Meet Our Pastor

Dr. Dennis R. Tedder
    Senior Pastor    
 

Dr. Tedder has been the senior pastor of First Presbyterian since 2006. His primary duties are preaching at the 8:30 am and 11:00 am services, teaching, pastoral care of members, and administrative oversight to keep our church running smoothly. He also is the moderator of our Session, meets regularly with various committees, and is always on call for emergency needs. On a normal work day, you might find him meeting with staff members, answering phone calls in the office, working on his sermon, visiting in a hospital or retirement community, having lunch with a committee chairman, attending a sporting event, or any other of the numerous tasks necessary to stay in touch with the 1,100-plus members and children in our congregation.            
 
Dr. Tedder attended the University of South Carolina, earning a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations. After working in the business world for three years, he entered Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He completed his master of divinity degree and was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1989. His first church was in Franklin, Virginia. He also served churches in Camden and Clinton, South Carolina before accepting the call to First Presbyterian in Anderson. He earned a doctorate of ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia in 1997.  
 
A native of Florence, South Carolina, Dennis is married to Anne Kirven Tedder and is the father of two boys—Drew and Josh. He enjoys reading, fishing, going to movies and working Sudoku puzzles. He is a member of the YMCA, where his “favorite” exercise machine is the elliptical trainer. He plays for the First Presbyterian “Men’s 35 and Over” basketball team when he is not on the injured reserve list. He is a member of Rotary International and on the board of Anderson Interfaith Ministries. As part of his service to Foothills Presbytery, he is a member of the Committee on Ministry.  

“I thank God every day for my call to ministry here at First Presbyterian Church of Anderson,” says Dr. Tedder. “I am blessed to be pastor to such caring and committed Christians. Together, we are looking forward in faith and are excited about our opportunities to serve Jesus Christ in the heart of Anderson. The Spirit of God is evident every day in the life of this church.”