Jun 08 2009
Orchard Ridge UCC voted overwhelmingly to call the Rev. Ken Pennings as Associate Pastor for Congregational Life on Sunday, June 7. He’ll begin working with us on August 1.
Ken served as a youth pastor for five years; a minister of evangelism, discipleship and assimilation for five years; a church planting missionary for seven years; and an executive director of a religious nonprofit organization for three years. Currently Ken holds a half-time position with the Wisconsin Council of Churches as “Coordinator for Ecumenical Formation.” In this position, he convenes, coordinates and hosts
ecumenical theological events, edits newsletters, gives leadership to the Peace and Justice Commission and advocates with church leaders throughout Wisconsin.
Ken was born the second of four children to Dale & Betty Pennings on March 3, 1957, in Schenectady, New York. He graduated from Columbia Bible College, Columbia, SC in 1979, and received a Masters of Divinity from Columbia Biblical Seminary, Columbia, SC in 1985. He is ordained with the American Baptist Churches
USA and received “privilege of call” with the United Church of Christ in June 2005. Ken appreciates that
both denominations emphasize the autonomy and self-governing of the local church, and the priesthood
and freedom of conscience of all believers.
Some of the highlights of Ken’s ministry career include leading children’s worship in a church on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; taking teams of teenagers to New York City and Providence, R.I. for week-long service
projects; launching and expanding home groups and fellowship groups in a church in upstate New York,
beginning a church from scratch in Madison, Wisconsin; and working ecumenically to advocate for the full inclusion of LGBT people in the life, mission and ministries of faith communities throughout the nation.
Ken considers his strongest ministry gifts to be preaching, teaching, organizing, networking and pastoring. He describes himself as “energetic, enthusiastic, self-motivated, flexible, and demonstrates a high level of commitment to and passion for parish ministry and ecumenical work.”
In his early forties, Ken began to hear God speaking, not only through the words of Scripture, but also through human tradition, experience, and reason. He wakened to a new way of being in the world and
transitioned out of Baptist fundamentalism. Now his highest ambition is to work with others to bring about
a new economy of abundance in the world and a public life reorganized toward neighborliness.
In his free time, Ken enjoys walking in the woods; organic gardening; picture-framing; swimming; tennis; camping; playing the flute, piano & guitar; doing repair work on a couple of rental properties; and volunteering for local religious non-profits.
Ken’s life partner is John Kenneth Leonard, professor of religious studies, Edgewood College, Madison.
Although John teaches in several areas within Religious Studies, he specializes in Spirituality, Liturgy, Catholic Studies and Liberation Theologies. John is an organic gardener, an accomplished chef and is happiest when he’s singing holy chant.
Ken’s three children from a previous marriage are Matthew (age 25), Audrey (age 21), and Kathryn (age 18). Matt works full time in Madison raising money for cancer research. Audrey works full time in Milwaukee in the restaurant industry. And Kathryn will attend UW-La Crosse in the fall of 2009.
In reflecting on his spiritual journey, Ken writes, “I have a deep gratitude to the dear people of First Baptist Church, Madison, with whom I have worshipped and served for the past ten years. It was this welcoming and affirming American Baptist congregation, which brought me back to God, back to the Bible, and back to ordained Christian ministry.”
