First Presbyterian Church of Batesville will celebrate the 15-year tenure of its pastor, Rev. Leslie Bethell Roper (pictured), with a reception from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, in its Fellowship Hall at 8th and College streets in Batesville.
The public is invited to attend.
The reception is also a fond farewell to Rev. Roper and her family as they soon will relocate to Hot Springs where Rev. Roper recently accepted a calling.
She is married to Jeff Roper, who serves as associate director of financial aid at Lyon College. They have two sons, Jordan, 13, and Daniel, 10.
Her last day in the pulpit at First Presbyterian, Batesville, will be Pentecost Sunday, June 5.
Roper has served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church since July of 2007, first as associate pastor for youth and children’s ministries, and then beginning in 2012 as head of staff.
During that time, she has served the community through her work with the Batesville School District and Habitat for Humanity. Roper has also served the larger church by serving on multiple committees, chairing task forces, attending General Assembly, and ultimately serving as Moderator of the Presbytery of Arkansas.
A native of Fort Smith, Roper earned her BA in psychology with a minor in religion from Austin College in Sherman, Tex., graduating with highest honors. After graduation, Roper served in the Presbyterian United Nations Office in New York City and at the Presbyterian Headquarters in Louisville, Ken. It was during that time that she discerned a call to ministry and moved to Decatur, Ga., where she graduated with her Masters of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary.
In what free time she has, Roper enjoys reading, photography, traveling, and spending time with her boys.
Image provided by First Presbyterian Church
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
