Known to almost everyone as "Skip," Rev. Richard L. Noftzger Jr. comes to us as the new Executive Presbyter of Redstone Presbytery. His wide range of experiences in the church, in higher education, in parachurch organizations and community agencies provide a breadth of both pastoral and executive leadership. Those who know him testify to his dynamic and serving leadership, in which he actively engages others (persons and organizations) to pursue opportunities in God's ongoing mission of his kingdom.
Originally, a native of the western part of the United States, Skip lived in Oregon during his high school and college years. While not growing up as an active member of a Christian church, yet, the grace of God in Jesus Christ reached him through the faithful and authentic testimony of some friends during those high school years. He went on to Lewis and Clark College in order to study Political Science and to participate in intercollegiate wrestling. Within that experience, Skip realized the call of God drawing him to the ministry. Changing his major, he studied Religious Studies and served for two years in youth ministry at a Presbyterian Church in Woodburn, Oregon.
Upon graduating from L&C, a new adventure began with his enrollment at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he did outreach ministry with high school students and served as the varsity wrestling coach at a local high school. Graduating with a M.Div. degree, his first experiences in administrative leadership were developed through his work at Muskingum College, the Coalition for Christian Outreach and finally, Waynesburg University. Continuing to grow professionally, he pursued doctoral-level graduate education in the history and philosophy of education and also completed a Masters in Business Administration while working full-time in demanding positions. During his tenure of many years at Waynesburg University, he served in various executive leadership positions as a Senior Vice President with a diversified portfolio of responsibilities which included, at various times: strategic planning, institutional research, student affairs, campus ministries, intercollegiate athletics, community and economic development, and information technologies.
Concurrent with those varied professional experiences, Skip also served the Church and his calling through both pastoral service in various congregations and organizational leadership responsibilities within Washington Presbytery. Opportunities to proclaim the good news were a regular part of his ministry. Becoming a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by choice, Skip was ordained within the denomination many years after having completed seminary in order to better serve those congregations where he provided pastoral leadership. Employing his distinctive gifts and strengths, he provided guidance to the presbytery in self-evaluation, facilitating strategic planning that supported congregational vitality, and managed and resolved ecclesiastical conflicts. Throughout that time, he served and chaired many of the committees and boards involved in the ministry, including Pine Springs Camp, Committee on Ministry, Mission Causes, Personnel, Self-Study, and Executive Presbyter Search committee.
Skip and Martha Roe Noftzger have been married for nearly twenty-eight years. Martha continues to serve as a family practice physician in a community health center. Their two adult sons, Ben and Tim grew up attending and working at Pine Springs Camp. Ben now lives in New York City where he pursues his passion of working in the film industry. Tim lives in Pittsburgh where he is enrolled in graduate school at Duquesne and maintains his interest in adventure activities through working part-time at REI.
Within the providence of God, Richard "Skip" Noftzger comes to Redstone Presbytery to serve as the Executive Presbyter as the next "station" in God's calling for him. He brings an energy, passion and wisdom to his engagement of others with a goal of embodying leadership that is "full of grace and truth." Excited by God's call, he desires to join with us in order that by the grace of God we might "communicate the Word....carry on the work....change the world---together."
