Rush Otey
Temporary Supply Minister
Rush recently retired from Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church where he served 18 years as the Senior Minister (2002-2020). Born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia—parents were leaders at First Presbyterian Church
Education: Happyland Kindergarten; Gainesville Public Schools; B. A. in English, with honors, Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C.; D.Min,, with honors, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va.; study year abroad at New College, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, worked with team ministry in low income parish of Edinburgh, Iona Community, traveled throughout Europe, and in Scandinavia and Russia; Clinical Pastoral Education at Medical College of Virginia hospital and also at Virginia State Penitentiary (maximum security prison); internships at Richmond area churches
Ordained by Mecklenburg Presbytery at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 1973
Post graduate fellowship at Duke Divinity School; selected participant in Pastor-Theologian Program of Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, New Jersey
1973-1980 Minister to Students (college chaplain) at Davidson College, and assistant minister at Davidson College Presbyterian Church Board member of Davidson Cornelius Child Development Center, founding member of Ada Jenkins Center, founding board member of ECO (Ex-Convicts Organization) which is now Center for Community Transitions, campus ministry Board at UNCC, CROP, member of PCUS Task Force on Criminal Justice, and others; guest lecturer and seminar leader of various classes at Davidson College
1980-1982 Director, Uniting Campus Ministry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—ecumenical and interfaith center funded by United Methodist and Presbyterian judicatories; moderator of University Chaplains Association and liaison with University administration; Board member Baton Rouge Council on Human Relations, Southern University campus ministry, International Hospitality Foundation, Louisiana Interchurch Conference, Baton Rouge chapter of Amnesty International; volunteer chaplain on death row and life sentence units at Angola Prison
1982-1993 St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Tucker, Georgia (northeast Atlanta)—approximately 900 members—congregation was/is very active in urban and international mission, part of founding group of congregations of Druid Hills Night Shelter, Open Door Community, Dekalb Initiative for Affordable Housing; St. Andrews Preschool serves over 200 students; sponsored group home for and with people with physical and mental disabilities, continuous teaching of and with interns from Columbia Seminary; large multi-staff congregation; major capital campaign and renovations and additions; two Sunday worship services
1993-2002 First Presbyterian Church, Pensacola, Florida—downtown congregation of approximately 1000 members, founded in 1845; not unlike many thriving and dynamic urban congregations; two capital campaigns; facilities in constant use; two Sunday worship services
2002-2020 Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC—approximately 500 confirmed members plus over 200 children; participation and leadership in local and regional mission such as Habitat for Humanity, Room in the Inn, Rise Against Hunger, Loaves and Fishes, 20 year continuous partnership with Montclaire Elementary School (Title 1); two capital campaigns; influx of younger members and strengthening of music and worship and Christian education for all ages; developed a strong and creative and complementary staff and Session; retired in April 2020
Service to Church: commissioner to three General Assemblies, moderator of Committee on Ministry for four years in Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and three years in Presbytery of Florida; Presbytery of Charlotte member of Permanent Judicial Commission and co-moderator of an Administrative Commission; Board member of Presbyterian Psychological Services and North Carolina Council of Churches; intern supervisor for Columbia and Union Seminaries since 1984; member of Church in Vocations Group; Editorial Advisory Board of Journal for Preachers since 1990; published numerous articles, sermons, and reviews in several venues
Interests (other than Bible, theology, pastoral care, preaching, teaching, administration): music (played keyboards in rhythm and blues groups during high school and early college years, and love the music of the Church); reading and writing; sports; gardening (have been cutting the grass and raking the leaves since I was eleven years old)
Immediate family: married to Deborah Plonk, retired teacher and psychologist; two adult children, Andrew who lives in Washington, D.C., and Emily who lives in Raleigh, N.C.
