Introducing Our Co-Pastor Elect
A Letter of Introduction
Dear Members and Friends of Rye Presbyterian Church,
The Co-Pastor Nominating Committee (CPNC) of Rye Presbyterian Church is delighted to announce our unanimous and enthusiastic recommendation to call the Rev. Cari Pattison as a full-time Co-Pastor. She will join Dan Love, our current Co-Pastor, in this role effective March 24, 2025. It has been an honor to discern and select a candidate for this unique co-pastorate model that has served our church so well for the past 11+ years. We are confident that the Holy Spirit has guided us throughout this process and are filled with joy in recommending Cari as our next Co-Pastor.
Cari Pattison is currently Head Pastor at Woodstock Reformed Church in Woodstock, NY, where she has served since October 2020. She is no stranger to Westchester County, having served nearly 12 years as Associate Pastor and Interim Head of Staff at The Reformed Church of Bronxville. Additionally, Cari has been deeply involved with the Hudson River Presbytery, serving a total of 12 years on the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, twice as Co-Chair, and currently as Chair.
Following the CAT Survey in Fall 2023, RPC’s Transition Team worked alongside our consultant, Michelle Snyder, to synthesize the survey results. This reflection provided vital insights into how our congregation would like to see our church evolve and expand, in turn, shaping the criteria for the type of leader who could help shepherd us after John Miller’s retirement.
With this reflection and analysis, the CPNC began its work in May 2024. Partnering with Michelle Snyder and with guidance from members of the Hudson River Presbytery, we conducted an extensive nationwide search. Over the past eight months, we initially reviewed more than 120 applications and subsequently conducted in-depth first and second round interviews with nine candidates via Zoom. Ultimately, we invited two finalists to Rye for a CAT presentation, meetings with Dan and John, tours of the church and manse, and opportunities to engage socially with our committee.
We are positively thrilled to recommend Cari Pattison as Co-Pastor of our vibrant and growing congregation. While the CPNC maintained an independent discernment process, we later learned of the existing connection between Cari and Dan Love, as they have been colleagues through their shared service in Westchester County churches and the Hudson River Presbytery. Their dynamic and heartfelt preaching styles, shared joy for ministry, thoughtful dedication to pastoral care, and dynamic leadership qualities make them a strong and inspiring team. Together, they will honor our cherished traditions while fostering new opportunities for growth and engagement at RPC.
We invite you to meet Cari on Saturday, February 1, from 2:00–4:00 PM in the Assembly Room. She will then preach during worship on Sunday, February 2, and after that service, there will be a congregational meeting and vote on her call.
Yours in Faith,
Co-Pastor Nominating Committee:
Tom Ausfahl (co-chair), Megan Darrell (co-chair), Carl Friedrich, Gary Gibson, Lisa King, Becky Ruegger, Scott Snell, and Harry Waters
The Rev. Cari Pattison
The RPC Co-Pastor Nominating Committee is thrilled to recommend the Rev. Cari Pattison as Co-Pastor to the Rye Presbyterian Church congregation.
A Kansas City native, Rev. Cari Pattison brings a warm Midwestern sensibility and a trustworthy, approachable demeanor to her ministry. Over nearly two decades, Cari has led with authenticity, kindness, thoughtfulness, and collaboration. One reference described her as having “a deep relationship with God that shines through in everything—from the pulpit to daily interactions.”
Cari credits her early Christian education and exposure to diverse perspectives on faith in college as formative experiences. A graduate of Kalamazoo College and Princeton Theological Seminary, she was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2007. She remains an active member of both the Hudson River Presbytery and the Mid-Hudson Classis (Reformed Church in America). Her ministry experience includes positions at Woodstock Reformed Church and The Reformed Church of Bronxville, as well as a year as Clergy in Residence at the Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York.
Beyond her pastoral work, Cari has a rich and adventurous personal life. She has hiked 1,800 miles of the Appalachian Trail, spent two years in Nairobi, Kenya, and adopted a beloved rescue dog, Ollie. Her hobbies include gardening, hiking, participating in book clubs, practicing Pilates, and visiting her family in the Midwest. Cari is also a certified yoga instructor and teaches biweekly classes in Woodstock.
A recipient of the Kathryn Gurfein Writing Fellowship at Sarah Lawrence College, Cari is writing a memoir structured around the Appalachian Trail and explores life’s falls, fractures, and unlikely friendships. You can read about her Appalachian Trail adventures at the backpacking website, thetrek.co. A lifelong lover of stories, she has also performed many times in the Writers Read story-telling events.
Her prayer is to help each person experience the saving and renewing love of God known to us in Christ. She seeks to cultivate community in the way of Jesus that heals, connects, and transforms lives—uniting people across race, class, background, and belief. Her greatest joy in ministry is connecting with people of all ages, fostering places of belonging, bringing the scriptures to life, and honoring one another's stories.
Cari’s references universally praised her skills and character. Here are some highlights from those calls, as well as some committee notes:
“I left my meetings with her feeling excited and inspired.”
“She connects with all age groups—making older folks feel young and heard, teens feel respected and understood, and young children eager to learn and grow.”
He said she is a “spiritual leader” and stressed her authenticity and genuineness and her ability to “connect.”
Our consultant, Michelle Snyder, shared her enthusiasm:
“I am thrilled that the PNC has selected Cari Pattison as the next co-pastor for Rye Presbyterian Church. Cari brings a soft-touch yet confident voice. She is clever, genuine, smart, and warm—qualities that have made her an excellent pastor throughout her ministry. Cari has served communities similar to Rye and brings a diversity of theological perspectives. And she’s a great preacher.”
“In addition to multiple interviews conducted by the CPNC, we also watched many of Cari’s current sermons. Her ability to connect the Bible to today’s world was relevant, inspiring, and easy to understand.”
With this recommendation, we are confident that Rev. Cari Pattison will be a remarkable addition to RPC!
Meet Our Co-Pastor Nominee
The Rev. Cari Pattison
Saturday, February 1
Open House Reception in the RPC Assembly Room from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Light refreshments will be provided
Sunday, February 2
Rev. Cari Pattison will preach during worship.
A congregational meeting and vote will follow the worship service.
The CPNC welcomes everyone as we embark on this new chapter in the life of our church!