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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 12:54 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2007

Central Union Church votes in new senior pastor

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence W. Corbett, founding pastor of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Ariz., has been offered and has accepted the top ministerial position at Central Union Church, the largest Hawai'i church in the United Church of Christ denomination.

The historic church dates back to the early missionaries when Congregationalists arrived in Hawai'i to minister to Hawaiians. It currently has 2,500 members of the congregation, about 300 of whom voted to call Corbett to serve as senior pastor. About 60 people opposed the decision in the vote, held after yesterday's 9 a.m. service.

The church has been without a permanent minister since the Rev. Dr. Ted Robinson retired in 2004. Two interim ministers have filled the slot.

Corbett will join the church in September and his first time in the pulpit is scheduled for Sept. 9.

A Presbyterian, Corbett will be required to switch affiliations within the year. He previously served as pastor at four Presbyterian churches, including 17 years at the church he founded in Arizona.