LaBouf Has Last Service At Public Square Church

The Rev. Timothy R. LaBouf is moving on, to southern pastures and a new beginning. The First Baptist Church's senior pastor announced earlier this month, with few details, that he is moving to Texas with his wife and children.
That message was subtly vague for a reason.
"It has all come together pretty quickly," the Rev. Mr. LaBouf said. "We really believe God is in this. I've talked with my wife about this and we're looking for a bit of privacy with this move."
The pastor held back tears during his last service at the Public Square church Sunday.
The Rev. Mr. LaBouf confirmed that he has taken an executive pastor position in a "pretty good-sized" church in west Texas in a community near Fort Worth and Dallas.
"We continue to feel this is a good fit," he said. "Basically, how it looks at this point, I'm going to be assisting the senior pastor and staff in their church. It's really a bittersweet time for all of us."
The Rev. Mr. LaBouf, who held a City Council seat beginning in 2004, used his time sitting at the City Hall dais to build bridges among community members.
"I wanted to try hard to better my community because Watertown is my hometown," he said. "Because of my involvement with politics, I was introduced to people where I could make a difference in their lives spiritually."
The pastor is considering joining politics in his new town.
"It's wait and see right now," he said. "I want to settle in and further the ministry first."
The Rev. Mr. LaBouf said he didn't want to be known for the spotlight put on the community when the church's Diaconate Board ousted Mary F. Lambert from teaching Sunday school under the premise that a woman shouldn't teach men at church.
"I know individuals were upset that they were put in the limelight because of what was done," he said. "I'll be the first to admit I didn't do everything right and made mistakes."
The Rev. Mr. LaBouf said he wanted the issue to remain private to protect others. Mrs. Lambert did not return a message left at her home Friday.
"I wish that it could have been done in a more loving way," the pastor said. "We were trying to protect innocent people who were being attacked. The full story, someday, will be able to be told."
Mrs. Lambert spent a portion of campaign season last year making appearances at events to support Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham, who fended off a challenge by the Rev. Mr. LaBouf.
"As believers, we stand before God one day and I want him to know that I did everything I could to uphold his word," he said.
With the pastor's departure, the Public Square church will have to adapt.
The Rev. Mr. LaBouf's mix of scripturally fundamental beliefs and progressive tactics to keep sermons and the church relevant have changed the demographics of the congregation.
"There is a large population of military people, but we have local people as well," he said.
The church had fewer than 40 members in 2004 when the Rev. Mr. LaBouf was hired as the senior pastor. That ballooned to about 150 in 2006, and has since settled at 80 members, he said Thursday.
About 60 to 70 people were at the 90-minute service Sunday.
The church's Diaconate Board is selecting a replacement, and a deacon will seek out candidates. Michael E. Burt, Chaumont, is an elder at the church. He will invite other pastors to attend Sunday service.
"I'm here to help do my part to help pastor Tim," Mr. Burt said. "We'll continue to have service every Sunday and we'll keep moving on."
The Chaumont man led a significant amount of Sunday's service while playing guitar before the Rev. Mr. LaBouf's sermons.
"I respect him a great deal, just the way he puts the message of God out there every Sunday," Mr. Burt said.
The Rev. Mr. LaBouf said he feels confident the church will be in good hands when he leaves. The bills are paid, the children's programs continue to thrive and an energy audit was performed this summer that is expected to cut utility costs.
"We feel like we're leaving at a really good time," he said. "Our church council has the dedication for the church to continue."
Earl L. Hoover, of Watertown, attended Sunday's service. Mr. Hoover said he supported the Rev. Mr. LaBouf's move.
"New York is losing, and Texas is gaining a great man of God," he said. "Honesty is his greatest asset."
Projects the Rev. Mr. LaBouf began will be maintained. The Sozo Teen Center will remain in the church's basement. The program has a maintenance agreement with the church until November. It then will be up to the Diaconate Board whether it wants to renew the contract.
"My hope and prayer is that it continues on," the Rev. Mr. LaBouf said. "I know many people view the relationship in a positive light."
The Bible study held Wednesdays at Starbucks on Arsenal Street will continue as well. That will now be led by Mr. Burt.
The clock that tops the tower will continue to be maintained by a local machinist.
Church members are renovating an area of the church that will be used to temporarily house guest pastors or other visitors.
"We just have a great group of people at the church that are ready to take over," the pastor said.
Mayor Graham attended the first few minutes of the pastor's last service and spoke with him beforehand.
"We've always been friends," the Rev. Mr. LaBouf said. "We might not have always agreed in the political arena, but we were still colleagues."
Following the service, the pastor pulled out a token from his meeting with the mayor: an honorary city coin.
"This will be the first thing that goes on my desk when I get settled," he said.