Installation Service for Co-Pastors Tami Seidel and Chip Low at the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown

The congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown is pleased to announce that as of January 1, 2015, Rev. Tami Seidel joins her husband Rev. Chip Low as Co-Pastor of the church. Rev. Low became pastor of the church in 2010. Co-pastors Seidel and Low will share equally in all pastoral and preaching capacities at the church. Rev. Seidel was born and raised in Lancaster, PA and is a graduate of Wellesley College and Princeton Theological Seminary. She has served in various pastoral roles in churches in Plymouth, MI and Marlboro/Highland, Monroe, and Yorktown Heights, NY. In 2015 she will serve as moderator of the Presbytery of Hudson River. Co-pastor Rev. Chip Low is a graduate of Baylor University and Princeton Theological Seminary. In addition to many leadership roles in Hudson River Presbytery, Rev. Low is a trained coach through the International Coach Federation. Rev. Seidel and Rev. Low share in the joys and challenges of parenting their three children.

The roles of co-pastors has been lived out for some time in certain Presbyterian Church (USA) churches, not only among married clergypersons wishing to serve together, but also between two individual clergypersons who have intentionally partnered together in serving as co-pastors. Titles such as “Senior/Lead Pastor” and “Associate Pastor” commonly imply differences in status, responsibility, longevity, and authority. Such titles may suggest, in the minds of some, mutually exclusive roles and job descriptions. The title of “co-pastor”, however, expresses a different priority. It seeks to diminish those distinctions. Instead, the emphasis is placed on a pastoral team of equals driven by mutuality of vision, shared goals in achieving that vision, and like investment in the mission of the church. Co-pastoral ministry allows for creative flexibility in defining roles, specifically tailored to best promote the vision of the church, while capitalizing on each pastor’s special strengths and gift-sets.

The congregation looks forward to this exciting new phase of the church’s almost 300 year old history.