The Rev. Morgan Morse Hay has been called to serve as senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City.
Hay is a cum laude graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. She received her master of divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur and previously served as associate pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Tucker.
Phil Hamilton, chairman of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), said, “The PNC went through a process of comparing the candidates’ strengths with the needs of the church. Pastor Hay ranked highest in every area.”
He added, “Through my professional work, I have interviewed many people. Sometimes you just click. With Morgan, everything quickly fell into place. She brings the vitality of youth to our ministry, has experience in growing a church, and her leadership, pastoral, and preaching skills are outstanding.”
Hay admitted she really wasn’t looking for another call but that she was excited to be a part of the growing church family.
“I drove to Peachtree City for an interview, and upon seeing the expressions on the faces of the members of the PNC, I could see that God was doing great work. That really touched me — amazing things are happening at this church,” Hay said. “I thought about the story of Abraham and Sarah. They had no map, no blueprint; they trusted God and he led the way. I felt that God was saying to me, ‘You have to go, you have to trust.’ I know that being at First Presbyterian Church of Peachtree City is exactly what God had in store for me.
“I felt called to First Presbyterian because the people of the church are so committed to serving Christ and loving their neighbor that I wanted to be a part of that story.”
Hay said she felt the season of Advent was fitting to begin her work at First Presbyterian, as it is the “first big occasion for us to celebrate the birth of Christ together.”
Hay, her husband Robert, who comes from four generations of Presbyterian pastors, their son Stockton, age four, and daughter Anderson, age 2, will move to Peachtree City from Tucker in early 2014.
“We are excited about the call and we are all looking forward to being a part of this wonderful community,” Hay said. “My children especially enjoyed their first visit to Peachtree City because Iola Snow, a session member, took them on a golf cart ride!”
For more information, call the church office, 770-487-7757.
