After a four year search for a new pastor, Sag Harbor's First Presbyterian Church, commonly referred to as the Old Whalers’, has selected Reverend Mark Francis Phillips to take over the reigns of the historic congregation. Recently, the church has faced a number of issues from dwindling attendance to financial woes. We sat down with Rev. Phillips to learn how he will turn the church around.
Why did you decide to take the job at the Old Whalers’ Church?
From my first contact with the church about a year ago, I was very impressed, first with their commitment to the community and their involvement with the community. No matter who I have talked with — even if they had nothing to do with the church — they at least know about it. The church itself is a landmark in the community. The members of the congregation were very genuine. With them what you see is what you get.
What in particular stood out to you about the congregation’s commitment to the community?
The food bank is housed in their building and that was a big one. I was overwhelmed by that when I visited back in January; the scope of the bank and how many people they served and how it was run.
The building is also used a lot for concerts in the summer. I have a musical background and that was appealing to me on a personal level. I play the organ and piano. They have a very old organ. It is the oldest pipe organ on Long Island and was installed in 1843.
Can you tell me a little bit about your background in the church?
As far back as I can remember I felt called to do this. It is all that I have ever pursued. I grew up in Pittsburgh and went to George Mason University. I earned my masters at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and then my first church was the First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge in Ohio. It was in a suburb of Youngstown, halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. I was there for 16 years. For the past couple years, I explored the possibility of a new call and I came into contact with the people here about a year ago. I have been in conversations with them ever since.
You are diving into a congregation that is facing many challenges, including an uncertain financial future. Have you had experience before in helping to guide a congregation through a rough period?
When I started at my previous church, the congregation had dwindled to very low numbers — 25 to 30 people — and their financials weren't healthy. I think we were able to turn things around. They are a very healthy congregation. When I left Sunday, attendance was about 100. It wasn't so much things that I did. I think what did it was the members taking ownership of the church and working hard to make sure the church survived.
How do you plan to both grow the Sag Harbor congregation and put the church on firm financial footing?
Obviously if we increase the numbers of members it will hopefully increase the offerings and bring in other money. The church is looking to other sources of funding in the community. My hope is to create a ministry that would be exciting and attract others to be a part of what we are doing. I hope we encourage the members themselves to invite others to come and experience what is going on here and be part of it.
Is maintaining the church itself, an old and historic building, a big cost?
From what I have been able to tell, maintaining such an old and large structure which is used seven days a week, Sunday through Sunday, creates wear and tear; but that is also a good thing that it is being used. It is old and the upkeep is costly.
How does it feel to know that you will be preaching in a landmark building?
It is exciting. At times it is even overwhelming. I go in there and I can't believe that I am here. I am humbled in a way to be a part of a long, long history that goes back to 1776. To be able to have a small part in that is exciting.
About how many people does the church hold?
I have read two different numbers: 800 and 1,000. So there is lots of room for a lot more people.
I hear that you have also been charged with attracting younger people to the church. How do you hope to do this and why is it important bring in younger parishioners?
The youth really are the church of tomorrow. The youth need the church and the church needs the youth. They have here a wonderfully strong base on which to build. That is something we did not have with the church in Ohio. The number of youth and children in the church is incredible. I would hope to create a program that would be attractive to youth and have them invite friends even if the youth weren't members of the church community. That is one of the ways we were able to double the size of our youth groups back in Ohio. Some of the kids’ parents joined the church. The youth felt so strongly about the church that the parents wanted to be involved. It wasn't just a fun time for the youth. They were involved in mission work. They served dinner once a month at a homeless shelter. They took part in Sunday worship and visited a nursing home and we took work trips to Kentucky and Georgia. There was meaning to what we were doing.
The title of your first sermon is "Great Expectations." What is its message?
I know the congregation has expectations of me and I have expectations of them. I will lay down the line of what they can expect to receive from me and what I hope to receive from them. I quote the one verse "You have set my feet in a large place," and I certainly feel that way being called here to the Whalers’ Church. It is large in the sense of their tradition and their history. Even the current situation of the church is a large and daunting place to be, but I am hopeful. I know the challenges they face and yet for some reason I am very hopeful. I sensed a lot of enthusiasm amongst the whole congregation and from what I am told that excitement is still there. I am hopeful. I didn't come here to bury the place.
