Rev. Tim Tinsley
Rev. Tim Tinsley told the congregation at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday that he has resigned as pastor.
He said he and his wife, Laura, are seeking to join an organization in which they will work in evangelism and mentoring in cities in the U.S. and abroad.
Rev.
Tinsley said, "We are not leaving First Presbyterian, and we are not leaving Chattanooga."
He said he will be staying on as pastor through May.
The church's Session will meet Monday evening to begin planning the transition.
Rev. Tinsley was just the 13th pastor of First Presbyterian Church in its long history.
He was elected pastor by the congregation just before Christmas 2009.
At the time, Judge Mickey Barker, chairman of the nine-member search committee, said. "We're excited about Rev. Tinsley. He was the senior associate at a church of about 5,000 members."
He said Park Cities is "a flagship church of the PCA."
Judge Barker said, "Rev. Tinsley is coming from one of the largest churches in America to the oldest church in Chattanooga." He noted that First Presbyterian was founded in 1840 - just after the Indian Removal.
Rev. Tinsley took the place of Dr. Mike Milton, who left in December of 2007 to become president and professor of practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte.
The search committee interviewed a number of candidates during a year-long search in 2009.