I’ve been on quite a journey through the past year. Let me begin by saying I’m a bit shy by nature. I can be a rather quiet person and some might take that the wrong way when they first meet me. I’m 6 ft tall and pushing 240 lbs and can seem an imposing figure. I’m a former linebacker and wrestler, still look the part, at least somewhat, and I still have a competitive spirit. I’m also a lover of music and I’m an amateur song writer. A speaker? I never thought in a million years that you would catch me speaking behind the pulpit.

Yet, last February when the thought of Pastor Ken leaving was becoming a reality, I spoke up and said I can preach. I knew what I was going to speak on, I was finishing a personal study on the book of James, but I didn’t know how I was going to construct a sermon. While I was putting those first sermons together, I discovered some things about myself.

I love to preach! I discovered that constructing a sermon is similar in many ways to constructing a song. (I love writing songs) I discovered there is a treasure trove of ideas, topics, passages to speak on and I could not possibly get to all of them. I love putting together sermons. I find I have so much to talk about on a topic, I’m cutting them down in length, and if you’ve noticed, I usually preach two weeks in a row for this very reason.

I also discovered that I had been ignoring God, or wrestling with God for many years. I was avoiding, or fighting against the idea of being behind the pulpit because frankly, the idea is intimidating, especially when what you are doing is focusing on your weaknesses. The list of “I can’t because…”.

Me a pastor? Well, not quite yet anyway… What I discovered this past year, is this feeling wasn’t going away, it was growing within me and finally I wrote a letter to session concerning the idea of ‘pastor’.

More specifically, there is a position within our denomination called Commissioned Ruling Elder (or CRE). This position was formerly called Commissioned Lay Pastor. I’ve applied for this position, with full support of session, and with the intent of serving Randolph Heights.
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So what is a Commissioned Ruling Elder? Simply and basically, this is an elder going through additional schooling and training so they can better perform the functions of a Pastor. That is basically it. This is for congregations in similar situations as ours. This isn’t a permanent position, but a position to help us get from point “A” to point “B”. Point “B” would be the place where we can once again look for a Pastor that will best suit Randolph Heights.

So, now that I’m at the end of my article, I’m leaving you with questions, I suppose. Feel more than free to talk with me. I’ll probably write more about what a CRE does and what this means for our congregation in the coming months. The main thing to see is that God is moving, working in our little family. God is answering our prayers in unexpected ways, much to His delight and purpose.

I ask all the readers for your prayers and support as well.