News

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling has appointed Rev. Jennifer Kerby as the Interim Pastor of our Congregation. Pastor Kerby will begin her new responsibilities on October 1. Pastor Kerby has some commitments in September that do not allow her to start full time until October 1. She will begin to meet with staff and leadership beginning in mid-August.

A native Delawarean having grown up in Newark, Rev. Jennifer is a lifelong follower of Jesus, through a wide variety of life stages, work and community service experiences, and cultural/ethnic communities. During her adventuresome twenties, she migrated beyond the state borders, living in Boston, MA (attending theology school the first time) and Gilroy, CA (the Garlic Capital of the World so they claim). After that, a growing family, along with supporting her husband’s business, working part-time and volunteering at church and nonprofits kept her occupied through her thirties and early forties.

After hearing the call to ministry (the second time) and with four children, ages 15-3 at home, she entered Lancaster Seminary in September 2001 (yes just days before 9/11), was commissioned as a Probationary Elder in 2005 and ordained as a Full Elder of the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference in 2008. She loves joyful and vibrant worship in many expressions inclusive of traditional, contemporary, reflective/meditational, participatory and conversational; when worship is Spirit led, it becomes life affirming, life-giving and life transforming. She is also gifted and experienced in the areas of administrative ministry and Christ-based social justice advocacy. She returns to full-time ministry after retiring in 2020 from Mount Lebanon UMC.

She and her husband, Brent Apotheker, celebrated 38 years of life together this year and are enjoying being home alone now that their four children have all found their way in their lives, careers and pursuits beyond their childhood home on Foulk Road. They are looking forward to this next chapter of their lives with Aldersgate and pray God’s blessing on all that we will do and experience together in Jesus’ name.

After August 3 and until October 1, Chaplain Rev. Metty Mesick will fill in as needed to preach, lead worship, and cover pastoral emergencies.