The Latest News of Your Beloved Community
Rev Lea Brown on Associate Pastor Rev. Jeff Bert
June 16, 2008
Dear Friends,
I am writing to you today to share with you the very good news that MCCSF has a new Associate Pastor: Rev. Jeff Bert.
Jeff was ordained as an MCC clergyperson in 2006. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2006, and is currently serving as a staff pastor at MCC of Greater St. Louis is St. Louis, Missouri. His first Sunday with us will be on August 17, 2008.
I am thrilled that Jeff is joining our ministry team, and I want to thank everyone who came to one of the four forums we held over the past two months, and everyone who shared with me their input and hopes regarding the future person who would fill this position.
Along with many people in the congregation, I also spoke with leaders in our denomination who I respect and who I know have a great love for our church; without exception all of them recommended Jeff highly.
As Associate Pastor Jeff’s duties will primarily be focused on providing and coordinating pastoral care and congregational life programs. In addition to having solid experience in both of these areas, Jeff is also a person of great spiritual maturity, with a loving, kind, and caring nature. He is very excited about serving our congregation (see his message below) and is serious about his commitment to both our present and our future.
Once Jeff and I had both experienced a time of discernment about his calling to this position, and once we both were in agreement that we felt called to proceed, I asked the Board of Directors what our next steps should be. They determined that they wanted to interview Jeff, and then decide whether or not to make a recommendation regarding hiring him for the position. I am very pleased to say that the MCCSF Board of Directors is extremely enthusiastic about Jeff (see message from the Board below), and were very happy to give me a “green light” to offer the position of Associate Pastor to him.
In the weeks ahead Jeff will be bringing closure to his ministry in St. Louis and packing up to move his life here to San Francisco. Of course, our gain is also going to mean loss and sadness for the congregation of MCC of Greater St. Louis. I ask that you join me in holding Jeff, that congregation, and their senior pastor Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell in our prayers as they navigate their good-byes and time of transition ahead.
Great things are happening here at MCCSF! Thank you for your participation in this process, for your patience along the way, and for your faithfulness as we continue to move forward into our future, and into our dreams.
With faith, hope, and love,
Lea
Message from the Board of Directors
To the congregation of MCCSF:
The Board of Directors is very pleased with the call of Rev. Jeff Bert as our Associate Pastor. We interviewed Jeff and were impressed with his passion around congregational care, social justice, and empowering our congregation to strengthen our community through spiritual development and building relationships with one another.
We strongly feel that with Jeff as a part of our ministry team, 
we will have the staff we need to fully support our community and our vision, mission, and overall goals. We are grateful to Jeff for his willingness to embrace his calling to our congregation, and to say “yes!” to a bright future with MCCSF.
We hope that you will join us in praying for the staff and congregation of MCC of Greater St. Louis during this time of transition for them, as well as in saying a very enthusiastic “welcome” to our new Associate Pastor, Rev. Jeff Bert.
MCCSF Board of Directors
From Rev. Jeff Bert
Dear friends,
I'll never forget my first visit to MCCSF. It was June 2005 and I was in Berkeley for MCC Intensives training in preparation for ordination. As I and my classmates entered we were greeted warmly by ushers, congregants and clergy. Stephanie and the choir rocked, the sermon was stimulating and challenging, communion was innovative and inviting. Afterward, we lingered in what seemed a magical atmosphere -- we did not want to leave.
On my more recent visit in May -- though the service was not held on Eureka Street -- I was delighted to have essentially the same experience, and it was just as inviting, inspiring, and hard to leave as the first time. Now I find myself thrilled at the realization that the next time I worship with you, I won't have to leave!
I couldn't be any more pleased that you and God/dess have called me to join MCCSF. I come with great humility knowing of the remarkable leaders who have served before us in your historic congregation. I also come with great respect and confidence in the current staff and leadership of the church.
Most of all I come with an unshakable faith that God/dess is up to something wonderful in our midst. I just know that if we're attentive to the prompting of the Divine, if we work and pray together lovingly and authentically, God will continue MCCSF's remarkable legacy in ways that we can only begin to imagine. I can hardly wait to walk through the door this August 17th, knowing my "hello" won't require a "good-bye" but rather a "see you again soon!"
Peace and blessings,
Jeff