This two to three-year residency program is for seminary graduates who wish to develop their skills for ministry and grow in their pastoral identity in a large congregational setting. This is an ordained position in which the Pastoral Resident learns and serves alongside the staff and congregation of White Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Through diverse ministry experiences, mentorship and supervision, the Pastoral Resident is encouraged to clarify gifts for ministry and identify areas of particular interest. In Let Your Life Speak Parker Palmer writes, “Vocation does not come from willfulness. It comes from listening.” Throughout the program, the Pastoral Resident is tasked with listening – to experience, to the wisdom of colleagues and to the reflections of the community—as they discern how God might be calling them to serve the Church.
We currently have a Pastoral Resident who is serving from 2023-2026, and we will begin our search for our next Pastoral Resident in the fall 2025/winter 2026.
White Memorial Presbyterian Church is a 4,400-member congregation situated in the heart of Raleigh. At WMPC we worship, embrace and serve in order that we might lend our voices to the proclamation of Jesus Christ and his love. We strive to be a community dedicated to the proclamation of God’s good news and to serving our neighbors.
Worship stands at the center of all that we do at WMPC. Each week we seek to glorify God through engaging worship experiences in both our traditional Sanctuary services and our OnPoint service.
We provide welcoming spaces for all people to connect with community, learn and grow in their faith. Our church is home to over many Adult Faith Formation classes and small groups, innovative children’s ministry programming, a robust youth ministry and a growing 20s + 30s community. We also offer opportunities to learn and connect with members across ages and stages through church-wide Bible studies and speaking events.
We put our faith into action by serving people and mission agencies in Raleigh and around the globe, supporting partner organizations through financial gifts, donated items and volunteers. We give and serve in grateful response to the grace of God and in obedience to Jesus’ call to love our neighbors.
Through the care of our pastors and the support of member-to-member caring ministries, we provide support to people through all of life’s challenges. Knowing that care requires attention to the body, mind, and spirit, our Congregational Care ministries prepare workshops, events and resources that benefit overall health and wellness.
It is difficult to encompass the breadth and depth of ministry in this place in just a few paragraphs. We encourage you to look around at our website and social media pages to get to know our congregation.
Have a question?
Please contact Rev. Cate Church Norman at cchurchnorman@whitememorial.org with any questions.
We currently have a Pastoral Resident who is serving from 2023-2025, and we will begin our search for our next Pastoral Resident in the fall of 2025.