Presbytery of Tampa Bay

Executive Presbyter

As Executive Presbyter I am the spiritual and administrative leader of the presbytery, head of the office-based staff, and resource per

son for the congregations of the presbytery.

What I Do as Executive Presbyter...

• Advisor to pastor search committees
• Consultant for evangelism and church growth
• Retreat leader for long range planning and visioning,
• Advisor for mission studies and priority setting,
• Counselor for change management,
• Consultant for stewardship and financial planning,
• First responder for conflict and crisis management,
• Coach for personnel issues,
• Advisor for staff performance reviews,
• Consultant for building and facilities expansion

What I Do as Stated

Clerk...

• Polity and Book of Order advice and coaching
• Parliamentarian at presbytery meetings
• Advisor to the disciplinary and judicial process

Educational Background...

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Georgia
• Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary
• Master of Theology in Counseling from Princeton Theological Seminary
• Doctor of Ministry in Church Administration from Boston University

Advanced Training and Certification...

• Growing Healthy Churches with Paul Bordon
• Conflict management with Speed Leas of the Alban Institute
• Effective Church strategic planning with Kennon Callahan
• Church transformation with Paul Dietterich of the Center for Parish Development
• Conflict, Bridge Builder, and Healthy Congregation development with Peter Steinke
• Evangelism and Magnetic Church building with Herb Miller
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator licensed administrator with Otto Kroeger Associates
• Clinical Pastoral Education from Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and Princeton Medical Center
• Change management, organizational decision making, and team building with Del R. Poling Consulting International

My life journey...

• I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina to a military family. I lived in Virginia, Georgia, Japan, and Tennessee before graduation from high school in suburban Chicago.
• I was ordained as a United Presbyterian Church (UPCUSA) pastor in 1971 serving as Minister of Education and Youth Pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Illinois, a 2,000 member, multiple staff church.
• I have served three pastorates:
  • West Collingswood Presbyterian Church, a 125-member church in an urban area near Camden, New Jersey.
  • Central Presbyterian Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, a 600-member, downtown church in the business center and state capitol district.
  • Overbrook Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Ohio, a 1,500 member, multiple staff church located in a residential community.
• Since 1991 I have served as Executive Presbyter. In 2008 I was elected as Stated Clerk of the presbytery.

My Family ...

In 1968 Maxine Ryals and I were married. We have six brothers and sisters, fourteen nieces and nephews, and seven great-nieces and nephews spread from Hawaii to Massachusetts. Maxie is a graduate of the University of Georgia (where we met) and earned a Master of Education in Adult Learning from Ohio State University. She retired as a math instructor from St. Petersburg Jr. College, having taught math for 35 years from middle school to college level. We are devotees of tropical gardening, and when time permits, I enjoy a round of golf.

I am at your service...

You can reach me at the Presbytery of Tampa Bay Office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 813-868-4800.

Gerry Tyer
Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk
Presbytery of Tampa Bay
4704 Kelly Road
Tampa, Florida 33615-5019
(813) 868-4800  Extension 15

Email:     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website:  www.presbyteryoftampabay.com