Women of Aldersgate: meet your new best friends.
After graduating from college, Jane spent almost eight years working at Davis Library at UNC-Chapel Hill. For six of those years, she led the children's choir at her home church. But in 1990, God began to tug at her heart. "I started going on a quest...but I didn’t have the example of a Christian educator or woman minister," says Jane. Perceiving her calling, Jane's pastor encouraged her to visit Duke Divinity School, even offering to go along. She then connected with the late Margaret Ann Biddle, an accomplished Christian Education minister. That sealed the deal. In August 1991, she quit her job and began her Master of Religious Education at Duke. " It was my biggest leap of faith," she says. Thus began three fruitful decades of ministry. Jane was consecrated a Diaconal Minister in 1994 and ordained Deacon in 1997. She served churches in Goldsboro, Greensboro, Durham, Burlington and Elon. She taught, preached, led, and served. Her work ranged from teaching Vacation Bible School to helping guide a congregation through a complicated building transition & church merger. In 2024, 31 years after graduating from Duke Divinity School, Jane retired from professional ministry. "You really see the best of the church and the worst of the church," she says, "but I never once thought about leaving the UMC. It’s where I belong." Aldersgate was Jane's second-to-last appointment. She remembers us as "people who really have a heart for mission both globally and locally." She remembers a church with something going on every night of the week, a church with a hands-on commitment to service, a church with very active laity. Bustling Wednesday evenings and packed Sunday mornings feature most prominently in her memory. "It was a busy time," she says. "I found it very fun and fulfilling." During her six years here, Jane also observed that Aldersgate is a "neighborhood church." When I told her about our recent book study on The Art of Neighboring , she was not surprised that its message had resonated so well with Aldersgate's people, even today. "Aldersgate had more of a neighborhood feel than any of the other churches I was at," she said. Some things never change! Looking back on Jane's years of service reminds us what God has in store for those who follow his calling. Jane, like the first disciples (Matt. 4:18-22), "left [her] nets and followed Him." She took the leap of faith, and God brought us--and many other churches too--the fruits of her obedience. Are you feeling God tug at your heart? Do you think God is calling you to more? Perhaps Jane's mother's advice from 1991 will encourage you. " When I asked my mom what she thought, she said, 'I think you should have done it a long time ago.'”
John Wesley personally authorized Sarah Mallet to preach in 1787. Helenor M. Davisson became the first ordained Methodist woman in 1866. The Methodist Church granted full clergy rights to women in 1956, the same year Aldersgate UMC was founded in Durham. Like many others , these examples demonstrate Methodism's longstanding commitment to women in leadership. Today, the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women "advocates for full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church." Our church has benefited from the ministry of five women clergy who served Aldersgate a total of 23 years. Since our founding in 1956, two women elders and two women deacons have been appointed to our congregation: Rev. Amanda Riley Smith, Associate Pastor, 2004-2006 Rev. Nanette de Andrade, Deacon, 2009-2018 Rev. Jane Brannock, Deacon, 2010-2016 Rev. Tara Culp Lain, Associate Pastor, 2011-2015 Next week's blog post will feature an interview with Rev. Jane Brannock, who served Aldersgate for six years. Until then, consider how God may be inviting you to participate in Methodism's long history of supporting women in ministry. Perhaps you can: Pray for all women in ministry Write an appreciation note to a woman ministry leader you know and ask how you can support her Learn more about Methodist women's history through the Commission's online resources If you are part of a woman's group, consider doing the UMC's six-session Women Called to Ministry study Let's give thanks together during this Women's History Month for the work God has done through women leaders here at Aldersgate and throughout Methodist history.
