August 4, 2022
Dear Ones,
I am delighted to introduce you to Betsy McElroy, who will be serving as a seminarian intern this year at St. Martin’s. Betsy comes to us from the Diocese of Iowa, where she is still canonically resident (that means her Bishop is our old friend, the Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot!).
We first became acquainted virtually more than a year ago, and it is a wonderful blessing that we get to “share” her with the Belfry. Betsy’s letter of introduction to you is below. Her first Sunday with us will be August 21, and as a rule she will be at St. Martin’s on the first and third Sunday of the month, as well as doing some pastoral care work during the week, sometimes remotely.
I feel confident that you will enjoy Betsy’s engaging personality and deep commitment to the well-being of all God’s beloved children. Please join me in welcoming her.
Blessings,
Pamela+
Message from Betsy:
Hello fellow siblings in Christ. I am eager to begin serving alongside you in a few weeks. I am currently a fourth-year seminary student at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. I am also a pastoral education student with R.C. Freedom Ministries out of San Antonio, Texas. It is through both my roles as seminarian and pastoral education student that bring me to my work with you this year. I will be wearing many hats over the year. This fall, I will primarily work with your Caring Ministries committee. As we move into the spring, God willing and the people consenting, I will be serving as a newly ordained transitional deacon. Throughout the year, I will also be serving as a liaison between St. Martin’s and The Belfry campus ministry at U.C. Davis.
I have a B.S. in sociology and early childhood education and a M.S.Ed. in psychology in education. Two years ago, I ended a 15-year career as an early childhood music teacher and preschool director. I dearly loved this work and found that I learned way more from my students than I taught them. There came a time, however, when I finally started listening to a call that had been brewing since my teenage years, which led me to seminary. My ministerial passions focus on building community both inside and outside, and even across, church walls. From what I’ve learned, St. Martin’s is already doing a lot of this work and I am very excited to learn from you! Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, photography, and spending time with my family.
My family and I moved from Iowa City, Iowa to Sacramento last summer, so I still consider myself a very new Californian. My husband, Steve, and I have been married for 25 years. He is a neonatologist at UC Davis Hospital. We have two children. Evan is 19 and will be studying at Luther College in Iowa this fall. Kyle is 17 and is a rising senior at Sacramento Waldorf. We also have two cats and a dog to keep us entertained!
I look forward to meeting you soon!
