ARP Minister Data Form
Picture taken March of 2009 at the baptism of our fourth child, Elijah Wilson Locke Left to Right (Caleb, Tyler, Madison, Tony’s Mom and Dad - Bob and Betty Locke, Pastor Tony, Jenn Locke holding Elijah, Jenn’s brother and sister-in-law Becky and David Vick, Jenn’s Mom - Linda Vick , Tina Gaston is a close friend)
Part 1: Personal Information
Anthony R Locke 4022 Copper Creek Way
Buford, GA 30519 770-940-9959
Status: Ordained Date ordained: By: Current Presbytery: Birth Date: Birth Place:
02/27/2000 Second Presbytery Second Presbytery 11/08/1967 Lansing, Michigan
A. Family 1. Spouse: Jennifer V. Locke o Date of Marriage: 05/26/2001 o Is your spouse employed outside the home? No. o Please state any limiting health factors regarding you or your family: None 2. Children: o Tyler Anthony Locke Date of Birth: 02/02/2003 Is he living at home? Yes o Caleb Matthew Locke Date of Birth: 08/22/2004 Is he living at home? Yes o Madison Grace Locke Date of Birth: 01/18/2007 Is she living at home? Yes o Elijah Wilson Locke Date of Birth: 11/01/2008 Is he living at home? Yes B. Leisure: 1. What sort of recreational activities do you enjoy? o I enjoy home projects. In the last five years I have built multiple pieces of furniture, refinished some family heirlooms, and planted an annual vegetable garden. I delight in cooking and home repairs. I can coordinate light construction projects and still have my tools from a paint crew I ran during seminary. All useful skills for small local ministry teams and mission trips. For three years I cooked dinner for the whole church family in Newberry every Wednesday night o I enjoy outdoor activities. My wife and I are both scuba certified. I enjoy weight lifting, snow skiing, ice climbing, rock climbing, snorkeling and backpacking. In my young adult years I was very active in all these sports. Right now I am on a diet and scrambling to keep up with my kids. 2. Are you a member of any social or civic organizations? o In 2001 I finished six years of service in the Army Reserves as a Chaplain Candidate. I am no longer deployable and am not in the reserves. I was honorably discharged. o I have membership at Gold's Gym and go weekly. o My wife recently served as an officer in Newberry Newcomers, Preschool Mother’s Club, Mothers Morning Out, Newberry Opera House Volunteers, and a Relay for Life director. o From 2006-2010 I served on the Hospital Ethics Panel as the Community Ethicist at Newberry County Memorial Hospital. o For five years I served as a member of Interfaith Community Services. ICS is a clergy organization in Newberry that staffs the local jail, nursing homes, hospital, and assisted living facilities with volunteer clergy. o I was a member of the Board of Counselors at Erskine College (until July 2009) and chaired the Seminary sub-committee. o I would be interested in the Rotary or Chamber of Commerce. o I maintained my Hospital Clergy Certification in Newberry so as to minister as a Chaplin within the local hospitals. I was listed as a Clergy on call for family emergencies. o I am the director and developer of National Service Charity. NSC is a 501 C3 I started while working on my D. Min at Erskine. We have quarterly meetings and I am working on some community ideas with specific donors. C. Education: Erskine Theological Seminary
Erskine Theological Seminary Bob Jones University Bob Jones University Bob Jones University Bob Jones University
Doctorate of Ministry in Reformed Worship (Dissertation uncompleted) I finished all my class work in the summer of 2008. I stopped pursuing this degree in the summer of 2009. Master of Arts in Theological Studies May 2000 Master of Divinity May 1996 Master of Arts May 1991 Bachelor of Arts December 1989 Minor in Music December 1989
What other special training have you had? Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Alpha Training Christianity Explored Embers to a Flame Evangelism Explosion Global Church Advancement for Church Planters Hugh Oliphant Olds
I attend a good portion of their annual meetings Completed leadership training seminar in Atlanta Attended all necessary Training Sessions Attended seminar for D.Min credit at RTS in Charlotte Completed two years of formal training Attended seminar for D.Min credit at RTS in Orlando While taking classes for the Doctoral degree at Erskine Theological Seminary I took as many classes as I could from Dr. Olds, who is a leading international figure and scholar in Reformed worship. Intimate Encounters Attended leadership training in Atlanta Libronix Bible Software Certification I have completed three years of software training and have about 2,000 Bible reference works on disk Ligonier Pastor’s Conference Attend Orlando Conference when I can with John Dorr National Association of Nouthetic Counselors Completed year one in Lafayette IN, under Bill Goode New Church Network Attending all ONA Sponsored Events for the NCN Peace Makers Own and use this material whenever I get the