Read about - Westminster Presbyterian Church

tion voted to extend a call to Rev.
Carl effective January 5, 2004.
Rev. Carl was enrolled at Argosy
University in Sarasota, Florida,
where he was working on a
doctor of education degree in
pastoral community counseling.
He had received his bachelor of
arts degree from the University
of Tulsa, and in 1985, a master of
divinity degree from Princeton
Theological Seminary. Between
1985 and 2003, he served churches
in Texas, Arkansas, Colorado,
Following a succession
of interims, Westminster
welcomed Stephen Carl as
senior pastor in 2004.
and Florida. His wife, Karen, was also ordained as a Presbyterian
minister, as were a number of members of both of
their extended families. They arrived with three young boys,
Aiden (5), Trevor (3), and Bryce (2 months). Hannah (13),
Stephen’s daughter from his first marriage, joined them the
following year. Stephen quickly settled into the life of Westminster,
bringing an enthusiasm for ministry to the congregation.
In September 2004 Rev. Ila Mayes was hired as parish
associate. Rev. Mayes was a retired pastor with a degree in
social work from the University of Michigan and a master
of divinity degree from Austin Theological Seminary. Pastor
Mayes served churches in Texas before retirement and was a
parish associate at First Presbyterian Church in Wichita Falls.
She and her husband, Forrest, had returned to Michigan a
few years before from Texas. The illness of her husband and
the cold northern winters persuaded them to return to Texas,
ending her ministry at Westminster in April 2005. We missed
her joyful, outgoing spirit.
ministerial leadership—97