Rev. Jennifer Kottler
Stated Supply Pastor
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Rev. Jennifer Hope Kottler
Pastor
Pastor Jen has been in Florence since 2018 and here at John Calvin since 2020. She loves this church and this community and is excited to be here. She serves on the board of directors of Pee Dee Equality and Presbyterian Agency for Developmental Disabilities (PADD) and is involved with other community clergy in Helping Florence Flourish.
Before becoming the pastor at John Calvin, she served as a certified life and leadership coach, yoga teacher, retreat leader and consultant. She has worked with numerous clergy and lay leaders who want to deepen their own spirituality and lead their communities with intentionality and grace. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with accreditation from the International Coach Federation (ICF).
Ordained in the 2003, Jen has served Protestant Christian congregations in Illinois and New York as well as in North and South Carolina. Her previous work includes serving as the Deputy Director of Protestants for the Common Good (Chicago IL), and Director of Policy and Advocacy at Sojourners (Washington, DC). She also served as an interim Assistant Pastor at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church (Geneva, IL), associate pastor at Park Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ/United Church of Christ) in New York City, and transitional pastor at United Community Church Tupper Lake, NY (in the beautiful Adirondack mountains). She believes that Christian spirituality is a practice; and as a practice, is done best in community.
Jen is also an experienced yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches a free mindful movement and meditation class at Balance in downtown Florence on Mondays at 9:30. She has been teaching since 2018 in both NY and SC. She sees her yoga practice as an extension of her prayer practice.
Pastor Jen is married to Rev. Gavin Meek, Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk in New Harmony Presbytery (South Carolina, PCUSA). She has lived in Florence with Gavin and her father Dick Kottler (who passed away in July 2021) since 2018. In addition to enjoying getting to know her community at JCPC, Jen enjoys swimming; walking her dog, Beau; yoga; entertaining family and friends; and traveling with Gavin.
