Woman pioneer minister influenced life of bishop
By Bishop Woodie W. White
She was quite a pastor.
There were only a few women pastors in the annual conference at the time. I was just out of seminary when I met her, and was awed by her presence and personality.
She had a deep, gruff voice. Plain in appearance and short of stature, she would not normally stand out in a crowd, except for that unique voice.
She had a passion for ministry and wanted to serve as pastor of a congregation. She was not ordained or a seminary graduate. When I met her, The Methodist Church had authorized the ordination of women just five years earlier. Nonetheless, she believed that God had called her to full-time ministry.
She was persistent in asking the bishop to appoint her to some church, any church. Finally, the bishop and district superintendent agreed to appoint her to a church that was barely still open. When she arrived, the story goes, the church was locked and looked abandoned. A note on the door indicated the key could be found under the mat.
She began ministry in a place where no one expected much to happen. They were all wrong!
Met every challenge
It obviously was a challenging appointment, but she met every challenge. Though she was often the subject of jokes, and often ignored, she simply did ministry. Conservative in theology and liberal in compassion, she had the unmistakable love of Christ and people, and she gave her heart and life to her flock.
Hers was a ministry of witness and caring. The people began to respond, and the near-abandoned congregation began to flourish.
When I was a young associate pastor, she invited me to speak to her congregation. I was both surprised and intimidated. She soon put me at ease with her down-to-earth manner. She greeted members warmly by first name, as did they her. It was a loving community of believers.
Despite having no ordination nor seminary degree, she had a passion for ministry that made her unusually effective. It was soon clear to all that she was a gifted pastor.
No advocates
She had no caucus supporting her efforts, no agency advocating her cause, no group insisting her "rights" were guaranteed. She simply preached and gave herself to ministry. There were times of loneliness and discouragement, but she persevered.
Her congregation grew to more than 1,000 members. Under her leadership, a new church facility was constructed. It was said that she had the largest men's group in the conference. A record number of young men and women answered the call to ministry under her leadership. She became one of the most admired and respected pastors in the annual conference.
Many had to rethink their assumptions and positions about women in ministry. She changed minds and hearts!
She was a pioneer, but probably never thought of herself in that way. She helped pave the way for women in ministry who today are leading the church at every level. And no doubt there are others like her in every conference, including some who were never ordained, who gave great service to the church and the Cause of Christ.
Many were never able to witness the achievements made by women in ministry in The United Methodist Church. So I celebrate these women of courage, compassion, commitment and competence, and all women in ministry, some of whom still face prejudice and discrimination.
I feel privileged to have been personally touched and inspired by a pioneer spirit and by those who followed. The Church learned late what God already knew: There is a place in the "set apart" ministry for women.
Copyright 2006 United Methodist Reporter. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Retired United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White currently serves as bishop-in-resident at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Ga.