Dayton finds interim pastor

Pastor Susan Reifinger to lead the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton

By: Emily Holody
   After months of guest pastors following the departure of longtime pastor, the Rev. Kathy Nelson, the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton has a new, semi-permanent minister.
   The Rev. Susan Reifinger, 54, delivered her first sermon at the church Sunday, and is expected to remain at the church until a permanent replacement is found.
   Unlike many pastors, the Rev. Reifinger is an intentional interim.
   "Which means I move around a lot," said the Rev. Reifinger.
   Although she was in the process of unpacking, her voice was cheerful. She said moving all of her things is the hardest part of being an intentional interim.
   An intentional interim, she said, enters a church when the regular pastor leaves. In the Presbyterian system, finding a new pastor takes time.
   "I work to have the church be stable, look at itself, and see where it wants to go now," said the Rev. Reifinger. "I help them think through that, then leave when a new pastor comes in."
   The Rev. Reifinger grew up in Lancaster, Pa., and went to both high school and Franklin and Marshall College. She came to New Jersey after enrolling in the Princeton Theological Seminary, where she earned a master’s degree in divinity. She last served at the First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Square.
   The Rev. Reifinger decided to take up this calling after experiencing it.
   "I realized that I had a gift to do that particular kind of ministry," said the Rev. Reifinger.
   She gave her first sermon at the First Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Sunday.
   The Rev. Reifinger wanted to serve in Dayton because the Rev. Nelson had been at the church for so long, "and a church kind of gets into a patterns when they have a long-term pastor," said the Rev. Reifinger. "It’s a challenge to open new doors, try new ways of doing things, and lead them to say, ‘Now that Kathy’s gone, how do we both honor our past, but also create a future that belongs to us and get the right person to serve here as our pastor?’
   When the Rev. Reifinger met with the church, she felt they "clicked, and it seemed like the right place to come," she said.
   As a female pastor, the Rev. Reifinger said she’s had her share of negativity directed toward her in the past.
   "There are still times when people are taken aback, but that’s more history than it is current, I’m happy to say," said the Rev. Reifinger. "When I first started out I had a lot of issues with, ‘Will a woman do a good job? Can they do the same things a man can do?’ and all of that questioning. Part of it is I’ve become just more sure of my skills, and people are more used to women taking leadership positions."
   The Rev. Nelson is excited to be in a church following a woman pastor and said, very simply, "I’m happy to be here."