Update from the Pastor Search Committee

Dear Central members and friends:

As I reported last month, we had a very informative zoom session with Jay Kieve of Global CBF and Tammy Snyder of south eastern CBF. We have chosen to follow their advice. They are the professionals and have witnessed this process in other congregations.

Following this advice, we have asked BJ to prepare his resume while we also are soliciting other resumes. We have established a church profile for Central on the CBF website to solicit applicants. However, they warned us to expect only one or two, whereas in years gone by a church would get dozens. It usually takes one to two years to find an outside applicant.

Another piece of advice was to be sure our website was up to date. Fortunately, Tom Pokorny, Andy Rawls, and Tim Lauxman were in the process of updating ours. The new website is gorgeous. If you have not seen it, I encourage you to go to CentralBC.org and take a look. You will be proud.

Again, we thank you for your prayers and patience. We will continue to keep you updated.

—Joan Schrysen, Co-Chair

Announcements & Upcoming Events

I’ve never been offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom. If I had been, I’d surely take it. First I’d have to ask “why me?” But once they told me how great they think I am, I’d have no gripes. Sign me up.

Dolly Parton was offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Three times. She turned it down. Three times. The offers came from two different presidents, representing two different parties. “I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics,” she said. I knew Dolly could sing much better than I can. I didn’t know she was so much smarter, too.

After her recent death at 80 years of age, all kinds of people are remembering her fondly. She was a colorful character, combining an over-the-top appearance with a self-assured authenticity. For someone who could sure look “fake” on the outside, Dolly Parton was only ever trying to be herself.

Dolly was not a taker, as her refusal of the medal shows. She was known instead as a giver.

Through her Imagination Library, she donated more than 300 million books to children. She did this aiming to honor her father, who never learned to read. She said the Bible taught her to do things like that. While we were all still learning what COVID was, she gave $1 million to Vanderbilt Medical Center to honor a doctor friend, kickstarting research on a new vaccine. Royalties made from Whitney Houston’s recording of her song “I Will Always Love You” were invested into a majority-Black neighborhood in Nashville.

Not since Jimmy Carter’s passing has such a famously Christian American been remembered so widely and well for the bigheartedness of their faith. She was raised Pentecostal and absorbed a deep love for Jesus while jettisoning the strict dress codes and social expectations held over women, as well as the fire and brimstone fear-mongering she experienced. Her faith was something she eagerly shared without ever weaponizing it against others.

I don’t really want to dress like Dolly did. And I don’t think I’d encourage any of you to start Dolly-ing up before church on Sunday. But then again… Colossians 3:12 says, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (NLT).

Maybe we should all start clothing ourselves a little more like Dolly.

Grace in All Corners,
Kevin

I think I’ve mentioned before that I along with several in our congregation participate in a Spiritual Formations group called Renovare. I have a friend who can never remember the name so she often calls it renovation. Truthfully, that’s not far off from what the name actually means.

Renovare is a Latin word which means to renew, restore or make new.

We gather every Monday and take turns leading and guiding the group through a series of disciplines and readings from famous Christian authors, teachers, and other spiritual leaders.

This past week, we read about Catherine Marshall who was author, journalist and one who was very gifted for her spiritual insights. She was also married to Peter Marshall, a well-known Presbyterian minister and Chaplain for the United States Senate.

Catherine’s reading really stood out to me as it was a reflection on Fasting.

Now, most of us, when we hear the word fasting assume that food will be given up. Sometimes, we might fast from eating a particular type of food as part of a spiritual discipline or period, like Lent. Still others, might be asked to fast for a period of 24 hours before or after a medical test/procedure.

However, that’s not the kind of fast that Catherine Marshall was referring to in this reading. Instead, Catherine felt the Lord was calling her to fast from Criticalness or a critical spirit for one day.

I must confess, I would never have thought of that on my own. And truth be told, that actually might be a bit of challenge for me too.

While, I would not say that I’m a critical person. I do and can have a bit of a sarcastic or snarky side with those I am close with. I tend to think of this as the Jerry Seinfeld side of me. “What’s the deal with that?”

Back to Marshall, she felt that too often she could be too critical of people or ideas. During the first part of the day, she felt quite strange. Her husband, friends and coworkers brought up topics for which she definitely had some strong opinions. However, she stuck to her fast and instead listened to what other people had to say.

I noticed that my comments were not missed…[things] could apparently get along fine without my penetrating observations.

It wasn’t until later in the day that she finally realized what God was trying to show her through this fast.

Once she stopped engaging and expressing the critical thoughts, her mind was free to think positively and in creative ways.

She came away from the experience realizing that criticalness can block the good and positive work that God longs to bring about.

As we continue to move forward and think about what’s next for Central, I want to challenge us to think differently. What would happen if instead of responding all the reasons why not to do something we instead, held our tongue, listened and allow God to bring forth new and creative ways of ministry and being the church?

On the journey,
BJ

This Month’s Events

September 2026