Interim Pastor Named At First Presbyterian

The Rev. Deane Hendricks has been named interim pastor for First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar.

Hendricks is a graduate of Wheaton (Ill.) College, where he majored in Christian education. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Dubuque (Iowa) Theological Seminary and attended the University of Toronto for additional theology and Near Eastern studies.

For the past several years he has worked as an interim pastor - a minister hired to serve a congregation during the time after one pastor leaves and a new one begins. This will be his eighth such position, having just completed 18 months with a church in California.

The Rev. David Peterson left First Presbyterian last September to become pastor of a church in Houston.

Hendricks, who once served a term as a Whitworth College trustee, said he does not intend to “bring ministry” to First Presbyterian, “but to join a ministry in progress and help build a bridge for the future.”

His first service will be at 5:30 tonight, and he will also conduct worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday.

Hendricks and his wife, Dolores, are parents of five children.

There’s no way of knowing how long it will take to locate a new head minister, a church spokeswoman said. It could be anywhere between one and two years.

Local funds for Rabin memorial

Inland Northwest residents contributed nearly $1,500 to the Jewish National Fund for the Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Garden Drive.

A grove of trees will be planted in memory of Rabin, Israel’s prime minister who was assassinated Nov. 4.

The Spokane Chapter of Hadassah collected money from 80 contributors representing an ecumenical and communitywide effort, said Marsh Goldberg, drive chairman.

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