Rev. Karen Fitz La Barge -Minister of Lifelong Learning
Rev. Karen Fitz La Barge contributes to Central’s mission as our Minister of Lifelong Learning.
Pastor Karen previously served as the Interim Youth Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Holland and was the Executive Director of WITNESS, a non profit organization that works for women’s ordination and advocates for women’s issues in religion. She also ministered with the developmentally challenged population of Pine Rest and functioned as an on call substitute Chaplain for all of the Pine Rest units at their Cutlerville campus.
Together we will strengthen and expand on the excellent ministries and educational opportunities of Central Reformed Church, Pastor Karen plans. One of the things that she has been charged with is to expand the adult educational opportunities to create forums to bring Central’s liberating theology perspective into sharper focus. There is a body of scholarly work in Postmodern Theology addressing contemporary issues from new perspectives. As a church we need to study those perspectives alongside the classical theologies to guide our life and faith. Pastor Karen reflected that issues such as environmental sustainability are not just important to adults, but require a conscientious effort to educate children and youth as well. The Minister of Lifelong Learning position at Central Reformed Church was designed in order to create a seamless blanket of educational opportunities for everyone at Central from infancy to old age.
Pastor Karen enjoys reading, strategic board games, fishing, swimming, horseback riding and being out in God’s amazing creation. She and her husband Bill and daughter Elisa have recently purchased a home in Grandville.