Ministerial Fellowship elects new officers

New officers for the Carson City Ministerial Fellowship reiterated their plans for community involvement.

"We will continue to provide National Day of Prayer activity," said Alan Dorway, 31, secretary/treasurer, who was re-elected to his third term. "We will continue to support that, and make sure our (monthly) meetings are practical."

Dorway has been associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Carson City the past six years.

Coming in at his first-ever officer position with the fellowship is Dave Goodale, who was nominated and elected president for the 2007-08 year.

"This ministry is very supportive of the community," Goodale said. "With the philosophy that if the community succeeds our churches succeed.

"We are called a fellowship. It's an opportunity for men and women of the same calling to share in something unique to that group of people. We are called to God to get to know one another."

Goodale, 57, has been associate pastor of Capital Christian Center in Carson City for the past five years.

Nominated and elected vice president is Micheal Hurlbert. Hurlbert, 26, has been youth pastor at First Christian Church in Carson City the past four years.

"I believe the ministerial fellowship can work as a way to get ministers involved in what's going on in the community," Hurlbert said.

"Whether it be gangs or drugs, there is something we can do in our community about it.

"I'm excited about being vice president. As pastors working together, we can get a lot done in the community."

Dorway mails and e-mails monthly reminders to area pastors to attend fellowship meetings. His desire is to make sure each church can attend the meetings.

"We are an open group," Dorway said. "We meet to share ideas in working in the community. All churches are welcome, and it doesn't have to be the pastor who attends.

"We continue to engage the religious community to have a representative at the meetings. We would like to have all faith groups represented. These meetings are a chance for us to leave daily church issues at the door and celebrate being brothers and sisters in Christ, ministry and faith."

Goodale also extends a welcome to church representatives to attend the meetings, held at 8:30 a.m. the second Thursday of each month at Grandma Hattie's Restaurant, 2811 S. Carson St.

"We are here to equip pastors for this community," Goodale said.

"Pastoring is an unusual calling and a shared experience," Dorway said. "We're here to help people connect to God - that's what our job is, and we all have our ideas on how to do it. As a community, we must be united in the fact God is the answer and needs to be in people's lives."

At a glance

WHO: Carson City Ministerial Fellowship

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. second Thursday of each month

WHERE: Grandma Hattie's Restaurant, 2811 S. Carson St.

CALL: 882-1032, Alan Dorway

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.