We’re delighted to welcome Rev. Cheryl Thorne back to Albany Presbytery! As she begins her ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Broadalbin, we invite you to learn more about her journey—from her ordination here in 2001 to her years of service in Indiana, and her passion for community and outreach. We’re excited for the new energy, dedication, and vision she brings as she returns to serve among us.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am back! I was ordained in Albany Presbytery at Christ’s Church of the Hills in Rotterdam in 2001. I attended Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and, from there, was called to serve in Indiana. I have been a member of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley ever since. Working in partnership with the Presbytery and congregations, I have been involved in many awesome missions in Indiana, from learning mission trips to Ghana and Africa to recovery efforts for hurricane and tornado victims. From youth programs and after-school work to addiction recovery programs with Recovery Café. We have started new ministries and worked to help our community with food insecurity, homelessness, immigrant acceptance, and so much more. It has been an amazing 24 years.
I am back home, called to Broadalbin First Presbyterian Church, and am looking forward to the work we can do together to serve our community, our Presbytery, and our world. I am excited to join the energy, enthusiasm, imagination, and the love Broadalbin First has to serve the Lord in all the ministries and missions they are involved in.
Will you share a little about your hobbies with us?
I love to sing. I have been singing with the Southwest Indiana Cantata Choir, which I have been instrumental in starting along with our choir Director, Joyce Kim Rohrer. We have traveled to Scotland, New York City, and Italy, singing Pepper Choplin Cantatas and spreading the gospel through song. I also love to sew. My family and I make prayer blankets for the church to pray over and hand out to folks not feeling well, providing warm hugs or comfort in their long-term illnesses. I also love to get on Facebook Marketplace and match free furniture and items with people who need them.
How did you decide to go into ministry?
If you were to talk to my brother, he would have told you I’ve always wanted to be a minister since I was a child. He said I always pretended to be the priest since my family was Catholic at the time. I was always standing behind a podium pretending to preach or teach. There was even talk in my younger years of being a nun, but I wanted to have a family someday.
My minister, The Reverend Christopher Taylor, was serving Christ Church the Hills at the time, so I thought I might think about youth ministry professionally. I started working for Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Guilderland as their Youth Director and Christian Educator. I loved it. From there, I attended the youth Triennium as an adult advisor with The Reverend Eric Fagans with Albany Presbyterian. I signed up to explore going to Seminary, and that began the journey. From there, the Lord expanded the call from youth and children to ordained pastor of Word and sacrament. It’s been an incredible journey that has taken me full circle back to the place where it all began.
What are you most looking forward to in your ministry as pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Broadalbin?
I can’t tell you how much fun we are already having since I began September 1. We have already had a chicken barbecue fundraiser, started two Bible studies, created a choir, and are looking forward to the church’s fall mission. We are looking forward to the Thanksgiving invite to Friends Sunday on November 3. And several activities in December bringing faith, fun, family, and community.
We are hosting the Presbytery Regional Gathering and attending the Presbyterian Women gathering in October, and we attended the interfaith Tea in Johnstown.
What I look forward to is a lot more of this, being the church together, serving our community and world, and living out the gospel to the fullness of the Lord.
