Interim pastor shared gifts with community

An interim pastor is not just one who provides a segue for a parish following the loss of its pastor until the next arrives.
It has been said that the ministry of transitional pastors is crucial, that they come into a church in a unique period of its history and have unusual opportunities of service.
Jill Warner has taken that opportunity and used it bountifully, according to several who have gotten to know the woman during her accrued nine years of service to the area.
But after a considerable interim career, Warner has decided it’s time to settle down. She has accepted the pastorship of “a church of her own” — at Plymouth United Church of Christ in Aberdeen, SD. She will leave the Falls at the end of November.
Warner came to Faith United Church of Christ and provided transitional pastoring between the terms of the Rev. Steve Coates and the presently serving Rev. Sue Hamly.
A transitional interim pastor is a kind of “temporary shepherd” who is trained to lead a church toward a healthy beginning for the arrival of a new pastor.
Hamly told The Daily Journal that her own arrival at Faith United was much easier because of Warner’s interim counsel. “Jill did a fabulous job,” Hamly said.
Norma Krats, member of Faith United, said that Warner will be missed.
“We’re going to miss all her talents, which she shared with Faith United and with the community. She brought our church smoothly through a change in leadership, and through some tough times,” Krats said.
“Pastor Jill helped us to use more discernment using book and bible studies. We are continuing some of them to this day, because of her,” Krats added. “And her quiet, gentle way of counseling is very appreciated.”
Hamly said that Warner’s offerings continued after the transition.
“Working with her, collaborating on things like creative worship, and just having another woman pastor of my denomination here, has been really great.
“I’m going to miss our friendship and collegiality. But I am happy for her now that she’s going to be in a called position and she won’t have to keep moving. That gets old. I’m really pleased for her to have found a good match.”

Asset to the community
Arriving in January of 1998 at Faith United, Warner twice left the area. Her latest return was to help with transition at Knox United Church in Fort Frances.
But Warner’s first career was in music education. It was not until 1994 that she became ordained as a minister. Focused in Intentional Interim Ministry, her previous posts have been in Edina, Salt Lake City, Vermillion and Yankton, SD, and Troy, Ohio.
“But it’s time to stay in one place,” Warner said. “It’s time in my life to stop wandering.”
Warner was born in Fargo and spent most of her childhood in Little Falls, Minn. Many of her family members still reside in that area. With a degree in music education from the College of Saint Benedict, her primary study was the flute, secondary — the voice.
Warner has held music close and has shared it with Borderland. She taught the band program for three years at Falls High School. And Warner’s face is one that became connected with the Backus building early on; she served as the first acting director for the complex.
She is also quite familiar with the stage at Backus, being one of the originators of its “Broadway on the Border” shows. Warner delivered a vocal solo at the Backus finale in July for fellow organizer Beckie Aitken. Warner was also part of a local drumming group.
“Jill has strong leadership qualities,” said Donna Frederickson, local teacher, musician and board member of Citizens for Backus/AB — the group responsible for organizing the survival of the Backus Community Center. “And she can look at things from many viewpoints, from educational and musical viewpoints, as well as in a sacred and doctrinal vein.”
Warner wrote a successful grant for local ecumenical services, of which she was instrumental in developing. She also wrote original, memorable musical pieces while she was here, according to Frederickson. “It’s hard to lose people who are assets to the community and who are multi-talents.”
Warner has fond memories of her participation in “jazz nights” on summer Wednesdays at the Rainy Lake Lodge, performing with local musicians Myron Hawrylak, Gary Hooker and others. She also values the opportunity she had to work with accomplished composer and musician, the late Paul Severson, who made his home on Rainy Lake for several years.
“The ability to find a variety of entries for music here has been phenomenal,” Warner said. “I came here thinking that there would probably be more musical opportunity in a bigger city, but they’re often closed and established. What I’ve found here is that I had opportunities to do Broadway, jazz and more.”

Saying goodbye
She views her pastoring in Borderland as “a type of group therapy for parishes.” And while she has loved interim ministering, there are aspects of having a fixed church which she has missed. “I didn’t see those life cycle moments — to see a child confirmed that I had baptized,” Warner explained.
“But the ecumenical relationships I have developed here, I really will carry with me the rest of my life,” she added. Warner reminds herself that moving has meant meeting a lot of wonderful people. “It’s always difficult to leave, but every time I come into a new place, there are new people that I was meant to meet.”
At 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Faith United Church of Christ, Warner will present a final, and personal concert for the community. The public is invited to attend. A donation of $10 for the church is suggested. Warner hopes to include in the program a duet or two from her Broadway on the Border days. Frederickson and MayAnn Kalar will be part of the accompaniment.
And on Sunday, following regular services at Faith United, an open house will be held in honor of Warner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is also invited to attend that gathering and refreshments will be served.
Warner expressed gratitude to a community “that not only welcomed me in, but welcomed me back — and back again. I’ve had so many opportunities. And I’m just very grateful for the time that I’ve had here.”

If you go:
WHAT: A concert “Jill & Friends” presented by the Rev. Jill Warner, as her
personal goodbye to the area.
WHEN: Friday • 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Faith United Church of Christ in the Falls. A $10 free will offering is suggested.

In addition, an open house will be held Sunday in Warner’s honor after the FUCC regular worship service, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church reception room. The public is invited to attend.