Introducing Rev. Nicole Newton

INTRODUCING

REV. NICOLE NEWTON Candidate for Associate Pastor for Discipleship

About Nicole Rev. Nicole Newton is a pastor, educator, and coach, coming to us from First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, where she served as the Associate Pastor for the past four years. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University School of Divinity with a concentration in Bioethics, a Master of Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary, and is currently working on her on her Doctor of Ministry degree at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.

She serves the wider church as the current moderator for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry for the presbytery and as a coach for the Office of Christian Formation. She also teaches graduate courses in leadership for the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and serves on the UKIRK Birmingham board. Her greatest joy is collaborating with others to build environments of inclusivity, trust, and imagination in order to cultivate community both inside and outside traditional church structures.

She is the mom of two wild and wonderful daughters, Alecia (19) and Lena Scout (10), and spouse to Jonathan. In her free time, she enjoys growing flowers, riding horses, raising chickens, and having silly dance parties in the kitchen.

“Nicole has a real pastor’s heart. She is a great listener who brings a sense of peace into the room. With her teaching background and variety of gifts, I think she will help our congregation grow in our discipleship to Jesus. Plus, she’s a Wake Forest Demon Deacon as I am! I believe Nicole will be a wonderful associate pastor at IPC.” ~ Rev. Kevin J. Long, IPC Pastor

Faith Statement, Excerpt I believe in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who, out of great love, took on flesh to walk among us as the fully human and fully divine incarnation of God. In word and deed, Christ’s life proclaimed God’s call to justice, reconciliation, and compassion for all people. Crucified by the world’s powers, Christ was then resurrected through God’s grace, overthrowing even death for our redemption. Through Christ’s living, suffering, dying, and rising, we belong to God.

Education

Ministry Experience

Wake Forest University School of Divinity Doctor of Ministry, in progress

Associate Pastor First Presbyterian Church Birmingham, AL

Union Presbyterian Seminary Master of Arts, Christian Education

Associate Pastor First Presbyterian Church Wilmington, NC

Wake Forest University School of Divinity Master of Divinity (MDiv) University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bachelor of Arts, English

Chaplain Resident Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Winston-Salem, NC Stated Supply Pastor Macedonian Presbyterian Church Biscoe, NC Ministry Intern Myers Park Presbyterian Church Charlotte, NC Chaplain Intern Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Winston-Salem, NC Elementary Ministry Coordinator Myers Park Presbyterian Church Charlotte, NC

From Nicole Having served in congregations ranging from 4,000 members to 40 members, I’ve had the opportunity to see both the gifts and the structure necessary to grow ministry in a variety of settings. This has made me a wellrounded and curious pastor, always on the lookout for the work of the Spirit among the people, and seeking new ways to support that work through leadership cultivation and structural support. Having served in various capacities, from worship leader to educator, to installed associate, I am also keenly aware of the kinds of support that church staff need to be successful.

As a systems thinker, I’m adept at taking stock of what is working well and what needs work in any system and then setting about the relational work necessary to make those changes possible.

Each call that I have had has required me to leverage this ability to streamline processes and offer new ideas that re-enliven ministry areas and connect congregations more deeply both internally and externally.

As a pastoral leader with extensive pastoral care experience, I’m able to relate across generations even in the toughest of situations to make people feel seen, heard, and loved. Connecting with people, learning what they love and are gifted at, and helping them plug those gifts into the work of the church is one of my greatest joys.

“The Associate Pastor Nominating

“Nicole is very focused, energetic, and

Committee (APNC) is excited to bring

articulate. Her personality will interact

Nicole to IPC. She is a very active

well with our young adults, the youth, and

theology learner and is working on a

older adults. She is truly interested in what

Doctor of Ministry degree at Wake

is being said to or asked of her and very

Forest. She has a very warm and

connected with whomever she is speaking

approachable personality with good

with. I truly feel Nicole will excel in

organizational & communication skills.

membership growth, interaction with and

Her skills are a great match for our needs

growing our young adults' programs and

in Discipleship, young adults, and new

congregational care areas. She was a true

members.”

delight to meet.”

~ J Houston Cook, APNC Chair

~ Suzanne Graham, APNC