The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Pastor bids a fond farewell
Sharon United Methodist leader says he will miss village
By Daniel Lai, Editor
PUBLISHED: June 7, 2007
When parishioners gather at Sharon United Methodist Church this summer, an obvious presence will be missing from the congregation.
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Pastor Carter Garrigues-Cortelyou, who has served as pastor of the church for nine years, has accepted a new position as pastor of Otisville and West Forrest United Methodist churches, in Forrest Township, Mich.
"Basically it comes down to the need to replace a vacancy that had to be filled there," Garrigues-Cortelyou said. "I'm replacing a gentleman there who is retiring from the ministry."
Although he is no stranger to transfer assignments, Garrigues-Cortelyou said this transition has been the hardest decision he has had to face.
"It's not easy," he said. "In terms of loving where you are and hating to have to say goodbye, it's something we are preparing for."
Garrigues-Cortelyou, who was ordained a pastor together with his wife Peggy in 1990, was transferred to Sharon after working several years in Rose City, Mich.
"When we first got here, I didn't know what to expect," he said. "Now I love it and don't want to leave."
During his time with the congregation, he said he has become an active role in the Manchester Village community.
"My ministry here has given me the opportunity to exercise so many gifts and allowed for me to serve the congregation in almost anyway I want to, be it with music, community organization or technology," he said.
And community involvement has been a hallmark of his tenure at the parish, he said.
"I would say that I have pushed community involvement," he said. "I've always been proud to say individual members of the church have great opportunities with involvement and have been more than happy to share in that."
As part of his role in community outreach, Garrigues-Cortelyou served as president of the Manchester Community Resource Center.
"Pastor Carter's work with the CRC speaks for itself," parishioners Bill and Peg Chizmar said. "He's been wonderful and we're going to miss him a lot."
Garrigues-Cortelyou said one of the biggest accomplishments he is proud of is overseeing the creation of a fellowship hall at the church.
"Our congregation raised the better half of half a million dollars in one day last fall for this project," he said. "That building is going to lead to a tremendous opportunity for them."
In addition, during his time at the church, he has also managed to continue his education and is close to finishing his doctorate degree in ministry program.
Garrigues-Cortelyou said over the years he has watched population in the area continue to steadily
"There's a lot of change going on in rural church congregations today," he said. "There is a big difference in the direction we are heading versus where we were 100 years ago. Growth is a huge issue for the community and for the congregation."
"Before, churches and communities had to deal with people moving away, dwindling numbers and resources. Now, with more people means more capital and more energy. When you are used to one direction, it's hard to change."
In addition to his ministry, Garrigues-Cortelyou's wife and two sons have also taken an active role in the church community.
"It's a partnership of growth," he said about his relationship with his wife. "We encourage each other a great deal in terms of finding the expressions of our faith that reflect our belief in God's love and respect for people to care for each other."
Although the new church is roughly two hours away, he said his wife, who works for Michigan Interfaith Power and Light in Ann Arbor, will stay at her job and commute once a week for two days to the area.
Garrigues-Cortelyou's sons, Jeremiah, a freshman at Manchester High School, and Isaac, a student at Manchester Middle School, will also make the move with their family to the new church.
"It might be hard for them at first," he said. "It's readjusting to a new community. I've never had to do that as a child. They are excited about the opportunity to be in the choir and the assurance we will continue to come back for any U of M men's lacrosse home game."
Steve Milkey, a parishioner at Sharon United Methodist, said Pastor Carter will be missed.
"We appreciate him especially for all his involvement in the village," he said. "We asked him to make us a visible presence in the village and he did. Wherever there's am event going on, Carter is there."
Milkey said Carter has also been a highly effective presence during the congregation's funerals.
"He has brought a lot of people into the church just for being who he is," he said. "It's tough to loose him. Our next pastor is going to have a time trying to learn everyone's name and how they fit in with the church family."
Garrigues-Cortelyou said he considers both his congregation and the Manchester community, his home.
"Before I came here, I was very careful in my professional life to speak of the place where I grew up, my parents' house, as anything but home," he said. "When I moved here, I very quickly fell in love with the community, the congregation and all the people. I have two homes."
"For the first time as a pastor, I can speak of the farm in New York as home without hesitation and at the same time, this community became home in a way no one in our family will ever forget."
Garrigues-Cortelyou's last day will be June 24. Pastor Peter Harris from Stony Creek Methodist Church will take over as the congregation's new pastor beginning in July.
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