chance Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology I started attending the PCRT under Rev. James M. Boice Top Gun Men’s Bible Study Series Completed year one Mission Developer Assessment Center EPC/ARP at Bonclarken US Army Chaplain Center and School Chaplain Officer Basic Course at Ft. Monmouth US Army Chaplain Center and School Advanced Chaplain Training at Ft. Jackson Chaplain for the 187 ORD battalion and received the Army Achievement medal in service to AIT soldiers D. Church Experience: 1. Within Particularized Churches: o Pastor First Presbyterian Church of Tucker since March 1st of 2010 st o Pastor ARP Church of Newberry July 1 , 2004 – Dec. 31st, 2009 o Associate Pastor Peachtree Corners ARP Dec 15th, 1999 – June 31st of 2004 o Assistant Pastor Riverside Bible Church 1990 2. Within Presbytery and Synod: o Synod Boards and Committees (I have served on these committees) i. Christian Education Ministries (Presbytery Representative) i. Resource subcommittee (Chaired) ii. Outreach North America i. Secretary ii. Multicultural and Evangelism subcommittee (Chaired) iii. ARP Connect (Chaired) o Second Presbytery ( I have served on these committees) i. Committee on World Witness ii. Committee on Stewardship iii. Committee on Christian Education (Chaired) iv. Committee for the Draft on Public Worship v. Vice Moderator of Presbytery vi. Editorial Committee for revising the Manual of Procedures vii. Committee on Church Extension (served as secretary and then as chair) viii. Presbytery Appointed Moderator of the White Oak Session ix. Presbytery Appointed Mentor for three Theological Students in Second Presbytery
Erskine College Board of Counselors i. Seminary subcommittee (Chaired) o Bonclarken i. Speaker for the evening services of Camp Joy ii. Speaker for the morning services of Quest o ARP Magazine articles published i. Removing the Shroud of Unbelief ii. A Prepared Rest iii. A Proposal for Your Church iv. A Rediscovery of Family Worship v. A Short History of the Kingdom of God in Newberry County o Articles published in secular sources i. Our Boat is Calmed by Christ (Newberry Observer) ii. What Brings People to Faith? (Newberry Observer) iii. The ARP Church of Newberry’s Centennial History (Newberry Observer) iv. The History of Worship in Newberry County (Newberry Observer) 3. What salary range would you consider? Flexible. o I receive about $52,000 for salary, continuing education, travel, and such. o I have not opted out of Social Security. o
2003 2004 2007 2008 2008 2006 2007 2008 2008
E. Work Experience - Secular Occupations: 1. General Contractor – Atlanta, GA -- 1996-1999 2. Sales Representative – MCI Communications: Greenville, SC -- 1995-1996 3. Staff – Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center: Rosman, NC (Summer 1987) -- 1993-1994
Part II: Personal Faith A. Conversion and Call: 1. Please tell of your personal conversion, walk with the Lord, and call to the ministry. During the summer before my sixth birthday God’s Spirit worked saving faith in my heart and at that time I began making a profession of faith in Christ alone for my salvation. I remember the day and event like it was yesterday. When I was eleven I was called to prepare for the Gospel ministry. I lived my whole life from that moment forward in preparation for God placing me in pastoral service. My walk with the Lord is enjoyed and strengthened in this life through daily personal and family prayers, scripture reading, scripture memory, and catechism study. I enjoy small groups for prayer, bible study, and Christian accountability. 2. Please include your prayer life and how it affects your work in the ministry. As the minister I pray for the needs of those in our church bulletin, other congregational needs and family items. I believe we should pray without ceasing, maintain disciplines of daily prayer and occasionally give ourselves to seasons of prayer. Every night our family gathers for prayer, catechism and Bible reading. If Jenn and I are separated then we use a speaker phone so as not to miss. I also believe prayer is a central part of Sunday morning worship. Prayer affects my ministry by giving me enabling grace to minister without burnout. When I am in His presence I am recharged that I might pour myself out into the hearts and lives of others without regret. Prayer also humbles the heart. My sermons and pastoral leadership are easier to receive when supported by humble prayers. I believe God uses prayer to make ministry effectual and our lives genuine. On a personal note, the prayers of Jesus and the Apostles do not suggest that we should expect a pain-free life or the removal of suffering. The prayers of God’s people throughout the Bible teach us
