Shelter Island Presbyterian Church

Rev. Stephen M. Fearing

Pastor & head of staff

Stephen was raised in a town in Northwest Georgia called Dalton. Although a southerner since birth, he does not have a very strong accent (although, "y'alls" are frequently heard from the SIPC pulpit on the average Sunday).

After graduating from Presbyterian College in 2010 with a Major in Religion and a Minor in History, he moved to Atlanta to attend Columbia Theological Seminary (one of the 10 seminaries of the PCUSA). In 2014, Stephen graduated with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Practical Theology and discerned God's call to minister to and with the people who are Shelter Island Presbyterian Church. He was ordained and installed on July 27th, 2014.

Before answering God's call to minister to and with the people who are Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, Stephen has been a freelance musician, supply pastor, choir director of both Columbia Theological Seminary and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Snellville, GA, camp counselor and program director at Cherokee Retreat Center, R.A. at Presbyterian College and T.A. at Columbia, as well as a server at Chick-fil-a (for Northerners who do not yet know the happiness that is Chick-fil-a, a link is provided here for your information. You're welcome.)

In October of 2014, Stephen married the love of his life, Tricia, and since then (and quite some time before) they have been navigating this tricky and blessed thing called life together. They live here on Shelter Island with a Calico Cat named Audrey and a Golden Doodle named Elsie (along with numerous deer, turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, and birds with whom they share their backyard).

In addition to his love of all things pastoral, theological, and liturgical, Stephen is a musician and plays guitar, mandolin, piano, handbells, and enjoys singing (Baritone by default or tenor if the director is desperate and has no other alternative).

In his free time, Stephen enjoys going to the beach, fishing, reading, shooting zombies online with his best friend in North Carolina, movies, playing music, writing hymns and liturgy, and vacuuming (seriously, he finds it therapeutic).

You can follow Stephen on Twitter at @stephenmfearing

Linda Betjeman

Minister of Music

Linda Shelton Betjeman, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church’s Minister of Music since 2007, is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, New York City, where she received a Master’s degree in organ performance and choral conducting. During her 50 year career in church music she has served in congregations in Manhattan, Westchester County and Long Island.

Linda has been a recitalist at concert series in Manhattan, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, and has performed as a soloist in England and Italy (including St. Peter’s in Rome). She has been a keyboard soloist (organ, harpsichord, piano) with the Broadway Bach Ensemble of Manhattan and has performed with the Chappaqua Chamber Orchestra and Mimosa Chamber Ensemble of Manhattan. Additionally, Linda has been the accompanist for Taghkanic Chorale and Tri-County Opera of northern Westchester and has taught on the music faculty of the Walden-Lincoln and Trevor Day School in New York City as well as the Riverdale Country School and Sarah Lawrence College.

Linda is currently the Director of the Shelter Island Community Chorus and summer organist-choir director at Union Chapel in the Grove, Shelter Island.

Karen Tudor

Administrative Assistant & Clerk of Session

Karen arrived on Shelter Island in July 1975 along with her parents, Edgar and Dorothy Brownlee and brother Ron, relocating here from Cranford, New Jersey.

She worked as an office manager and bookkeeper most of her career and added waiter and bartender to her resume soon after arriving on Shelter Island. She was told before arriving by Bob Morgan (also a transplant from Cranford) that work was for the finding and she has not stopped working since then.

In 1995 she moved to San Diego and enjoyed seven wonderful years exploring the West Coast until she was called nom in 2002 to take care of her mom. She attended Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church on Coronado Island and served as a Session member. While in California she worked her creative side while employed with an award winning interior designer, also managing seminars for an educational corporation and a coach for the sales staff for the largest hair distributor in San Diego County.

Retirement came at the end of 2010 from a position in an accounting firm in Bridgehampton - that is a short retirement for 6 months before being offered a position at the church.

The time was perfect for taking the position at the church; while the church was going through exciting times with the retirement of Pastor Bill and the search for the next pastor. During the transition she is proud to have participated with Interim Minister Rev. Anne Stewart Miller through to the welcoming and installation of our new pastor, Rev. Stephen M. Fearing. Karen has been the Clerk of Session since 2012; additionally, her service to the church has been as a Session member, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary.

Karen's favorite pastime is gardening which is where you will find her most days after work. During the summer months on Sunday you will see her scurrying out to go sailing with friends from Sag Harbor. She volunteers on the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Peconic, Inc., an affiliate of International HFH; and also welcomes summer visitors to Mashomack Preserve at their Visitor Center one morning a week.

karin bennett

Sexton

Ruling Elders (Session)

Ruling elders are so named not because they "lord it over" the congregation, but because they are chosen by the congregation...to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with teaching elders (pastors), exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of the congregation as well as the whole church. (Book of Order - G-2.0301)

SIPC Session

Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019

VACANT Lynn Franklin Laura Dickerson

Lee Anne Bastible William Anderson Marilynn Pysher

Laura Nelsen Chris Lewis Heather Reylek

Deacons

The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burned by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. (Book of Order - G-2.0201)

SIPC Diaconate

Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019

Rachel Brigham Lynn Thomson Ellen Gove

Dana Hallman Alison Binder Carol Gray

Brenda Bergman Peter Vielbig Rose Wischmann

congregational nominating committee

This is the team of people who are elected by the congregation to put forth nominations for congregational vote for elections of Ruling Elders and Deacons.

2017 SIPC Congregational Nominating Committee

Lee Anne Bastible (Session Representative)

Carol Gray (Diaconate Representative)

Marianne Baird (Member-at-large)

Ken Lewis, Jr. (Member-at-large)