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Smith-Bartlett, who began in August, is taking a leading role with youth programs at the 100-year-old Presbyterian church in downtown Larchmont.
She also brings to the job a background of inspirational preaching and extensive experience working with individuals and families enduring illness and hardship.
“This is a good place for Elizabeth, and Elizabeth is good for this place,” said the Rev. Bill Crawford, senior pastor at the church. “She is a minister with great commitment to preaching and teaching, and has a wonderful sense of grace and calm.”
The Texas native felt drawn by Larchmont Avenue Church’s intergenerational focus. She admires the active role children and youth play in worship – reading scripture, singing in the children’s choir and performing musical solos. She also noticed that youth took leadership roles on important committees in the church, including the one that interviewed and selected her for the associate pastor’s job.
“This congregation is intentional about being intergenerational,” said Smith-Bartlett. “There is a lot of energy around how we do ministry with our young people – and that’s really important to me.”
Smith-Bartlett, 31, moved from Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, where for the past four years she was responsible for a combination of Christian education, youth ministry and mission. Before that, she served as a chaplain resident at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the director of service ministries at The Congregational Church of New Canaan, both in Connecticut. She is married to the Rev. Jonah Smith-Bartlett, who is the Youth and Family Minister at the Reformed Church of Bronxville.
The Service of Installation for Smith-Bartlett will be held Sunday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. in the main sanctuary of Larchmont Avenue Church on Forest Park Avenue followed by a reception in the church’s Russell Hall.
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