Pastor Marianne Niesen is a United Methodist clergy, serving in the Yellowstone Conference of the UMC. She is currently the Senior Pastor at St. Paul’s UMC in Helena, MT. She likes best her preaching and teaching ministry in the church.
Marc and I met Marianne while she and I were in seminary. At the time, Marianne was a Franciscan sister preparing for ordination in the Methodist Church. Yes, you read that right. The Methodists were thrilled. So were her fellow Sisters. To summarize the outcome: she toys with the title Notorious Defection for her memoir.
Marianne lived in the flat above us in Berkeley. Hence she became known as the Marianne From Above. I am the other one. Marianne and her husband Lyle, and Marc and I have been friends for over 30 years. Enjoy her reflection which will be posted tomorrow and question to help you continue the conversation.
