Student Spotlight: An Interview with Greg Delleney, Jr.
Tell us a bit about yourself. Growing up I always had a sense of knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life. From an early age I was determined
to serve in the military, to practice law, and to become a politician. So, after graduating from The Citadel, I joined the Navy. After that I attended Cumberland School of Law and became an attorney. Then I eventually ran for public office and served for 27 years in the SC House of Representatives. My wife Becky and I are members of Chester ARP Church in Chester, South Carolina, where I serve as an elder and as moderator of Catawba Presbytery. I am currently a student at Erskine Seminary while still practicing law.
Describe your public service. What aspects did you enjoy most? While at the State House, I introduced and supported pro-life legislation. That’s one thing I am most passionate about.
Change may not happen overnight in politics, but I am proud of the progress many of us have been able to achieve by fight- ing for the rights of the unborn. I remember occasions when my colleagues and I would pray before meetings and then just watch the hand of God remove obstacles and guide the political process. As a public servant I also enjoyed leading people and organizations to work together for the common good. In politics, as in life, you can’t always get what you want. So, you must pick your battles, knowing when to fight and when not to fight. That isn’t always easy—it takes prayer and discernment.
How did God lead you to seminary? I believe that there is a time for everything and that includes a time to end things. God led me to realize that I had accom-
plished what was needed in the Legislature and that it was time to move on. The Lord simply took the passion of politics away from me and replaced it with a passion for His church. At that time my career was going very well, so my colleagues were shocked to learn that I would not run for reelection. Like I said before, I always thought I knew what I wanted to do from an early age. But I never thought that at the age of 65 I’d start pursuing full-time ministry. While not part of my plan, this is part of God’s plan for me. And I want to be obedient to His calling.
How are your studies going and what’s next? Since I’ve been at Erskine Seminary I have been overwhelmed with God’s providential goodness. He has supplied just
what I need exactly when I need it. Each class builds on the one that came before it, and I learn something new about Him each week. As you can imagine, it’s quite an adjustment to switch careers and return to school later in life. But my professors are encouraging and so is my family. My wife not only provides moral support, she even helps supplement my less-than- stellar typing skills. Looking forward, I believe that God is calling me to serve small churches that cannot afford a full-time pastor. Even if a
congregation is aging and the attendance is sparse, God’s people still need to hear the Gospel message loud and clear. And at my age I don’t have the distractions of a younger pastor who has the pressures of providing for and raising a family. Hopeful- ly that means that I can devote more time to and focus more intently on the Lord’s work. I might not know how much time I have left on this earth, but I do know that I want it to end well in His service and for His glory.?
Greg Delleney, Jr. is a student at Erskine Seminary and a practicing attorney. He serves as an elder at Chester ARP Church and is the moderator for Catawba Presbytery. He previously served as Representative for House District 43 in South Carolina and was the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Greg and his wife Becky live in Chester, S.C., and have two adult children as well as a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
Erskine Theological Seminary 12 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian
Erskine Seminary
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
