Ordination of Gavin Walton

The Pittsburgh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) invites you to attend a Service of Ordination for Gavin Walton at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church. Since 2010, Gavin has been a member of Shadyside Presbyterian Church, and, in May 2016, he successfully completed the denomination’s care process, which he entered under the sponsorship of the Session of Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Gavin will serve as Temporary Pastor at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, a sister congregation in the nearby Hill District of Pittsburgh with which Shadyside has enjoyed a long relationship.

Services of Ordination are acts of the presbytery as we welcome into ministry colleagues in Christ. Pastors and church members, especially of neighboring congregations, are urged to attend Gavin’s ordination as a way of helping a new pastor and his congregation experience the partnership we have as members of Pittsburgh Presbytery. We also encourage you to lift up Gavin in prayer on the day of his service of ordination and installation as he officially begins his ministry.

In June 2016, Gavin wrote the following message to Shadyside Presbyterian Church:

“I wanted to thank you all for your prayers and support along the way. I am currently interning at a few churches in the area while searching for an official call. Despite my absence, I wanted to reaffirm my love and appreciation for my home church. I would have never made it to the point of realizing God’s purpose for me if not for your rearing and guidance during these formative years. As I seek to help a congregation live into God’s vision for them, I will remember and (try to) emulate the love and discipleship with which you have blessed me.”

It is a blessing for us to be able to celebrate this special occasion. Please support Gavin through your prayers and your presence at the service.