Rev. Gerri Ridings
Bishop Devadhar has appointed Rev. Gerri Ridings to be the new Pastor at Bethel, effective July 1. In addition to pastoring our church, Pastor Gerri will continue at Goshen United Methodist where she has served since last year.
Although she has only been a Licensed Local Pastor for a short time, she has been in ministry for much longer. At her home church in Beverly, Burlington County, Pastor Gerri worked as the church office administrator for 12 years. She was Christian Education Superintendent for 21 years and Youth Fellowship Advisor for nine years. She has taught Sunday School at all age levels from 2 years to adult and for many years directed an ecumenical Vacation Bible School. She also was formerly a member of the Capital District Education Committee and each year directs a week of camp at the Pinelands Center at Mt. Misery, one of our United Methodist camps.
After moving to Cape May County full time three years ago, in anticipation of her husband, Chris' retirement, Gerri served as Lay Leader and Sunday School Superintendent at North Wildwood UMC, before answering the call to pastoral ministry.
Gerri and Chris have been married thirty-one years. They are the parents of five grown children and have four grandchildren. In her spare time, Gerri enjoys cooking, history and reading. She likes playing trvia-type games and skee-ball. She loves all kinds of music (however, she admits to being an awful singer!).
Although a life-long United Methodist, Gerri did not become active in the church until adulthood. I explored all kinds of denominations and in the end, wound up back where I started. She says, " I love the Methodist Church's emphasis on both personal and social holiness."
She is also a big fan of small churches, " I think small churches provide unique opportunities for people of all ages to grow closer to Christ and serve others. Every person has been given special gifts for ministry, and in small churches, every person's gifts matter. There is the feeling that we are all in ministry together. I look forward to being in ministry with the people of Bethel United Methodist of Green Creek."