that our prayers are best directed toward an increase in faith and dependence on God’s grace in the trials. Our family has experienced the loss of loved ones. While we pray for the removal of disease and physical suffering, often God answers with greater faith in His love, an increased trust in His goodness and the experience of His peace and faithfulness. I started and run www.JustPrayer.com B. Personal views: 1. Are you in agreement with the system of doctrine and government of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church? 2. Do you subscribe fully to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms? 3. Briefly describe your view of the authority of the Bible in the church.
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I believe that the Scriptures are our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Because I hold the authority of Scripture as a revealed truth, I necessarily believe the sufficiency of Scripture. There is no other authority for faith and practice. This is not to say that the Bible deals exhaustively with all subjects. Clearly it does not, but as a church we must accept nothing as true that stands in opposition or contradiction to the Bible. Let me say this let technically. The Holy Spirit has worked faith in my heart that the Bible is God’s infallible truth and authoritative word. I do not affirm that the Bible is the authoritative word of God because it passes current scientific standards of knowledge within my contemporary culture. I am not the Bible’s witness whereby it is established as true and authoritative. Only God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can testify to these weighty issues. The Father and Jesus affirm that the Bible is special revelation and the Holy Spirit of God informs my heart that the Bible is God’s word. (WCF 1.5) As a matter of logic I know it is inerrant because it came from God but that is the testimony of my logic. It is more important to affirm that the Bible is God’s authoritative and infallible word than argue for it’s inerrancy according to science, human logic, the witness of archeology, anthropology, sociology or any other science whereby secular minds critique the Bible. God alone can verify the Bible’s authority. We must accept the Bible by faith and not by empirical means. I am able to answer this question with a short answer when needed, but recent happenings in the ARP require longer explanations. For a full review of my convictions regarding inerrancy reference the 1980 Chicago Statement on Inerrancy. I fully ascribe to this document. Because I hold to the Westminster Confession of Faith chapter one paragraph 5 restrains my use of the word inerrancy as a proof that the Bible is authoritative and God’s word. I hold to inerrancy, not as a proof that the Bible is true, but rather as an appropriate logical construct from God’s own claims about His word. Inerrancy is just one of the many incomparable excellencies of God’s word. It is not a proof of its authority or infallibility. My only proof is the work of faith wrought by God in my heart. Below is the WCF 1.5 for your reference. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverend esteem of the Holy Scripture. (1 Tim. 3:15) And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof ( i.e. inerrancy), are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts. (1 John. 2:20, John 16:13–14, 1 Cor. 2:10–12, Isa. 59:21) I preached a sermon on this topic: http://www.firstprestucker.org/sermon-archive/sermon-archive-2/2011-03-13/ And a secondary sermon: http://www.firstprestucker.org/sermon-archive/march-august-1st-2010/2010-06-27/ 4. How do you describe the work of the Holy Spirit in the church today? I believe the work of God’s Spirit in the church today focuses on the illumination of the Word of God with two goals. First, that we might know the mind of God and walk in His commandments of
love toward God and others. Second, that believers and unbelievers alike might behold the glory of Jesus and be drawn to Him. On the issue of tongues, I believe that the Spirit of God has and does give gifts unto men and women for the glory of God's name. I believe that there were offices which were miraculous and temporary in nature -- such as apostle and prophet -- as well as those which were non-miraculous and perpetual in nature -- such as the office of elder, deacon, pastor, evangelist, etc. I believe that the miraculous gifts were the authoritative stamp of God upon His new covenant, upon His new sacraments, and the new special revelation coming from the Apostles. I believe that these temporary gifts ceased as a normative experience within the church after the completion of the Apostolic era. I do not attempt to place God in a box. God is a Sovereign Spirit and might work extraordinarily when and where He chooses. It is my conviction that the normative experience are the non-miraculous gifts. Part III: Preferences A. Narrative: (answer each question concisely) 1. What is your personal approach to leadership as a pastor of a church? My personal approach is layered with what I have learned, according to who I am and as the situation requires. My personality is forceful, energetic and creative. I am an idea factory. I float new ideas all the time