Rev. Dr. Susan Arnold

Susan Arnold is the Pastor (Head of Staff) at First Presbyterian Church of Springdale, Arkansas. She graduated from Pine Bluff (AR) High School, received a BA in English/Psychology from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She then earned a Masters of Arts Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts, then completed her Masters of Divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. While in Austin, she met and married the person who would not only be her partner in life, but a constant source of entertainment and adventure, John Arnold. Their first child, Ruth, was born in 1993 and their second, Matthew, was born in 1996. Ruth, now married to Kyle Amensen, lives in Little Rock and works at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. Matthew is a law enforcement officer in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Susan describes her leadership style: My vision of "doing church" is the practice and sharing of all the gifts in a congregation.

God has a unique call and purpose for each of us, as well as individual congregations. I see my job as encourager of the folks in the pews; to help you identify the gifts God has placed in you to do ministry and to help individuals and groups clarify their purposes in light of those gifts. Not my gifts, YOURS. After identification comes channeling the energy to live into identity and purpose in real-time. This "living into", both corporately and individually, invariably leads to, and requires, transformation. God is the management that oversees this transformative work. The pastor is the line crew who travels alongside the folks to see that everyone is kept spiritually fed and safe. This whole process is called discipleship. And this is the work of 'church.' This shared and transformative leadership style, for me, also encompasses the relationships between program and administrative church staff. We have an exquisite staff, and each member is an 'expert in their particular field function. It's my job to 'vision,' but it's my honor and joy to encourage staff in self-direction and finding what they truly love doing within the context of that larger vision. It takes a Team!! Besides believing she gets to practice the best profession in the entire world; ministry, Susan loves to work in the yard, bike ride, jog, read fiction, watch movies, and cook with her husband.