Full-time Pastor, First Presbyterian Church Petersburg
Full-time Pastor
Looking for a joyful adventure in ministry? Dream of an Alaskan sojourn, working in a place surrounded by the wonders of nature where eagles soar above and whales ride the tides of the sea? Feeling called to a ministry in the midst of a group of committed Christians and wonderful loving people? Then consider a ministry in Petersburg, AK.
Church and Community Description
Petersburg is a small (pop. 3,000) community on Mitkof Island in the Southeast panhandle of Alaska. The community, founded by Norwegian fishermen on the site of a long-standing Tlingit fish camp, still maintains strong ties to both Norwegian and Tlingit heritages, and continues to make a living from the sea by fishing and tourism.
Petersburg is located on the waters of Frederick Sound near the summer feeding grounds of hundreds of humpback whales. Eagles soar in the skies above, and salmon return to their spawning grounds. The Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area, with the spectacular LeConte Glacier calving off tons of bright blue icebergs, is just a short boat ride away.
Our church is small but faithful. Our recently-updated Vision Statement is both aspirational and inspirational as we seek to serve the Kingdom of God:
“We are People of the Tree, a Forest of the Faithful, rooted in Christ,
reaching out and wrapping our roots around the hurting
to keep each other alive in the faith”
PURPOSE: Our longtime pastor retired in June 2018. Since then we have worked diligently with several short-term pastors to discern the future of our congregation. Our two-year interim is retiring May 1, 2022. We now have a clearer vision of our capabilities and limitations and are looking for a pastor who will help us finalize our goals toward long-term ministerial leadership.