David Lowe
The times, they are a changing, both for the pulpit and
congregations.
“Being a female pastor in Colorado is rare, but in New Mexico
we’re a dime a dozen,” said The Church at Woodmoor’s pastor, Ellen
Fenter.
The congregation of the church broke tradition when it asked a
female to become their pastor in September, 2008.
Fenter brings to The Church at Woodmoor a wealth of experience
in doing God’s work as well as some secular achievements.
Before being called into the ministry, in 1983, Fenter, acting
as a concerned mom, created the Christian Outreach Center in
Tucumcari, N.M., which was only the third alternative school in the
entire state. It served as a youth recreation center for the area,
and hosted statewide youth conferences. She also helped teach the
National Guard how to work with the state’s youth.
In 1994, she and her husband Carl Fenter moved to El Paso,
Texas, where she began classes.
The day after Easter in 1996, she was called into the
ministry.
“I told God I had to hear it from my husband,” Fenter said.
That very night without any prompting, her husband said, “I’ve
been thinking, you should go into the ministry.” She immediately
got her license to preach in the United Methodist Church.
Thus began a five-year plan to attend the Duke University School
of Divinity each summer. She completed the course of study in
2002.
She began ministering at the Cross of the Hills United Methodist
Church in El Paso, Texas. The governing body of the Methodist
Church wanted her to experiment with a contemporary service, which
was so successful it became the standard for contemporary services
in the area.
Fenter also found the time to help serve at a rescue mission at
8 a.m. before her regular church service at 11 a.m.
A large sister Methodist Church, St. Mark’s, had a woman leading
the contemporary service who was also a reserve military officer.
She was called back into the military with only three-day’s notice,
leaving a vacant position at the church. Fenter was contacted to
move up to the larger church, but she balked at leaving the smaller
church and her mission duties. After all, if one can tell God “no,”
the Methodist leaders would be a piece of cake.
She worked out being able to do all three services with the help
of a driver, and all three locations were relatively close. It was
only a 20-mile round trip between all three.
“My energy each Sunday morning was maintained by a breakfast of
coffee and deviled eggs,” Fenter said.
The St. Mark’s pastor returned from military duty and resumed
her duties at the church. Fenter became the worship coordinator and
counselor at the church, and was getting recognition for her strong
pulpit delivery as well as for her strength as a counselor.
Her favorite church up until now has been the Cross of the Hills
church. The church has 200 active members who are focused on
outreach and missions, and does not have the burden of owning its
building.
After attending Drew University in New Jersey for additional
classes, she opened The Center for Pastoral Counseling and
Spiritual Wellness in El Paso.
In 2007, she was tapped to write in “The Upper Room
Disciplines,” a book of daily devotions, a daily commentary for the
important seven days leading up to Easter 2009. The book is mainly
used by ministers, educators and professors.
In 2008, she saw an ad for the open position at The Church at
Woodmoor, and she, along with 269 other applicants, applied for the
position.
Fenter is now going into her sixth month at the church. In this
short time period, she has introduced St. Francis Feast Day, for
which animals are given a blessing and the Night of Lights, a
three-night weekend walk along the lighted paths where scripture
placards are placed. Next year the Night of Lights is scheduled for
two weekends.
New this year, are Lenten lunches served from 12 to 1 p.m. every
Wednesday March 4-April 8. The meals, which are free and open to
the public, consist of soup and bread. During lunch, Fenter will be
leading a study about how Christ has been portrayed in the movies
throughout the years. The movie being discussed will be shown at
10:30 a.m. the same day for those who are not familiar with it.
Maundy Thursday will feature a pot luck dinner followed by a
Seder meal education by a Messianic Jew.
During the Lenten festivities, Feb. 28 through Easter, the
church will present “Way of the Cross.”
With all of these activities, it’s no wonder that Fenter jumps
on her white Honda Shadow motorcycle for a little rest and
relaxation.
The Church at Woodmoor is located at 18125 Furrow Road, just
north of Colo. 105. Sunday service is at 10 a.m. Additional
information can be found at