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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
March 2006 |
The next generation …
By Catherine Koziatek
In this third article of our year-long series in celebration of the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women, I am pleased to introduce you briefly to the wonderful women currently in track one of the ministerial ordination process.
Char Harris Allen currently serves as pastor of Walkerton First United Methodist Church (Michiana District), her first full-time church after graduating from seminary this past year. Char came to parish ministry through her family's and her gift of music. Alphabetically, she was the first in our track one group to be commissioned by Bishop Mike Coyner, who was her pastor in the early 1980s.
Donna Goings serves as associate pastor at Anderson First UMC (Marion District). Her prior position as part-time pastor at Fort Wayne Good Shepherd and her background in nursing, working as part of a team, have prepared her well for her current appointment and her overseeing the older adult ministry at her current church.
Diana Siegel serves as pastor at Nine Mile UMC in the Fort Wayne District. She was a State Police dispatcher for 20 years and then a real estate broker in Lagrange, when she heard her call to ministry.
Vicky Van Nevel serves at South Bend Northwest UMC (Michiana District). She has a background in nursing.
I am serving my second full-time church at Granger New Salem in the Michiana District. This amazing and most unlikely journey at this point has taken me from my native France, to Texas. There I went to college, majoring in business, and worked in the aviation industry for 13 years. From Texas, I moved to Elkhart, Ind., my mother's and grandmother's birthplace and, to my great surprise, to seminary and parish ministry.
I also acknowledge our male colleagues who help our group to be a well-rounded one. They bring additional depth and perspective and a great sense of humor to the mix. They are:
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Jeff Clinger, associate pastor at Munster Ridge UMC (Calumet),
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Joe Hornick, pastor at Brookston UMC (Lafayette),
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Bill Garver, pastor at Bremen Grace (Warsaw),
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Mark Need, associate pastor at Columbia City UMC (Warsaw),
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Tom Thews, associate pastor at Elkhart Trinity (Michiana), and
Our caring and giving facilitating Elders:
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Jeff Smith, pastor of Jackson Heights / West Point UMC (Lafayette) and
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Brenda Burnworth, pastor at Swayzee UMC (Marion).
Some of us have faced very difficult situations this past year with the loss of a husband, father and brother, and chronic illnesses of loved ones, but the over-arching themes for all of us are God's relentless love and grace in pursuing us, the way God is taking our pains and struggles and molding us into servants, our awe at being called, and our deep love for God and the people God is calling us to serve. God has sent some wonderful people into our lives to encourage us in our faith journey, who are too numerous to mention in this short article. We love you!
I rejoice at the thought of growing in grace with this group of very different, gifted people, forming life-long friendships and serving together in furthering the Kingdom of God. To God be the Glory!
Catherine Koziatek serves as pastor of New Salem United Methodist Church in Granger, Ind., in the Michiana District.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008