Pastor Melanie

Pastor Melanie has been serving Union Church (UCC) of Tekonsha since July 12, 2024.

A generational Johnson of Tekonsha, Pastor Melanie graduated from Tekonsha High School in 1981. After high school, her primary working career was serving the public as an Emergency Medical Technician, Tekonsha Fire Department fire fighter and current Chaplin. Pastor Melanie has served with many community organizations. She graduated from Davenport University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management.

As a Member in Discernment with United Church of Christ, pursuing ordination, Pastor Melanie completed a requirement of Master of Divinity at Central Theological Seminary, Shawnee KS in 2023.

Th summer of 2023, Melanie became Lay Minister of Congregational Care and Community Outreach at the Union Church. On July 12, 2024 Pastor Melanie accepted the position as pastor at the Union Church of Tekonsha.

Pastor Melanie recived her Death and Grief Studies certification (150 hours, Bachelor equivalency) from the renowned Dr. Alan Wolfelt from the Center for Loss & Life Transition in Ft Collins, Colorado. Pastor Melanie has 8 years' experience guiding individuals through the journey of loss and grief through her organization, Companioning Hearts and as the Bereavement Coordinator at Kempf Family Funeral Home in Marshall, Michigan.

Pastor Melanie is a community home gal by nature, a pastor by calling, and follower of Jesus by choice. She brings openness and compassion to serve her community to assist the least and broken knowing she, herself is broken, yet healed by the love of Jesus.

You will find Pastor Melanie around town supporting functions, getting to know people and visiting with them. She participates in Sassy Bible Journaling led by Pastor Melany Chalker from the First United Methodist in Eaton Rapids on Tuesday nights on her IPad where they learn about Jesus by reading a chapter, breaking down the chapter by people, verses, application and visuals, then creatively doing art. She loves her Harley Davidson trike alongside of her wife Tammy and son Luke. She enjoys riding the gator through the wood's trails on their farm. One of her favorite sayings from a colleague is, "I don't have weaknesses, I have room for improvements."