Pastor

Pastor of New Creation Fellowship

Ruth Penner is our pastor. She is a graduate of St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. Her responsibilities include worship, pastoral care, crisis visitation and developing the ministry of the congregation.

Other pastoral tasks are handled by various church members, on a rotating basis. We are fortunate to have many gifted, willing people who give of their time and energy to serve the church.

Leadership is provided by a group of three overseers. The overseers are chosen from the church members on the basis of gifts and the calling of the Spirit.

Ruth Penner

I began as lead pastor of New Creation Fellowship in September 2002. As lead pastor, I am responsible to the church council and overseers for the overall administration of the church. I work with a variety of serving groups, made up of members from the congregation. These groups provide worship planning, Christian education and youth activities. My job is to encourage, support and develop the gifts for ministry in the members of our church. I am also responsible for pastoral care and visitation both in crisis situations and on an ongoing basis.

While I do a large portion of the preaching and worship leading, there are many gifted lay members who participate in the preaching and worship leading of our services. Music and singing are also important in our worship and we have many leaders who serve in this ministry.

I have come to the ministry following a previous career in nursing and am thoroughly enjoying serving God in this new and challenging way. My husband and I are parents of two grown children, a daughter who is also a pastor and a son who teaches high school English. We also have three grandchildren who are a great joy to us. I graduated from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansa City with a Masters of Divinity in January 2002. I found the opportunity to return to school after having been out of school for a long time was pure pleasure.

Other activities in which I find joy and closeness to God are painting, singing, listening to music and being out hiking in God’s glorious creation.

I thank God for the opportunity to serve in the building of God's kingdom.