From the Minister
Rev. Catherine Purves
I have been the minister of Bellevue United Presbyterian Church for nine years. Before that, I served two other churches in Pittsburgh and one congregation in Edinburgh, Scotland. I am a graduate of the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
In addition to being a minister, I am also a wife and the mother of three children who are in their twenties. I try to fold my life experiences into the practice of my ministry. This is, I hope, evident in my sermons which are down-to-earth, but also well grounded in our Reformed Presbyterian tradition. I believe in prayer and the nurture of the spiritual life. I also enjoy my role as teacher, and I invest time and energy in both sermon-writing and preparation for the adult class that I teach on Sunday mornings. Pastoral care is another important aspect of our life together. In a smaller church we can be more attentive to all our needs and provide special care for the sick and the elderly.
I feel very strongly that I am called to serve Jesus Christ in this place. It is a joy for me to be part of our church family.
