At a special congregational meeting, Sunday, November 19, 2023, after almost two years of searching for a pastor, All Peoples Presbyterian Church voted to welcome Rev. Brian S. Symonds as its new pastor, an invitation Pastor Symonds joyfully accepted.
Rev. Brian S. Symonds – Brian, ordained by the PC(USA), began serving as Pastor, Head of Staff at All Peoples Presbyterian Church in Cathedral City, CA in February 2024. Currently he is completing a Doctor of Ministry degree in Missional Leadership from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Brian has a Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton. His heart and passion are active within community leadership and ending circumstances of oppression and poverty. He completed a three-year program including continuing Christian Spirituality. Recently he has taught leadership, religion, many other courses, and he has led different spirituality workshops and retreats. In addition, he mentors others in Spiritual Direction formation, as well as offers one-on-one Spiritual Direction in the community and online. Brian and two of his children. Axel and Nathan, reside in Claremont, CA.
The All Peoples Presbyterian Church Call Committee, which included four church members, spent almost two years seeking a pastor with such impressive qualifications and who would also be a perfect fit for the church activities which include:
- Lead the formation of the spiritual life of the church and community living out the gospel in the neighborhood
- Create a welcoming & inclusive atmosphere for all people including the Hispanic/Latino and LGBTQIA+ family, friends, and neighbors
- Promote social justice ministries & connect members to our response to current world issues
- Serve troubled populations in our community such as those experiencing
homelessness and those in recovery
“It’s been 14 or 15 years since we’ve actually been in this position of having the privilege of calling a full-time minister, which is exciting! The Committee had gone through so much work and toil, excitement, and disappointment. It’s been quite a journey. We wanted someone who would be here for the sacraments, worship service, teaching, and organizational purposes. We are turning things around and our real hope is to have a much bigger outreach program that will expand to our LGBTQIA+ and large Hispanic heritage communities. 34 candidates came to us, however, Brian fit the part and was the only candidate with a Spanish language background. He brings a great deal to the table, and I look forward to the years ahead.” – Jeffrey Kramer, Call Committee Chair.
Brian and his two children live in Claremont, CA on what they affectionately call their small urban farm. The farm includes a golden retriever named Lucy, four laying hens, grape vines, veggie garden, and orange, apple, lemon, and cherry trees. He has enjoyed discovering Cathedral City and continues to find gems of the city such as eateries, coffee shops, and several green spaces.
Worship Services at All Peoples Presbyterian Church are held Sundays at 10 am. For more information about Rev. Brian S. Symonds or All Peoples Presbyterian Church, please visit www.allpeoplespc.org