Good morning, Wellshire friends!

As we announced in Church this last Sunday, the Transitional Pastor Search Committee (TPSC) is delighted to share an important and joyful milestone in our church’s journey. After a careful, prayerful, and truly energizing discernment process, we have extended a call to the Rev. Dr. Kim Clayton to serve as Wellshire’s Transitional Pastor—and she has joyfully accepted. Kim will begin her ministry with us the week of January 5.

Many of you will soon have the opportunity to meet Kim in person, but allow us to offer a brief introduction. Kim brings more than forty years of ministry experience, a deep theological foundation, and a warm, grounded presence that our committee found both reassuring and inspiring. A graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, with additional study at Cambridge University and a Doctor of Ministry degree, her ministry has taken her from Chicago, to Atlanta, to New York. Her last four calls were devoted specifically to transitional ministry.

Over the past years, Kim has guided congregations of various sizes—including large, multi-staff churches—through seasons of change, renewal, and discernment. She has led communities through conflict transformation, long pastorates, structural rebuilding, and the pandemic. Across every setting, she has been described as a catalyst: a leader who helps organizations and people begin moving forward with clarity, transparency, and compassion.

Kim and her wife, Melanie, a PhD in medical anthropology, have walked their own meaningful and thoughtful journey together. Kim speaks with depth about acceptance, belonging, and treating each person with dignity. She believes strongly that the church remains one of the last places where people of different generations gather in one room, sing together, and share in deep community—an understanding that sits at the heart of her ministry.

One of the remarkable pieces of this story is how Kim and the TPSC found each other. Kim’s profile was not on the CLC; instead, our committee identified her through other avenues. When we reached out, her first response was, “How did you even find me?” We could only smile—as we had asked the same question in reverse. Both Kim and the committee sensed that the Spirit was at work in this unlikely meeting, guiding us toward a match neither side was expecting but both felt drawn to.

Kim has expressed that she sees Wellshire as a congregation with great strength, a gifted staff, and an exciting runway for its future. She didn’t sense deep problems here—only the normal stagnation that can occur in any long-established church. Her passion is helping communities create “a long runway for success” for their next installed pastor, and her first priority will be listening deeply: getting to know the congregation, the staff, committees, and building trust through presence and care. Her preaching is biblically rooted, story-shaped, and focused on how we treat one another and welcome the stranger. She is particularly excited about Wellshire’s vibrant worship life and strong music program.

As many of you know, our path to this moment has been long, faithful, and sometimes lively. Over the past months, the TPSC reviewed 48 candidates, conducted extensive Zoom interviews, completed case-study evaluations, checked references, hosted in-person visits, and navigated the usual Presbyterian choreography of acronyms, approvals, and discernment conversations. What began with reading profiles—our own Presbyterian version of a “holy online dating” process—eventually narrowed to four exceptional second-round candidates. From there, the Spirit’s leading became clear.

We are deeply grateful for your prayers, patience, encouragement, and trust throughout this journey, and so thankful that the Spirit has brought Wellshire and Kim Clayton together.

We are looking forward to welcoming the Rev. Dr. Kim Clayton to Wellshire Presbyterian Church as our Transitional Pastor as we enter 2026 with hope, joy, and excitement

With blessings & gratitude,



The Transitional Pastor Search Committee, Wellshire Presbyterian Church

Michael Culp, Chair

Jason Casey

Jll McLain

Harold Roberts

Beryla Wolf