Calling - Rev. Jody E. Gunn
As a child, I loved church. I loved to sing in the children’s choir, participate in our ecumenical Vacation Bible School, called Adventure week, go to summer camp, attend worship and hang out with my church friends. My home congregation included us in worship leadership and treated us as the “present” church and not as the “future” church. I also served as a teen leader in our youth group. As a college student I participated in different Christian groups on campus, was an active member in the local church and young adult group. Out of the blue when I was home for a weekend, my mom asked me to attend another church with her to hear a woman pastor preach. My home church was looking for another minister to work as the co-minister with the current male minister we had. Due to my mom being on the search committee, they were asked to observe this woman pastor to see if she would be a good fit for the congregation. Growing up, my experience with woman pastors was almost non-existent. What I discovered was this female pastor intrigued me and her sermon was inspiring. My home church decided to call her to serve their church. I was so excited! For the first time in my life I saw the possibility as a woman who could serve in pastoral ministry.
Another key on my calling journey was one of my pastors was trained in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I was a senior in high school and this pastor led me through the process to discover what kind of profession would be most fitting for my personality. I discovered through this experience that I would flourish best in the helping professions like nursing, teaching or ministry. I remember tucking this away in my heart that later informed the direction my life was taking. I thought God was calling me to be a nurse, then I spent time volunteering at the hospital near the university I attended. I realized very quickly that I was germ-a-phobic, hated the sight of blood and scared of patients. So, I started exploring the next profession of teaching. My university offered a School and Community Health degree, where prevention education, health promotion and community health was the focus. During those young adult years, I continued to participate in ministry to others via Brethren Volunteer Service; working with youth and serving in worship, board leadership, as well as Nurture programs in the churches I attended. During this period of about five years, people commented on my gifts for ministry and I mentioned at one point to a group of women in a Bible study about sensing a call to ministry. The next thing I knew I was being presented as a candidate for licensing in the Church of the Brethren. I proceeded to take local basic theological education classes through the Mid-Atlantic District and eventually SVMC and Bethany Theological Seminary. I am a graduate of the TRIM program (2003) and completed a M.Div. from Bethany in 2017.
I felt the Lord has opened doors for me to serve and learn in places where I never thought I would be. I look back over my life and recognize where God was opening my eyes to the possibility of ministry and preparing me, not just pastoral ministry but chaplaincy. In all of these life experiences, retreats, sacred conversations with trusting people in my life, I’ve been exploring, seeking and being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit all along the way. I heard God speak into my heart and create a love as well as compassion for all people, especially serving the congregation and community.
Jody E. Gunn
