Rev. Peter Trabaris
6609 Gables Way
Johnston, IA 50131
515-393-7565
ptrabaris@eds.edu
A Successful Pastor, is someone who understands the need to: build a strong team of leaders;
empower Team Ministry, build strong disciples, provide care for those in need, strengthens
congregational groups, ministers to groups more than individuals, frees individuals to conduct
member-to-member ministry, and inspires congregants to reach to God, and beyond themselves
to others.
Rev. Peter Trabaris 2014
Seasoned Pastor seeking pastorate in either large Family Size Church, or Pastor Size Church
committed to Team Ministry, and interested in discipleship, person-to-person ministry, vital
worship, community facing ministry and congregational growth.
MAJOR SKILLS
Worship - Worship and prayer are two of the most important aspects of church life. Worship
must be relevant, touching people in various ways, engaging all of the senses, and inspiring
participants toward a deeper personal commitment to personal discipleship, and ministry.
P. Trabaris 2014
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Twenty-Six years clergy and lay preaching experience in MCC, and beyond.
Preaching Style – I am flexible using various preaching styles, but focus on preaching as
celebration, utilizing a strong story-telling component. My preaching is relevant to
modern life, and seeks modern-day scriptural interpretations of biblical text.
Twenty-Six years worship leadership experience in: Preaching, Celebration and
Consecration of Communion, Baptism, and the Rites of the Church, including,
Ordination, Attaining Membership, Holy Union and Holy Matrimony, Funeral and
Memorial Services, Laying on of Hands, and Blessing.
Worship Style – I am flexible, and able to conform to any worship style. I aim to develop
worship that pulls from the full spectrum of Christian Tradition, while exploring, with the
congregation new ways of worshipping that arise from the congregation. I strive for a
mixture of traditional and contemporary styles. I am comfortable with the use of
technology in worship, and find it to be beneficial.
Group Leadership - Trained Group Leader and Facilitator
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BA in Organizational Management, which makes me strong with process and planning,
management and development.
Trained by the Serendipity Organization to be a Small Group Ministry Leader, which
assists me in understanding the necessity of group ministry in growing churches, and the
importance of unleashing the ministry potential of a church, through discipleship and
every member ministry.
Twenty-Three years of experience as the Moderator of MCC Church Boards, and
Congregations.
Member of Various Executive Boards which trained me to the importance of both a
strong internal leadership team, as well as the necessity of a fully networked approach to
community leadership in any not-for-profit setting.
Delegation – The ability of any leader to achieve success is directly tied to the individual leader’s
ability to let go, and promote others. P. Trabaris 2014
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Personal Leadership Style – My style is to build leadership teams to address the various
areas of church life. This approach facilitates leadership development, and encourages
member ministry at the same time.
Clergy and Volunteer Leadership – I have utilized, and supervised both clergy and laity
to accomplish church ministry.
Recognition – The recognition of the work, and accomplishments for both elected
officers, and volunteers, is essential to the effectiveness of on-going volunteer
participation and leadership development.
Pastoral Care - Caring for those in need is essential to the work of the church. However, the
church is not fulfilling its mission unless this ministry goes beyond the clergy, and becomes,
largely, the act of the laity of the church. P. Trabaris 2014
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Twenty-Three years of pastoral care experience as MCC Clergy, including: Spiritual
Listening and Guidance; Hospital and Hospice, Death and Dying, Grief, Couples and
Marriage Guidance, Career Guidance, Post Incarceration Guidance, Safe Sex Issues,
Contraception Guidance, HIV/AIDS, Aging, Spiritual Family Guidance.
Seven years of pastoral care experience as a Lay Minister in MCC, including, Hospital,
HIV/AIDS, Death and Dying.
Churches Served
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MCC of Central Iowa, Interim Pastor
MCC of the Fox Valley, Associate Pastor, Solo Pastor
Holy Covenant MCC, Interim Pastor
October 2012 – Present
2004-2010
2001 & 2003
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Joy of Life MCC, Senior Pastor and Founder
1991-2000
Denominational Ministry
Great Lakes District Committee, Member-at-Large
Great Lakes District Committee, West Area Coordinator
Great Lakes District Committee, Clergy Representative
North Central Network Team
Other Designations
Leadership Mentoring Graduate
Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist
Teaching Church Pastor
1993-1994
1994-1995
1995-2001
2011-2013
2012
2012
1993
Non-MCC Boards and Representations
Representative to the National Council of the Churches of Christ
Member of the Executive Board of the Church Federation of Greater Chicago
Member of the Executive Board of the North Park/Kenwood Interfaith Council
Member of the Executive Board of the Lakeview Overnight Shelter Board
Co-Founding Leader of the Northeast Lake County Clergy Network
Education
Master of Arts in Theological Studies
Episcopal Divinity School
In Progress, Estimated Completion 2016
BA Organizational Management
North Park University
2002
Samaritan College
1991
Specialized Training
MCC Teaching Church Training
Serendipity Small Group Ministry Training, with Lyman Coleman
2012 Leadership Mentoring Retreat Graduate
Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist
1992
2012
2012