‘I’m a fifth generation Presbyterian, always have been, always will be,’ claims Palisadian Shelby Larsen, who has been a member of the local church for the past 18 years. But very soon, she will move from the congregation to the altar, having recently graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary, and having been sponsored by the Presbytery of the Pacific. While her official ordination depends on receiving a ‘call’ or placement in a church, Larsen will preach at both services this Sunday at the Palisades Presbyterian Church. ”Although Larsen characterizes her midlife career change as a move that ‘God made me do,’ the more psychological answer has to do with a midlife crisis with a small c. ‘I got to a point when I felt I should be doing something else with my life’ says Larsen, who is in her mid 50s. ‘I talked to John Todd, the former pastor, and told him I’d like to take some bible study classes.’ ”Todd, who retired last year and moved to Tennessee with his family, recognized a more serious intention. ‘A lot of people say that they may want to study theology, but I thought that she ought to pursue it all the way,’ he told the Palisadian-Post. Todd presented her to the body of elders of the church, who voted their support. She enrolled in Fuller, a nondenominational seminary in Pasadena, and at the same time followed the requirements of the Presbytery, studying Presbyterian history and Christian education She was assigned a mentor, who made sure that she was taking the appropriate classes, while the committee on candidates for ministry is guiding her on finding the right place to serve. ”While at Fuller, the headmaster of Trinity Anglican Seminary in England, Dr. Reverend Frances Bridger, came to lecture. Larsen and Bridger became friends and exchanged visits, which led to Shelby studying a semester at Trinity. ”Larsen, a lawyer who specialized in entertainment law and transactional matters, wasn’t feeling too confident when it came to fulfilling the internship requirement of her training. ”’When I started my first internship working as a chaplain at the UCLA Medical Center, I wasn’t thinking of doing anything professionally. I was sort of self-centeredly wanting to get my own spiritual life together. But then I thought OK, I am a lawyer, I can do so much for these patients.’ ”What she soon discovered was how much the patients did for her. ‘You have no idea of the grace of God and the kindness of people,’ Larsen says. ‘The rewards you get by being there to listen, teach you a lot of humility and a wider view of God’s grace. The courage and bravery and everything you see happening in the medical center is so life-affirming, it brings us to a real sense of what we’re all about.’ After that experience, she was certain she wanted to be a chaplain in a hospital. ”But, then the old dread came back when it was time to intern in a church, another requirement for graduation. With the assistance of John Todd, she found West Hollywood Presbyterian and worked under the guidance of pastor Rev. Dan Smith. ”’West Hollywood Presbyterian has always been on the forefront of social activism,’ Larsen explains. ‘It was the first church to get involved in the civil rights movement by opening as a shelter. It has always been open to the gay community, and nowadays is welcoming to Russian immigrants. It welcomes everyone who wants to believe. ”’Shelby had a full learning experience of what it would be like to be a pastor of a small urban church,’ Rev. Smith says. ‘Throughout the year, she preached, lead worship, got involved in pastoral care counseling and administration. She has a real strong drive and commitment for ministry and she’s flexible enough to withstand all the changes that happen in people’s lives and keep a vision of where we are going as a church.”’ ”Larsen once again marveled at how she learned from the people. ‘I realized that there are no easy answers, and that every single person has some brokenness somewhere in their lives. We need to support each other and not be judgmental. This experience brought home to me both the fragility and goodness of human beings. ”’When I had completed that internship, it never occurred to me not to be in a parish.’ ”In a way, Larsen changed the course of her life once before. In 1991 she quit work to be chaperone to her daughter Alexis, who was a world-class swimmer. ‘She was only 14 at the time and traveling all over the world for competitions, Olympic trials, senior nationals,’ Larsen says. ‘Her speciality, the 1500 meters, is not an Olympic event, but Alexis was fourth in the world in the 1500 for four years.’ ”When Larsen resumed work, she decided to assist her husband Chuck in handling the business affairs work for his television distribution company, October Moon. ”The Larsens, who have lived in the Palisades since 1987, have three grown daughters and four grandchildren. ”Now prepared to begin her ministry, Larsen is seeking a small congregation. ‘I’m looking for a redevelopment church, one that is reshaping itself to fit the climate and culture in Southern California. A small church that is willing to change and become relevant to the community.’ ”’Shelby’s greatest strength is her ability to go ahead,’ Todd said. ‘She responds to the need, to give everybody time. She is well qualified for what is not an easy job.’
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