Dear HoC members and friends,
Leslie and I are honored to become part of the HOC community of faith!
Leslie has been warmly welcomed into the HOC Choir. I am honored to be
welcomed into the pulpit of HOC as well! This Sunday, October 6 will be
my first official day as part of your faith family in worship.
The Session and COMC have now established a new pastoral relationship with me. As of
October 1, I have been selected/called to be your ‘Bridge’ Pastor. In a time of transition, the
church has created the concept of a ‘Bridge’ Pastor and in the case of HOC, the purpose is to
provide a consistent pastoral presence just after the end of a permanent pastor and the start
of a Transitional or Interim pastor. Dr. Hilary Livingston served this church for eight years
before discerning a new call. A ‘Bridge’ Pastor means that the Session will not have to try to
‘fill the pulpit’ with a variety of pastors.
After retiring from the PCUSA in April, I am honored to be asked to serve as that consistent
pastoral presence. My contract will be through the end of this year. The Session will then
discern if they wish to pursue me as the Interim or look for someone else. We are so grateful
for the hospitality we have received each time we have visited on Sunday mornings.
Our daughter and her family live in Port Deposit. They have three precious young boys and
we are grateful to be part of their lives, living only 4 miles away from them in Rising Sun.
May God’s grace surround all of us as we enter this relationship as a Community of Faith. I
will be honored to serve as your pastor walking alongside this wonderful congregation. May
God’s kingdom grow as we all seek to faithfully follow Jesus Christ at HOC!
In Christ’s Service,
Dr. Jim C. Dunkin
Introducing the Rev. Dr. Jim C.
and Leslie Dunkin
Beginning October 1, Pastor Jim began serving as our Bridge Pastor by
invitation of the HoC Session and the New Castle Presbytery. Jim
obtained his M. Div. – Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
and his D. Min. – Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After
serving PCUSA churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, North Carolina and
Virginia, Jim officially retired after 40 years of service to the church.
One of the greatest congregations Jim served was the First Presbyterian
Church of Lawrence. Jim met the greatest gift from God in his life,
Leslie, while he and Leslie attended the University of Kansas. Serving
the church in Lawrence 20 years later enabled Jim and Leslie to
celebrate the journey God had called Jim and Leslie to travel together.
Leslie has a deep love for music and began singing with the HoC choir
September 22.
Jim and Leslie have two children: Matt (a producer for NASCAR
Media), wife Allison, 8 year old son Ben; daughter Christina (a
pediatric dentist in Wilmington), husband Steve, sons Steven (4),
Owen (2), and Ethan born September 4. In May, Jim and Leslie moved
to Rising Sun, MD four miles from Christina and Steve to help care for
their three sons. Leslie’s mother, Dee Williams, moved to Rising Sun
with them. Jim and Leslie are grateful for their two furry companions,
Moses and Pace’.
Leslie and Jim are greatly appreciative for the hospitality they’ve
experienced at HoC the first time they visited, and each time since.
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