Welcome Rev. Leigh Bonner!

Dear Friends in Christ,

I am thrilled to announce that at our August 18 stated meeting, with the endorsement of Northeast Georgia Presbytery, the Session of First Presbyterian Church of Athens approved the call of the Reverend Leigh Bonner to begin service as our Interim Associate Pastor.

Leigh comes to Athens after four years of service at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. In her role as Director of Global Mission, she oversaw that congregation’s Global Mission Council and its work with seven global partnerships in Brazil, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, and Kenya. Her colleagues at FPC Atlanta describe Leigh as a woman who is possessed of a keen intellect, a gift for preaching and worship leadership, and a pastor’s heart for both the church and the world.

Prior to her arrival in Atlanta, Leigh served as the Chaplain for Congregational Relations and Job Coach at the Nations Ministry Center in Nashville, as well as the Stated Supply Pastor of the Woodland Presbyterian Church. A native of Memphis, Leigh holds the B.A. in International Studies and French from Rhodes College and the Master of Divinity from the Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is an alumna of the Young Adult Volunteer program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); she spent a year in Accra, Ghana, where she taught French and music at the Ridge Church School. Leigh and her husband Adam Graham make their home in Decatur.

Leigh’s first day in Athens will be September 12, and her first Sunday in worship will be September 18. Join us as we give thanks to God for the call to Leigh and to First Presbyterian Church!

May the peace of Christ be with you and yours,

Dr. Ryan J. Baer
Senior Pastor