After graduating from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2000, Rev. Larisa Parker served part-time as a licensed local pastor for several years. But now that her children are both in school, she’s on her way to becoming an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church (UMC). She is currently serving in her first full-time appointment as associate pastor of pastoral care at Alpharetta UMC in Alpharetta, Ga. – a job that challenges and delights her.

There are two main jobs described in Parker’s title: As pastoral care minister, she is in contact daily with people who have acute or chronic suffering; and as associate pastor, she gets to wear many hats, including preaching, working with committees and helping lead worship. She says she loves the variety.

"It does tire me out emotionally, but there is also a lot of joy in my work," she shares. "It is such a blessing to be welcomed into people’s lives at times of illness or death. I am amazed that I can offer something that really does help: a prayer, a Psalm, a hug or a conversation."

One of Parker’s strengths – and a reason she does well in her position – is her sense of humor. "So much of the ministry is very serious and intense, so a good sense of humor balances the emotions," she says.

Since she was 17, she has felt called to minister. Though she didn’t heed it right away, the call was confirmed as she chased career after career, finally finding the answers she was looking for at seminary. She knew that, for many reasons, she was suited for the ministry.

"Teaching is so natural to me, and often when I’m leading well, I’m teaching well," she explains. "My favorite part of the ministry is the moments of inspiration. When I’m writing a sermon, and the breakthrough comes, and the words just flow from me, I know the Holy Spirit is present and giving to me. When I’m preaching, I feel excitement and I know I have the full attention of the congregation – this, too, is a gift. This will also happen on a smaller, more intimate scale when I’m counseling with someone. There are times when I simply know the presence of the Spirit."

Being a pastor often means facing very different situations, personalities and crises – in the lives of congregants as well as among the pastoral staff. Parker admits that it’s easy for her to get caught up in the leading, teaching aspects of her character so much that she starts to lecture. "I have learned to listen, listen, listen," she divulges. "And I try to honor each person."

There are about a dozen people on staff, and many more serve part-time at Alpharetta UMC, and Parker works hard to come to a consensus in problem-solving and planning meetings. "Often, disagreements will come down to differences in deep, personal values, and you have to honor that," she says.

And it works. The staff has regular and productive meetings where sensitive and sound decisions are made. "The senior pastor, Dr. Don Martin, is intentional about us praying for each other and having fun, too," she adds.

Parker says she hasn’t met resistance in her position as a female pastor. "There are still churches out there that refuse to accept a female pastor," she says, explaining that the resistance she meets comes from herself. "My culture and upbringing has sent me so many mixed messages over the years of my life that I am often unsure about the proper use of my authority."

It helps to have good mentors, she says. And she has always looked up to women in leadership. The first woman she saw in the pulpit was Bishop Marjorie Matthews with the UMC. "I was about 12, and I remember that she was very petite and confident and capable," she recalls. "It did not occur to me that it was unusual to have women clergy – women were teachers, doctors, attorneys and other professionals. So why not clergy?"

There are so many experienced women clergy to turn to for guidance, Parker says, and there are ways to keep that trend alive and growing.

"Women clergy do have the right training, the right gifts and the right calling, but we still need a little extra support because we are still a minority," she says, explaining that there is a high dropout rate among women clergy. "Some leave the ministry because of family concerns, but many leave because the stress of the ministry, combined with hostility from the system or the laity, overwhelms them."

It’s important for their male counterparts to recognize that women clergy must find their own ways of leading, and that those ways are going to differ from the ways men lead. "The leadership women give will still be effective – just different," she says.

Parker knows the efficacy of this leadership, as she has met many wonderful women clergy of all ages, races and backgrounds, she says. And in the UMC, she’ll continue to meet strong leadership of women and men from all over the world. Because the denomination is worldwide, delegates from many countries will attend this year’s General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, in April.

"This is an exciting time to be United Methodist," Parker shares. "Certainly it is challenging to have a worldwide church – to allot the resources well, to come to agreement on policy, and so on. However, we have so much to offer each other."