The Rev. Lawrence H. Craig, M.DIV;LNHA

West Park United Church of Christ

3909 Rocky River Drive

Cleveland, Ohio 44111

The Reverend Lawrence H. Craig is our senior minister at West Park United Church of Christ. He has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ for over 30 years. Mr. Craig has the unique gift of linking biblical texts to contemporary everyday life in his sermons. His story telling style, use of humor and illustrations from a wealth of diverse life experiences holds the attention of his audience and enables them to feel more deeply connected with God.

Mr. Craig’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Master of Divinity Degree and Nursing Home Administrators License - State of Ohio. He also has specialized training in the areas of Crisis and Suicide Intervention, Hospital Chaplaincy and LifeBanc Training. His own personal experiences along with his ongoing continuing education and specialized training are the life giving water of his deeply caring and compassionate ministry to all persons.

Mr. Craig has been a delegate to General Synod of the United Church of Christ (1990-1992) and served on the Directorate of the former Office for Church Life and Leadership at the National Church level (1991-1997) along with his work at Church Conference and Association levels.  He also has served on many ecumenical and community organizations throughout his career.

Mr. Craig currently is an On-Call assistant Chaplain in the Pastoral Care Department of Fairview Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio. He is a board member of the Fairview Hospital Community Advisory Board, the hospital Bioethics Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of United Church Homes.  Mr. Craig also serves on the Board of Directors of the North Coast Health Ministry, a faith based free clinic serving western Cuyahoga and eastern Lorain County.

Mr. Craig and his wife are the parents of two adult children and have three grandchildren. Together the Craigs have acted as tour hosts taking church and community groups abroad to numerous countries in Europe, Great Britain, and the Middle East. Mr. Craig’s personal hobbies/interests include reading, gardening, woodworking and backpacking.

A published author, Mr. Craig has contributed articles to “The Journal of Worship Resources” and three funeral sermon books “The Word is Life”, “Best Funeral Meditations” and "Life Everlasting". His first full book of sermons, “Surviving in a Cordless World” emphasizes Scripture texts which follow Lectionary Cycle B.