By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

It's difficult to imagine Good Friday without Bob Tyler.

That may seem like a strange statement but, for many of the citizens of Peachtree City, Ga., a Good Friday without Bob Tyler would be radically different than it is now.

Robert Tyler, known to everyone who knows him as “Bob,” was raised in East Point, Ga., and answered the call to the ministry by enrolling in Cincinnati Bible Seminary. Following graduation, he served churches in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kingsport, Tenn., and East Point, Ga., before arriving in Peachtree City in 1980 to assume the pastorate of Peachtree City Christian Church.

At the time, Peachtree City had less than 8,000 residents and the church membership at Peachtree City Christian was around 60 with 80 in average worship attendance. Bob began to attend a regular minister's breakfast at the old Riggins Barbecue near Tyrone and became fast friends with a number of the city's clergy.

In 1982, Bob proposed an idea to the pastors of Peachtree City. Bob recalled that, while in Cincinnati, the Western Hills Clergy Association funded time-released Christian education programs for public school students. The funding was accomplished by holding interdenominational worship services on Good Friday and Thanksgiving.

The offerings received at these two services paid for the time-released education but, more than this, the services brought together Christians of the various denominations. Could such a concept work in the South where denominational differences were often sharp and bitter?

On Good Friday 1982, the first Peachtree Community Good Friday Service was conducted at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church with 300 people in attendance during the noon hour. The attendees were pleased with the results and so were the participating clergy. The Good Friday service was destined to become an annual event and a prominent feature of Holy Week in this bustling community, which would grow to nearly 35,000 in a short period of time.

As the participation and attendance grew each year, those in attendance marveled as Roman Catholic priests sat next to Church of Christ ministers, as Baptists and Pentecostals shared the pulpit, and as Episcopalians, Lutherans, Christians, Presbyterians, Charismatics, Methodists and others proclaimed the Good News as brothers, not as competitors.

Seven ministers from seven different churches would preach messages of five to seven minutes each on the “Seven Last Words from the Cross,” as other ministers shared the prayers and the readings and as local church musicians and singers presented the Message in music.

On Easter 1999, some 900 worshippers crowded into the new sanctuary at Holy Trinity Catholic Church to commemorate the death of Christ on the cross. This year, Good Friday 2000 will be at First Baptist Church and over 1,000 are expected to worship together and to give offerings to benefit the county's poor.

For one day, for one and a half hours, the Church in Peachtree City is One. Many tribes, perhaps, but one nation. The gathering reminds the worshippers that their commonalities are much greater than their differences, but they are also reminded in a poignant way that the prayer of Jesus, “that they might all be one,” is far from being answered.

The ministers of Peachtree City often humorously refer to the Good Friday service as the “Great Peachtree City Preach-off.” But over the years, these same ministers have affectionately begun to refer to Bob Tyler, who always coordinates these special services, as the “Bishop of Peachtree City.”

It is ironic, of course, because Bob is a minister in a denomination that eschews titles for its clergy. Bob is known, in his circles, as “Mr. Tyler,” or “Mr. Bob,” or even by some as “preacher.” He is not called “Reverend Tyler” and some would not even call him “Pastor Tyler.” To most he is just “Bob.”

Bob himself is uncomfortable with accolades and titles and simply refers to himself as a “plodding pastor-teacher.” Bob is, of course a wonderful pastor and teacher. He is far from being a plodder.

Bob resigned from Peachtree City Christian Church in 1998 after having led the congregation in a visionary relocation and building program. During his tenure at the church, Bob saw the membership grow to 700 and the attendance on Sundays reach 400. The beautiful new building on Ga. Highway 74, some would say, is his lasting legacy.

But Bob might disagree. He might argue that one of his greatest achievements has been to gather the Christian family in Peachtree City together for the last 19 years for a celebration of common faith and common worship.

But I would argue that even that is not his greatest accomplishment. Bob's ministry has been intensely personal to those in need.

For the last 19 years, Bob has led a weekly Bible study for the aged residents of Christian City. For a number of years, he has served as a chaplain for that organization, ministering to many of the area's elderly.

Bob also currently works with people who are facing tragedy and the pain of bereavement. I know personally about Bob Tyler's ministry.

When my son was terribly injured in a car accident, Bob was there for him and for me. When my wife had emergency surgery and I rushed home from a meeting in south Georgia, Bob was there for her and for me. When I was suddenly hospitalized and subjected to a heart catheterization, Bob was there for me in that instance, too. Other ministers could tell a similar story.

For many in his city, Bob has always been there. Bob's greatest achievement is that he has the ability to make people feel loved.

Bob is already looking forward to Easter 2001. That service will mark the 20th Peachtree City Community Good Friday Service that Bob has planned and implemented. I plan to be there once again as I have for so many years. And, God willing, so will the Bishop of Peachtree City.

[David Epps is the rector of Christ the King Church. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com].

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