Peter had two such past experiences on his résumé at the time. His work as the coordinator of a program for field education students and pastoral residents at a third parish gave him insight from a side of preparatory work that most clergy only receive if we choose to become supervisors at some later point. What he could share with his classmates would add tremendous value to their education, in my opinion, making him an ideal candidate for the Masters of Divinity program.
Peter was on staff and on the teams that guided the two designated turn-around churches in the MACUCC through the process of vision development and implementation and carries that knowledge with him to other congregations. Interim training further enhances this skill set. Furthermore, he recognizes that the congregation is the final arbiter of any changes that get made during the visioning process. This will serve him well not just in visioning processes but in all facets of parish life.
I have no doubt that the church that calls Peter to serve as Pastor and Teacher will be richly blessed by his ministry. The depth of his experience in administration and worship planning, preparation, and leadership is now matched by professional practitioner level knowledge of theology, Scripture, care of self and others, and homiletics. We have been colleagues all this time, but it will bring me tremendous joy to call him The Reverend Mr. Peter Johnston in recognition of the fulfillment of God’s work to this point and in anticipation of all that God will continue to do as Peter brings the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world with the power of the Holy Spirit to inspire and sustain him.
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Dr. Shaver serves as the Interim Pastor at First Church of Christ Congregational UCC, North Conway, New Hampshire.
Rev. Dr. Ruth E. Shaver
It is my pleasure to commend Peter D. Johnston to you as a candidate for ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. I have known Peter for 22 years, first as Youth Leadership Development Coordinator of the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ, then as a part of the contemporary worship team at The Congregational Church of Topsfield UCC, and throughout as a friend and colleague in ministry. I have watched with excitement as his sense of call to ordained ministry unfolded over this time.
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One of the privileges of ministry is to recognize and assist others who are called with the steps of their preparation journey. I wrote a reference for Peter when he applied to the Boston University School of Theology, my alma mater, highlighting the unique experiences he brought to his seminary education. His work in Christian Education, Youth Ministry, and worship leadership stand out, of course, but few seminarians enter with the knowledge of how to run a parish administratively, let alone a large, downtown parish.
