Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Baughman.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a preachers kid. My dad and the 4 generations before him were all Methodist pastors in Texas. As the 6th generation pastor in my family, I am the first female I that line. As is the case in many other lines of work, ministry is an area that has been a predominantly male profession. I didn’t necessarily you set out to break that boundary but I did so simply by being true to who I feel called to be. I am the senior pastor of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church and this is my 23rd year in full-time ministry in the United Methodist Church.
In my current place of ministry, I get to work on the corner of Oak Lawn Ave and Cedar Springs Rd. For many years this has been viewed as a neighborhood of safety and acceptance for those in the LGBT community. My role as pastor in this community is very much to express with a loud and clear voice that you are a beloved child of God no matter what the rest of the world tells you. Whether you are gay or straight, rich or poor, black-brown or white, male, female or anywhere in between, housed or homeless, Ph.D. or GED… You are a beloved child of God.
Many in the neighborhood are hesitant to cross the threshold into a traditional style church like ours because of the ways they’ve been made to feel unwelcome in by churches in their lifetime. I consider it one of my greatest responsibilities to open our doors and remove barriers that keep people from feeling welcome in our church.
I am also very passionate about the work of opening the doors of hope and opportunity thousands of miles from Oak Lawn through an NGO that I helped establish this year called Safe Spaces Lebanon. Syrians fleeing war have poured into Lebanon, creating a humanitarian crisis for the refugees and the hosting community. We are in the process of building a school for refugee children who have missed years of education in the midst of the crisis. I feel called to lift up the voices that have been silenced, oppressed and underserved in whatever ways I can and this is one of those places.
Loving the world the way God loves the world Is what I seek to do in ministry, whether it is with the members of my church, the homeless in Dallas, or the refugee in Lebanon, God has work for us to do.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always bumps in the road. I think that challenges should be expected but they become obstacles when we let fear define our next steps. I am happy to take on a challenge and to do it with all my heart if it means standing up for what is right and standing up for those who are silenced. The moment we let fear keep us from acting on what is right is the moment we become part of the system that oppresses.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Oak Lawn United Methodist Church – what should we know?
This year, our church opened its doors during the coldest nights to be open to those without shelter to come in from the cold. The congregation of Oak Lawn UMC extended love and hospitality in the form of hot meals, a warm place to sleep, and offering warm coats and blankets. I am proud to be part of a community that lives its witness of love in real ways.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I extremely grateful for the lay and clergy leadership of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church for the ways they live God’s love in the world. I also am so grateful for the work of the Safe Spaces Lebanon Board for making our work in Lebanon possible.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3014 Oak Lawn Ave Dallas, TX 75219
- Website: www.olumc.org
- Phone: 214-521-5197
- Email: rachel.baughman@olumc.org
- Facebook: Facebook.com/olumc
- Twitter: @olumc
Image Credit:
Jamie Griffin and Clinton Bray
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