The Pastor Nominating Committee Joyfully Introduces REV. DR. HOPE ITALIANO LEE as our candidate to become Vienna Presbyterian Church's next Senior Pastor May 2, 2021
It is with great joy that the PNC unanimously recommends the Rev Dr Hope Lee to serve as Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at Vienna Presbyterian Church Hope comes to us from Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Florida where she serves as Lead Pastor and Head of Staff Hope’s husband, Rev Sung Lee, is Kirkwood’s Pastor of Worship, Technology, and Youth They have three children – Anna (16), Peter (12), and Maria (8)
The PNC began our work after our election in June 2019, meeting every week since, often multiple times a week We worked diligently through devotion and prayer and sought God’s guidance in discerning His will for our congregation.
In our search, we had contact with almost 100 pastors and evaluated over 70 formal resumes. We watched and listened to scores of online sermons and interviewed many candidates via phone and on Zoom. After establishing a thorough COVID safety plan, we held interviews with a few candidates in-person here in Vienna.
We identified several essential characteristics for our church’s new Senior Pastor, including a deep commitment to the person, body, and work of Christ; a preacher whose sermons are grounded in Scripture and who could challenge us to discern how the Word of God speaks to us and what it asks of us today; a leader that can help VPC honor the past, celebrate the present, and discern our future within the context of our quickly evolving world; a spiritually mature and hopeful leader that is a good communicator, an engaging and relational pastor, and a collaborator who values community involvement and outreach
This process was truly led by God who was with us every step of the journey, pointing us to Hope as a person who fully embodies all of these critical characteristics The PNC was particularly impressed with Hope’s love of Jesus As she puts it, “the hope of Jesus Christ is the hope of the whole world” Her desire to serve a church who places Christ above all else matches seamlessly with VPC’s mission to become like Christ together for the world Equally impressive is her Biblical preaching, her heart for community and mission and evangelism, and her desire for relational discipleship that brings people closer to Christ.
Hope was highly recommended to us by pastors who know VPC well. The PNC reached out to her and found that while she was not actively looking for another church call, she was drawn to our church’s mission. Through months of praying and discerning God’s will, the PNC unanimously extended the Call, and she accepted our Call Our committee is confident that God has called Hope to VPC, and we are overjoyed that Hope feels the same certainty of call
It is with great joy and enthusiasm and gratitude for God’s guidance that we unanimously and unequivocally submit our recommendation to you that the Rev Dr Hope Lee be confirmed as our next Senior Pastor and Head of Staff She is uniquely qualified, suited, and ready to lead the new thing God is doing at Vienna Presbyterian Church
Enclosed is an “introduction” to Hope We look forward to you getting to know her and her dear family It has been an honor to serve as your Pastor Nominating Committee We are thankful for your support, prayers, and encouragement throughout this process We appreciate the trust you have placed in us over these last 22 months and more importantly, the faith you have placed in God to guide us.
In Christ,
The members of the VPC Pastor Nominating Committee: Chris Dowell, Teri Dungan, Megan Gerbracht, John Hall, Yvonne Malloy, Ryan Seckinger, Rachel Thompson, Beth Webster, Dan Wright
Dear
VPC Family,
PNC'S THOUGHTS ON HOPE LEE AS A PASTOR, PREACHER, AND LEADER
JOHN
"God's clear call to our church."
RACHEL
"Radiates the love of Jesus."
YVONNE
"Hope is anchored by a love of Jesus and a profoundly deep pastoral heart."
TERI
“Hope’s sermons are approachable, impactful and solidly grounded in Scripture.”
DAN
"Collaborative, empowering leadership style."
CHRIS
"Alive, relevant and inviting."
BETH
"Contagious view of the body and relevance of Christ."
RYAN
"Hope's love of Jesus overflows in a contagious love for people."
MEGAN
"Love of children with special needs and she pulled me vividly into her world."
Many thanks to Kenneth Funderburk for providing photography and videography.
REV. DR. HOPE LEE
Hope doesn't know how to cook She's not exactly a patient driver She always returns her grocery store cart to the corral. She does not like snow under any circumstances. Hope is a real person who happens to really love Jesus Christ and has a heart for all the people He loves, which includes YOU!
