For the Antigo Times

Calvary Lutheran Church in Antigo celebrated two ordinations on Saturday, June 23, 2018. Julie Barger and Betty Wyatt were ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Julie and Betty both received their education from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

Pictured left to right: Julie Barger, Rev. Gerald Mansholt (Bishop), and Betty Wyatt.

Julie was a guidance counselor in the Unified School District of Antigo when she discerned the call to ordained ministry. She embarked on a five-year program, which allowed her to continue her work in the schools during the first three years of her studies by taking online classes and participating in week-long intensive classes. Her fourth year was spent on internship at Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois. Her final year of studies was spent on campus at Wartburg Theological Seminary. Julie graduated on May 20, 2018, receiving the M.Div. degree. She has been called to serve Calvary Lutheran Church in Two Rivers and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manitowoc.

At the ordination Cecelia Peterson Hernandez presented Julie with her red ordination stole, which was made by her mother, Ellen Peterson.

Betty discerned her call to ordained ministry through participating in the Lay School of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin. She served as a director of the Lay School for several years after completing the program. She began serving St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aniwa and taking classes through Wartburg Theological Seminary both online and with week-long intensive classes. Her journey to ordained ministry began in 2010 through the TEEM program (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries). Betty’s internship was completed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aniwa. She received her TEEM certificate on May 20, 2018, and has been called to serve St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aniwa.

At the ordination, Joann Schmidt and Charlotte Schwartzuaber presented Betty with her red ordination stole, which was made by the Calvary Lutheran Church Quilters.

The Rev. Gerald Masholt, bishop of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin, a synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was the Presiding Minister for the service. The Rev. Karen E. Tews, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, served as Assisting Minister for the service. Many pastors of the Wisconsin River Valley Conference of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin participated in the service.

A reception followed the service, prepared by the women of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aniwa, and the women of Calvary Lutheran Church, Antigo.