteries by training new leadership and ministry teams. Nate was also a PMOT chair and instrumental in developing the ordination manual. He created several ordination exams and led training for the exam graders. His current church in Jerome is actively engaged in planting two new ECO churches.
Nate has significant experience in small, medium and large churches and is keenly aware of the various operational needs that these churches require to flourish. The committee recognized that not only did Nate have the experience to hit the ground running, but he has personally embraced the vision and ethos of ECO.
The ECO staff team will welcome Nate to his new position in the Santa Barbara, CA office on October 1.
About Rev. Nate Dreesmann
Nate has been serving the church for more than twenty years. He has served on the staffs of First Presbyterian Church (Jerome, ID), Walla Walla Presbyterian Church (Walla Walla, WA), First Presbyterian Church (Berkeley, CA) as well as serving as elder at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa, CA and Gridley, CA. Nate attended Fuller Seminary, where he received both an MDIV and MACCS. He also has a BS in History from California State University Sonoma and an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Butte Community College. Nate is passionate about growing, developing, and nurturing churches and leaders to be healthy and flourishing. Nate is married to Cari and they have four children – Gabrielle, Jackson, Charis, and Elise.
