6 minute read
Perspectives on Father’s Day
from The Contact 6-12-24
by okumc
From Rev. Katie Paul:
The first person to tell me that they recognized my call to ministry was my dad. One summer evening when I was 12, I was sitting at a picnic table in the backyard while my dad was grilling our dinner. He asked me what I wanted to be when I was grown. I told him I wasn’t sure, and asked what he thought I’d be good at doing. He responded that he thought I’d make a great pastor, but regardless of what I did he was sure I’d be good at it. I’m grateful that my dad could recognize and hold on to God’s call on my life for me until I was ready to accept it for myself.
Though I’ve been a pastor for 11 years, it was just this past fall when I got to serve in worship leadership with my dad for the first time. He was asked to officiate a funeral for a long-time church member, and I was invited to assist as I knew the family, too. Though it was a sad occasion, I felt an unusual sense of peace knowing that my dad and I were working together to give glory to God for the life of a saint of the church. I think it gave him a sense of comfort to have a familiar partner in ministry to rely on in the worship service. I hope we have more opportunities to serve in worship together in the future!
From Rev. Emily Robnett: When I met Michael eight years ago, I was looking for someone who would affirm and support my call to ministry as well as work alongside me in the church. And what better partner for a pastor than a fellow clergyperson (in my humble opinion!)? Balancing three churches and two young children is difficult, to say the least, but there’s no one I’d rather do it with than Michael. His gifts, his passion for ministry, and his love for God and God’s people make me proud to call him my partner in ministry and in life. I’ve never doubted his belief in my calling and his confidence in my abilities is a constant source of encouragement on my hardest days.
I thought I loved Michael when we married, but I have felt that love grow 100-fold as I have watched him become a father and grow as a parent and person. He demonstrates the support, love, care, enthusiasm, and much needed silliness we all hope parents will provide for their children. He is gentle, present, and navigates fatherhood with intention and unfaltering dedication. Both our sons wholeheartedly love and trust him and know that they come first in his life—no matter what. As much as ministry is a calling for him, he is also called to fatherhood—and he fulfills that calling beautifully. We are so blessed to call him ours.
From Rev. Betsy Stewart-Doolin: Father’s Day is a happy day for me this year. My beloved husband, Alex, has always dreamed of being a dad and he’s in his second year of being an incredible father. Clergy spouses don’t get enough appreciation for all they do. Lord knows my own ministry wouldn’t be possible or nearly as fruitful without Alex’s unwavering support and generosity. Lord knows there’s been seasons when he’s had to step up as technical support, puppeteer, and nursery worker.
There are many weekends when I have to work because of a funeral, church business, or some crisis has emerged. He steps into dad mode and Saturdays have become daddy fun days for our daughter – they go grocery shopping, visit the park, and go for bike rides. He fills her world with magic, wonder, and love. While Alex is pouring into our daughter love and support that I know will fuel her development and discipleship for years to come, he’s also setting her expectation of what men in her life should be: kind, generous, loving, supportive, and good. As his partner in all things, I can’t begin to express how fun it has been to watch this part of him bloom. It’s like a new part of him came alive the day he became a dad. He is thriving in the role, and I just want to celebrate this man every day for the incredible human he is. I thank God for Alex in my life and the joy of having such a great partner and co-parent.
From Kathryn Witzel: One of the joys of being a parent is when your child becomes a parent. Watching our son with his daughters shows us a side of him that many do not observe. He dances, laughs, guides, and teaches. They bring out a softness in him that is needed in his role as a pastor. Being raised at Village United Methodist Church, Trey was cared for by adults of all ages. There were mentors and guides that showed him how to be a Christian. We were lucky that there were several men in the congregation that were able to be role models for him when he went through those teen years that can be so difficult. Those men were telling him the same thing his father would and validating his calling.
Now that Trey is serving at McFarlin United Methodist Church, we see him recognizing the impact of the church members on his own children. He affirms the adults and youth that care for his girls and how important that is for their own development. It is easy for pastors’ children to see the church as a competition for their parent’s attention. I applaud Trey’s commitment to seeing the church as an extension of their family. The local church’s ability to love the children of their pastors and staff is a beautiful way to support their families and prevent burnout. On Father’s Day, we celebrate the men who are fathers and the men who father. The wonder of a multigenerational church like the United Methodist Church is the ability for children to experience the presence of additional caring adults of all ages.
