Coming the Fall!

We will be adding a new feature this fall to this column where we celebrate and spotlight the ministry of CREs in our Synod! We want to share the creative approaches to ministry with a small church, the varied backgrounds of our CREs that add interesting perspectives to our work with congregations, and to simply get to know one another as siblings in Christ.

My own story mirrors the journey of our CREs as the heed the call to service in pastoral service, and having their call affirmed and confirmed by Presbytery leaders. I graduated from Heidelberg University (Tiffin, OH) with a Theatre Arts and English degree and took my first job as a puppeteer in Cincinnati with Madcap Puppets. Then it was back to Tiffin to work at Heidelberg as a Technical Director for the theatre, public speaking instructor, and assistant speech and debate coach. Then it was off to graduate school at Ohio University Athens and pursue a career as a Communication Studies professor at Ohio University-Zanesville. Somewhere along the journey, I was invited to serve in leadership at Muskingum Valley Presbytery, and then eventually invited to our CRE training program. During that time of training, my position at OUZ was not renewed and I did not finish my doctorate. It was at this point of searching for work and trying to finish the dissertation that my Presbytery asked me, “Have you considered serving as a full-time pastor?” And that is how I found myself serving Bloomfield Presbyterian Church for 12 years!

I remember feeling some regret leaving behind my skills and knowledge from previous careers, but I found that my previous experience enhanced my ministry in ways I could not anticipate.  And now I can see that my journey did indeed lead me to be the pastor I am today. And my story is not unique! If you know of a CRE that you would like to spotlight, please contact me so we can share their story too!

The Peace of Christ Abides

Tim Pollock

CRE Coordinator of the Synod of the Covenant

tim@synodofthecovenant.org

740-624-2351 - cell