The agape life of Jesus has sung a love song to me for as long as I can remember. I am in my 34th year as a local church pastor in the United Church of Christ. In addition to the thrill of proclaiming the gospel and the privilege of pastoral care, I love to teach and learn the ways of forgiveness and peace-building. My formal education includes degrees in Divinity, Counseling and Human Relations, and Social Work, with additional schooling in trauma healing and family therapy. I worked for thirteen years in counseling and community mental health settings prior to becoming a pastor, and have served as a prison chaplain.
I first taught The Transforming Power of Forgiveness as a course at a nearby seminary. The experience was dynamic and life-giving. Over the years, I have led multiple courses and workshops on forgiveness in community settings, faith communities, and liberation schools. I have worked with CPE students, exploring the power of forgiveness and its application in their pastoral work and spiritual growth.
I have taught and consulted with congregations experiencing deep brokenness and division, and have worked with wounded pastors. Another significant focus of my ministry has been in tending the soul wounds of war borne by veterans, their families, and communities. When people inquire about my passion for and immersion in the subject of forgiveness. I explain that my life has also been a laboratory in it!
“For over fifteen years I have invited Pastor Scott to present material on forgiveness to my clinical pastoral education (CPE) students at Penn Foundation. Scott has been a popular presenter, combining Biblically-based teaching with an interactive style. We are all grateful his writing and teaching will be more widely available.”
Carl Yusavitz, D.Min., Director of Pastoral Services, Penn Foundation