5000 Simmons Branch Trail
Raleigh, NC 27606
Fax: 919-838-9741
e-Mail: lerry@lwchase.com
Work History
1997 to Present - Development Director
BorderLinks, Tucson, AZ
1985 - 1997 - Senior Pastor
Central Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, NY
1987 - 1997 - Administrator
Central Presbyterian Community Services
Corp.;
this operates as funding mechanism; in eight
years we received over $100,000.
1968 - 1985 - Associate Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, York, PA
1980 - 1981 - Moderator of Session
Acting Head of Staff
1972 - Moderator of Session, Acting Head of Staff
1971 - 1985 - Responsibility for Pastoral Care and
Counseling
1968 - 1971 - Responsibility for Educational
Ministry
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Other Service to the Church:
Presbytery Stewardship Committee
Presbytery Clergy Counseling Committee
Clergy Sexual Misconduct Intervention Team Member
Presbytery Human Life and Aging Committee
Synod of the Northeast, Delegate
Synod of the Trinity, Delegate
Presbytery Church and Community Committee
192nd General Assembly, Delegate
Attendance at 16 of the last 18 General Assemblies
Moderator and Stated Supply, Kreutz Creek Presbyterian Church
Chair, Presbytery Temporary Judicial Committee
Presbytery Validating Committee for Self-Development of People Fund
Presbytery Marriage Committee
Presbytery Camp and Conference Committee
Community Involvement:
Campaign for a Livable Minimum Wage
Worker's Rights Board
Presbyterian Homes of Western New York, Board of Directors
Coalition for Economic Justice, Board of Directors, Treasurer
Network in Aging, Board of Directors
Jubilee Community Development Fund
Western New York Peace Center
Aging is For Everyone (weekly TV show)
Visiting Nurse Association, Board of Directors
Hospice of York, Board of Directors, President and founding
member
Planned Parenthood, Chair of Ethics Committee
Rape Crisis Center, Organizer and Board Member
Formal Education:
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ DMin
1982; MDiv 1968
Grove City College, Grove City, PA BA
1965
Continuing Education/Professional Development:
Clinical Pastoral Education, Level I
Family Therapy, Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic
President's Preaching Seminar, Princeton Theological Seminary
Conference on Multiple Staff Ministry, Princeton Theological
Seminary
Grantsmanship Level II, Buffalo, NY
Urban Social Trends (with Cornel West)
Regional Conference on the Urban Church
National Conference on Endowed Presbyterian Churches
Seminar on Private Foundations
Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable Life Income Trusts
Two months, intensive Spanish language institutes; Antigua
and Coban, Guatemala (May/June 1996)
Ecclesiastical Status:
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Ordained: September 1968
Member: de Cristo Presbytery
The church is the household of God. From the beginning of my ministry, I have sought to strengthen the family ties of the members. This has happened in numerous ways: in preaching, by developing a theology of family commitment and caring; in worship, by acknowledging the presence and value of children; in education, by creating an atmosphere where adult education is as important as elementary education; and, in pastoral care, by developing experiences of enrichment for healthy families and guiding those in trouble to appropriate therapy.
I believe Jesus meets us where we are, in good times and bad, and is present with us as we grow. The household of God, in small groups and as the whole church at worship, can be this presence of Christ for each of its members.
As I have grown in my faith, God has blessed me with particular skills of caring and support. I minister to and with members of the household of God rather than for or in place of them. Together we are equipped for ministry with each other. I seek to perform a ministry making use of my skills and talents. This means being with congregations and faith communities as they seek to carry out their ministries. It means preaching and teaching based on scripture and bringing the blessings of God to people of faith.
PERSONAL APPROACH TO MINISTRY
As a teaching Elder, my task is easily defined: to bring supportive good news of the gospel to God's children. My own ministry is one of quiet challenge and support of boards and committees and the staff and volunteers responsible to them. I am a strong group leader, encouraging a working team. I have led congregations in discovery of purpose where there has been a sense of defeat. While I am a dynamic leader, I am not forceful, preferring to work with people rather than over them.
PERSONAL THEOLOGY
The fullness of God and authentic humanity are revealed in the Christ of faith. God entered the world to reconcile and to stand with each of Creation's children. Our struggles are shared. God weeps when we weep and God rejoices when we rejoice.
As I perform ministry, God guides, directs and informs the encounters. We meet God's children in a variety of circumstances, walk together for a distance, then urge each other on in God's love. I do not presume to know the answers to others' questions, nor the end of their questioning. I do offer the experience of thirty years of ministry and the balm of God's acceptance.
SKILLS RELATED TO MINISTRY
Administration and organization are keys to ministry. Setting priorities for our time together involves planning, execution and evaluation. Time works for me as I schedule work to be done and goals to be achieved. Working within a certain organized process permits us to be open to the Spirit.
The ability to communicate is as important in actions as well as words. Informally, communications moves beyond words with intentions and actions. Jesus made His love for us abundantly clear through what He did. The presence, the touch, the listening and the relating are all a part of communicating this love.
As a preacher, I proclaim a loving, conciliatory Christ who cares for us in our human condition. Using humor and a great deal of story-telling, I preach as I counsel, gently and caringly. Good sermons grow out of the relationship between pastor and congregation. They are by-products of openness, trust and mutual struggle.