Wife and Husband Become Co-Pastors at Yorktown Presbyterian Church

From the Yorktown Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Tami Seidel and Rev. Chip Low were installed as co-pastors of the Yorktown Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 15, 2015. 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.

A co-pastorate is an alternative model of pastoral leadership in Presbyterian Church (USA) churches, sometimes between married clergy who wish to serve together or between individual clergy who intentionally partner with colleagues to share the both the responsibilities and blessings of pastoral ministry. In a co-pastorate, 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 First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown looks forward to this exciting new phase of the church’s almost 300 year old history.

Photo by Barbara Santagata