West Virginia was not even on The Rev. Dr. William C. Myers’ radar when he started looking for a new call, but then, he was computer matched with First Charleston by the Louisville office. (Sometimes God works through computers.) When he took a look at their Ministry Information Form, he was immediately drawn to the church by the gracious love of the people and their vision for the future. Bill believes that ministry is about helping people find hope and worth, and that is in the tagline for First Charleston: “Bringing hope to the heart of Charleston and beyond.”
Bill and his wife, Margie, have been warmly welcomed by First Church. Bill says that he has always felt loved and supported by the churches that he has served in the past, but that he has never felt such overwhelming love and support as what he and Margie have experienced here.
Even with the Covid-19 pandemic, the call process was not that different from what Bill has experienced in other calls. The one difference is that the church followed the old Southern tradition, so Bill did not preach a candidating sermon. He says the church is a wonderful blend of different cultures, traditions, and political stances. It adds layers of nuance to their mission, ministry, and fellowship.
The first man baptized in the church was a black man named Adam. No last name is recorded for Adam, possibly because he was a slave. On the other hand, Dr. Ernest Thompson is recorded as leading a service of blessing for the Kanawha Riflemen, a Southern regiment. Thompson’s son, E.T., would go on to be a major force working to bring North and South together. E.T. was also a leading advocate for woman’s rights. Bill points out that all of these different people can work together because “Our identity comes not from our political beliefs, but from the table we gather around.”
There have not been a lot of surprises for Bill in this new call, but he is still getting used to navigating the hills of West Virginia, especially at night. He likes living in Charleston because of the people here. He also appreciates the fact that Charleston is small enough that even small efforts by the church make a noticeable difference.
Bill says that First Church is surrounded by much pain and opportunity. There are great problems with drugs, poverty, and mental illness. There are also great opportunities to bring hope and healing.
When asked about his dreams for the ministry that First Church and he will do in the future, Bill is quick to point out that his role is to support the ministry of the church. He works to empower the session to lead the church and to engage in the ministry and mission that they sense God is calling them to do.
Bill is excited about the ministry that the church is doing with Hope Center and their work to support young people who are aging out of foster care. He says that so much of our society’s problems come out of the trauma and abuse that is suffered by young people. Intervention in the early years will bring great benefits in the years to come.
One of the challenges facing First Church is in achieving the proper staffing levels. Currently, the church has been running with a skeleton staff. They will need to hire more staff, and those new staff will also bring new energy and new ideas to the life of the community.
Bill has been joined in ministry by Margie, who graduated from seminary but did not seek ordination as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament. She has been involved in the church and local schools in a number of different roles over the years. Bill jokes that Margie is his job security. “The church knows that if they got rid of me, they would lose Margie. And they really wouldn’t want that to happen.”
Bill and Margie have two grown children, Will and Elizabeth. Will, also a Presbyterian minister, is married to Nimmi, who is finishing her post-doctorate work at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Elizabeth lives in Seattle and is engaged in social justice work.
Bill says that in his spare time he likes to relax with Margie and their dog, Bea. He enjoys sports, movies, concerts, plays, growing roses, driving in the country, playing bridge, and hiking in the woods. He has also been known to play the bagpipes and do a little acting.
May God continue to bless the ministry of The Reverend Dr. Bill Myers and the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston.