REV. KATHRYN DIANNA CRAVEN
_______________________________________________________
EDUCATION
San Francisco Theological Seminary 2006
Master of Divinity
Macalester College 2000
Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Religious Studies, Anthropology and Spanish
RELATED COURSEWORK
Interim Ministry Training (Weeks 1 and 2) Systems theory
Clinical Pastoral Education (3 units) Church Management
Southern, Black literature Study abroad in Spain (6 months)
MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE
Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church Janesville, WI
Designated Associate Pastor December 2013 - February 2016
Worked with existing systems to improve communication, programmatic planning, and publicity about programs
Directed new, county-wide and 5 Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School program including mission, immigrant church
Facilitated retreats and planning sessions to form mission statement, prioritize long-range planning and help implement strategic plan to accomplish short-term projects.
Wrote curriculum and directly managed summer Vacation Bible School around Mister Rogers and learning
Communicated with youth and young adults consistently to let them know they were not forgotten
Drew in and mentored new leadership in young women
First Presbyterian Church Iola, KS
Interim Pastor (Head of Staff) March 2012 - December 2013
Collaborated with congregational leadership to develop short and long-range plans
Implemented goals made by church leadership in financial, personnel and spiritual-formation areas
Brought in and mentored new, young women in faith and leadership
Gathered policies and procedures from the past to clarify current expectations of function and implemented changes as needed.
Managed changes in staff including clarifying of roles, expectations of positions and finding people who love what they do.
Set up as clear, open and functional as possible the systems of the church to encourage current lay leadership and facilitate a smooth transition to future pastoral leadership.
Covenant Presbyterian Church Marshall, MO
Pastor (Head of Staff) March 2009 – August 2011
Trained and led Elders in their responsibilities, especially focusing on clarification of the roles of committees and how they worked as a whole.
Led Elders in discovering a vision and strategic plan for the congregation
Oversaw Vacation Bible School on international missions and led the kitchen baking rotation
Served as a chaplain to the local police force to communicate inclusivity and social-justice sensitivity
INTERNSHIPS SERVED
Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church Lake Arrowhead, CA
Intern working with youth July 2006 – July 2007
Developed, administered and wrote curriculum for the Jr. and Sr. High youth program.
Planned retreats, dinners, special services, and community events.
Calvary Presbyterian Church Berkeley, CA
Seminary Intern June 2005 – July 2006
Served in a multi-lingual congregation with a worship service in English, Mandarin Chinese and a combination of both
Assisted in an after-school program, and led Bible study with first and second-generation immigrants
Witnessed a sometimes-complicated blending of American and Asian cultures that also had the most beautifully organic homeless outreach
Veterans Hospital Palo Alto, CA
Student Chaplain in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) September 2004 – May 2005
Served a diverse population specializing in the areas of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), women’s PTSD spirituality group, brain injury rehabilitation and long-term care wards - especially with dementia patients
Worked in collaboration with Vietnam Veterans as classmates, one blinded in service and another an African American mentor
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:
Union of Reform Judaism New York, NY
Human Resources Assistant August 2000 – August 2002
Served and administered paperwork for all employees in the umbrella organization for Reform Jewish congregations in the United States and Canada
Preached my first sermon at their 9/11 morning worship as their non-jewish representative as requested by my supervisor
Martha’s Closet St. Paul, MN
Project Assistant Intern January 2000 – May 2000
Provided work-appropriate clothing for low-income women
First Presbyterian Church Passaic, NJ
Youth Group Leader Summer 1999
Provided summer programming for an Hispanic youth group in a White congregation
Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission Hackensack, NJ
Public Relations Intern Summer 1997
ECCLESIASTICAL SERVICE
Serve on Presbytery’s Mission Committee and help with the planning of a new, joint partnership committee
Worked with Presbytery Executive to form the inaugural Social Justice Committee and led invisioning what needs existed and how to prioritize and develop a plan
Chaired Committee on Preparation for Ministry
WRITING EXAMPLES
Ruach Words: Weekly Lectionary Liturgy ruachwords.org
I See Color: A Guided Discussion for Whites about our racial stories [in progress]
REV. KATHRYN DIANNA CRAVEN
521 Monroe Street
Janesville, Wisconsin 53545
(660) 631-2788
[PCUSA offices address]
August 23, 2016
Dear [everybody],
Grace and Peace to you! I hope this letter finds you well, and I pray that you are having a wonderful summer.
I write to you expressing my interest in being your Associate Mission Director for Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries. I have been an ordained pastor for over seven years and have a lifetime immersed in lifting up women in the church and reaching out to others from other racial backgrounds, countries and ethnicities. I feel like my professional experiences administrating in churches, along with my great passion for the full inclusiveness of all of God’s wonderfully diverse children, are a match with the skills and passion that you seek. Although it has not all been within the same position, I do have going on 20 years of experiences working with diversity within churches and then managing in a pastoral role. In fact, the administrative work has arguably been my favorite part of ministering which includes all the skills that you are looking for with this position.
I have been watching with great interest the denomination’s increasing emphasis on racial justice and wondering how I might be able to serve this new goal. I also firmly recognize that I as well as generations of women in my family have benefited from women’s ministries by serving as Teaching Elder, Missionary and strong lay leader. I do feel that at this time God is calling me towards social justice ministry - with racial equality an important part of this, and to serve using my skills in administration providing smooth and effective management. On my own I am even creating a way that as a White person I can best start and encourage discussions with other White brothers and sisters on race within this denomination and beyond. My passion for inclusivity is woven throughout my life experiences and included in my active ministries as creatively as limited opportunities provided. I want to get back to that essential part of my calling.
While my family and I currently live in Southern Wisconsin, we are able and willing to relocate to the Louisville area. My husband’s job is open to transferring locations, and he understands my desire to serve our denomination as fully into my calling as possible.
It would be an honor to speak with you about this position, as my skills and passions do match what you seek. This position as Associate Mission Director excites me, and I look forward to speaking with you in the future.
Blessings,