Hope grew up in Maryland, and she graduated from Eckerd College (formerly Florida Presbyterian College) and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in homiletics (that's just a fancy word for preachin') from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary. She's served pastorates in Amelia Island, FL, King of Prussia, PA, and Bradenton, FL, but spent the years before that leading youth and campus ministry programs including Georgia Tech
Hope came to know Christ personally through the ministry of the Beth-El Farmworkers’ Mission in Wimauma, FL where she has served on their Board of Directors as President of the Board
The Scripture that defines her life is Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it holds the power of salvation for all who believe " Hope has a deep passion for the local church She believes that we are the face of Christ to the neighborhood and that God has already equipped us with all that we need to live out His mission and vision for the people right where we live and then to the world
Hope was the opening preacher for the Covenanting Conference of the Fellowship of Presbyterians in Orlando, FL, and preached again for the Fellowship in Atlanta, GA She has also been the keynote speaker for the Alabama State Collegiate Conference, the Trinity Youth Conference in Traveler's Rest, SC, Renewal by the Lake in Juneau, AK, the National Discipleship Conference, the Young Adult program speaker at the New Wilmington Mission Conference, and she is often asked to speak and preach at conferences and workshops and presbyteries all over the United States She has served as an Evangelism Coach on behalf of the National Office of Evangelism and Church Growth
Hope is wife to Sung and mom to Anna, Peter, and Maria She is a long-suffering fan of the Baltimore Orioles (no love for the Ravens) and WAS a long-suffering fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until this year….Super Bowl Champs! She loves comedies, hates sci-fi/superheroes, and tolerates dramas
Hope is highly relational and loves to talk to people about almost everything (not Star Wars or the Florida Gators) but especially about what Christ is doing in their lives She can’t wait to see how God is already at work in the people of VPC and join in on our call to ministry together!
GIFTS AND STRENGTHS
LOVE OF JESUS. We observe in Hope a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ that sustains and enables her to see and engage people with Jesus's eyes and intentions
INTERPERSONAL ENGAGEMENT. This is an area that impressed us from the beginning. Hope is pastoral, empathetic, and authentic. She has the ability to connect with all ages in a heartfelt, engaging manner.
PREACHING AND WORSHIP LEADERSHIP. Hope’s Biblically based preaching is gifted by the Holy Spirit and was refined by her doctorate. She is a fabulous preacher and worship leader.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP. Important for any large organization like VPC, Hope has strong executive management skills complemented by a collaborative, empowering style have created healthy work environments for church staff and volunteers
STRATEGY AND VISION. We perceive in Hope an innate ability to see the spiritual gifts and potential of others, both individually and corporately This helps people find their value in God’s Kingdom and participate in the congregation's vision
And finally, and importantly, COMMUNITY. Hope is dedicated to building bridges, both inside and outside the walls of the church A contagious view of the body and relevance of Christ both draws and empowers the people of God to “be the church ”
STATEMENT OF FAITH
First and foremost, I believe that I belong - body and soul, in life and in death - not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for my sins.
To that end, I believe that not only am I a child of God, but that everyone I encounter is made in that same image and should be treated as such.
I believe in a sovereign God who formed and continues to form all that was all that is, and all that will be. God chooses to be in relationship with us, not out of necessity, but by God's own pleasure - a love expressed for us in Jesus Christ, the sacrificial lamb, who paid for our sins, not in part, but in whole.
I believe in Jesus Christ, in His full humanity and full divinity. He lived among us, died on the cross, and was resurrected from the dead so that we, by faith, might share in his glory as adopted daughters and sons of God...those who will inherit the Kingdom of God. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit and believe that without it we cannot experience the fullness of God. Through the Holy Spirit our hearts are opened to receive the Word of God and that it is the Spirit that binds us together in the life of the church through the waters of baptism and the cup of salvation. It is also the Holy Spirit that calls the Church out into the world to share the Good News and to bring hope to the nations.
I believe that the Scriptures are the authoritative Word of God and were inspired by God from the beginning. We are called to be in the continual practice of studying the Word anew and to that end have a responsibility to proclaim the Word in all seasons of life as the definitive guideline for all matters of faith and life.
As God's people, we are called to worship God. We are created for worship and the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper remind us that we are created for relationship with God and with one another and that authentic relationships often require both commitment and sacrifice.
The Holy Spirit will sustain the Church until Christ returns to establish a new heaven and earth. And on that day, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.
REFLECTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES
“The Rev. Dr. Hope Lee is a phenomenal leader, preacher, and pastor. Her love for God and God’s people is evident in all she does. She is an amazing colleague and friend.”
“Hope Lee is one of the best communicators of the Gospel in our Presbyterian family. You will be blessed in so many ways to experience God's Word in her teaching and preaching.”
Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill, Presbytery of Charlotte
“Pastor Hope has a deep and vital faith in Jesus Christ, has a respect for the traditions of the church …. is a wonderful communicator … whose heart is to grow disciples, encourage the people within the congregation and to share the person of Jesus, and compassion of Jesus with the outside world as well.”
