Peace River Presbytery unanimously endorsed H. Timothy Halverson (Tim) as a candidate for moderator of the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Nov. 17, 2005. In support of his candidacy, General Presbyter Graham Hart said, “We need a strong and articulate voice from the center to hold us together in these difficult times. …Tim’s education, ministry and spirit reflect the breadth of the church.”
Halverson is the pastor and head of staff of Faith Church in Cape Coral, Fla. Since he became pastor in 1997, the church has added 1,100 new members and is currently in the process of building a new +1,200-seat sanctuary. He is involved in the work of Peace River Presbytery, where he currently serves as moderator of the Committee on Ministry. Prior to coming to Faith, Halverson had pastorates in a range of churches representing the scope and breadth of the PC(USA), including a small church (First Church of Watsontown, Pa.), a university church (Kent Church, Kent, Ohio) and a large church in suburban Chicago (First Church of LaGrange).
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Halverson was confirmed in the Oak Hill United Presbyterian Church. He is a graduate of Muskingum College (magna cum laude), Yale University Divinity School (Rockefeller fellow) and received a D.Min. at Eastern Theological Seminary in 1982 (focusing on evangelism and church growth). In 1992, he was invited by Harvard University to be a Merrill Fellow. In addition to service to the church, he has served as the chair of the board of directors of an addiction center, as a director at the largest homeless shelter in the Midwest (the Chicago Christian Industrial League), and was a founding member of a community foundation.
Halverson is married to Martha, an artist who has her own business, Martha’s Homework, which produces hand painted table fashions/linens. The Halversons have seven children, only one of whom (Ted, an eighth grader) is still at home, and two grandchildren. Their daughter, Helen Halverson, was co-moderator of the Youth Advisory Delegates of the 216th General Assembly.
