The Assembly unanimously elected Ruling Elder Olivia Hudson Smith as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Denver at the Stated Meeting on January 24th. Her first official day here at the Presbytery office was, February 1st. We are excited about working with her. She can be reached by email at olivia@denpres.org or direct 303.777.2462. Below is information that was presented at Assembly sharing what the Search Committee learned about Olivia during the call process.
Background Information
Ruling Elder Olivia Hudson Smith has had a distinguished service to the Presbytery as a member of the Committee on Ministry, member and moderator of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Moderator of the Presbytery, member of the Presbytery Council, chairperson of the Mission and Ministry Work Group, member of the Leadership Work Group and, currently, chairperson of the Racial Ethnic Diversity Work Group. Along with her Presbytery experience Olivia also brings her experience as an attorney with the City and County in Denver and multiple roles and responsibilities at Peoples Church where she has been a member her entire life. Olivia has been a teacher in the Denver Public School System and was an attorney for the City and County of Denver. She is a graduate of Metro State University and the University of Denver School of Law and is also a candidate for ordained ministry and is under care of the Committee of Preparation for Ministry of the Presbytery.
Olivia’s Sense of Call to the Position of Stated Clerk
In applying to the Nominating Committee, Ruling Elder Hudson Smith wrote: “A call to the Stated Clerk position would allow me to serve in ministry utilizing my pastoral, administrative, and theological experience, as well as my legal and teaching experience. It is my belief that the Stated Clerk is required to possess pastoral and administrative leadership, theological understanding, and legal familiarity, with a goal to strengthen the Body of Christ. Our denomination, like all mainline denominations faces issues with changing demographics, ethnic and other diversity realities, changing societal values, ethical and social justice issues, pastor burnout and conflict, congregational apathy, and economic considerations as congregations decrease in size coupled with the costs associated with maintaining underutilized property and diminished resources to secure appropriate pastoral leadership. Combined, my secular and ministry experience will allow me to support the vision of the Presbytery of Denver, with the varying dimensions in congregations, as it addresses these issues, faces new and rapidly changing concerns, and vision for the future.”
