Aurora's Wesley UMC welcomes new pastor
Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora welcomed the Rev. Tammy Scott as incoming pastor on Sunday, July 2.
Rev. Scott is former lead pastor at Sugar Grove United Methodist Church.
Effective July 1, she succeeded Rev. John Bell who is moving to Louisville, Ky., after 10 years of ministry at Wesley.
To open the incoming celebration, Rev. Scott and family - daughters Hannah and Haylee with her parents Tom and Joan Biltgen - assembled at the altar. Then Kathy Breazeale, Wesley governing board chair, led a welcoming ceremony.
She said, "Today we welcome Tammy, who has been appointed to serve as our pastor. We believe that she is well qualified and has been prayerfully appointed by our Bishop Dan Schwerin."
Rev. Scott responded, "I reaffirm this commitment in the presence of this congregation!"
Later she delivered her inaugural sermon,"Open to God: Invited to be Loved and to Love."
Rev. Scott announced in advance that she selected Isaiah 6:1-13 for Sunday's scripture reading. She said, "We will hear Isaiah's call and I'll share some of my call story while inviting you to share your stories with me in the coming weeks."
She said she is looking forward to a series of "listening" gatherings in congregants' homes during August and September.
The celebration concluded with a welcoming reception for Rev. Scott and her family members in the Gathering Place room.
A native of Lockport, she has served Methodist churches in Sugar Grove, Joliet, Wilmette, Bolingbrook, Minooka and Naperville. She chairs the UMC Northern Illinois Conference Council on Finance and Administration.
Her ministry areas of focus have included children, youth, families, administration, Bible studies and confirmation. Rev. Scott holds a bachelor's degree from University of Illinois-Chicago and a master of divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston. She was ordained a Methodist elder in 2021.
Rev. Scott's family includes identical twin girls, Hannah and Haylee.
Wesley, at 14 N. May St. in Aurora, holds Sunday worship services online at 9:30 a.m. and in-person at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call (630) 896-1033 or visit wesleyumcaurora.org.