Biography based on sermons given at First Church:

Rev. “TC” Coronite was ordained in the Roman Catholic tradition in 1987 and served various rolls. After leaving the Catholic church he went on to work 23 years as an air trtraffic controller. Retiring around 2015, he accepted a Call as Pastor for the First Church in Weymouth. He had stints at AutoZone and still occasionally teaches in grade school. He enjoyed training and believes his prior career contributed to his patience.

In his sermons, Rev. Coronite frequently uses personal anecdotes and analogies from his past work and interests to connect scripture with everyday life.

Key aspects of his theological and church philosophy include:

* A strong belief in the sufficiency of Scripture for faith and practice, emphasizing both understanding and obedience.

* The centrality of Jesus Christ as God, Lord, and Savior, highlighting his sacrificial atonement as foundational to the joy of the resurrection. He emphasizes acknowledging Jesus’ sacrificial nature, not just as a teacher or ethical figure.

* The importance of the Holy Spirit for illuminating scripture, bestowing gifts for church building, and empowering believers to align with God’s will. He notes believers are “sealed in the spirit” but can grieve the spirit through contrary living.

* Focusing on the early church basics from Acts 2: teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, distinguishing these core elements from superficial activities. Teaching biblical truth for maturity is crucial. Fellowship means unity of mind and purpose, beyond social gatherings.

* Defining the pastor’s main role as equipping believers for ministry and guiding the flock to maturity through teaching and preaching, stressing respect for the office. He also sees the pastor as a shepherd protecting against false teachings or divisive behavior.

* Describing congregationalism as a blend of Christ’s headship (monarchy), boards (republic), and congregational meetings (democracy), emphasizing that freedom is for following God’s word. Spiritual authority and governance rest with believers gathered in Christ’s name.

* The need for churches to have a clear (God’s) vision and be outwardly focused on the Great Commission, distinct from merely attracting people. He encourages honest assessment of church health, stating churches are “perfectly designed to get the results” they achieve and must be willing to change if dissatisfied. He suggests focusing on “be statements” rather than “get statements.”

* Handling church conflict by avoiding “stupid controversies” and addressing divisive behavior for reconciliation. Divisiveness, not necessarily rightness, measures problem behavior, linking it to “factions” or “heresy.” Grumbling indicates a lack of trust. Discipline, potentially including removal for unrepentant divisive individuals, is discussed within the context of seeking their return, framed by Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness and seeking the lost.

* Warning against churches fixating on past glories, traditions, or objects that distract from God’s current work and vision. Clinging to outdated things can cause a church to miss God’s present activity.

* Distinguishing ministry roles by church focus: Chaplain (ceremonial, past-focused), Minister (doing ministry for people, present-focused), and Pastor (equipping with people, future-focused). He emphasizes search committees should seek a pastor aligning with the church’s desired future.

* He also discussed the importance of contextual scripture interpretation to reconcile seemingly contradictory passages.