By George Lilley, First Presbyterian, Morgantown
This is part of a series highlighting the West Virginia Presbytery’s Authorized Lay Preacher/Commissioned Ruling Elder Program. In September, we begin a new class of prerequisites for this program with Presby Prep. Read more about that here. Is God tugging at your heart to participate? Presby Prep is a great way to learn more.
Deciding to take the ALP/CRE training was an extension of my serving on a committee staffed by Susan Sharp Campbell to reinvigorate the Presbytery’s training program in this area. The more I experienced what the training would include, the stronger became my desire to learn and be of service to God and the church.
My hesitations were not about the learnings, but about the schedule. Could I commit to the three years? Would I want a call as a CRE? Into the second year, I decided to stop after the training that would equip me to be an ALP. My life in retirement was sufficiently full that I couldn’t commit to serve a church. As time has passed, I am comfortable being able to occasionally fill in and have been mostly helping a wonderful group of people at Sugar Grove Presbyterian Church close to Morgantown.
The blessings have come to me. I enjoy sermon preparation; the research and analysis deepens my appreciation for the Bible.
I pray that others in our Presbytery will be lead to explore the training. New acquaintances will be made; your Biblical literacy will be enhanced; you will be equipped to share God’s Good News, comfort the afflicted and, as appropriate, afflict the comfortable.