wfn.org | Maggie Lauterer is third GA moderator candidate

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Maggie Lauterer is third GA moderator candidate
Pastor endorsed by Presbytery of Western North Carolina
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The Rev. Maggie Palmer Lauterer

> The Rev. Maggie Palmer Lauterer

> Posted at
> April 28, 2010 9:16 a.m.

> by Bethany Furkin

The latest candidate to stand for moderator of the 219th General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was named yesterday.

The Presbytery of Western North Carolina endorsed the Rev. Maggie Palmer 
Lauterer to stand for moderator at its presbytery meeting.

Lauterer is the third candidate for the moderator position, joining the Rev. 
Jin S. Kim (Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area) and Elder Cynthia Bolbach 
(National Capital Presbytery). The new moderator will be elected July 3, the 
first day of the weeklong biennial meeting in Minneapolis. The winner will 
succeed the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th  GA.

Since 1999, Lauterer has served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in 
Burnsville, N.C. A second-career pastor, Lauterer came to the ministry after 
working in newspaper, magazine and television journalism. She also made an 
unsuccessful run for Congress, being the first woman to run for a congressional 
seat in western North Carolina.

?I do not believe that growth of the Church has as much to do with age and 
location as it does with our openness to the transformative powers of the Holy 
Spirit as we are called toward new frontiers ? the new front lines of being 
Christ?s Church, of ?doing Christ?s Church? in the light of the radical love 
Christ has taught us. That standard will be my standard,? Lauterer said in an 
essay.

Lauterer?s experience, listening skills and

?enthusiasm and passion for growing small churches? make her a good candidate 
for moderator, said the Rev. Bobbi White, general presbyter of the Western 
North Carolina. ?We think she would make a wonderful moderator,? White said.

Lauterer?s small church is 113 years old and had split twice in the 10 years 
before she arrived. The congregation has grown by 300 percent during her tenure.

Lauterer earned her MDiv. from Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian 
School of Christian Education. She has served in a variety of ways in her 
presbytery, including a term as moderator. She currently serves on the 
Committee on Ministry. She also served as a commissioner to 218th GA (2008).

Lauterer is married to Zack Allen and has two children and two grandchildren .