Pastoral Search
A Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) was elected by the congregation on January 26, 2020, and has been tasked with searching for our next installed Senior Minister. The committee is comprised of members of different generations, as well as the various ministries at First Presbyterian Church.
Introducing Rev. Daniel J. Commerford
At our Congregational Meeting on April 18, 2021, we elected to call Rev. Daniel J. (Dan) Commerford as our new Senior Pastor and Head of Staff. Dan comes to us from First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta, Florida, where he has served for the past five years. Dan’s first day will be Monday, July 5, 2021. Learn more about Dan and his family below.
Biography
Looking back, it’s not hard to see God’s wonderful love supporting and guiding me through every moment of my life. I was born and raised in Minnesota, spending the vast majority of my childhood in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis. Although I didn’t grow up Presbyterian, having faith in Christ was a central part of my family and quickly became a central component to my life as well. When I was young, I remember having a conversation with my mom about Jesus. It was a short and simple interaction that gave me the opportunity to express my initial beliefs about God and desire to grow in my faith. We were members of a large nondenominational church in my neighborhood, where I was very active in Sunday School and youth group. Some of my closest friends and mentors come from that time of learning and growing in my faith.
After graduating high school, I felt the need to explore different denominations as I continued to discover where God was leading me. I spent time with Lutheran, Assemblies of God, and Baptist churches while attending Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was at this Baptist college that I realized how presbyterian I was! I joined a Presbyterian Church in my hometown and began meeting with one of its pastors to explore my faith and sense of call. After some time, she encouraged me to continue developing my sense of call in seminary.
While attending Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, I continued to grow in faith while learning more about the Reformed tradition. I still cherish the friendships that began with those whom God brought into my life during that time! There, I began to discern what God had in store for me. Through classwork, as well as many hours of conversations with professors, friends, peers, and my pastor, I felt a strong desire to help others grow in their faith in the same way others helped me. That desire began my journey to pursue a call to church ministry.
Since then, God has called me to two wonderful congregations. My first call was to serve as Pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Covington, Georgia, where I learned firsthand the daily rhythm of ministry. My second call has been to First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta, Florida, where I have served for the past five years. There, I have continued to rely on God’s grace, grow in my faith, and help others to do the same. In all those years, God has given me the privilege of walking the journey of faith in Christ with those whom I serve, celebrating incredible joys and persevering through incredible challenges along the way. God’s love has been so amazingly transformative to me, and I have a strong passion to help others discover that same love. The more I grow and learn, the more I realize how amazing God’s love is and how freely God gives it to us every day.
It’s with that sense of purpose and call that I humbly seek to become the next Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia. Over the last year, all of us have faced challenges that we never thought possible to overcome. But throughout it all, God has been faithful, just as God has always been faithful. As we move forward, I am so excited to see what God has in store for us next! We have a wonderful opportunity to proclaim the power of God’s love to each other and our community, and my prayer is that God is leading me to walk that journey with you as your next pastor.
When I am not at church, you can most often find me with my family. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife, Rachel, with whom I will celebrate ten years of marriage this summer! She is a constant source of support and counsel (with which she has also blessed the church as an ordained deacon), as well as a model of Christlike love I admire every day. God has also blessed us with a beautiful daughter, Hannah (5) and son, Micah (1 ½). Being a husband and father has taught me so much about God’s love, which has impacted the way I live out my faith and minister to others. In my free time, I love to enjoy the outdoors in any way possible, create music, grill a mean steak, and explore new places.
After graduating high school, I felt the need to explore different denominations as I continued to discover where God was leading me. I spent time with Lutheran, Assemblies of God, and Baptist churches while attending Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was at this Baptist college that I realized how presbyterian I was! I joined a Presbyterian Church in my hometown and began meeting with one of its pastors to explore my faith and sense of call. After some time, she encouraged me to continue developing my sense of call in seminary.
While attending Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, I continued to grow in faith while learning more about the Reformed tradition. I still cherish the friendships that began with those whom God brought into my life during that time! There, I began to discern what God had in store for me. Through classwork, as well as many hours of conversations with professors, friends, peers, and my pastor, I felt a strong desire to help others grow in their faith in the same way others helped me. That desire began my journey to pursue a call to church ministry.
