01/10/07

Let Me Introduce Myself!

I was married on July 12, 1980 at Grove City College in Pennsylvania to the former Bette Lynn Speegle. We have two children, Rachel Ramsey, born November 3, 1984 and Robert Ramsey, born August 23, 1988. Read about our family's recent changes in  our Christmas letters and these web sites:

MySpace: www.myspace.com/christyramsey
Flickr: Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/christyramsey
Facebook: www.facebook.com/p/Christy_Ramsey/512050176

Work History

After graduating with a Business Administration degree, I spent 3 years earning my Master's of Divinity degree at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. While there I worked for PragmaTech Computers, was a chaplain at a prison and a hospital, and a student pastor at two churches.

After seminary graduation, I was pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Rochester, Indiana for 10 years. During that time I was a charter member and President of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, president of Kiwanis, moderator of Synod School committee, moderator of the Geneva Center Committee and Recording  Clerk of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley.

I was pastor at Ottawa Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, Ohio for nearly six years. During that time I was the chaplain and firefighter for the Ottawa Fire Department and moderator of the Committee on Congregations which administered grants and scholarships from a $200,000.00 investment fund.

In 1999, I took a break from the full time ministry and started full-time computer work at SSI Consulting Group in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. I worked on system design, installation and administration of computers workstations and networks, designing web sites, and commercial and custom programming. While there I was Parish Associate at Westminster Presbyterian Church and a frequent guest preacher in the churches of the  Presbytery.

From September 2001-October 2002, I was interim pastor of Delmont Presbyterian Church in Delmont, Pennsylvania. My service ended when the congregation elected an installed pastor after a year long search. Details of my service in Delmont are included in  my Religious pages.

From February 2003-May 2004, I served as interim pastor of Latrobe Presbyterian Church in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.  There I was head of staff and stay with the church through transitions of staff and the majority of their search for the next installed pastor.

From June 2004-August 2005, I was back in the computer field working in Computer Connections as a sales engineer. I was involved in their move into the digital home and learned how to make and take sales calls.

From September 2004 through May 2005 I was part-time interim pastor (25% of full time) at Derry Presbyterian Church in Derry, PA. I led worship and help them find a way to provide pastoral leadership for the next chapter in their life together. We were able to intercede in a lawsuit over a will involving another church in a way that earned us a heartfelt thank-you and an apology from the other denomination for our settlement suggestion which was accepted. We reactivated the bell choir for special Christmas and Easter services. We moved toward tearing down the old manse which opened up more options for parking and pastoral housing.

From September 2005 through the present I have been the senior pastor of Goodyear Heights Presbyterian Church in Akron, Ohio.

My Interests

My time on the Ottawa Fire Department was a special 3 years and I am still interested in firefighting and the volunteers that protect life and property.

I have been involved with the PresbyNet computer conferencing community for a dozen years, moderating the humor meeting EcuLaugh

I am interested in communication in all forms. I have made radio shows in two states, led classes on newsletters and web communication, reached out to youth, edit the Presbytery newsletter, run commentary on General Assembly and led worship using live web chat and instant messages. Video clips have been featured in my sermons and I've based Bible studies around popular movies.

My Family

My family is on the web. My father Dick Ramsey is retired at Home My younger brother Tom Ramsey at RPR Architects. My youngest brother Tim Ramsey at Singapore American School My daughter Rachel Ramsey, is a student at Seton Hill University.