|
When the
congregation of the
Black Mountain
Presbyterian Church
voted to concur with
the request from
Dick to dissolve the
pastoral
relationship, they
also voted to confer
on Dick the title of
Pastor Emeritus.
Asheville Presbytery
concurred with these
requests at the
April 9, 1988
meeting of
presbytery.
In 1988 upon Richard
Shelor's retirement
the Session
presented him with a
plaque reading as
follows:
Richard G. Shelor
Pastor, Black
Mountain
Presbyterian Church
January 1, 1966 –
May 1, 1988
Richard G. Shelor
was ordained in
June, 1954 as a
minister in the
Presbyterian Church
in the United
States. On January
1, 1966, he became
pastor of the Black
Mountain
Presbyterian Church.
During the past
twenty-two years
Dick Shelor has
exemplified the
highest standards of
excellence in
ministry as
preacher, pastor and
counselor, community
leader, moderator of
the session, and
personal friend.
His preaching skills
are quite evident to
all who have
worshiped in the
Black Mountain
congregation. His
knowledge of the
Scripture, his use
of personal but
relevant examples to
interpret the Word
and apply it to
everyday life, his
sensitivity to our
needs as a
congregation and his
capacity to “preach
to us” are marks of
a true teaching
elder whom we have
come to admire and
respect.
Even more remarkable
are two other facets
of his preaching:
First the fact that
Dick Shelor is
preaching each
Sunday to more than
twenty retired
ministers in the
congregation and
second, the fact
that Dick never
preaches past 11:50
a.m. and that his
fourteen-minute
sermons are noted
and remembered as
much for their
brevity as for the
challenging content.
Dick will be a
“hard act to follow”
in that pulpit.
Dick Shelor has also
provided effective
leadership – in
congregation and
community. The
church has grown and
prospered in terms
of membership,
budget, educational
plant and property,
staff, and
programs. In his
quiet but determined
manner Dick has
guided the planning
and construction of
a new debt-free
educational building
and the acquisition
of badly needed
property adjacent to
our present plant.
It has been under
his leadership that
the church has
expanded its
educational program
and community
outreach and has
employed a fulltime
sexton, Christian
Educator, and
Director of the
Weekday School.
Dick has been a fine
community citizen
working with
numerous groups and
projects and
currently serving as
President of the
Black Mountain
Kiwanis Club, one of
the most dynamic
service clubs in
Western North
Carolina.
But the ultimate
measure of the
ministry of this man
may be his role as
pastor, counselor,
and personal friend
to each member of
the 400 person
congregation.
Dick's presence and
words of faith and
comfort in homes,
hospital rooms,
nursing homes,
funeral homes or
pastor’s study have
touched hundreds of
those who
appreciated him in
their times of
need. The countless
expressions of love
and affection for
Dick Shelor are
eloquent testimony
to one who has
always been there
when called upon and
who had the
sensitivity and
compassion to reach
out and touch some
one in just the
right time and
manner.
He now goes this May
1, 1988 to a well
deserved so-called
"retirement."
Although he will
remain in Black
Mountain working
with tools in his
shop, continuing his
community
involvement, and
filling occasional
interim pastorates,
his legacy will
remain not only in
the brick and
mortars and programs
of the Black
Mountain
Presbyterian Church,
but more
significantly in the
minds and hears and
memories of the
people of this
congregation with
whom he prayed and
walked side by side
for twenty-two
years.
The Session of the
Black Mountain
Presbyterian Church
|