and let committees determine their priority. I am positive in times of trial and hopeful of the future. Everyone, including the church, has problems. We can learn from them, but they do not shape our future. I believe a church must take control of their own testimony within the community through outreach ministries and intentional events of compassion that share God’s love to the world. If the church doesn’t get proactive in reaching the world then the world will label the church as interested only in themselves, unloving and irrelevant to their community. I aspire to be a servant leader. I believe Jesus best exemplified that model and it is the only biblical method for shepherding. I am not aloof. I purpose to stay approachable and straight forward with people. I always want to be transparent and trustworthy. It is important to me that others understand that I am also under authority. Jesus appoints me to be His ambassador to His people. God calls me to lead through love and a servant spirit, not by lording over others. I am also under the authority of the Presbytery. We must be willing to hold each other accountable. Lastly and very important, I believe that the church and session are not a place for my personal desires to be sold, but a place for God’s agenda to be championed. God’s agenda is discovered in prayer by the work of committees, the diaconate and the session. I desire to lead the church of Jesus Christ in the pursuit of God’s will, within our community, according to our resources, traditions, personality and structures. We need to seek God’s role for us in His kingdom like we would seek silver and search for hidden treasure. My task as a leader is to walk with God’s people in the joined pursuit of these divine opportunities. 2. What are your goals in the ministry? I am passionate about God’s glory and bringing His love to the world. In my lifetime I would like to pastor a church making significant impact within a large community. I have not been given that opportunity yet within my pastoral experiences. I have specific ideas that I would implement if the setting was appropriate. These goals show a search committee my ministry priorities. I am listing some of these below to illustrate the kind of projects on which I would place my energies. Specific ideas would need to arise from within the committee structures of the church and be contextualized for their setting. . o
I am passionate that parents and grandparents should help catechize their children. I believe the church should use the Children’s Catechism edited by Mark Ross for grades 3-7 and then the
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Westminster Shorter Catechism for 8th grade through high school. The PCA also has family resources that utilize ARP standards. I am friends with the chairman and the director of Great Commission Publications. I am totally committed to their educational goals and methods. * I used to offer an after school program at my church where we accomplished these goals * I recommend and use Stephen Smallman’s workbook Understanding the Faith: A Workbook for Communicants Class during Sunday School for children becoming communicant members. * I recommend Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan & Richie Hunt for family catechetical instruction. * Erskine Seminary has a $200 scholarship for those who can recite all 107 answers to the Shorter Catechism. I think churches should consider the same sort of incentive for High Schoolers. * As chairman of Second Presbytery’s Christian Education committee, in 2007 we set up a Shorter Catechism competition for the Horizon camps. Prizes are awarded. It’s working and every year more students participate. I will prioritize this discipline within any church I pastor. * Scripture memory is also a priority. My children memorize chapters out of the Psalms. We print the selected chapter from the computer and they use it for a table placemat while they work on it. I invite the children in the church to recite their memory work during the Children’s Sermon and on Promotion Sunday. I would like to see the elderly paired up with youngsters for accountability on this issue. I would like to see churches increase their vision for missions and evangelism. * I think churches should be participating in the outreach efforts of World Witness, ARPConnect and Outreach North America. * I think churches should be personally coordinating with these denominational organizations and Presbytery to implement short term mission trips. We should coordinate with other ARP churches for ministry to the community and especially our church planters. We should be offering VBS via our teens for local ARP Church plants. We should be sending our teens to do short term missionary projects for our ARP World Witness Missionaries. I believe that one of the church’s highest priority should be healthy families. Programs that use the scriptures to build families are needed in our congregations. I would suggest