Covenant Churches and the Power of Conversation

One Covenant Network congregation, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX, received a strongly-worded email of condemnation from Velma Pavlasek. Specifically, Pavlasek felt angry when she saw the church's signs promoting their public witness to inclusion.

The Rev. Carol K. Johnson, Parish Associate for Spiritual Gifts, could have responded with similar anger or ignored the message altogether. Instead, she responded with sincere conversation that gradually grew into friendship.

Eventually, Pavlasek changed her views on the church's signs -- and on the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people. Within her own church, she speaks out about social justice, and joins St. Andrew's in advocating for transgender rights. Of this experience, Pavlasek said,

“I realize now, the whole point was not for me to convert them, but for God to convert me."

Read more at Spectrum Local News about how conversations between two strangers resulted in lasting transformation. The Covenant Network of Presbyterians seeks to create space for gracious engagement, particularly in our Covenant Conversations, so we deeply appreciate the many churches in our network like St. Andrew's witnessing to the power of respectful conversation.