Homecoming at Sylacauga First Presbyterian Church will be Sunday, Aug. 17. The Rev. William V. Arnold will be guest speaker at 11a.m., worship service.Arnold, who lives in Lancaster, Va., or as he says “the Northern neck of Virginia,” has strong ties with the Sylacauga area.
Arnold’s father was the late Dr. Van Arnold, the son of Henry Arnold, who along with his two brothers, Will and Jim, came to Marble Valley below Sylacauga from North Carolina to start a saw mill. The brothers traveled by train with their family, household belongings, saw mill equipment, workers and mules. They operated saw mills in this area for the next several years.
The family was Presbyterian and attended Sylacauga First Presbyterian Church.
William V. Arnold received his doctorate in psychology of religion and pastoral counseling at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating in 1970. He received his bachelor’s degree in pastoral care from Columbia Theological Seminary, graduating with honors in 1966. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Southwestern at Memphis, (now Rhodes College) graduating with distinction in 1963.
He was ordained into the Presbyterian Church (USA), in Memphis Presbytery, July 19, 1966. He is currently a member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia — honorably retired as of June 30, 2007).
Arnold is certified for clinical pastoral education, with the American Association for Family and Marriage Therapy, as a counseling educator, with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, as a licensed marriage and family therapist, and as a master storyteller from the School of Sacred Storytelling.
Arnold has served in many capacities including associate pastor for senior adults at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, Pa.; dean of the faculty, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia; visiting faculty, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry; adjunct professor of pastoral theology, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.; and director of chaplaincy services, Clark County Memorial Hospital, Jefferson, Ind.
He has written eight books, including “When You Are Alone,” “When Your Parents Divorce,” “Divorce: Prevention or Survival,” and his latest, “Husband-Wife Interaction of Selected Theological Students”
Arnold was born in Atlanta. He is married to Dr. Margaret Ann Fohl, who is also an ordained minister and just recently retired as associate pastor for Pastoral Care, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Following Sunday homecoming services, a covered-dish luncheon sill be served in Perryman Hall. The Rev. Jim Stanford, pastor of Sylacauga First Presbyterian Church, cordially invites everyone to join the congregation for this special day of celebration.
