Two years ago in March, the Spy sat down with Joel Tolbert, to welcome him to the community and his new role as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown.
And then the country shuttered as the Covid-19 pandemic burned its way across continents.
Businesses scrambled to survive, large gatherings were prohibited, and schools closed. Institutions of faith suffered a same fate.
Lucky for the Chestertown’s Presbyterian congregation, Pastor Talbot had an extensive engineering background that helped him move church services online where he continued to provide livestream Sunday worship services.
These days, with the church open for services, Rev. Tolbert looks forward to discovering Chestertown without having to see it through a “pandemic lens.” Already, he tells the Spy, he has experienced much of the community’s friendship though the church’s congregation and their outreach activities with virtually every organization in the County from Samaritan Shelter and Crossroad Community to Youth Group Support and Minary’s Dream Alliance.
The Spy caught up with Rev. Tolbert this week to find out how he has fared during the pandemic and to talk about the principles he feels are core to the church and how his life experiences have influenced him.
The following interview discusses the Pastor’s observations on Christianity, what he perceives as misinterpretations in some ecclesiastical institutions, and his effort to “unlearn” inherited misconceptions of what the church and its message is about.
Having spent his early years in Georgia, Joel Tolbert, is familiar with socially conservative Protestant Christianity, especially its exclusionary and judgmental aspect, a characteristic emphasized and politicized across the country. To that end, the Pastor sees part of his new mission in Kent County as a bridge builder between our diverse community of white, Black and people of color, and has invited Black ministers to the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown to share perspectives and find ways to work toward eliminating racial disparities and improving outcomes for all residents.
This video is approximately thirteen minutes in length. To find out more about the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, go here.
Michael McDowell says
A great communicator, a TRUE evangelical, who is inspired by the INclusive of people, not EXclusion. Christ centered, Gospel focused messages for both the public and private spheres. A uniter with a sunny but also realist view of contemporary life here. Joel Tolbert is marking a positive difference in our community.Impressive, and most welcome. And I write as an Episcopalian.
Deborah Piez says
So well spoken Joel! So happy to have joined PCC and to be able to learn from you and Caitlin and our members how to move forward in faith and duty. So happy to have found this wonderful church and to truly be part of it.
Thank you for your encouraging words and broadened perspective of what it means to believe in God/Jesus and to reach out to our community in faith and love.