Innovative executive presbyter selected to lead the transformation of the Presbyterian Mission Agency

Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall will serve remotely beginning Jan. 31, 2022

by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, executive presbyter for the Northwest Coast Presbytery, has been named as the Director of Rebuilding and Vision Implementation for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. (Contributed photo)

LOUISVILLE — Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, the executive presbyter of Northwest Coast Presbytery for the past 15 years, has been named the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Director of Rebuilding and Vision Implementation. He’ll be tasked with transforming the mission agency as it seeks to become a Matthew 25 Church following the strategic visioning process that culminated this fall and received approval by the PMA Board in October.

Schlosser-Hall will work remotely from Bothell, Washington, a city just northeast of Seattle. He’ll serve under a 30-month (or longer) term contract and will work closely with the PMA’s president and executive director, the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, the PMA’s Leadership Cabinet and Change Management Team as well as colleagues across the mission agency and other Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) agencies and entities to develop and implement the strategic direction and structural changes needed as part of the PMA’s redefined vision.

Schlosser-Hall begins his new job on Jan. 31, 2022.

“I’m thrilled to contribute to Christ’s church through the Presbyterian Mission Agency at such a fertile and tenuous time,” Schlosser-Hall said. “My favorite part of ministry is helping the church re-invent itself for the kingdom of God. There are incredible, [discerning], and wise people on the PMA staff, board and stakeholders of PMA who are seeing a robust vision from God for PMA and the PC(USA) and I get to be a small part of helping to tangibilitate that vision!”

Schlosser-Hall called Moffett “a visionary and collaborative leader to help us all see beyond the fog. She, the PMA Board and [the human resources] team have crafted a smart, time-limited role (Director of Rebuilding and Vision Implementation) that I will be serving to gain traction in becoming the Matthew 25 vision together — congregations, new worshiping communities, mid councils and the national church … together … for the sake of our world!”

Moffett said she’s “grateful and excited” that Schlosser-Hall “accepted the call to work with the PMA in this important position.”

The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett is president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

“I first met Corey in my work with the Presbyterian Foundation Board. I was impressed with his open and kind personality,” Moffett said. “He posed insightful questions and was a great thought partner. I couldn’t be happier about his decision to accept this call.”

“I am confident that with his gifts and ability we will move forward to embody some of the many changes our new vision calls forth,” Moffett said.

According to Moffett, Schlosser-Hall “brings curiosity, energy and imagination to his work. He helped to successfully reorganize two presbyteries and has a reputation for being a trusted partner and friend with fellow colleagues serving in mid councils, congregations and agencies throughout the church.”

During Schlosser-Hall’s tenure at Northwest Coast Presbytery, 19 new worshiping communities have opened even as three presbyteries merged into one.

Over those years, “I have been able to witness firsthand a remarkable group of faithful people and three presbyteries (former North Puget Sound, Alaska and Central Washington presbyteries are now Northwest Coast Presbytery) re-invent themselves at God’s prompting about four times in my 15 years,” Schlosser-Hall said, “and we are more future-focused, adventurous, generous, and better-connected … with a lot of fun … because of it.  I will deeply miss these amazing Northwest Coast Presbyterians and friends as I make this shift to serve PMA. They have been the most ‘let’s do this!’ people I know!”

This moment in history “with the pandemic and racial reckoning has got to be one of the richest opportunities for renewal we’ve experienced in decades,” Schlosser-Hall said. “If we hide from this possibility, we will squander the gifts God has for us in the midst of the loss, grief, sorrow, exhaustion, and bewilderment. Let’s go!”

Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall begins his term work with the Presbyterian Mission Agency on Jan. 31, 2022. (Contributed photo)

Schlosser-Hall earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota. His doctorate is in organizational communication. Since 2014 he’s been a certified leadership coach.

Prior to his work at Northwest Coast Presbytery, Schlosser-Hall was communications director for Seattle Presbytery for five years.

According to his biography, under Schlosser-Hall’s leadership, Northwest Coast Presbytery (which stretches from Kennewick, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska, and from Yakima, Washington to Yakutat, Alaska) has diversified from 90% white and 10% people of other cultural backgrounds to a 70%/30% mix, including people of Korean, Native American, Alaska Native and Hispanic descent.

He initiated and grew VERGE, an annual ministry conference with speakers and participants from all over the U.S. and Canada. From 2008-20 he served as faculty for the Presbytery Leader Formation Program of the PC(USA), where he taught ecclesiology, visionary and financial leadership, and communications.

He and his spouse, Adrienne, are the parents of two daughters.