MIDDLEBURY — The United Methodist Church in Middlebury has welcomed the Rev. Dr. Mary Kay Schueneman to ministry in the congregation. Schueneman will be the Minister of Congregational Care and the Coordinating Pastor. She will also continue her ministry at the 1st Congregational Church of Cornwall as its settled pastor.
Schueneman came to Vermont in 2008 after living in several other states. She came here as visiting assistant professor of religion at Middlebury College, a position she held until 2014.
A graduate of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Schueneman was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1998 as a member of the West Ohio Conference. She received a Ph.D. in U.S. Religious History from Drew University in 2007. After coming to the 1st Congregational Church in Cornwall in 2010 she transferred her credentials to the United Congregation Church in 2015.
Schueneman comes from a family of ordained pastors and is the fourth generation to do so. She is very proud of her three children, Martha, Sam and Anna. One of her hobbies is to walk dogs for the local humane society.
When asked about ministry, Schueneman said she enjoys creating innovative and transformative worship experiences grounded in traditions but not chained to them. She loves to peel back the layers of meaning in scripture and tradition so that listeners can re-imagine them and live into their faith in new and daring ways.
Members of the United Methodist Church of Middlebury said they are pleased to have Mary Kay Schueneman as their minister.