Career with Nationwide before becoming a minister
~by Lora Koch, The Scranton Journal
The Scranton and Coon Rapids United Methodist Churches share a special connection in Pastor Joyce Webb. She was appointed in June to serve both churches, replacing Pastor Gunderson who retired and lives in Jefferson now.
Pastor Charlie Thompson, who served both the Scranton and Greenbrier churches, is now semi-retired and serving Greenbrier UMC.
Webb took a non-traditional route in her calling to ministry. Originally from Sioux City, she graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in sociology and criminology, got married, and planned to attend law school. After a year of commuting to Drake Law School, she changed career directions and headed back to Iowa City to earn her master’s degree in public affairs.
Her first job was with Allied Group Insurance (now Nationwide Insurance) in real estate finance, where she helped start their mortgage banking division. Her responsibilities increased until she was vice president of secondary marketing, yet she had always known she would do something different.
“I was still discerning. I knew God wanted me to do something. I had my daughter when I was in graduate school, and my son six years later. I was an associate vice president and wanted two years off. As an active lay person in my church in West Des Moines, I was feeling a call to ministry,” explained Webb. She started at the United Methodist seminary in Kansas City part-time in 2004 and continued working part-time for Nationwide or a consulting firm for several years.
In 2008, she again took time off after being diagnosed with uterine cancer. Webb said, “They caught it very early, only had surgery, no post-op treatment, and it had not spread.”
After her graduation from seminary in 2011, “I was appointed to the Peoria United Methodist Church in Maxwell part-time, and was still working in a fulltime position with Nationwide Insurance. I was ‘bi-vocational’ until June 2014.”
During those years, she had a busy schedule working in Des Moines weekdays and spending her weekends serving the church. “Nationwide was very good about giving me time off during the week for funerals or other church needs,” she said.
Her appointment to the Scranton and Coon Rapids United Methodist Churches is her first fulltime ministry position. “I really enjoy being able to focus fulltime on ministry and not being bi-vocational. I left the corporate world to do God’s work,” Webb said.
Her years in the corporate world give her a unique perspective. “I know what it’s like to balance work life, family life, and faith life. I have a different lens, a different perspective to offer.”
Webb and her husband of 34 years, Richard, are at home in the parsonage in Coon Rapids. He has a consulting and contracting position, and is often in Des Moines with clients. After living in the Des Moines area for 30 years, they have made a successful transition.
“I like the small town setting. I’m at a stage in my life where I do not miss being in a city. I have also enjoyed both congregations. They are engaging, helpful, and supportive. There are great opportunities to reach out into the communities,” Webb said.
When asked about the churches she serves, Webb enthusiastically replies, “In Scranton, we have Children’s Church during the worship service. There is commitment to kids. In Coon Rapids, we have a wonderful community-based kids program from 5:30-6:30 on Wednesdays. We get about 40-50 kids each week, and about half the kids are not associated with a specific church.”
Looking ahead, her goals include more children’s programming and finding ways to serve kids in the community. Webb would like to see more mission programs, locally, nationally, and internationally.
“For example, local food pantries, such as the Coon Rapids-Bayard food pantry housed in the Methodist Church, is open the third Tuesday each month and will soon be offering perishables such as apples, eggs, or bread.” Nationally and internationally she likes mission efforts such as Heifer Project.
Every new job has its challenges, and for Webb, “It’s getting to know everyone in both churches, remembering names, and who is related to who. I hope everyone keeps introducing themselves to me!”
She is figuring everything out, learning new things, and focusing on honoring each church’s history and tradition while still looking forward. “God is of the past, present, and future. Seeing where God is calling us to go, and who to reach out to.”
When Webb and her husband have free time, they enjoy family time with daughter Jessica and her husband Jesse and their sonTyson, who live in Johnston. Son Alex lives in Clive and is following in his mom’s footsteps working at Nationwide Insurance. She also likes to read, walk and cheer for the Hawkeyes.
Her Hawkeye ties are more than academic. Webb played softball for the University of Iowa – though it doesn’t sound like she’ll be starting a church softball league anytime soon. Either way, it appears her appointment to the Scranton and Coon Rapids United Methodist Churches is nothing short of a home run.
