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Dear NCP,
The Stated Clerk Nominating Committee is pleased to present our candidate for Stated Clerk to the Presbytery at the May 19, 2026 meeting. Rev. Alex Evangelista brings a broad background in ministry and leadership in councils of the PC(USA), having served churches, small and large, in the Presbytery of Philadelphia and Peace River. He served as Assistant Clerk in the Presbytery of Philadelphia, chaired the Presbytery of Philadelphia’s Bills and Overtures committee, and currently serves on the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, a permanent committee of the General Assembly. Alex combines imagination with critical thinking and close attention to detail, integrates pastoral sensitivity with adherence to polity, and takes leadership initiative while forming strong relationships with colleagues.
A native Spanish speaker, Rev. Evangelista graduated from Azusa Pacific University before moving across the country to study for his Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership Studies at Columbia Theological Seminary.
Our committee was impressed by Alex’s demonstrated ability to fairly apply our polity in contested situations, as a pastor and presbyter, having navigated conflict with care in his own congregation and having communicated and interpreted our Constitution at the Presbytery and GA levels. We were also impressed by Alex’s collaborative leadership approach to solving complex problems. In one former congregation, The Church on the Mall in Philadelphia, Alex led a process of community listening and engagement that resulted in the opening of a volunteer-run emergency shelter for unhoused neighbors, and an affordable after-school child care in the church.
Alex’s enthusiastic references described him as an excellent listener, passionate about polity, with a great love of the church and its people. As one said, “I have seen him put a lot of thought and intentionality into a session meeting's learning moments in order to connect the current issues the elders are facing with a Bible study, case study, or brainstorming session.”
A common refrain among his references was that Alex seeks ways to get to “yes” within the framework of our polity and responds with empathy when that is not possible. One experienced Stated Clerk said, “Alex listens for the issue behind a request and tries to find the means for carrying out the mission of God to help it happen, or to help the people involved understand if what they seek will not fit within our framework.” As Alex himself says, “I see the Book of Order as a gift for thriving, a theological and constitutional resource that forms trust, clarifies purpose, encourages holy risk, and equips congregations to pursue mission with courage and joy!”
Our committee is delighted to nominate Rev. Alex Evangelista for the approval of the Presbytery to become our next Stated Clerk.
The Stated Clerk Nominating Committee
Rev. Juli Wilson-Black (Fairlington), chair; Elder Jesy Littlejohn (Oaklands), NCP Moderator; Elder Jerome Farley (Adelphi); Elder Drew Luten (Falls Church); Elder Jackie Moore (Sargent Memorial); Rev. John Molina-Moore, General Presbyter
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