CHESTER WOODS: THE GROUP OF TWELVE Kindle Edition

Nothing prepared me for the position of senior pastor of a local church. Not my undergraduate or master's degree from Penn State or my Master of Theology from seminary. I felt unequipped for the role of senior pastor. My seminary education prepared me for writing a sermon, teaching the Bible, visiting and praying for the sick, as well as presiding over various church functions such as baptisms, funerals, and officiating weddings. I have found that my bachelor's, master's, and post-graduate degrees in social work were the key that I needed for my career. I have a passion for helping people through counseling. My position at Christ Community Church allows me to counsel many people.Now, I must admit that I wasn’t prepared for the demons, the creatures, or the hellhounds; no one prepared me for the threat and the reality of a killer and a serial killer. Because I continued to counsel, I felt a strong tie to Christ Community Church. Without this tie as a pastoral counselor (clergy) or as a therapist (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I may have quit and opened a private practice. What experience do I have with congregants taking their lives? Would I be so shallow as to give pious answers to the distraught loved ones? I have a young man whom I counsel whose family life was atrocious. Major media outlets headlined his story, and CNN featured it as an ongoing special. He and I work side by side, navigating the waters together. I am committed to working with my client as long as it takes.I keep seeing and hearing the initials WTF in books and in conversations; now that I know what it means, I must say of my job, at times, WTF. Our town of Hollyfield, Pennsylvania, is under the siege of two killers. I somehow found myself supporting and giving advice to local law enforcement. I need to stop here and mention my predecessor, who gave a young man, who was preparing to come out to his family, horrible advice.He didn’t support him or listen to him; he just spouted “religious speak,” including, “You’ll go to Hell; you are an abomination before God.” He never showed this young man compassion, love, mercy, and grace. He didn’t support him by just walking beside him. This one makes me want to scream. The young man took his life that very night. This is the reason that a senior pastor position became available at Christ Community Church. The elders did not discuss this incident with me during my interview. I harbor no bitterness over this omitted subject. I gratefully can state that my wife and I have incredible friends. There are twelve of us. Sometimes we refer to ourselves as ‘The Group of Twelve,’ and the Lord only knows the things we find ourselves in. I want to point out how much love I have found in my friends. We laugh and release tension from our hectic lives. I don’t want to forget the wonderful people at the church who have so much love and compassion. They have supported me during the shift from my familiar surroundings to a realm brimming with enigma, obscurity, and to be candid, occasional dullness. I send my love to all of the parishioners at Christ Community Church as well as the elders. Thank you for embracing my family. Read more