Mission & Outreach
The resident will work collaboratively with the Director for Mission and Outreach to accomplish the ministry goals of the Mission and Outreach Committee, with a three-fold emphasis: missional, pastoral, and vocational work.
The resident will work collaboratively with the Director for Mission and Outreach to accomplish the ministry goals of the Mission and Outreach Committee, with a three-fold emphasis: missional, pastoral, and vocational work.
Education
The resident will work collaboratively with the Associate Minister for Education to accomplish the ministry goals of the Education Committee, with a three-fold emphasis: educational, pastoral, and vocational work.
The resident will work collaboratively with the Associate Minister for Education to accomplish the ministry goals of the Education Committee, with a three-fold emphasis: educational, pastoral, and vocational work.
meet our current residents
Mary Kate Sykes
Education
Mary Kate, a child of Covenant, is known to many at the church as a member, a People in Mission intern, and as an Interim Middle School Youth Leader in 2016. After graduating from Sewanee: The University of the South with a degree in psychology and minor in education and religion, Mary Kate worked with both Trinity Episcopal School as an instructional assistant and as an international leader for Moondance Adventures. While in seminary, her internships included Central Presbyterian Church, UKirk Atlanta, and a chaplaincy with Chris180 in Atlanta. Prior to joining Covenant as Pastoral Resident, Mary Kate was serving as Ministry Coordinator at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Mary Kate has long felt called to work at the intersection of faith, service, education, authentic community, and opportunities to accompany others. In her role at Covenant, Mary Kate is doing just this.
Courtney Shudak
Mission & Outreach
Courtney comes to Covenant after more than a decade in the world of corporate finance, where she worked in leadership roles at USAA. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she moved to Charlotte in 2022 and soon began discerning a call to ministry deeply shaped by involvement right here at Covenant as a member of the Young Adults Council, Stewardship committee, Kinship Project, and various mission trips. Courtney is a student at Union Presbyterian Seminary pursuing ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Prior to seminary Courtney obtained her B.B.A. and M.B.A. from The University of Texas at San Antonio where she was fortunate to participate as a member of the women’s cross country and track teams. Her deepest areas of academic interest are biblical studies, Reformed ecclesiology, and Christian ethics, with a particular focus on affordable housing and community flourishing in urban contexts.
At Covenant, she is grateful to serve as the Pastoral Resident for Mission and Outreach—working alongside members and ministry partners to embody God’s love in public and prophetic ways. When not at church or school, Courtney can be found running/cycling local greenways or working her way through her every-growing to-be-read pile.
At Covenant, she is grateful to serve as the Pastoral Resident for Mission and Outreach—working alongside members and ministry partners to embody God’s love in public and prophetic ways. When not at church or school, Courtney can be found running/cycling local greenways or working her way through her every-growing to-be-read pile.