Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Dallas-based Grace Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has called the Rev. Jan DeVries, a veteran executive leader in the denomination, as its new general presbyter.

DeVries, who has most recently served as synod executive for Tucson-based Synod of the Southwest for the past 10 years, was elected March 25 at a special meeting of Grace Presbytery.

Descended from several generations of Presbyterian and Reformed ministers, DeVries graduated from Hope College in Holland, Mich. She completed her M.Div. at Union Theological Seminary in New York while working full-time in the national offices of the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. She later earned her D.Min. at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Before going to the Synod of the Southwest, DeVries served as associate executive of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii; director of stewardship and training for the former UPCUSA; associate executive for program and leader development for Heartland Presbytery; director of seminary relations and recruitment for McCormick Seminary; general presbyter and stated clerk for the Presbytery of Northern Kansas; and associate stated clerk of the PC(USA) General Assembly in Louisville.

In its nomination announcement, Grace Presbytery’s search committee described DeVries as “a small powerhouse of a woman. She has a sharp wit and a wry sense of humor. She is a quick study and an accurate analyst. She has a great mind, and she loves to learn. She also has a great heart ... but even more, she loves Jesus Christ, and she loves his people.”