Since then, God has called me to two wonderful congregations. My first call was to serve as Pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Covington, Georgia, where I learned firsthand the daily rhythm of ministry. My second call has been to First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta, Florida, where I have served for the past five years. There, I have continued to rely on God’s grace, grow in my faith, and help others to do the same. In all those years, God has given me the privilege of walking the journey of faith in Christ with those whom I serve, celebrating incredible joys and persevering through incredible challenges along the way. God’s love has been so amazingly transformative to me, and I have a strong passion to help others discover that same love. The more I grow and learn, the more I realize how amazing God’s love is and how freely God gives it to us every day.
It’s with that sense of purpose and call that I humbly seek to become the next Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia. Over the last year, all of us have faced challenges that we never thought possible to overcome. But throughout it all, God has been faithful, just as God has always been faithful. As we move forward, I am so excited to see what God has in store for us next! We have a wonderful opportunity to proclaim the power of God’s love to each other and our community, and my prayer is that God is leading me to walk that journey with you as your next pastor.
When I am not at church, you can most often find me with my family. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife, Rachel, with whom I will celebrate ten years of marriage this summer! She is a constant source of support and counsel (with which she has also blessed the church as an ordained deacon), as well as a model of Christlike love I admire every day. God has also blessed us with a beautiful daughter, Hannah (5) and son, Micah (1 ½). Being a husband and father has taught me so much about God’s love, which has impacted the way I live out my faith and minister to others. In my free time, I love to enjoy the outdoors in any way possible, create music, grill a mean steak, and explore new places.
A Little bit about rachel...
Rachel was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, but also spent time in Mississippi and Minneapolis after her dad pursued a call as a pastor later in life. Being a “pastor’s kid” equipped Rachel for the rigors of supporting a pastor in the family that has become invaluable after becoming a pastor’s wife. Rachel met Dan at Bethel University, where she earned a B.A. in Accounting before pursuing a career in tax accounting. She is a licensed CPA and currently works as a tax manager in West Palm Beach. When she is not helping her clients or keeping her kids and husband in line, she enjoys reading, exercising, and cooking the most delicious meals from scratch.
Comments from your PNC
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“From the beginning of the call process, I was moved by the Holy Spirit when I heard Dan preach. His tireless preparation for the words he shares is impressive. His love for family is genuine. His commitment to spiritual growth, building community in and outside the church, and his passion for deep meaningful connections will bring us all into a deeper and renewed relationship with Christ. I am so very excited to see what comes next!” - Betty Burrell
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“From the first time that we read Dan’s Personal Information Form to the emotional Zoom call when we invited him to be our candidate, it was clear to the PNC that Dan had the gifts to be our Senior Pastor. Dan is a great preacher and his care and concern for his congregation and staff are evident. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and we anticipate that great things are going to be in store for FPC Gastonia.” - Ellen Cinq-Mars
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“Throughout our PNC journey I have been encouraged by the quality of the candidates that God has called to the church, specifically our denomination. This process has been full of the Spirit and there have been a number of “God winks” along the way. Of all the candidates Dan Commerford separated himself with a genuine, humble confidence in Christ and his call to serve. During our first interview with Dan there was a sense of peace difficult to describe. Immediately, I felt a pastoral presence that was both disarming and empowering. Dan’s authenticity, warmth, kindness, and wisdom for his age make him someone easy to gravitate toward. From the pulpit and through our conversations Dan’s greatest gifts are his passion for Christ and his ability to articulate an encouraging call for God’s people to grow as disciples. It is a privilege to present Dan to the congregation with the full confidence that his leadership will faithfully guide all of us toward Christ.” - Will Current
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“From the moment I read Dan’s PIF and watched him preach I knew...I knew he was going to be the minister that I would compare to all the rest. His compassion, grace and merciful demeanor came across in everything he wrote and preached. He has a passion and love for the Lord that is contagious. His youth is refreshing and like the Timothy of the scriptures, God has given him a gift to reach and help grow disciples of all ages, personalities, and walks of life. He has a joy that overflows, and I know that our church will thrive under his loving guidance and care. I am thrilled that the Lord has led our church to Dan and his precious family, and them to us. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for our church and our ministry as we enter this next chapter of our history!” - Coleman Efird
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“From our first Zoom interview, it was clear that Dan has a quiet energy and contagious enthusiasm. His authenticity and optimism are conveyed through his preaching, his passion for missions, and his ability to connect on a personal level with people of all ages.“ - Trey Robinson
