Rev. Dr. Mary Lautensleger

I was born and raised in Lenoir, NC, but spent over half my life in Ohio where I attended college. Married to Richard 40 years this July, we have two living children and three grandchildren residing in Colorado, Ohio, and Connecticut. Richard and I moved to NC after his early retirement as a civil engineer.

My first career was as a band director in the public schools of Ohio. At age 18 I had moved to Cincinnati to attend one of the nation’s finest music schools. It was there that I began organ lessons and fell in love with the instrument.

For many years after that, I was employed by churches as a lay professional in various denominations. I was organist, choir director, hand bell director, director of Christian education, and administrative assistant - but not all at once.

My love of church music led me to hunger for a deeper knowledge of theology and the Bible. This in turn led to my enrollment in seminary classes, which I loved. Soon I matriculated, earning a degree in sacred music. The seminary experience was my first exposure to women in the pulpit, and I knew, before I had even completed the degree, that God was calling me to the ministry of Word and Sacrament.

I was ordained in the United Methodist Church, and occasionally found my self preaching, presiding, playing organ, and directing the choir, all on the same Sunday morning. I am now retired, enjoying more time to visit with family and to travel.

In my leisure time I like reading, listening to audio books, writing, playing duplicate bridge, my Facebook friends, travel, and cats and dogs.

My writing experience includes 40 lectionary sermons published by CSS Publishing Co, Lima, Ohio. I also wrote for their lectionary journal Emphasis, which included sermon starters and illustrations.

Educational Background:

Doctor of Ministry degree, Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC

Thesis: “Preaching as Pastoral Care in Order to Address Disenfranchised Grief and Ambiguous Loss”

Master of Divinity degree, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio,

Pastoral ministry

Master of Theological Studies, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio

Sacred Music

Master of Music, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio

Instrumental music education

Bachelor of Music, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio

Instrumental music education