By JONAH STAFFORD
Staff Writer
Pastor Billie Jo Wicks is taking on a new role in her Ellendale and Meriden congregations, Zion and St. Paul Lutheran churches. Wicks has already served as deacon at both churches for nearly two years, and, after being ordained in January, has been their pastor ever since.
Wicks is a native of Austin and currently lives in Mankato with her husband Michael and their children Violet, Theodore, Sam, Rob, and Ray. She is a graduate of Winona State University and the University of Minnesota, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. After working as an elementary school teacher for 10 years, however, Wicks felt called to the ministry and became a children’s ministry coordinator at a church in Austin. She soon began studying at Luther Seminary and worked as a deacon at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato.
She says she enjoyed being a deacon, but decided to become a pastor after feeling a calling to be more directly involved with the sacraments. While studying for her master’s degree in divinity, Wicks took up an internship role at Zion and St. Paul’s, during which she was the sole leader of those churches, with the assistance of supervisors. Now that she has become ordained, she will continue to serve those congregations in the pastoral role.
“It changes everything and it changes nothing,” said Wicks, who added that most of her day-to-day duties are the same. Some of her responsibilities include leading church services, teaching confirmation classes, and visiting church members.
Wicks said that she was already “synodically authorized” by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to carry out duties in her own congregations as a deacon, but being ordained means that she can carry out her work in outside contexts.
Wicks’ favorite part of working in the ministry is “being invited into some really intimate and holy moments” in people’s lives. She added that she is often one of the first people to meet members’ newborn babies, but also one of the last when members reach the end of their lives.
Wicks encourages members of the community who are “searching for a church family,” to consider attending Zion Lutheran in Ellendale.
“It’s a smaller congregation, but a mighty congregation,” said Wicks.
As she goes about her pastoral work under a new title, Wicks is now working towards a Doctor of Ministry degree through United Lutheran Seminary.