Rev. Kendra L. Buckwalter Smith

Associate Pastor for Discipleship

The Reverend Kendra L. Buckwalter Smith began serving Shadyside Presbyterian Church as Associate Pastor in September 2019.

A ministerial daughter of our church family, Rev. Smith has attended worship and actively engaged in the life of this congregation since 2004, during her time as an undergraduate student. In 2017, Kendra completed the ordination process with the Presbyterian Church (USA) under the care of the Session of SPC and was ordained in our Sanctuary. Throughout the year, she regularly supports our music in worship on Sunday mornings by singing with the Chancel Choir.

In assuming this staff role, Rev. Smith expanded her worship leadership to include non-musical elements of liturgy, joining our clergy in the Chancel on a regular basis. In addition, she entered the rotation of ministers who deliver the homily during our midweek vespers services.

Her primary staff responsibilities, though, include oversight of the Sunday morning Christian Education classes and curriculum for our students in grades six through twelve, as well as the afternoon Shadyside Presbyterian Youth Sundays (SPYS) program for youth in the same age ranges.

The part-time nature of this position allows Rev. Smith to continue serving full-time as the Director of the Worship Program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, strengthening our longtime partnership with the seminary. We give thanks to God that Rev. Smith has agreed to add the spiritual care of our youth and their families to the many ways in which she already shares her gifts in our community of faith.