He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Presbyterians believe we are all saints called by God to join in God’s work in the world. Scott Neely is definitely called by God to the hard work of Community Building one person and conversation at a time.

The Word calls us to love God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves. Scott does this by walking humbly with God as he endeavors to extend the Beloved Community to all. In his quiet way, he embodies Jesus’ teaching to love neighbor. With grace and humility Scott helps each of us to discover the process of loving, self and others.

I have watched and listened as Scott renders a room silent. With kindness and conviction, he exhorts all to confront our racism. Hard words to hear. Yet Scott does not condemn; he asks us to dig deep within ourselves to find ways to use our God-given spiritual gifts for the betterment of The Community. I have also experienced his gentle guiding of diverse groups in hard dialogue around structural racism and its inherent injustices. He models the gift of deep listening. Deep listening, giving the gift to another of truly being heard, can bring healing.
 
Scott left FPC to follow the Spirit’s lead into uncharted territory. The Spirit continues to guide Scott’s work. Scott is very aware of spiritual gifts and helps us understand our particular spiritual gifts and how to use them effectively. He has helped me to identify my spiritual gifts and has quietly pushed me to embrace them. Scott is an encourager, always. 

Scott Neely is an ordinary saint among us. He epitomizes walking humbly with our God to do justice and love kindness.

Prayer:
Lord, during this Lenten season grant us ears to hear and eyes to see spaces where you are at work in this church and this community. Grant us courage to step into these spaces to join your work because you faced the horror of the cross for ALL humanity. By your Spirit’s power enable us to daily live in ways that point others to your Beloved Community. Amen.

Ginger Shuler 

About the Contributor

Ginger is a life-long member of FPC-Spartanburg where she is most often found in the choir. She is an ordained Deacon and Stephen Minister. In answer to God’s call to ministry Ginger enrolled in Union Presbyterian Seminary/Charlotte Campus. She began working on a Master’s in Divinity in January 2013 and expects to complete all course work on April 1st of this year, with graduation in June. She is married to Beau and they have two grown sons, Emmett and Martin.