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Different gifts - one body
Two women share their stories as local pastors in North Indiana
By Catherine Koziatek
According to the 2005 North Indiana United Methodist Conference Journal, there are 40 women currently appointed as local pastors, and 51 women, if we count the pastors listed as supply under the "other pastors serving churches" category. This is out of a total of 147 local pastors both male and female or 228 pastors if one counts supply pastors who may or may not be a member of The United Methodist Church, but from another denomination which our denomination recognizes.
The faith journeys are as varied and moving as the people serving but a deep faith in God is the common denominator. The two stories below have been entrusted to me. I convey them as they were given to me.
Sheri Rohrer serves Kilmore UMC as a part-time local pastor, and Ella Nickles serves as a part-time local pastor at Michigantown UMC. I befriended both of these women while serving with them in the Lafayette District. My time there was brief, but I hope the friendships will endure.
Rohrer writes: "I felt the call to ministry when I was 16-years old. I always knew what I would be doing with my life. After college I attended Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. In 1993 I began seminary with a-six-week-old baby. How crazy, but when God calls God provides. My husband Robert was and remains very supportive. I could not have completed my degree without his understanding, encouragement and support.
During the next several years, we added two more children to our family, but I was still not done with seminary. So that I could be the mother I always wanted to be, I decided to take it easy and slow down a bit.
"I graduated with my Master of Divinity degree in 2000. That time our youngest daughter was nine-months old and had obstructive apnea. She was on a monitor and anticipating surgery. I was nervous but took the leap of faith and told my District Superintendent that I would receive an appointment, however with the needs of the family and young children, I choose to be a local part-time pastor. I had prayed diligently for God's wisdom and guidance, and boy did God answer.
I was appointed to a small country church. God provided the perfect place for me. I have been able to serve God and God's people and keep up the hectic but wonderful pace of motherhood.
"God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, great kids and an awesome church to serve. I believe there are seasons to ministry and God has many avenues for each of us. When the time comes I will take that leap of faith, but for now I will bloom where I am planted."
Another servant
Another wonderful servant of God is Ella Nickles. Ella and I bonded in a sense because she served the same church in the Lafayette District a few years before I served. We definitely had things to talk about.
This is Nickles' faith story:
My faith journey began at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Peru, Ind. In summer camp one year, I heard a nurse-missionary speak about the Grace Children's Hospital in Haiti, and told God I would like to go for Him and help care for His children.
Because of many home problems, I married at 15 and thought I had thrown that desire out the window. That marriage lasted 12 years. My husband left me and our son for another woman. I married again, this time to a good Christian man whose wife had walked out on him and their three children.
During a revival at Trinity UMC in Elwood, Ind. I was leading the choir during the altar call and felt God calling in the promise that I had made years before to go to Haiti.
As I knelt at the altar and related the story to the Evangelist, he started praising God and telling how blessed they were to have a couple going into the ministry. Wondering who this couple might be, I leaned forward to look down the rail. There was my husband looking back at me.
Within two months we enrolled to attend Local Pastor's School in Evanston, Ill. We began serving together in Anderson at Bailey Chapel. From there we went to Goldsmith.
My next appointment was solo, eight years at Fowlerton, Ind. Those wonderful people walked with us through the loss of three children and a grandchild. We all learned what it was like to be Job or his friend, but we all were stronger in our faith. Next we went to Ambia and Locust Grove and three years later to Frankfort. I now serve the wonderful folks at Michigantown.
I also have come to realize I did not have to go to Haiti to take care of God's Children. I have taught Sunday school since I was a teen and Jim and I have been foster parents since 1983 caring for more than 50 children during those years. When people ask how I can let them go, I tell them the children belong to God; I was just babysitting for awhile.
I truly believe God is my Father, Jesus is Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit is my guide and strength. I have never felt I had anything extra special to offer, but if God chose to use this vessel, I was willing to give it my best.
My God Is Good - All the Time!
The Rev. Catherine Koziatek serves as pastor of the New Salem UMC in Granger, Ind., in Michiana District.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008