Bethel Presbyterian Church

Pastor Finn - Biographical Information

Lawrence M. Finn, III, is a member-at-large of the Elizabeth Presbytery. He is a preacher who later-in-life decided to accept God's call to minister to God's people. He believes that the call on his life was first received as a teenager, but his felt need to experience worldly things made him run from the challenge.

Upon graduation from public school in his hometown, Little Rock, Arkansas, he joined the armed forces. A veteran of the Viet Nam era, he went to undergraduate school at New York City's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, using the G.I. Bill, as well as a scholarship from the Newark, NJ, police force, where he was an officer.

He quit the Newark police force while testifying before the Joint House-Senate Subcommittee on Campus Unrest and Student Violence (see the New York Times, May 23, 1970, article which recounts his protest to the Jackson State University [MS], and Kent State University [OH], massacres of anti-war demonstrators). The action was an early recognition of his call to compassionate service for the abused and misused of our world.

Armed with degrees in Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration from John Jay College, '70. he entered Rutgers University Law School. He finished in 1973, and continued to work at law for many years.

After some unsatisfying career choices, he realized that he had to answer God's call on his life: Beginning his inquiry in the Elizabeth Presbytery, he enterd New York Theological Seminary in June, 1990. He graduated in May, 1993. He then tendered his resignation from law practice to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, stating to the court his call to "answer a higher authority" as his reason for leaving. In effect, he "debarred" himself. The Supreme Court clerk failed to see the humor, or logic. This caused an interesting, if confusing, dynamic: Five years later, the Court "disbarred" him because he refused to submit to its authority, as he knew he was no longer a member of the bar.

Reverend Finn's service to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has included membership on the General Assembly Evangelism and Congregational Development Unit. As part of that group, he went to China to observe the ways that Presbyterian Church expansion was occurring in that far corner of the world. He has servedas a member of the G.A. Racial/Ethnic Development Unit's African-American Advisory Team. He assisted in writing "New Wine," the document published by the team to provide understanding as to how the Church (U.S.A.) must find ways to embrace our multi-cultural heritage.

He served as "minister-in-residence" for the Palisade Presbytery's merger of the three congregations that became the United Presbyterian Church of Paterson, even though he was still a candidate at the time. While he served that congregation (officially as "Community Outreach Director"), he was the founding member of the Paterson Affiliate, National Congress of Black Churches ("NCBC"). This was done with the blessings of the session and the presbytery, and it was done in a multi-racial congregation. He thereafter twice served Hillside Presbyterian Church (in the Elizabeth Presbytery) as temporary pulpit suply. His second stint at Hillside was requested by the members, as they closed their church, because they felt his compassion and concern for their congregation.

Another venue in which he has served is to fellow veterans. His service in the American Legion was as a member of the James E. Mackie Post, Number 499, and as Union County Commander (after several steps in all the "chairs" leading to that high office). At the state, or "Department" level, he has been the Judge Advocate, and upon finishing seminary training, he served as American Legion Chaplain. In all these ofices, his primary concern has been to help less fortunate veterans to obtain the relief that is owed to them for the sacrifices they have made for God and country.

Rev. Dr. Finn continues to preach and to serve. His present service includes sitting as a presbytery trustee, as a member of the presbytery Evangelism Unit, and as a director for PRISM (Presbyterians Renewing In Spirit and Mission). He participates with the Urban Cabinet in assistance to the Elizabeth Presbytery Council and with the Plainfield Area Mission Group. He enjoys the work: His work ethic is summarized by the titles of two of his favorite songs, "Use me,'til You Use Me Up!" and, "To God Be the Glory."