The Rev. Jonathan Eric Carroll, D.Min, has served alongside the First Presbyterian Church, Owensboro, as pastor since January 2005.
Dr. Carroll is a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (D.Min), Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.M.), Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and King College (B.A.). He has also studied in Egypt, Israel, Scotland, and Switzerland. His doctoral dissertation is called The Great Thanksgiving: Storytelling as Spiritual Formation. In it, he argues that the church has told and retold its ancient story of encountering God for ages, and has done so primarily around Pulpit, Font, and Table. Based on a research project completed at FPC, Dr. Carroll learns that when a small group of people participate in creating a safe space in which to tell their personal stories of faith and life, they begin to experience their own stories becoming the continual unfolding of God's story and vice versa both in corporate and personal worship settings. As such, this kind of storytelling is found to be a kind of spiritual formation by which people experience God more richly and fully.
Before arriving in Owensboro, Dr. Carroll served congregations in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia. His first installed pastorate was in Virginia.
Dr. Carroll is married to Kendra Renee (Bronsink) Carroll, whom he met while studying at King College in Bristol, Tennessee. After serving the Daviess County Public Schools as a Writing Consulant while coaching volleyball at Apollo High School for two years, she is now spending her days as a mommy. Kendra is a graduate of King College (B.A.), having studied English with a Concentration in Writing, Spanish, and History. She has continued her education through courses at the University of Virginia, among other institutions. Kendra recently completed her Master Gardener education, training, and certification.
Jonathan and Kendra were married August 5, 2000.
They are thankful to God for their sweet little girls, Zoe Fiona (3) and Cora Scout who was born June 12, 2009. Together Jonathan, Kendra, Zoe, & Scout live with their Border Collie, Sonnet. along the banks of the Ohio River at English Park in Owensboro.
The Carrolls say, "We are grateful for the opportunity to have become a part of the family-of-faith that is First Presbyterian Church, Owensboro. We love our church-family, our community, and this beautiful commonwealth, and we enjoy very much our little house by the river."
They enjoy reading, camping, bicycling, boating, traveling, gardening & agriculture, various and sundry crafts, and contemplating & implementing matters pertaining to sustainability and simplicity as spiritual disciplines. They also enjoy exercise and athletics of all kinds, and, of course, walks along the river's edge.
The Carrolls invite you to visit their family weblog! Click here to view.
