Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of four articles profiling female pastors in the city of Shawano. The women say they have an ecumenical relationship, getting together whenever they can to give each other support and friendship in their ministries. Today’s pastor is Marty Black of Peace United Church of Christ.
Q When did you know you wanted to be a minister?
A “After spending eight years in a weekly women’s Bible study group, I decided to take a couple of classes at the local UCC seminary just outside of St. Louis. I was feeling that I needed something more in order to better serve the church as a lay person. I took two classes. One was Old Testament, and I was hooked. I decided that God had plans for me and I needed to enroll in seminary full time. I still had no intentions of becoming a pastor, but part way through my second full year I began to feel the pull toward the pastoral ministry. That was in 1991.”
Q What was your path to where you are now?
A “After seminary, I served an urban church in Jennings, Mo., for just short of seven years. It was in a congregation that changed from all Caucasian to mixed black and white. In my first interview they wanted to know if I would still consider ministry with them if I knew they would be closing. I wanted the challenge and the experience so I said yes. In the fall of 2000, I began serving as an interim associate pastor for a large Presbyterian church in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in St. Louis. Talk about a change in cultures. The next year, I served as the interim minister for a small Presbyterian church in Belleville, Ill. I had the privilege of going back to a place where I had run the summer neighborhood outreach program while I was in seminary. In October 2002, I was called as the pastor and teacher at Peace United Church of Christ.”
Q How have you been received as a female pastor?
A “When I was interviewing at Peace for the position I currently hold, I was asked what I would do about the people who didn’t want a woman pastor. My response was this, ‘If you call me as pastor I will do my job, and in six months 90 percent of it will go away. The other 10 percent I can’t do anything about.’ I was and continue to be well received here at Peace. I know that there are people in this town, as everywhere, that will reject a pastor for being female. I find that sad. Female pastors are human beings with gifts and weaknesses just as their male counterparts. I can only pray that God will open eyes to the wonderful ministry that many women perform in the church.”
Q What are your plans for the future?
A “I went to seminary with no plan for what I would do following. In my time there, God revealed a calling and provided a place to exercise that calling. God has continued to do that over the course of my ministry. Right now, my call is at Peace UCC here in Shawano. I will continue there until God has other plans.”
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