The Rev. Dr. Michael P. Burns was called as the Senior Pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 31, 2009, and began serving our congregation in July of 2009.

Education

Mick attended Jamestown College in Jamestown, North Dakota, on academic and football scholarships. He was awarded the Bachelor of Arts in Religion & Philosophy and Business degree in 1978.

In his senior year, the faculty awarded Mick the rank of College Fellow in Religion & Philosophy. That same year, Mick was named to the All Conference Football Team of the North Dakota College Athletic Conference.

Mick earned his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1983, with a major in Preaching. He conducted his further studies through the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) and McCormick Theological Seminary, completing the Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching in 1999.

Experience

Mick has served as Head of Staff at Northbrook Presbyterian Church in Beverly Hills, Michigan, for the past seven years. He lead both a traditional worship service as well as a contemporary worship service. At his former church he was a leader in mission in Detroit Presbytery.

Mick has also served congregations in Willmar, Minnesota; Grand Haven, Michigan; and Moorhead, Minnesota. He has served on the board and executive committee of the Minnesota Council of Churches and chaired the Presbytery of the Northern Plains Social Concerns Committee. He has served as a college chaplain, youth director, associate pastor, and was the Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Moorhead, Minnesota for 15 years.

Mission Work

In the Presbytery of Detroit, Mick served for six years on the Mission Interpretation, Projects and Partnerships Committee, and was a member of the Hands-On-Mission Team. These groups transformed the very nature of mission in the Presbytery, and their committee has led several hands-on mission trips in and around Detroit and other parts of the country.

Mick led two trips to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance sites in Mississippi and Louisiana after hurricane Katrina. The Detroit Presbytery continues to sponsor two trips a year to disaster sites affected by the hurricane.

In 1990, Mick traveled to the Holy Land as part of a Peacemaking program sponsored by Presbyterian Church (USA). This year, he will make a second pilgrimage. Mick was chosen to attend Princeton Theological Seminary’s 2009 Holy Land Pastoral Renewal Program., June 10 – 24, 2009.

Interests and Hobbies

Mick has a strong interest in music. He studied music theory and sang in the college choir at Jamestown College. He plays guitar and is a talented drummer. At First Presbyterian Church in Willmar, Minnesota, Mick initiated a hand bell program that grew and expanded to several groups. The hand bell program in the Willmar church continues today. Mick also enjoys reading, travel, soccer and golf.

Family

Following his graduation from college, Mick married Joni Jordheim. Joni is currently an educator in the Fairfax County Public Schools system, having taught fourth grade at Spring Hill Elementary School in McLean for the past four years. Joni earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Minnesota State University of Moorhead, and has taught for fifteen years.

Mick and Joni recently celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary, and are proud new grandparents of Sophia Rose. They have two grown sons, Sean and Kerry.