*Click the following link for "What is the Role of the Moderator?"
I have a heartfelt faith in Jesus Christ, a love of God's Word and people, and a commitment to live out the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with truth and grace to those inside and outside the Church.
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| My family (plus Buddy the dog!) |
That's all a bit more flowery and theological than I normally talk about my family - but as I was pondering how to answer the question of "why stand for moderator?" I realized that truth be told, my heart is with my family and my local church. My second and significant core calling is as a pastor. I framed my description of my calling to my family as I did because my calling as pastor flows out of that. In my congregation, we are also bound together in covenant; we disappoint; we forgive and love; and we try to remind each other of the goodness of the Good News of Jesus Christ in our daily (and fairly ordinary) lives together.
That group of "ordinary people" has realized we serve an "extraordinary God," who has sent and led us out into and among our neighbors and world. That has been and continues to be our adventure together.
The Lord has seen fit to use this calling and these personal and pastoral gifts in the life of our presbytery, and I have seen how covenantal and grace-filled seeking of truth as a community has blessed and bound together our presbytery.
In a day when our denomination seems to struggle with all of those qualities - covenant, grace, truth, and community - and with the prayerful support of my family, local congregation, and presbytery, I have been convicted to stand and remind the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) of who and whose we are, in Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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| The full-wall collage in our welcome area and entryway at Good Shepherd. |