Lawrence N. Monross
Associate Pastor

Lawrence N. Monross was installed as Associate Pastor at 7:30 p.m. on February 6, 1966, with the Reverends Samuel Lindamood, Jr., Eugene Lefebvre, Duane Hollaran and elders, Fred Lewis of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church and Harold Wagner of the  Orangewood Presbyterian Church in the ceremony.  He was formerly minister of the Community Presbyterian Church, 801 McNab Parkway, San Manuel, Arizona.  After leaving Orangewood Reverend Monross became the organizing pastor for a Presbyterian Church in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

His report of his activities in the 1966 Orangewood Presbyterian Church Yearbook:
 Assistant Pastor’s Report

Time marches on!  It seems hardly possible that I have been at Orangewood two years, and yet at the same time Orangewood has become so much a part of me that it is difficult to believe that it was ever otherwise.

With a full year in our new sanctuary behind us we have seen our programs of worship, teaching, study and service steadily developing.  Activity in all these areas must remain flexible to become increasingly relevant.

 The year has brought increasing responsibilities in the church at large and in the community.  As a member of the Church Extension Board of our Presbytery, I am involved in planning for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church to the whole of Phoenix, especially newly developing areas.  As sub-committee chairman on Inner-City work, I am now forming a committee to formulate long-range needs and ministries to the inner city by our Presbytery.  At the same time Synod has a committee exploring the needs and possibilities of Presbyterian ministry in the urban areas of our state.  At present I am serving as a member of that committee.  In this same committee is the Reverend William Smith of Cross Roads Methodist Church.  He and I called a group of ministers together across denominational lines to explore a cooperative ministry in the inner city among the works in existence and the possible formation of new or additional ministries on a fully ecumenical basis.  Our ad hoc group has become the official committee of the Phoenix Council of Churches.  Again on an interdenominational basis we have formed the Arizona Inter Faith Council on Alcohol Problems.  Nothing more than the basics for the purpose, program and structure of this council have been formulated to date.  It will be a council of which denominations will become members and elect representatives.  It is hoped that this council will help to fill the large void in our state in dealing with alcoholism and relative problems.

When Sam resigned from the Board of Maricopa Mental Health Association, I was selected to take his place.  Our state is near the bottom of the list in its care of the mentally ill.  A good bill will be introduced into the legislature this session to set in motion the machinery for a better mental health program for Arizona.  It is imperative that all interested citizens do what they can to secure the passage of this bill.

 As you can see, it is needful to apportion one’s time as seems most needful.  The planning for inner city work alone could be more that a full-time job, but it will be necessary to do the work more slowly with the time we can allot to it.

 Please accept my thanks for the many kindnesses shown me throughout the year.  With Paul I can say, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” (Philippians 1:3)