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File #: 170525    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 5/18/2017 In control: CITY COUNCIL
On agenda: Final action: 5/18/2017
Title: Recognizing and honoring Reverend Kirk T. Berlenbach who will be leaving St. Timothy's Episcopal Church after 14 years of dedicated service to the Roxborough community.
Sponsors: Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Taubenberger, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Bass
Title
Recognizing and honoring Reverend Kirk T. Berlenbach who will be leaving St. Timothy's Episcopal Church after 14 years of dedicated service to the Roxborough community.

Body
WHEREAS, Reverend Kirk T. Berlenbach was born in Philadelphia in 1969 and raised in Haddonfield, New Jersey. He received his Bachelors of Art in Philosophy from Hamilton College in New York and his Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. He also obtained a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Berlenbach was ordained a priest in 1999. After being ordained, he worked extensively in behavioral health, and as a chaplain at both a general hospital and a hospice. He also served as Assistant Rector and Youth Minister at St. Alban's in Newtown Square; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, Reverend Berlenbach began serving as the Rector for St. Timothy's Episcopal Church of Roxborough. Under Reverend Berlenbach's leadership, the parish has grown younger, more diverse and financially stable. The parish has also greatly expanded its mission work and community outreach, established a community garden and home brewing club, as well as partnerships with local synagogues and Roxborough Memorial Hospital; and

WHEREAS, In addition to serving as Rector at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Reverend Berlenbach is heavily involved with both the Diocese and The Episcopal Church. In the community he is a volunteer chaplain at Roxborough Memorial Hospital and serves as the President of the board of Pensdale Village Senior Apartments and the Vice President of the Board of Inter Community Action (Interac); and

WHEREAS, Reverend Berlenbach loves reading, music, gardening, craft beer and studies Aikido, in which he holds a second-degree black belt. He is happily married to Rebekah Sassi, the Director of the Foundation of Riddle Memorial Hospital. They have three teenage children; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Kirk T. Berlenbach will be leaving St. Timothy's to serve as...

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