Rev. Jesse Larson’s final Sunday at Bethany Presbyterian Church was April 28, 2024.Click here to read about his time here at the church and see photos from his final Sunday, which included a “thank you” reception following the worship service.
OUTGOING PASTOR
Rev. Jesse Larson was elected in an unanimous vote of of the congregation January 26, 2020—becoming Bethany’s 13th called pastor (since Bethany’s start in 1914). Rev. Larson’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio; and a master’s degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.
Pastor Jesse is originally from upstate New York—near Buffalo—and actually enjoys the snow and cold, in addition to wings and the Great Lakes. His dad, brother, sister-in-law and uncle are all Presbyterian pastors, so he’s quite familiar with church camp, retreats, committee meetings, potlucks, and predestination. As an undergrad, Jesse studied cultural anthropology at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. Immediately following college, he served as a Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteer in Ghana, West Africa. Then he was the program intern at the Center for Global Education in Namibia, southern Africa. He likes to share his stories of adventures overseas. Jesse spent four years working as the Director of Youth and Outreach for the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, New York. He enjoyed working with a diverse and crazy group of urban teenagers, as well as many Sudanese refugees. Much of his twenties were spent going back and forth to Africa; he’s a self-proclaimed Afrophile.
After graduating from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, Jesse became the campus minister and interim associate pastor at Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames, Iowa. Working with Iowa State University students and leading lots of mission trips kept him young in spirit, though he’s long since noticed many gray hairs. Jesse served for four years as the pastor of Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Wisconsin—the land of cheese curds and craft beers. He and the congregation had a lot of fun experimenting with all aspects of church life; they created an African drum ensemble, they hosted concerts and yoga events, they changed committee structures, and they discerned the Holy Spirit’s presence in all sorts of other creative ways.
After 12 years in the Midwest, Jesse took a brief call in Napa, California in the fall of 2018. He is often traveling here and there, he is a lover of many genres of music, art and media, and he’s pretty good at eating. Jesse likes to think he is friendly and funny, he’s learned that you can never underestimate the power of God’s love, and he’s eager to begin his call serving in ministry with the people of Sacramento as the new pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church.
