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Minister says goodbye after 22 years

In her earlier days serving as the first female minister of Marietta’s first church, a congregation member asked the Rev. Linda Steelman to prove her commitment to the community in the most eternal way.

“She said ‘If you’re so connected to the community, prove it. Buy a plot,'” said Steelman, who retired Sunday after 22 years as the minister of the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Steelman began looking into those buried at Mound Cemetery, finding that the church’s first minister, the Rev. Daniel Story, was laid to rest there, as was Sarah Bingham, 1805-1840, who was the wife of the Rev. L.G. Bingham, pastor of the church.

“I learned that her headstone had been given by women of the church and it reads ‘Few die more justly beloved or sincerely lamented,'” said Steelman. “In the early part of the 19th century for a woman to have that place in the community, it didn’t happen. I enjoyed learning about her and I realized I wanted to be there, too.”

Steelman did end up with a plot in the cemetery, but those in the congregation say that wasn’t really necessary to prove her commitment after all.

“She’s made such a big difference, not only in the church but in the community,” said Judy McCauley, a member of the congregation for 11 years.

Whether it’s counseling local students or spending hours making hospital visits, Steelman “just digs right in and helps,” said McCauley.

“It will be very difficult to fill her shoes,” she said.

Steelman spent her last week at the church packing several rooms full of books, performing baptisms and a wedding and receiving a special honor Sunday following her last service.

Not only was a new church sign years in the making unveiled, but the minister was surprised by a plaque made by Sewah Studios dedicated to her 22 years of service.

During Sunday’s worship, Steelman shared a poem she had written in her early days at the church, “And God Is In This Place,” which points out that a church isn’t a building, it’s people and their service together. The cover of the program included a quote from Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you…plans to give you hope and a future.”

Even after more than two decades, Steelman said she really can’t describe what made the church in Marietta the right one for her.

“It’s one of those God things,” she said.

Question: You’ve been with the church for 22 years. How did your position there come to be?

Answer: Our denomination uses a search and call system. United Church of Christ churches can choose their own pastors and pastors are free to choose a church and hopefully those two things mesh together. It’s a bit like a courtship. You get to know one another, and we ended up having a good time. I never expected to be here this long.

I was also the first female minister at the church. It was the first time they had the thought “Maybe a woman won’t hurt us…” That’s a flip way to say it but it was a different thing then. Now no one thinks about it.

Q: Were you already in Marietta at that time?

A: No. I left the corporate world in Columbus (working in logistics for Borden) and decided to go to seminary, which I never thought I would do. I had attended the First Community Church in Columbus and sang in the choir and worked in worship services…somehow I ended up in seminary.

Q: You said it was something you never intended?

A: It was one of those things, that as life unfolds, you try something new. I had done a lot of work in worship services and I thought I would try the seminary and see what was there. I found myself picking up two masters degrees, so I guess I found what was there.

Q: Is this church the first one where you served as a minister?

A: Yes, this was the place where I was called. I thought I would be here five or six years and I found myself really becoming a part of the Marietta area. (Marietta resident) Jack Moberg asked me at that time what I thought of Marietta. I told him “It’s fun, I like it’ and he said “I think it feels like you’ve been here forever.” We still joke about that. Now I think it’s a great thing that it feels like I’ve been here forever.

Q: What was it about this church that struck a chord with you?

A: It sounds crazy, but it just sort of happened. Through the search and call process, there were a few times that I did pulpit supply when a local pastor was not available. The next summer I found myself (as a candidate) when there was an interim minister here. It’s one of those God things. It’s not really a surprise but then you just find yourself getting enveloped in it. I’ve learned a lot and made some friends. I’m remaining a Mariettan, although I do still have a house in Columbus, too, and family there.

Q: Do you think you’ll be splitting your time?

A: Maybe. I’ll still be involved with things in the community. I’ve worked with the Betsey Mills Club, Franciscan Meals, the Ministerial Association. That will continue.

Q: What was the reaction of the congregation in your early days being their first female minister?

A: There were a couple of folks who said “I’m not going to take communion from some woman.” Now you’d think the idea of a woman in the pulpit was theirs. I didn’t bite, I didn’t boss them around, we had fun together.

Q: Is there anything during your years with the church that you’ve been particularly proud or grateful to be a part of?

A: I think being a part of the church changing…not just my congregation but society changing. Marietta is a little more conservative than I am but that’s OK, there’s room for everyone. We have the food pantry and I’ve seen how we have such a generous community. It’s been good to watch how much people want to be involved.

I’ve seen several members of the congregation turn 100 while I’ve been here and this one little old man told me “I enjoy making things happen.” Then I started noticing people making things happen. I saw that people here get great joy out of taking care of something, even if it’s slipping someone $50 to take care of an electric bill for someone anonymously…they just can’t wait to be gracious.

Q: What made you decide that it was the right time to retire?

A: I’m 73 and it really is the time. I need a break. There are things I want to do with my time. Seventy-three isn’t old but it’s older than I’ve ever been.

Q: What will you miss the most?

A: I love the job of parish ministry–writing worship services, visiting people and becoming part of their lives. Everyone said I wouldn’t be busy my last week here but I’ve had two baptisms, two baby dedications, a funeral, a wedding, and that’s not an unusual week. A lot of times people outside the church will request I perform these and it’s a nice opportunity to be part of peoples’ lives. The United Church of Christ is very inclusive.

Q: You’ve said you’ll still be involved in the community after retirement. Will you still be involved with the church?

A: Our denomination requires we step back from our church. It comes from a time when the good old boys would retire but then stay around to tell people what to do. I don’t want to get in the way and will step back until we have a settled pastor. After that, I’m free to come back and be a part of the life of this church. It will be nice to be involved.

Q: Do you know where the church is in the search process?

A: The first step is obtaining an interim. That’s a chance for the church to clear their eyes, think “What do we do right, what could we have done better?” There’s a period of six months of working with an interim, with the whole focus on helping the church re-focus. So, it’s logical that in that time, I’ll stay away, attend another church, spend some time with my family in Columbus. I’ve told everyone “You’ll still see me at Giant Eagle, you’ll see me at Sternwheel.” I’m not going to disappear.

Q: Did you spend a lot of time preparing your last service for Sunday?

A: I tried to really think “What do I wish for these people?” It’s not about what I accomplished, it’s what we accomplished together. I think the church is going to be different and that’s OK. She’s grown different in the time I’ve been here and that’s a good thing.

Q: What do you hope people take away from knowing you? Is there a message that you feel is among the most important that you’ve shared?

A: I think it’s extremely important people listen to one another. We’re not all going to have the same opinions. We have some posters here at the church that they made because we were always saying “We never did it that way” or “We always do it that way” and then we added “It was that way when we got here” because I would say all the time “It was that way when I got here.” It’s a good reminder because we all find ourselves saying those things.

I wrote a prayer, a poem, when I first came to the church that talks about the seasons in churches’ lives and how we fit together. I (read) that on Sunday, during the close of service. The importance of community in a little place like Marietta is so great. It doesn’t mean we’re all doing things the same way, but there’s an awful lot of good going on.

Kate York conducted this interview.

The Rev. Linda Steelman

¯ Age: 73.

¯ Hometown: Tampa, Fla.

¯ Family: Daughter Alissa, of Columbus.

¯ Education: Bachelors degree in speech/theater/English from The Ohio State University; Masters degrees in divinity and liturgical arts.

¯ Time as minister at Marietta’s First Congregational United Church of Christ: 22 years.

¯ Last day of service there: Sunday.

Source: Linda Steelman.

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