Introducing The Reverend Kerry Dowdy 

Posted July 22, 2025

The Reverend Kerry Michelle Dowdy began a covenant contract with Friendship Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock on July 1 to be their covenant pastor. She was ordained there on Sunday, July 6.

This is Kerry’s first call after graduating with a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in May of 2023 and receiving a graduate certificate in Missional Leadership in May of 2024. 

Kerry grew up in Valencia and graduated from Mars Area High School. She then attended Slippery Rock University where she studied finance. She graduated there with a BS in Finance in 1995 and a MS in accounting in 2002.

When Kerry began attending East Butler Presbyterian Church in 2009 after being away from church for a long time. She felt welcomed there and was encouraged and supported by then pastor Rev. Mary Kitchen to become more involved in the life of the church. Kerry says, “Her gentle nudging slowly turned into a calling to go to Seminary.”

Kerry is married to Brian with whom she recently celebrated a nine-year anniversary. She has four stepchildren and together they have five grandchildren. Kerry and Brian enjoy their pets—two dogs, five cats, six chickens (with the notably Bible names of Naomi, Ruth, Orpah, Esther, Shiphrah, and Puah) and a chinchilla.

Kerry will continue to work full-time as an appointed official in the capacity of the Administrative Assistant for the City of Butler. She serves on the Equipping Leaders Unit of Beaver-Butler Presbytery and represented our presbytery at the 226th General Assembly in Salt Lake City as the Ruling Elder Commissioner.

As she was discerning her call after seminary, Kerry recalls a conversation with Presbytery Executive Tom Harmon. She remembers “when the discussion turned to Friendship Presbyterian Church that the Holy Spirit did a handstand and made it known to me—this is the church that will call you.”

We lift prayers for Kerry and Friendship Presbyterian as they begin their ministry together.