CHURCH HONORS GILLARD ON EARNING DOCTORATE

The Rev. Grant F.C. Gillard was honored by congregation of the First Presbyterian Church at a recent reception for receiving his doctorate in ministry and preaching.

Gillard he chose Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, a Catholic institution, because "Catholics have known spirituality for 2000 years; Presbyterians have just discovered spirituality."

Gillard believes that the rituals religions practice are empowered by the Holy Spirit and that preaching is a sacramental act.

"There is something going on in my sermons that I don't control, something going on in what people hear," Gillard said. He doesn't consider himself to be an eloquent speaker but truly believes that through the power of the Holy Spirit his sermons take on a dynamic energy that enables people to receive the Holy Spirit.

When the only religion was Catholicism, a man named Martin Luther split from the church, believing that Catholicism was too caught up in sacramental ritual. This began what was the first appearance of the Protestant religion, under which Presbyterian is classified.

Gillard decided he wanted to be a pastor at age 23. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in animal science and a double minor in agronomy and agricultural business. He went home to the small family farm in Minnesota where he soon began pursuing specialized markets. All the while he was active in his church. He had been elected as an elder to the session at First Presbyterian in Albert Lea, Minn., after graduation from college and had spent a lot of time working with the youth group and confirmation class there.

The congregation was encouraged by his work with the youth.

"Several people, at different times, had asked me if I'd ever thought of becoming a pastor," Gillard said. It never really phased him. Gillard continued to serve the church because it was his pleasure to do so.

After a typical Monday morning breakfast with the youth, Gillard was approached by his pastor, Elmer Bates, who asked Gillard to come into his office to talk.

When Bates asked the question about if he'd ever seriously thought about becoming a pastor, Gillard replied: "Have you been talking to the other church members about this?"

Bates said, "No. It just occurred to me now."

Not too long after his conversation with Bates that Sunday morning after worship service, Gillard found himself alone, carrying out the mundane duties of ushering.

His mind wandered about what kind of recreation he'd plan for the youth next. It was then he was approached by his mother's longtime friend, Nancy Wright. She was a quiet, nervous woman and conversation did not come easy to her. She began with, "I wasn't going to come to church today. I did though. I felt the power of the Holy Spirit telling me to come to church to ask Grant the question."

Gillard, anticipating what the question might be, says he felt "goosebumps running up my spine." She did ask if he'd ever seriously considered becoming a pastor, and it was the first time that it had ever occurred to her to ask.

With that it was on to Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., where Gillard was exposed to the ethnic melting pot that it is. It was there he gathered a lot of experience in life through internships, working with inner city youths and residents in nursing homes. At Fuller Seminary he met his wife, Nancy, also studying to be a pastor. They married in 1986. In 1987, after graduation, they moved to Delaware to serve as associate pastors at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church. They stayed there 6 1/2 years among a nurturing and loving congregation.

Then, the senior pastor at White Clay Presbyterian Church decided to move on, and the Gillards did too.

With two children, and a third on the way, it was time to put down roots. Gillard had two other job offers besides the one in Jackson, but this one seemed just right. Things just kind of worked out.

When Gillard relocated to Jackson, he read the writings of Joan Delaplane in a magazine called Pulpit Digest.

"Her writings were very deep, spiritual and insightful," Gillard said. When he discovered that she was the director of the doctorate of ministry and preaching at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, he became interested. After some encouraging telephone conversations with Delaplane, Gillard began to give studying some real serious thought. And that's how the journey towards his doctorate began.

Right now Gillard is breathing a sigh of relief, after having taken seven years to complete his doctorate. He has time to work with honeybees, a hobby of his. Gillard said this fills him with energy.