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“Dan’s sermons, energy, youth, enthusiasm, humor, warm personality, ability to make you feel comfortable around him, love of family, outward expression of his love of Christ and my strong belief God is calling him to our church are the reasons I feel Dan is the right Senior Pastor for us.” - David Rogers
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“Rachel and Dan toured with me to downtown, Highland, the Fuse District and Garrison Blvd points of interest. Our conversation all the while was the best part. They are a fine fit for Gastonia and especially First Presbyterian Church. Our members will find them most agreeable as we worship together going forward.” - Dick Voorhees
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Statement of Faith
I believe that God created everything, including the heavens, the earth, and all that dwell in it. While God deemed the rest of creation good, God deemed us very good, which is the foundation of God’s relationship with us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made! Though God created us to be with us, our rebelliousness brought brokenness into creation, and that brokenness separates us from God. But despite our brokenness, God remains faithful to us, and we see God’s faithfulness repeated throughout scripture. The Old Testament tells of God’s faithfulness to Israel throughout its triumphs and struggles. The New Testament tells of God’s enduring faithfulness and lasting covenant with all of us, which was inaugurated with God’s revelation in Jesus Christ. In its entirety, God’s Spirit speaks to us through the witness of scripture.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Word of God who was with God and was God in the beginning. Jesus revealed God’s perfect love to the entire world. His life and teachings revealed to us the selfless nature of God’s love and God’s way. His death revealed to us the depths of God’s love for us, and his resurrection revealed the power of God’s love that conquers death for our sake. Today, Christ serves as the head of the church and is active in the reconciliation between God and humanity. As Christ’s disciples, God empowers us to a life of embracing Christ and sharing his love to the entire world.
I believe the Holy Spirit is eternally triune with God who was revealed to us in Christ. This Spirit hovered over the waters of creation, spoke to the prophets of Israel, and as Jesus promised, was given to the church on Pentecost and then to the entire world. It is through the Holy Spirit that we come to the revelation of Jesus Christ, and it is through the Spirit that we are empowered to share Christ’s love with others.
I believe the church is Christ’s continued presence on Earth. The universal church is made of many different denominations and congregations who gather as a community to worship God and celebrate God’s lasting covenant through Christ. Because of its understanding of God’s sovereignty and grace, I have found a home in the Presbyterian Church (USA). With the guidance of the Spirit, all who call Christ Lord are empowered to gather, grow in faith, and continue Christ’s ministry in the world. To those ends, God has given us all unique gifts and talents that contribute to the great mission of the church.
I believe God gave the church Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as tangible reminders of the grace we receive through Christ. In baptism, we are affirmed as God’s own and incorporated into the congregation. We partake in the Lord’s Supper as a spiritual meal, receiving the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection and offered an opportunity to be brought into God’s presence. These two sacraments give us the opportunity to remember, celebrate, and participate in God’s new covenant with humanity.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Word of God who was with God and was God in the beginning. Jesus revealed God’s perfect love to the entire world. His life and teachings revealed to us the selfless nature of God’s love and God’s way. His death revealed to us the depths of God’s love for us, and his resurrection revealed the power of God’s love that conquers death for our sake. Today, Christ serves as the head of the church and is active in the reconciliation between God and humanity. As Christ’s disciples, God empowers us to a life of embracing Christ and sharing his love to the entire world.
I believe the Holy Spirit is eternally triune with God who was revealed to us in Christ. This Spirit hovered over the waters of creation, spoke to the prophets of Israel, and as Jesus promised, was given to the church on Pentecost and then to the entire world. It is through the Holy Spirit that we come to the revelation of Jesus Christ, and it is through the Spirit that we are empowered to share Christ’s love with others.
I believe the church is Christ’s continued presence on Earth. The universal church is made of many different denominations and congregations who gather as a community to worship God and celebrate God’s lasting covenant through Christ. Because of its understanding of God’s sovereignty and grace, I have found a home in the Presbyterian Church (USA). With the guidance of the Spirit, all who call Christ Lord are empowered to gather, grow in faith, and continue Christ’s ministry in the world. To those ends, God has given us all unique gifts and talents that contribute to the great mission of the church.
I believe God gave the church Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as tangible reminders of the grace we receive through Christ. In baptism, we are affirmed as God’s own and incorporated into the congregation. We partake in the Lord’s Supper as a spiritual meal, receiving the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection and offered an opportunity to be brought into God’s presence. These two sacraments give us the opportunity to remember, celebrate, and participate in God’s new covenant with humanity.
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