Commissioned Lay Pastor Training Offered

~ Lewis Toland

Over the centuries of church history, a professional pastorate has developed, and Presbyterians have especially sought these seminary trained ministers to serve their congregations. Nowadays, however, this resource is aging without sufficient replacements in the pipeline, while an additional resource remains largely untapped.

According to the Book of Order, "The Commissioned Lay Pastor is an elder of the PC(USA) who is granted a local commission by the presbytery to lead worship and preach the gospel, watch over the people, and provide for their nurture and service." In Sierra Blanca Presbytery, seven congregations or ministries are served by CLPs: Bert Wayt at Jal; Margie Daniels at Lovington; Terry Aiello at Ancho and Corona; Adam Soliz at Iglesia; Virginia King at Deming; and David Sallee at the NMSU Campus Ministry.

I urge our pastors and elders to pray and to consider ways to expand and deepen ministries within their own congregations. For instance, would a CLP with more training in Bible and church history teach Sunday school and home Bible studies more effectively? Could such an individual train others more fully to improve Christian education?

We continue to expect the professional pastor to carry a very heavy load alone. Could this minister work more effectively with reduced obligations that permit maximizing strengths? Why not invite other members of Christ's body to share the burdens? Rather than always phoning the pastor, could a CLP call on the sick and console the bereaved? Could a CLP team up with the pastor to conduct evangelism? Other ministries might include social work with single mothers or the elderly.

As a consequence of immigration from Mexico, many thousands of unchurched individuals arrive within our communities. Do we have anyone fluent in Spanish who would like to aid a ministry such as Jorge Alvarado's through CLP training?

The Holy Spirit knows of more other opportunities than we can imagine!

Lewis Toland is an Elder at Dexter First, a former professor of Religion at ENMU-R, and heads the CLP training program for Sierra Blanca Presbytery. Beginning this fall he is overseeing our CLP courses, teaching the Old Testament Survey himself, with Dexter pastor Stephen Deutsch instructing the Preaching course. In the spring, they will offer New Testament Survey and Sacraments. All courses are taught at Dexter First, meeting every other Saturday, though if there is enough interest in other parts of the Presbytery, arrangements will be made to add another site (perhaps Las Cruces?) in the coming years.

Anyone who is interested in the program is encouraged to contact Lewis Toland by mail to: 30 Del Norte Drive, Roswell, NM 88201, or by telephone: (505) 623-7014, or by email: toland@plateautel.net