The Rev. Dr. Kristopher D. Schondelmeyer (He/Him/His)
Pastor/Head of Staff
"The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and
the world's deep hunger meet."
~Frederick Buechner~
About Me
The Rev. Dr. Kristopher D. Schondelmeyer is lucky to be the husband of Abby, who received her M.Div. from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Together they are the proud parents of four children: Alexander (8), Karrick (6), Isaac (3), and Lincoln (1). Dr. Schondelmeyer serves as Pastor/Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church of Davenport, IA. He holds an M.Div. from Eden Seminary (St. Louis), and Graduate Certificates in Executive Leadership, Engaged Compassion, and Public Management from McCormick Seminary, Claremont School of Theology, and the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, respectively. Rev. Dr. Schondelmeyer also holds a Doctorate in Contextual Leadership with a concentration in Religion and Public Policy from Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University. As a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the PC(USA) which occurred in his youth, Dr. Schondelmeyer recently served as a member of the General Assembly Survivors of Sexual Misconduct Task Force. He has successfully advocated for national polity changes, and is passionate about helping the PC(USA) to become a church that is truly safe and sacred space for all.
EXPERIENCE
2017-2022
Pastor/Head of Staff
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Church Size: 500+/- Members
Community Type: Urban
Address:
1702 Iowa St.
Davenport, IA 52803
Website: www.fpcdavenport.org
2017-2022
Pastor/Head of Staff
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DEEP RUN
Church Size: 200+/- Members
Community Type: Rural/Suburban
Address:
30 Irish Meetinghouse Rd.
Perkasie, PA 18944
Website: www.pcdeeprun.org
2010-2017
Associate Pastor
CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Church Size: 600+/- Members
Community Type: Urban/Suburban
Address:
4225 W. Sylvania Ave.
Toledo, OH 43606
Website: www.cpctoledo.org
2006-2010
Director of Youth Ministries
FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Church Size: 800+/- Members
Community Type: Suburban
Address:
1303 Royal Heights Rd.
Belleville, IL 62223
Website: www.firstunitedpres.org
EDUCATION
Doctor of Ministry
in Contextual Leadership
with concentration in
Religion and Public Policy
PALMER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
OF EASTERN UNIVERSITY
Philadelphia, PA
Graduation: May 2021
Graduate Certificate
in Public Management
TRUMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
Columbia, MO
Program Completion: August 2018
Graduate Certificate
in Engaged Compassion
CLAREMONT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
Claremont, CA
Program Completion: May 2015
Graduate Certificate
in Executive Leadership
MCCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Chicago, IL
Program Completion: September 2011
Master of Divinity
EDEN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
St. Louis, MO
Graduation: May 2010
Bachelor of Science
Major: Speech Communication
Minor: Political Science
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI
Warrensburg, MO
Graduation: May 2006
ACADEMIC AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Doctoral Thesis Recognition - 2021
Passed doctoral defense with distinction, which is the highest honor conferred in the doctoral program, for Doctoral Thesis titled, “Compassionate Conversations: A Compassion-Based Framework for Moderating Civil Discourse in the Intersection of Religion and Public Policy in the Presbyterian Church (USA).”
GPA Recognition - 2020
Achieved a 4.0 GPA in the coursework portion of the Doctor of Ministry in Contextual Leadership with concetration in Religion and Public Policy through Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University.
Subscription Award for Academic Achievement - 2010
This subscription award to Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology is given to an Eden Theological Seminary graduating student who, in the judgement of the Dean of Students and the faculty, has demonstrated outstanding scholarship and academic achievement.
Outstanding Scholar in Speech Communication - 2006
This award is given to a UCM graduating senior who, in the judgement of the Department of Communications faculty, has demonstrated excellence in the art of Speech Communication, and who shows the greatest potential for excelling in the field of Speech Communication.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
Compassionate
Preaching and Worship Leadership
Spiritual Maturity
Communicator
Change Agent
Contextualization
Willingness to Engage Conflict
Strategy and Vision
Interpersonal Engagement
Personal Resilience
SERMONS
Sermon Title: Who Do You Say that Jesus Is?
Sermon Title: Fireworks
Sermon Title: You're Not Jesus...Take a Break
Sermon Title: Weeds
OP-EDS & GUEST PUBLICATIONS
(Click on the Title to View)
Schondelmeyer, K. D. (2022, March 17). Putin's War: A Trauma-Informed Analysis of a Holy Crusade.
In The Presbyterian Outlook
Schondelmeyer, K. D. (2021, September 14). Guest Opinion: Pennridge Pausing DEI a Bad Look.
In the Bucks County Courier Times
Schondelmeyer, K. D. (2020, September 29). Guest Opinion: The Possibility of Compassion in Politics.
In the Bucks County Courier Times
Schondelmeyer, K. D. (2020, June 7). Guest Opinion: A Prayer for Our Nation.
In the Bucks County Intelligencer
In The Presbyterian Outlook
Schondelmeyer, K. D. (2018, November 5). Guest Opinion: Words Matter with Power to Cut Us Deeply.
In the Bucks County Courier Times
12 Ministry Successes in 12 Months in 2021
(Click on the Image to View Larger w/ Full Caption)
 Success #1We completed technology upgrades to our campus & sanctuary including a new iPad-controlled sound board, 4 PTZ cameras, 2 computers with professional live-streaming software, projector/screen and digital in-door signage. |  Success #2We successfully facilitated virtual Lenten Small Groups, including a group with young adults under the age of 35. |  Success #3We successfully supervised and mentored two Princeton Seminary pastoral interns. |  Success #4With the support of the Deep Run congregation, I graduated with a Doctorate in Contextual Leadership with a concentration in Religion and Public Policy. |
|---|---|---|---|
 Success #5Deep Run successfully transitioned from pre-recorded worship to in-person services with simultaneous live-stream (this includes using COVID-safe protocols to restart our music ministry: chancel choir, quartets, soloists, & bell choir). |  Success #6In the spirit of Deep Run’s founding pastor, Rev. William Tennent, we launched the Virtual Log College (a paid technology internship for high school students; teaching young people the skills to create high-quality livestream productions in the context of a supportive faith community). |  Success #7With the blessing of the Deep Run Session, I gave time to helping the Presbytery of Philadelphia on a number of important initiatives: Rewriting and passing a new Policy on the Ethics of Sexual Boundaries which includes the creation of a new Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Response Team (SMART), serving as church liaison for the Vital Congregations Initiative, answering the call to moderate an Administrative Commission for a church in need of Presbytery support. |  Success #8Deep Run’s Children’s Ministry Team continued offering Virtual Sunday School for children even as we transitioned back to in-person ministry, maintaining connections with families who have different comfort levels regarding the pandemic. |
 Success #9In partnership with another local pastor, I facilitated a “Community Conversation on Race and the Church,” bringing together members of Deep Run with neighbors in our larger community. |  Success #10We ran a successful Stewardship Campaign, using a narrative budget to tell God’s story of Deep Run, increasing our pledges for 2022 by over 9%. |  Success #11We welcomed 8 new adult members to Deep Run and baptized 3 infants/toddlers. |  Success #12Deep Run Collected around 11,000 lbs. of food for the Pennridge FISH Food Pantry, and we served around 80 hot meals per month at our “drive-thru” Community Dinner. |