n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 3
It was while he was working in Brazil that he first began thinking of
becoming a minister. It occurred to him that, “The thrill of teaching something
important and interacting with students would seem more meaningful and
worthwhile if the teaching content was something spiritual and essential to
life. There was delight in the thought of leading people on a spiritual path to
the Lord.”
With the influence of his wife and the doctrines, the ministry became a
goal in 2005. The next year they were back in the States and in 2007 he began
Theological School.
Among the key experiences during these three years were the Homiletics
and Liturgic courses, and practical approaches to such things as business,
counseling and conflict resolution. Above all, of course, were the theological
courses probing the depths of the Heavenly Doctrines.
One unique and courageous experience occurred when Ryan was a
first-year theolog. He accepted an invitation from then General Church
Ambassadors Ivan and Stephanie Klippenstein to come to their rural area of
Missouri to talk to their friends and neighbors about the Church.
Ryan spent two weeks there refining his skills about talking to people
about the Church, which led to developing a list of what works and what
doesn’t. He approached people with friendship and charity, establishing a
personal relationship and connecting with their beliefs before even talking
about religion. He started by listening as they spoke about their own beliefs,
which led into discussions rather than debate. He then gently planted seeds of
New Church thought and left them with “something to think about.” They all
wanted him to come back.
This experience also helped the Theological School to see how valuable
practical experience in the field – outside of traditional service within a
congregation – can be in a theolog’s training.
Once ordained in 2011, Ryan served for one year as assistant to the pastor
in Mitchellville, Maryland, then was called to be the interim pastor in Ivyland
when the Rev. Thomas H. Rose was forced by health issues to resign.
This year he was affirmed as the pastor and ordained into the second
degree. He says he has “a wonderful group of people to work with and
serve.” He enjoys not only the regular Sunday services, but opportunities to
administer the sacraments of baptism and the holy supper, to offer pastoral
support to those in need, to oversee the administrative and business affairs
of the congregation, and to serve as a leader – both physically and spiritually.
He and his family live in the historic manse next to the church. His goal
is to continue to grow the Ivyland New Church as it branches out into local
communities.
Among his interests are traveling, meeting new people and going to new
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