Rev. Angie McCarty
Before moving to Kansas in 2017, I was a pastor in Tucson for 14 years. The Midwest is much different from the desert southwest, but it enjoys a kind of beauty all its own. We’re loving our Kansas life.
I know that the pastor plays a big role in choosing where to worship. Here’s the short story of my life: I was brought up in the church, but stopped going in middle school. I started attending again when I was in college at Arizona State getting my bachelor's in social work. I started working as a youth director in 1992 and was hooked. I felt God calling me to serve the church as my vocation. I earned my Masters of Divinity in 1999 from Southern Methodist University and started in full-time ministry.
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If you’re looking for the perfect pastor who has life together and never struggles, you need to go to a different church. I’m not that kind of pastor. I hope the words “authentic, transparent, and honest” mark my ministry. While the phrase “hot mess” most often describes me, the three words I hope will mark the way I live are “acceptance, compassion, and forgiveness.” Since I am apt to forget how to live into those three characteristics, I had them tattooed on my hip.
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After I became divorced and rose out of an incredible darkness, I met Jonathan Bell at the Church of the Resurrection’s leadership conference. We were married in 2017 and combined our 6 kids to form something close to the Brady Bunch. Jonathan’s sister, Laura, also lives with us. She’s an active 50-ish-year-old who has Down Syndrome. Jonathan and I have the best love story, so be sure to ask me about it.
In May 2023 I finished the long journey to a Doctorate of Ministry degree. My research and writing centered on Christian sexual ethics as a response to the harm of the purity movement. It was a wonderful experience and I'm thankful to call myself doctor! I love coffee, playing the piano, reading non-fiction, watching dark TV shows, teaching cycling classes, and hammocking. Most of all, I love working with God’s people, listening to their stories, and forming communities to be supportive and loving of each other, but especially those who are marginalized and outcasts. I look forward to hearing your story as we walk the path of discipleship together.