using materials like Intimate Encounters by David Ferguson or Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson E. Eggerichs for maintaining and strengthening couple’s marriage vows. These kinds of resources should be placed in the church calendar as elective small group studies within homes or Sunday School. Dave Ramsey should be a household name for our church members. We should be advocating their programs and hosting when possible. I think churches should consider implementing a two or three year Bible study series like the Bethel Bible Series (www.bethelseries.com). R.C. Sproul also has a good series called Dust to Glory. There is also a great comprehensive Reformed workbook for lay people called Understanding Biblical Doctrine: A Workbook in Theology by Crown & Covenant Publications.
Our elders and deacons should be leading in participation with all these programs. We should have an organized program for our leadership's continuing education within the church. My leadership on these ideas will be best utilized within a larger church that has the necessary personnel to pull these ideas off. I think churches should annually offer introductory classes for the unchurched about the basics of Christianity. Christianity Explorer or Alpha would suit these purposes. There needs to be a leadership team to implement this program. I believe teenagers should be involved in ministry in general but also leading in ministry. I think churches should ask teenagers how they want to impact their world and then the church should help prepare them do it. A youth leadership team should be able to partner with the deacons and
community leaders to identify civil service projects and carry them out for the glory of God. Eagle Scouts do this as part of their merit badge program. Widows, orphans, the poor, the elderly and others should be targeted for these ministries of mercy. I wrote an article in the ARP Magazine in 2007 which laid out these specific plans. “A little child shall lead them” is not metaphorical. Young people rightly employed in the Gospel can open doors for Christ that adults can't open. We should be empowering them to lead, not sit and get fed Sunday after Sunday. 3. Describe your personal approach to preaching and the types of sermons you usually prepare. I preach from the scripture and often my sermons are categorized as expository or textual. My goal is to keep the sermon outline following the ideas found consecutively in the text of scripture. I really enjoy preaching on Ascension, Trinity and Pentecost Sunday. I usually reserve topical or thematic preaching for American holidays like Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving. On Easter and during Christmas I preach within the theme of the Christian year with an emphasis toward evangelism. I pause my consecutive preaching plan for Palm Sunday, Reformation Sunday, etc. I also break for American holidays since the topics are already on the mind of those worshipping. My notes represent a manuscript. My sermons can be read by an elder if I were sick. That’s never happened, but I prepare this thoroughly by habit. My sermons are archived by me at http://www.firstprestucker.org/about-2/resources/sermon-database/ 4. What do you perceive as the greatest strengths you bring to the work of the ministry? o
My greatest strength is my family. Through God’s grace I can stand in front of a church and know that the testimony of my wife and home are an effective witness to the power of the Gospel even before I speak. From the time my wife was six months old she has attended the (Doraville) Peachtree Corners ARP Church. She is a jewel from heaven and I have found favor with God. I can mess up with a church and get another church. I can’t mess up with my kids or wife and just get a new family. They are my first priority for prayer and love. I am totally committed to them by the holy covenant of marriage. I love my wife without reservation. My wife’s maiden name is Vick. Her uncle is Floy Jumper who served Synod and Presbytery with distinction. Her dad was an elder at Peachtree Corners, but died in 2003 of lung cancer. On a personal note, I asked permission of Rod to date his daughter in his home. I then had to ask his permission to date his daughter again as he was a member of the session. I did secure permission by the session to date a congregant before going forward in that relationship. My parents are Bob and Betty Locke in Roswell GA. They own one of the largest property management companies in North Atlanta. They have a beautiful marriage that is only maintained by God’s grace. They raised three boys to the glory of God and serve tirelessly within their church. My dad helps with biblical marriage training as a volunteer at Northside Community Church where Andy Stanley is the pastor. My mom is an accomplished artist within the Atlanta market. She has trained under many great portrait artists in America and Europe. I am truly blessed to be part of their family.
