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