The Rev. Dr. Paul Rader

paulrThe Rev. Dr. Paul Rader, Associate Minister of Church Growth and Pastoral Care, joined the staff of First Presbyterian Church in December 2001. He holds degrees from Pikeville College, Union Theological Seminary (Virginia), and Columbia Theological Seminary. He also attended the Graduate School of Theology of Oral Roberts University. He has previously served as Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Ashland, Kentucky; Pastor of Enslow Park Presbyterian Church in Huntington, West Virginia; and Director of the Coalition for Appalachian Ministry in Townsend, Tennessee. Dr. Rader is married to Linda F. Rader. They have three children: Lindsey, Gresha, and Thomas.

I have always wanted more want more for myself and for those I serve than maintaining a building, balancing a budget or increasing a membership. I want engagement and interaction with the claims of the gospel of Jesus Christ on my life and on the lives of others. I want to work with and among Christians who are committed to studying and thinking theologically about history and culture, and who find that their faith and their worship, mission, fellowship and nurture gives meaning and depth to their lives.

A Thought on Pastoral Care…

In Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia he writes two seemingly contradictory things about caring for each other. Galatians 6:2 reads, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.? A few verses later, 6:5 says, “…for each one should carry his own load.? We are to care for each other in times of need, in the same way Christ himself would care for us. However, the purpose of carrying each other’s burden is so that ultimately we can carry our load by ourselves. No condescending superiority is ever justified—we all need help from time to time. By the same token, no dependency of one person on another is called for either. Appropriate pastoral care is a careful balance of corporate support and individual responsibility.

Contact Information:
Phone: 865-546-2431
Email: Paul@fpcknox.org

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