by Shane Whisler
BATON ROUGE — Six
months ago, with a classified
ad, the Presbytery of South
Louisiana sought a general
presbyter who, like a “Gumbo
Chef,” might marry the rich, diverse
flavors of their culture
and theology in a unique situation.
That understatement was
spiced up with a bold promise
that God’s blessings and opportunities
await such a person.
The Rev. Dr. Alan D. Cutter
entered the kitchen on July 1
eager to see God’s blessings
and opportunities continue to
unfold for the region, and especially for the Reformed witness that the Presbyterian Church (USA) can offer.
Cutter is charged with the administrative and spiritual nurture of a presbytery where half of the congregations suffered devestation or damage from two hurricanes and a flood nearly a year ago. Communities are exhausted. No one escaped the trauma from needing help, giving help or both. Hope glimmers with each new prayer, volunteer or dollar offered toward recovery. Cutter says thank you and please keep them all coming. So what kind of person would answer the call to such a place and time?
We found out during a July 11 interview with Alan Cutter an hour after his first meeting with the presbytery's administrative commission for disaster recovery. "I have a very strong sense that this is where God wants me to be at this particular time," Cutter said. The faithful Presbyterians of South Louisiana found their "Gumbo Chef" in an unlikely place -- 1,400 miles up the road in Duluth, Minnesota. However, his experience and spirit was a lot closer to the situation than most folks could have imagined.
Before answering the ad, he had asked his wife Ann what she thought. He recalled her words, 'You've been preparing your whole life for something like that. Apply.'
Faith and life has prepared him well. However, applying for an "executive-kind of position" was not something he had imagined.
"So it is with a great deal of amazement and not a little bit of trepidation that I..." He hesitates, but smiles, "That I am here." With an open palm he gestures to the conference tables where the monthly recovery meeting was held.
The new office building in Baton Rouge wasn't yet finished when he first had an inkling that he might someday visit the region hit by what he calls a "triple blow."
"Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and then," he said. "The most devestating event was probably the inundation of New Orleans."
His slight accent seems more easily heard in his new environment than it would be elsewhere. It reveals his northeastern heritage. Cutter holds degrees from Syracuse (NY) University, Simmons College (Boston), Bangor (ME) Theological Seminary and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. However, he fluently speaks the language needed most in South Louisiana -- the language here is one of trauma and recovery, he said.
He's a combat veteran of the war in Vietnam. He's extensive experience as a participant and as a leader of post traumatic stress recovery is a deeply earned gift he brings to the call.
Although the trauma of war is very different, he said traumitized people, regardless of circumstances, share a similar path of recovery. Milestones on that path mark the transition from victim to survivor and then from survivor to witness. And in this case, it is his hope that Presbyterians and congregations can be witnesses of God's grace and establish not only renewed witness of Reformed theology but new areas of witness ...
Part 2 of this story is being prepared.
