Home : The Voice : December 2002  

Bethel Presbyterian Church
Recognizes Pastor Emeritus

At Sunday worship on October 6, 2005, the congregation of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Kingston recognized honorably retired minister member of the Presbytery of East Tennessee, Dr. Richard W. “Dick” Hettrick, as Pastor Emeritus of the church. Stephen N. Benz, Executive Presbyter, spoke at the recognition. A reception in the social hall followed.

Pastor Emeritus is an honorary office in the Presbyterian Church, granted by a congregation who is moved by affection and gratitude to continue association in an honorary relationship with a retired pastor.

Dick Hettrick served Bethel Presbyterian Church as pastor for 28 years, from 1972 until his retirement in October 2000. He began his ministry as a lay pastor for the small congregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Monterey, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and then entered Divinity School, graduating from Louisville Theological Seminary in 1963. Later Dick returned to school, earning a Doctorate of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1987.

Hettrick began his orgained ministry in 1963 as pastor of the Allardt Presbyterian Church in Fentress County, Tennessee. Before being called to Bethel, Dick and his wife, Marge, served for six years as missionaries in the Presbyterian Mountain Project in the small Appalachian mining town of Wilder, Tennessee.

Dick’s years at Bethel are remembered with respect and admiration for his many contributions, not just to the church, but also to the community. Dick chaired FISH in the late 1970s, and has supported Habitat for Humanity as well as the Kingston Ministerial Association. He established Roane County Cooperative Ministries and also helped encourage the organizers of the Michael Dunn Center whose preschool and adult day service was housed at Bethel from 1973 to 1977.

Beyond the community, Dick has served on the board of Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby. He was Moderator of the Presbytery of East Tennessee in 1993, has served on several Presbytery committees and was a General Assembly Commissioner in 1973 and in 1989.

Rev. Hettrick lives with his wife of 43 years, Marge, who has been a gifted worker with Dick throughout his ministry.

Honoree Hettrick is at right in photo.

Good News

A new church development in the Chattanooga area is cause for celebration. The Agape Mission Fellowship for Westside Chattanooga, has begun under the leadership of Felix A. Burrows, Jr., who was ordained and installed at the initial meeting of this new Fellowship. This beginning fellowship has been aptly named Agape Mission — love mission — as the love of Christ Jesus is at the center of this ministry.

Dr. Robbie G. Blakemore, member of Second Church, Knoxville, has been writing a book on the history of the University of the Ozarks entitled, “Great Faith, Progressive Future: A History of the University of the Ozarks.” She will soon complete her research on this school begun by Presbyterians in Arkansas in 1843 and which, in 1852, became the first chartered college in the State of Arkansas.

Allison Rasa, member of Erin Church, is in England, working for a year with the Presbyterian Church in Good News a youth worker capacity. She would appreciate hearing from home folks via email: ukallycat at yahoo.com

Ooltewah Presbyterian Church, Ooltewah, celebrated their 10th anniversary recently.

Highland Presbyterian Church, Maryville, has “topped the tabernacle”, and with great style. Mounting a campaign to repair the roof of a portion of the church, the congregation set a goal of raising $30,000 in 2002. That goal was reached and surpassed by more than $8,000 — and accomplished that three and a half months ahead of schedule.

Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, Signal Mountain, recently invited each former Associate Pastor to return to Signal Mountain to preach and to be honored by the church for their ministry and leadership in years past. It was a stirring time and an inspiring time for us to receive from these quality pastoral leaders.