We are thrilled to be joined by Barbara Wendland this Sunday!  Barbara is very active lifelong Methodist, a writer (among many other things, she authors and publishes “Connections”), and a math and theology scholar.  Thanks for giving her a warm welcome!

Barbara Wendland is:

• a lifelong Methodist
  • a lay delegate in 1996 and 1988 to General Conference, the worldwide governing body of the United Methodist Church (UMC), which meets every 4 years
  • a lay delegate in 2004, 2000, 1996, and 1988 to UMC Jurisdictional Conference, the body that meets every 4 years to elect UMC bishops
• • a speaker at church-related events throughout the U.S.
  • 2007 recipient of the annual Seals laity award given by SMU’s Perkins School of Theology
  • a graduate of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, a 2-year ecumenical program sponsored by the United Methodist Church
  • a member of the UMC’s General Board of Church and Society and its Executive Committee, 1996-2004
  • in her local congregation, a long-time Sunday School teacher and choir member, past chairperson of numerous committees and projects, and frequent developer and teacher of short courses about theology, church membership, and spiritual growth
• a writer
  • coming in 2010 from St. Johann Press:  author of Misfits: The Church’s Hidden Strength
  • author of “Awakened by Sacred Fire,” in Rhythm & Fire: Experiencing the Holy in Community and Solitude (Upper Room Books, 2008)
  • co-author (with Larry W. Easterling, a United Methodist clergyman) of Spiritual Family Trees: Finding Your Faith Community’s Roots (Alban Institute, 2001)
  • co-author (with Stanley J. Menking, retired Associate Dean of Perkins School of Theology) of God’s Partners: Lay Christians at Work (Judson Press, 1993)
  • author of articles in church-related periodicals, including Zion’s Herald, Circuit Rider, Upper Room Disciplines, United Methodist Reporter, and Christian Social Action
  • author and publisher of Connections
• a university graduate in math and theology
  • a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in mathematics
  • recipient of a Master of Theological Studies degree from S.M.U.’s Perkins School of Theology, a United Methodist seminary
  • formerly a mathematician and computer programmer in the geophysics research department of a major oil company
• an active participant in family and community
• since 1959 a resident of Temple, a central Texas town of 55,000
• since 1959 the wife of a business owner and active volunteer in church, civic, and professional organizations
• the mother of a grown daughter
• past president of community-volunteer organizations