Local United Methodist Pastor Ordained into Ministry

by Jonathan Weaver

Approximately 27 years after being initially called into the ministry, Alison Berkey received her distinguishable red stole after ordination Sunday, June 14.

Known as “Pastor Ali” to parishioners in the Allegheny River Charge, she was ordained during the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference at Grove City College.

“Pastor Ali’s” license plate even affirms her new title.

Officially Rev. Alison Berkey, the Johnstown native, was actually baptized and grew up at St. David’s Evangelical Lutheran in Davidsville (Somerset County) and pursued becoming a Lutheran minister at Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary before spending a year as a trauma, rehabilitation and neonatal chaplain at the former-Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, North Carolina.

“That taught me a lot about life – a lot about the way people interact with others in the world and how so unfortunate things can happen – how their lives are changed but yet through their faith in God, they continue and move on – and that just strengthened my faith and helped me to just keep going, even through some of these difficulties that I had,” “Pastor Ali” said.

Fellow students while being a chaplain commented “Pastor Ali” “sounded United Methodist” rather than Lutheran.

“They could feel that there was a lot of compassion within my heart – the Lutheran church is more intellectual and United Methodist church does a lot of things from their heart, relational things. I fit in and apparently that’s what I conveyed to other people, so I started to look into the United Methodist church,” “Pastor Ali” said.

During classes online in 2011 at Drew University and a year of study at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2012, “Pastor Ali” spent time serving at several regional churches – including a year at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church in Punxsutawney and two years leading Karns City and Chicora United Methodist Churches – before being assigned to the Kittanning, Ford City and Manorville churches.

“In four years, I had 11 churches,” Rev. Ali laughed. “That was a lot. I was moving around quite-a-bit, so I hope to stay here for a long time. Every year it seemed like I was moving, and I didn’t want to move again.”

And, at least for the next year, she won’t, after being re-assigned to minister at Manorville, Union Avenue (in Kittanning) and Ford Memorial (in Ford City) United Methodist Churches.

“I very-much appreciate and understand the United Methodist church and their doctrines much better than the Lutheran church, and I feel much more comfortable within the United Methodist church,” “Pastor Ali” said. “So, I have no problems switching denominations because I think I’m where God wants me to be – and proof of that was ordination (June 14).”

“Pastor Ali” was sponsored during the June 14 service by Ellwood City United Methodist Rev. Pat Cleary, Fells Church United Methodist Rev. Bruce Merritt, her husband – First United Methodist Church of Kittanning Rev. Wade Berkey – and her daughter, Natalia.

Rev. Cleary – who has been in the ministry for 32 years – was assigned to mentor “Pastor Ali” personally, socially and theologically in 2011. At the time, Rev. Cleary was ministering during her four years at Bethany United Methodist in Johnstown.

It was the first and possibly the last time Rev. Cleary was also able to sponsor a candidate to enter the ministry. Rev. Cleary hopes to retire next year.

“It’s been a very rewarding part of my ministry. To be invited to be her sponsor and to take part in that way during the ordination service was a great highlight of all my years in ministry – a great blessing and honor,” Rev. Cleary said.

Rev. Cleary – who ministered to the Allegheny River Charge churches with her husband (the Rev. Wayne Cleary) from 1993-2005 - hopes to continue the close relationship fostered with “Pastor Ali.”

Rev. Bruce Merritt has known “Pastor Ali” since they served together in the Butler District. Both have been friends for about five years.

“The power from those people placing their hands on me, feeling that their love and support and understanding…was a weight put on you and at the same time, a weight lifted off of you – you could just feel that strength and power going in you and knowing that you weren’t alone,” Rev. Merritt said.

Also a Johnstown native, Rev. Wade – who has ministered at eight churches in his 11 years of service and has served at First United Methodist in Kittanning since July – was ordained three years ago at the Annual Conference.

“To sit and watch someone else going through (ordination), it’s the ultimate confirmation of God’s call in your life. The laity of Western Pennsylvania have all affirmed that this is what you have been called to,” Rev. Wade said.

“Pastor Ali” and Rev. Wade met while both were appointed to Butler County churches. They celebrated a year of marriage in May.

“Pastor Ali”’s and Rev. Wade’s daughter, Natalia, graduated from Kittanning Senior High in June and will study business at Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky. this Fall.

After volunteering on a missions trip in Zimbabwe, Natalia is interested has a heart for missions and is currently involved in a youth conference in Florida before serving at a local church camp later this summer.

While “Pastor Ali” was studying to become a United Methodist elder, she became a member at Belmont United Methodist in her hometown – where she was also a Vacation Bible School director, member of the choir, liturgist and a substitute preacher, according to Rev. Keith Dunn.

Rev. Dunn was also at the ordination service and felt “a sense of pride” watching “Pastor Ali” become ordinained.

“(Belmont United Methodist) accepted me very quickly, because I went in not knowing anyone in that church,” “Pastor Ali” recalled.

“Pastor Ali” said her goal now is to reach as many local residents as she can through the three Charge churches or in cooperation with Rev. Wade.

“Right now, the four United Methodist churches in the area are talking about what the vitality of the church is and what the needs of the community are, how our resources within the churches can help the needs of the community and the best way for us to utilize these resources – sometimes it might be doing things together as a church, sometimes it might be separately,” “Pastor Ali” said. “We’re working on that.”

She said that process may take even a few years to “see the fruits of” those efforts.

Rev. Wade said there are always ongoing conversations to share in activities together.

A total of four new elders were received into membership and ordained at the June 21 morning service.

Including “Pastor Ali,” those ordained include: Rev. Gary Hilton, associate pastor at Chippawa United Methodist, Rev. Anthony R.C. Hita, pastor at three Stahlstown area churches and Rev. Scott Shaffer, assigned to Blairsville First United Methodist.

 

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