Meet Scott Stuart
Our presbytery is pleased to introduce Scott Patrick Stuart who will be ordained on February 6 at First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville. (Click here for the email invitation.) Scott prepared for ministry under the care of our presbytery. Following his ordination, Scott will serve as Parish Associate for Collegiate Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville.
Scott grew up in Orlando and remembers always being in church with family, but it wasn’t until he began attending Florida State University and leading a Bible study that his faith began to deepen. He became involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, and eventually joined the staff of that college ministry for four years. It was during this time that Scott married his wife, Alison.
After completing his time with Campus Crusade for Christ, Scott began studying at Reformed Theological Seminary. Scott completed a few classes at a time, while working in various ministry settings. One of these ministry settings was as the Director of College Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville which he started in 2012. After 10 years of balancing ministry and school, Scott graduated in winter 2018.
After graduation, others kept asking Scott, “When are you going to get ordained?” His energy shifted to pursuing the ordination process which included taking the ordination exams and completing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). After struggling with the exams (test-taking was not his strength), Scott turned to a mentor, Rev. John Ragsdale, for assistance. After additional preparation, Scott was relieved to pass the exams and he turned his attention to CPE. Little did he know that COVID-19 would prevent Scott from starting the 10-week CPE training in the summer of 2020. With a bit of ingenuity, a small group from the Call Commission offered an alternative which would satisfy the requirement. Scott completed this training in 7-8 months.
As Director of College Ministry, Scott works with First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville ministering to students from the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College. (You are invited to join the Trajectory Facebook Group to be informed about college ministry events in Gainesville.) Once Scott is ordained, he looks forward to expanding his ministry to include officiating at weddings, baptisms and other sacramental events especially for the students he has gotten to know through college ministry. While he expands his ministry, Scott is open to where the spirit leads for future opportunities.
Scott is grateful for the guidance and mentorship of presbytery members, church colleagues, and the Call Commission who have walked with him though the various stages of the preparation for ministry. He reflects that it has been a roller coaster journey that has taken many twists and turns! Through it all God has been faithful and he loves sharing the journey with his students.
Scott and Alison have a 5-year-old daughter, Annabel, who loves school and doing all things outside!
The presbytery looks forward to celebrating this milestone with Scott on February 6 and for his future involvement and leadership in our community.