Honoring Rev. Rebekah Pratt, 1982-2019

Stanton Reformed Church was blessed with ten years of vibrant ministry by Rev. Rebekah Pratt and her husband and co-pastor, Rev. Phil Pratt, who joined the Stanton church family in 2009. We lost Becky to cancer in 2019.

Becky had a unique gift for ministry, which combined the theological insights of a pastor (she held a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary) with the sensitivity, empathy, and guidance of a social worker (she also held a BA in Psychology from Hope College and a Master of Social Work from Michigan State University). She was a generous and loving shepherd for her flock at Stanton, who remember her as a sort of cosmic sweeper – gathering and guiding the lost, checking in with the quiet kid in the corner, and sharing her unique humor and insights when we really needed them.

Upon her passing, reflecting on Becky’s role in this place, and in her life, the congregation decided that it was always about Christian hospitality. How do we bring in the youth? The doubters? The misunderstood? The folks who are a bit rough around the edges? The people with different abilities? Different family structures? The lonely? The scared? Who is watching out for them? Who is letting them know that they are loved, they are valued, and they are God’s children? The Rebekah Pratt Legacy Campaign is our effort to ensure that her life’s work and vision continue at Stanton Reformed Church, to which she had given so much of herself.

The Legacy Campaign supports the newly-formed All Are Welcome Project, which endeavors to make Stanton Reformed Church a more hospitable church home for all. The project will require the congregation to engage in a self-examination that might take years. However, the consistory of the SRC has identified a near-term physical project list that can help move these goals forward, and will use funds from the Legacy Campaign to implement the Pratts’ vision. Becky and Phil were both active in building this priority list with the consistory; this campaign will ensure the work continues in their absence.

Top priorities related to these goals include:

General Welcoming

  • Improve the Narthex and points of entry for the SRC to ensure that individuals feel welcome from the time they first walk in the door.
  • Update our communications to ensure that individuals seeking a church home can find us easily.
  • Add a bathroom to make the space with the majority of our classrooms more functional and comfortable for those who use it (currently there is one bathroom, which is far from the lower level classrooms and offices).
  • Rework offices so that visitors are immediately greeted by church staff upon entry.

Children and Youth

  • Improve facilities for youth group and Sunday School classes and classrooms for the Stanton Learning Center.
  • Improve storage for a permanent collection of youth group supplies.
  • Add facilities to support infant care in the Stanton Learning Center, helping us to serve families throughout the early childhood years.

Individuals with Disabilities

  • Reconstruct the entrances and Narthex to ensure that they are compliant with ADA standards.
  • Make the lower level accessible for individuals in wheelchairs.
  • Improve accessibility in the sanctuary (e.g. moving pews, removing barriers).
  • Add improvements to the sanctuary sound system for the hearing impaired.

In the few short months after the Fund was established, we were able to add a Youth Room to the Lower Level of Stanton Reformed. This fulfilled a major goal Becky had for our youth – that they have a space in our church just for them, where they are comfortable, and know that we welcome and value them. Before this, we had no dedicated classroom for them – now our tweens and teens have their own classroom/lounge. But we didn’t stop there! To learn more about all we’ve done to make Stanton more hospitable, see: All Are Welcome Accomplishments. 

The Legacy Fund exists separately from the SRC operating budget, and funds will be implemented after consultation of the Pratt Family to ensure that it is in keeping with Becky’s spirit and work. The fund is managed through the Stanton Reformed Church, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.