First Presbyterian Church Community Ministries

First Presbyterian Church is a vibrant congregation of 2,000 members located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. It embraces its identity as an urban church called to love and serve those in need. 

Site Work

Site work hours are Monday-Thursday 12:00pm-4:00pm. 

Site work will be in person. 

Direct services with our sisters and brothers who are experiencing homelessness or are housing insecure will likely change as we continue to respond to needs created and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We open for in-person services Monday-Thursday from 12:00pm-4:00pm, with some additional options for prep work while guests and clients are not on campus. Pre-pandemic, we hosted a weekly community breakfast for 200+ persons.

Contextual Education I interns at First Presbyterian Church Community Ministries will be involved in a variety of hands-on services with our unhoused and vulnerable neighbors. Students will work on site supporting programs that address immediate needs of the community in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a food pantry, take-away meals, mail service, assistance with benefits applications and requests for emergency assistance, and referrals. Specifics of the program may shift as community needs shift in coming months. Students need to be able to work in person, contingent on local government and public health regulations.  

Fall 2022 Reflection Group

Tuesday 3:00pm-4:30pm led by Rev. Dr. Josh Noblitt

Spring 2023 Integrative Seminar

Tuesday 3:00pm-5:00pm led by Rev. Dr. Josh Noblitt

Pastoral Care Class

Students will also enroll in Intro to Pastoral Care PC501 CE 2 in the fall semester, taught by Dr. Emmanuel Lartey (Thursday 2:30pm-4:30pm).

Faculty Academic Advisor

Dr. Kendall Soulen will serve as the academic advisor for First Presbyterian Church students.

Site Mission

First Presbyterian Church Community Ministries shares Christ’s love by serving, meeting basic needs, and empowering homeless and struggling brothers and sisters to become sustainably housed and self-sufficient. The weekly prayer breakfast serves 200+ persons each week. The Women’s Transformation Center provides transitional housing, food, case management and support for up to 12 women. Hundreds of others are served through the various outreach and service efforts provided on weekdays by the Community Ministries staff and numerous volunteers. 

About the Site

First Presbyterian Church is a community of humble followers of Jesus Christ who choose, by God’s grace, to live by love, seek continual transformation, and equip all to be servant leaders in Atlanta and throughout the world. 

More information about the church is available at https://firstpresatl.org/community-ministries/ 

Student Reflections

Additional Requirements, Accessibility, and Safety Protocols

All students are required to have a clean background check and to abide by the security policies of the site, including our child security policy.

Interns should be open to engagement with different kinds of people and exhibit compassion.

The Arts Center MARTA station is adjacent to the church. Students who plan to rely on public transportation should consult the train schedule for more information.

Safety Protocols:

  • Use of specific entry points into the building
  • Social distancing (with waiting and seating marked at 6 ft intervals)
  • Required mask-wearing
  • Extensive handwashing; hand-sanitizing stations throughout the building
  • Regular cleaning
  • No gatherings or fellowship

Contact

Kate Culver
Pastor for Community Ministries
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
1328 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
kculver@firstpresatl.org

404.228.7741
Handicap Accessible: Y

Site Supervisor

Rev. Kate Culver, Pastor for Community Ministries, is a graduate of Candler School of Theology '20 and Savannah College of Art and Design '05. Kate was ordained by the PCUSA in 2021. 

Tricia Passuth, LSW, Director of Community Ministries, will train interns and oversee site work with clients and guests of First Presbyterian Church.

Teaching Supervisor

Rev. Dr. Joshua M. Noblitt is Saint Mark’s Minister of Social Justice and Pastoral Care. His work involves leading program, advocacy and volunteer opportunities related to social justice issues in the community, and overseeing pastoral care for the Saint Mark family. Josh completed his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and began his pastoral ministry at Saint Mark in 2005. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Clinical Fellow with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and has a private psychotherapy practice in addition to his pastoral duties at Saint Mark. Noblitt has served on numerous national and local boards, and is currently serving on the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services Advisory Board, and as a charter member of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ LGBTQ Advisory Board. He is an alumnus of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2011, New Leaders Council Class of 2013 and Outstanding Atlanta Class of 2013. Visit Josh on the web at joshuanoblitt.com.