Rev. Dr. E. Stanley Ott, Vienna Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. James Singleton Jr., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
TOP TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE LEE FAMILY
10. We are TERRIBLE at DIY home repair We're only 5 years into renovating a bathroom in our current home
9. We are a 4/5 family 4/5 loves amusement parks (everybody but Hope) 4/5 have musical talent (everybody but Hope) 4/5 love being outdoors (everybody but Sung)
8. Our whole family loves to watch "The Goldbergs " It is one of the very few shows we can all agree on
7. We are coming to you from a town that is the home to the circus - Ringling Brothers, Nik Wallenda, Feld Entertainment. The circus arts are a very special part of how the Lee kids grew up and hope to still participate in.
6. Even though the Lee kids span 8 years apart, we are a very tight-knit family that loves to do things together. One of our absolute favorite things to do is to go to the drive-In movies - real ones, at the old drive-in theatres that still have the sound boxes outside
5. Having a sibling and child with special needs, our whole family has a real heart and passion for those who, for whatever reason, find themselves on the outskirts of the traditional church
4. We love to travel Anywhere Everywhere
3. Water, Water Everywhere! Canoe, kayak, whitewater rafting, surfing, the beach, or the swimming pool - we are water people, all the time
2. We don't take ourselves to too seriously All 5 of us are pretty laid-back, easy-going people
1. We do take the Gospel seriously. And we try to live our lives in a way that carries the hope of Christ out into the world through our everyday living. We consistently seek to "be the church" wherever we find ourselves.
THE LEE FAMILY
Sung is one of the most joy-filled, Spirit-led persons you'd ever want to meet. He is a high energy worship leader, who sings and plays the guitar. Like Hope, he is an ordained Presbyterian minister. Sung likes all things technology, Star Wars, and Marvel He loves Jesus most, but Korean BBQ and the Florida Gators aren't all that far behind!
Anna (16/Junior) - Anna is finishing her junior year in the International Baccalaureate Program at Southeast High School She works at Camp Idlewild, a camp for children with special needs She's a huge fan of Clemson, so much so that the Clemson Marching Band did an entire birthday video for her on her 16th birthday She sings on The Well team at church and plays the guitar. She LOVES the beach and all things sunshine She was recently elected student government president for her senior year
Peter (12/6th grade) - Peter loves making stop-motion films. He likes to make mashups for YouTube He loves making art, but doesn't particularly like looking at it (i e museums) He's a hands-on kinda guy He is obsessed with horseshoe crabs and knows countless facts about them He likes Minecraft, Roblox and Pokemon He recently learned to zipline and he loves it It takes Peter a little time to try something new, but once he knows what he's getting into, he's all-in!
Maria (8/3rd grade) - Maria is all about aerials and gymnastics and all things circus arts She has three best friends that she's had pretty much since birth and so her free time is spent mostly with them Like Anna, she loves the beach and sunshine Maria loves church and has often suggested that we should just live there - as in, move in When it comes to physical adventures (with the exception of kayaking - which she has declared painfully boring), Maria is all-in She loves rock climbing and ropes courses and, like Peter, the ziplines
LETTER FROM THE REV. DR. HOPE LEE
Dear Brothers & Sisters at VPC,
I feel a bit like the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the Romans, saying, "I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the Gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you "
The Pastor Nominating Committee reached out to introduce me to VPC in May of 2020 From that moment forward there has not been a single day when you have not been in my prayers Although I am new to you today, I have been able to watch your worship, fellowship, and discipleship for some time now, all while doing my best to faithfully proclaim the Gospel in my current location, which is in Florida...at the beach...in the sunshine!
While there are many amazing attributes of VPC that I could mention here, I'd like to share with you the one that has made my heart come alive with joy: humility Though I have not met all of you yet, every person that I have encountered at VPC thus far has shown such a humility and humbleness in both the search process and approach to ministry Humility allows us to be authentic and it allows God to shine without us getting in the way. The world is looking for that kind of authenticity, especially when it is coupled with the hope of Christ that reminds us that nothing in life or death could ever separate us from God's love
VPC, you have been patient You have persevered You have been faithful And my prayer, on this day, is that you are ready to GO forward in faith and in ministry! God is calling us together for such a time as this, one that has never happened in our lifetime, where we will get the opportunity to be the church in an era of creativity, ingenuity, and endless possibility. Yet, we do that with the confidence of knowing that God is with us, for us, and in us and that we start from a firm foundation!
It probably won't come as much of a surprise to you but church people tend to want to capitalize on my name all the time: as in "Hope for the Future," or "Forward in Hope," or "Onward with Hope." And while I'm always willing to laugh about the happy coincidence, at the end of the day, I am reminded of that humility that says, "this really isn't all about me " So, to that end, I say that "MY hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness " To God be the Glory and, in Him, let's go and do this life and ministry together!
In the Grip of Grace, Hope
