Brecksville United Methodist Church welcomes new pastor

by Janet Cho

The Rev. Heidi Welch delivered her first sermon at Brecksville United Methodist Church on July 7 on a verse from her favorite scripture.

Esther chapter 4, verse 14 reads, “Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” It’s from a letter Queen Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, sent her about the persecution of the Jews by one of her husband’s officials, asking her to intercede with the king on behalf of their people.

For Welch, it’s a reminder of all the things that brought her to Brecksville United Methodist Church, 65 Public Square, where she became pastor on July 1. She was named as the incoming pastor in March, under an itinerant United Methodist Church system that also moved her predecessor, the Rev. Clark Stein, to Hudson United Methodist Church.

Welch said she felt genuinely connected to the Brecksville church even before joining its staff. As a teenager, she came to the church for her Chrysalis camp, “a three-day retreat where you learn about the depth of God’s love for you,” she said.

The Rev. Karen Oehl, Brecksville UMC’s pastor from 2005-2011, was Welch’s supervisor when she started her ministry.

“It’s nice to have connections to people in the congregation who have been a part of my faith journey,” Welch said.

She previously served at Medina United Methodist Church, Johnsville Grace United Methodist Church and Steam Corners United Methodist Church.

Welch grew up in Conneaut, graduated from Conneaut High School and attended East Conneaut United Methodist Church.

“I remember seeing the pastors up there when I was little and thinking, ‘I’m going to do that someday,’” she said.

The Rev. Peg Welch was the first woman clergy member she ever met. Heidi met her future husband, Rus, at a church retreat in college, and his parents, Peg and the Rev. Ash Welch, became her in-laws.

Rus is a chef at Crumb & Spigot in Chagrin Falls, and the couple has two children: Joseph, 9, and Corrie, 5. Rus was a professional photographer when Heidi married him, and she says he has a real touch with food.

“It’s hard being a clergy spouse, and he does an amazing job,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to do what God has called me to do if it wasn’t for Rus.”

Welch said she looks forward to serving the 200-member congregation as she gets to know her new community.

“This church is a reconciling church, which means that we are openly welcoming to everyone, specifically the LGBTQ community, because it seems like that’s the divisive issue right now,” she said. “I am in the ministry in this church because of the people who have cared for me and loved me growing up. I think that God is doing a lot of good work in the United Methodist Church.

“Church should be a place where people feel loved and cared for and welcomed no matter what they’re wearing. A place where they can get a hug and a cup of coffee and sit for a minute and know that they’re not alone; they’re welcomed because they are loved.”

For more information on Welch and Brecksville UMC, visit brecksvilleumc.com.

Featured image photo caption: The Rev. Heidi Welch, far right, pictured with husband Rus and children Joseph and Corrie, took over as pastor of Brecksville United Methodist Church at the beginning of July. Photo by Marilyn Pifer