Married co-pastors retire after more than 50 years of combined service in Leechburg

Two well-known clergy members retired this week from the same church in Leechburg.

The Revs. Gary and Lisa Lyon served as co-pastors at Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg for 34 and 26 years, respectively.

“There were a lot of tears and laughter,” said Gary Lyon of their final sermons. “It was tough.”

Gary said his last sermon addressed the congregation’s need to move forward.

“You can’t go back to the old ways,” he said. “It won’t work.”

Lisa’s last sermon focused on steadfastness, emphasizing the need for the congregation to remain as faithful as they’ve been now and into the future.

The couple are moving this weekend to their new residence in Franklin Township, Armstrong County.

How they got here

The Lyons, both 66 and married for 43 years, made the decision to co-minister together years ago after Lisa graduated in 1992 from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

“Our love for each other and working together was fostered for three years washing pots and pans together in the college cafeteria,” said Gary Lyon of the couple’s time spent as undergrads at Grove City College, where they both graduated.

Gary studied religion at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, graduating in 1981.

The Lyons went through the church’s legal process to become co-pastors at what was then Gray Stone Presbyterian Church in 1996.

In 2005, nearby Calvary Presbyterian Church merged with Gray Stone, and the church was renamed Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, located on Main Street.

For Lisa, the merger was a turning point in a positive direction.

“After worship the Sunday after Hurricane Katrina, several people asked us, ‘When are we going to go down and help?’ Not, ‘Can we go?’ But, ‘When are we going?’ Folks from both churches. The enthusiasm of the congregation united them in a powerful way,” Lisa said.

Together, the Lyons have planned and organized more than 17 national disaster response mission trips, recruiting hundreds of volunteers.

Among the volunteer recovery efforts were trips to D’lberville, Miss., following Hurricane Katrina, and other missions in Nashville; Iowa; New Orleans; Galveston, Texas; and New Jersey.

New pastor in works

A transitional pastor, the Rev. Sue Washburn of Washington Township, will begin duties at Cross Roads on Aug. 22. She will serve until its 177 congregants vote to hire a new minister.

An online Presbyterian program will assist the congregation in matching a pastor’s strengths with the needs of the congregations, Washburn said.

In the Presbyterian Church, congregations are not “assigned” ministers, Washburn said.

“I help the congregation to grieve the loss of Gary and Lisa,” Washburn said. “Co-pastors are not super common, but it’s not unheard of. A benefit of co-pastors is two different skill sets to help with the job at ministry.”

Washburn said a series of guest speakers will lead Sunday worship for the next seven weeks.

The Lyons said they’re retiring now, rather than later.

“Our hope is to volunteer around the country in many different settings and situations and do some part-time ministry,” Gary said.

Lisa has worked more than 27 years as a legal secretary in Kittanning.

“I’ve been a secretary longer than I’ve been ordained,” she said.

Gary estimated he has officiated more than 400 funerals and has lost count of the number of weddings.

He reported for his ministry at Gray Stone Presbyterian in 1988 and was welcomed by a congregation with a dominant heritage.

“The congregation was half-Hungarian. That whole older generation is now gone, except for one member who is still living: Margit Kupas,” Gary recalled.

Post-retirement, the couple will not worship at Cross Roads. Gary explained why most pastors make that decision after leaving their respective churches.

“It would be very hard if we came back to worship. When a pastor leaves, they really need to say goodbye, and the new pastor will need to be the one to minister to the flock,” he said.

Built impressive ministry

The couple both said one of their favorite memories is being able to work together, using their different gifts and talents for God.

“We approach ministry differently because of who we are,” Gary said, “and it means we’ve always had to work really hard at communicating and listening to each other and everyone else.”

Other longstanding community outreach programs organized by Cross Roads under the Lyons include a monthly free pot love meal on Saturdays, free hygiene kits, Blessing of the Bikes, distribution of care packages to the Alle-Kiski Cancer Unit at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, Ashes to Go and hosting an annual free communitywide Thankgiving Day dinner.

Church life sometimes brought the drama, like the time Pastor Gary had a middle-of-the-night unexpected brush with police.

Gary recalled an incident about 32 years ago when a Leechburg police officer reported to Gary that there had been a break-in at the church.

“It was 4 in the morning, and I went with him to the open door and explained why it was open. He didn’t believe me,” said Gary, knowing the church janitor worked very early hours inside the church.

Gary escorted the officer to the social hall and flipped on the lights just as the church janitor, Greg Paul, appeared from a dark hallway.

“Greg froze as I did because the police officer had his gun pulled and was pointing it right at him,” he said. “The policeman was shaking like crazy. Greg Paul and I still laugh about our early-morning encounter. We never saw the policeman in Leechburg after that night.”

Volunteering always has been a priority for Lisa.

She served as head of wardrobe for the annual high school musical department at Leechburg Area High School.

“It was great to get to know the kids that my kids went to school with outside of the church context,” Lisa said.

Lisa said job perks have included baptizing three of their grandchildren.

“I was lucky to be able to participate with them in that way, rather than just being an observer,” She said.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

The Rev. Lisa Lyon of Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church offers ashes to Lexie Vigna on Ash Wednesday in front of CoCo Coffeehouse in Leechburg.

Retiring, not disappearing

With retirement officially underway, the Lyons said they look forward to having time for hunting, fishing, quilting, reading, woodworking and golfing.

Gary will continue to volunteer with the Leechburg Water Rescue Team and is a member of the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company.

“People will still see us,” Gary said. ‘We’ll both be back for community gatherings, just not at Cross Roads.”

The Lyons have two adult children, Abigail Riegner and Karen Reilly.

“We would also like to enjoy grandparenting with our six grandchildren,” Lisa Lyon said.

Patty Brady of Leechburg has been a parishioner for more than 30 years.

Brady said the Lyons’ departure leaves her with mixed emotions.

“It’s bittersweet,” Brady said. “They have been faithful and creative leaders. It worked out well for us having married co-pastors. We always had two pastors to go to, and they helped each other out. They were able to play off of those as well.”

The Lyons offered a farewell message for the folks of Leechburg and their congregants, as said by Lisa:

“Thank you, Cross Roads Community, for letting us do awesome ministry with you. You’re a talented and faith-filled family. Thank you, Leechburg community, for letting us be a part of your larger family. Thank you, brothers and sisters in the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company, for accepting us. And, most of all, for your dedication of time, training and friendships.”