Retired lieutenant colonel to serve as new pastor at Northfield Presbyterian
by Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Northfield Presbyterian Church has a new shepherd. Recently retired from a 30-year career in the military, Rev. Peter Lawson became the church’s pastor on July 1.
“I’m looking forward to coming to the church with military experience,” Lawson said. “I experienced diversity in a way you don’t get in a church. I learned about different cultures and different beliefs. It broadened my understanding and I think it makes me better equipped to minister.”
Lawson retired from the National Guard as a lieutenant colonel. In his early years with the Guard, he was a full-time pastor and part-time military chaplain. He served as pastor of three Presbyterian churches: Linden Road Presbyterian Church in Mansfield, Ohio (1985-1991); Boiling Springs Presbyterian Church in Spring Church, Penn. (1992-1999); and Brownlee Woods Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, Ohio (1999-2008).
The minister was deployed to Ramdi, Iraq, in 2005 and 2006 as brigade chaplain for the 2/28th Pennsylvania National Guard Combat Team, and to Kuwait in 2008 as the division chaplain for the 28th infantry division of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Lawson began active-duty full-time status with the National Guard in 2008. His most recent position before retirement was deputy director of the National Guard Chaplain Office for the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va.
He said he knew he wanted to continue to be involved in ministry when he retired, but wondered where he might fit best. He knew he wanted to be within a good commuting distance from Chagrin Falls, where his wife Joyce is pastor of Chagrin Falls United Methodist Church. He talked to three churches in three nearby communities, he said.
The Lawsons have adult children nearby. Their daughter Emily lives in Canfield and son Ethan lives in the Edgewater Park area. Best of all, he said, is that they are able to spend more time with Emily’s three children.
In addition to hanging out with the grandchildren, Lawson said he enjoys “sports, reading, physical exercise and meeting people from all walks of life.”
Lawson holds a bachelor of arts degree from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J., and a doctor of ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Institute in Pittsburgh. Through the military, the minister completed the Army War College Fellowship at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
Starting a new job is challenging these days, but the pastor said he is happy to be holding live services with the proper precautions. The church has made audio recordings available on their website throughout the pandemic, but Lawson said he would like to look into adding video as well for the folks at home. “People seem to like being able to have remote access,” he said.
Feature image photo caption: The Rev. Peter Lawson and his wife, Joyce, visit with their grandchildren. Lawson is the new pastor of Northfield Presbyterian Church.
