The parsonage and the pulpit are filled at the Exeter United
Methodist Church after being empty for a few months.
Glen Holtz, a Nebraska native, recently pastored at Ceresco
and Valpraiso and is now ministering to the flocks at the Exeter and the McCool
Junction United Methodist Churches.
Holtz definitely knows his way around pastoring two churches
in nearby communities as this is his fifth tour of duty with double pulpits,
however, this minister came about his calling in a slightly unusual manner.
Holtz was raised and active in the Roman Catholic church
until the late 1990’s when he met and married his wife, Tamara, in 1996.
Currently Tamara pastors at the Wahoo United Methodist Church. Their
blended family has two boys and three girls between the ages of 35 and 39.
After they married Holtz became a Methodist so that they
could attend church together. Holtz had been a carpenter and school
teacher and after their marriage “I felt like I wanted to something else but I
didn’t know what it was. “
It came to him on a road trip one weekend and after thinking
about it all weekend he and Tamara decided to investigate in further. He
attended St. Paul School of Theology and received his MDIV in 2002. “I
worked harder my first semester in seminary than I did through my whole prior
college experience.”
Of course, he began serving in the pulpit before completing
his school working at Martell and Allen first. He and Tamara have learned
to work their schedules so they can spend a few days together each week going
back and forth between their two residences.
So far Holtz is enjoying the parsonage and the schedule, “This
is the best parsonage that I have lived in so far. It’s great to that the
services are two hours apart so I have time to visit with Mc Cool members
before heading to preach in Exeter, I haven’t had that much time before.”
Holtz is also looking forward to working with the area
ministers with ecumenical opportunities. He hopes, like all ministers do,
to see the church grow. “I challenged the administrative council to reach
out and become involved in the lives of other people.”
“I have what I call an unorthodox theology, I’m far to the
left. I like to challenge the congregation to think about my sermons – I
don’t stand up at the podium and preach. I try to make sure and keep them
awake,” explained Holtz.
He is also looking forward to getting to know the people in
both communities, see what their ministry is like and help them become
better. “They need to know me better and we can build a trust. No
one changes until they decide they want to change,” said Holtz.
In the past Holtz has worked with prison and jail ministry
and has dealt “with some pretty shady characters. Currently I serve as the
President of Released and Restored. I’d like to get the program going in
York at the Woman’s Reformatory.”
In his spare time Holtz enjoys photography with his and
Tamara’s 10 grandchildren among his favorite subjects.
The Mc Cool Junction United Methodist Church meets on
Sundays at 9 am and the Exeter United Methodist Church meets at 11 a.m. and
you’ll find Holtz keeping the flock awake at both services.
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