Beginning July 1, 2023, the staff of Manchester UMC will be organized a little bit differently than it is now.
Rev. Winter Hamilton will become the Executive Pastor of Programs, having served previously as Associate Pastor of Faith Formation. Pastor Winter brings her twenty years of wide-ranging ministry experience to her new role. She served in youth ministry for a decade at University UMC in St. Louis. She received a fellowship to the Duke Youth Academy at Duke Divinity School, and was a founding board member of SHED, or Safe Homes for the Elderly and Disabled. She has served at United Church of Rogers Park, Illinois, doing work with young adults in mission, justice, worship, and faith formation ministries. She has served on the staff of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women of the United Methodist Church. Here at Manchester UMC Pastor Winter has served in the roles of Young Adult Pastor, co-founder Shared Streets STL, Pastor of Adult Faith Formation, and her current role, Associate Pastor of Faith Formation.
And as was previously announced, Rev. Andy Blacksher will become the Executive Pastor of Operations, moving here from his current appointment as the pastor of Faithbridge UMC in Osage Beach. Pastor Andy brings his thirteen years of ministry experience into his role here.
Their titles indicate their roles. Pastor Winter will be providing supervision and ministry stewardship for the programming side of Manchester’s ministry. Pastor Andy will be providing supervision and ministry stewardship for the operational side of Manchester’s ministry. Both will be serving closely with me on the Lead Team, as the three of us collaborate in managing the day-to-day work of the congregation.
The mission of the church is always the goal; we are making a difference for Christ in the world by transforming church and community. The question then becomes how do we organize the staff to best accomplish that mission.
Thankfully, the church has plentiful resources from which to draw in order to answer that question! Scripture, the sacraments, the ministry of Jesus, church tradition, not to mention the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – all give guidance into how the church can best structure ourselves for ministry, including the work of the staff.
I am looking forward to getting into the groove of this new structure. The ministry of this congregation is vibrant and vital, and I can’t wait to see how God continues to inspire us in the future.
