Church Notes: Two new leaders in Newport

St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach has named Rev. Curtis Webster as its interim pastor.

He will take over for the time being from the Rev. Dr. Gary Collins, who retired after 21 years of service at St. Mark, until the Session, the church’s governing body, picks a pastor to succeed Collins for good, St, Mark officials announced in a news release.

“I am honored to help lead St. Mark during this time of transition, as the congregation begins to seek a permanent pastor,” Webster said in a prepared statement. “I once worshiped here as a lay member, and St. Mark led me first to faith, and then to professional ministry.”

Webster, a 2003 graduate of the San Francisco Theological Seminary, served four congregations before arriving at St. Mark, the release noted. He and his wife Kate have seven kids.

The church, at 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, is marking its 50th anniversary in 2012.

It describes itself as an inclusive congregation with an “Open Arms and Open Minds” policy. St. Mark is open to people of all religious backgrounds and welcomes anyone to take part in its worship service at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays, the release said.

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Pastor’s installation at Harbor Christian set for May 6

Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach will install its new senior pastor, the Rev. Wesley Knight, at 10 a.m. on the first Sunday in May.

The Rev. Knight and his wife, Jami, formerly lived in Missouri, where he served as a senior pastor, according to a news release from Harbor Christian officials.

“I am passionate about my sense of call, and am looking to serve a congregation where I can most fully live it out ... the core ideas found in Jesus’ earthly message of peace, love, and justice for all I also see as paramount,” Knight said in a prepared statement. “Ours is an inclusive, welcoming community where people of all backgrounds and viewpoints can find a home.”

Harbor Christian, which prescribes to the Disciples of Christ movement, is at 2401 Irvine Ave.

—Imran Vittachi