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My life’s testimony. I have lived my whole life under the awareness of God’s calling. I can tell a story of what it is like for a sinner like me to walk in God’s commandments and enjoy the benefits of His covenant faithfulness. God’s commandments shielded my life from many of the painful consequences of sin. I have my parents to thank for this for they raised me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I have a strong and energetic personality. That can be a strength when employed under the control of God’s Spirit. I am able to create momentum for new ministry because I verbalize my ideas clearly and persuasively.
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I am compassionate when others are suffering. I feel the pain of their loss and can relate to their loss of hope, anger at God, and fear of the future. In God’s mercy He has led me through very difficult personal challenges which keep me from a condescending attitude. I know what it feels like to suffer alone or lost in search of God’s favor. My heart reaches out to those who hurt. I am consistent at hospital and elderly visitation. My records, which I share with the session, average about 7 appointments outside the office per week. I have an appetite to keep learning. I am personally curious. I read and dialogue on a number of secular topics. I keep abreast of what’s going on in the world and can discuss most secular current affairs. I am a life learner. I am computer literate and use the latest technologies to maximize my productivity. I have a growing ability to build websites for friends and other churches. Sometimes I call myself a “minimalist.” In other words, I like a bottom line. =) This character quality affects my preaching. I purpose to teach God’s word with straightforwardness. While anyone with a seminary degree can run the complex depths of theology it is equally important to be able to take the Gospel to a child. By God’s grace I endeavor to communicate God’s unsearchable wisdom through the beauty of simplicity.
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I stopped working on my Doctorate of Divinity. In October of 2008 my wife and I had our fourth child. My children are a wonderful distraction for which I hold no regrets, but personal professional advancement is slow. I have less interest in furthering my own credentials and more interest in making things happen for the church and family. I can spin it as a positive, but bottom line is I gave up on it. Often I get too many irons in the fire. Taking time to slow down is a discipline my wife and children help me maintain. I love to lead denominationally, but that takes me away from what I am actually getting paid to do. In June of 2009, at my request, The Minister and His Work Committee of Second Presbytery became involved with the ARP Church in Newberry SC. After six months of painful struggles I resigned to remove myself from the church problems. The Newberry church asked me to stay as long as I wanted. I kept preaching until January 1 st of 2010. The Newberry church then gave me a very generous severance package. I share this painful period in my ministry experience to remind a church search committee that my leadership doesn't necessarily produce everything I envision. Certain members of Presbytery could be solicited for more information regarding this period. A search committee might be encouraged to know that my conscience is clear, the church still celebrated my ministry as I left, and I have few regrets. I love ministry projects and love to see them progress. Finishing a project does not provide me as much joy as working on it. A finished project is the end of an enjoyable journey. I like to constantly tweak things. I get projects done quickly if I have a helper or a deadline, otherwise, expect me to constantly be thinking of ways to make it better – not done. I had four other weaknesses listed but deleted them as they were starting to become trivial. (example: I don’t follow sports or pop culture and had to learn from a teenager in my church the identity of Brittany Spears.) I had a heart attack and am recovering. I am a transparent person and will answer any appropriate question that you would like to ask. Many people in our denomination know who I am and could provide you with a first impression.
B. References:
Please send a request to AnthonyRLocke@Gmail.com