About five years after her denomination allowed women to be pastors, the Rev. Marilyn Breckenridge wasnt sure herself if women should be pastors.
She had grown up with the tradition of only male pastors, but in the seminary she realized that females could be pastors too.
She was attending the Luther Seminary in St. Paul so she could teach religion classes.
Her plans changed when she heard Gods call.
The call has led her to more than 25 years of ministry. Now, after serving in the Twin Cities for 17 years and Wadena about 10 years, she will retire at the end of December. Her last Sunday service will be this week at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena, where she is senior pastor.
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After being a pastor up to her retirement, she said she enjoyed following the call.
I cant think of anything that would be more satisfying. Each of my calls Ive absolutely loved, Breckenridge said.
Breckenridge and her husband, Tom, have three adult children and five grandsons.
Originally from Fergus Falls, she became a pastor in 1979, with her first call at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis, where she stayed until 1987. During this call, she was one of the first female pastors in the Twin Cities. At the time, female pastors were more common in the rural areas.
Because female pastors were rare in the Twin Cities, even the parishioners doubted her credentials.
People asked her if their children were really baptized or really married after she conducted the ceremonies
Her next calling was to be an assistant to the bishop in the St. Paul Senate from 1988 to 1995. In that position, she represented the bishop and helped him with activities that he wasnt able to attend. Other duties included working with the placement of pastors in churches.
In 1996, she came to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena.
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Since she became ordained, she has noticed more of a focus on Evangelism, with having programs for everybody, not just church members.
She also has noticed more school activities and more difficulties in getting younger families involved.
However, she said the Immanuel Lutheran Church has been very good at having the activities and participation.
The church has family fun night, a wonderful staff and youth activities, she said.
This church has been great, she said.
Breckenridge said all people are welcome at the church, no matter their economic or political perspectives.
We are united in Christ, Breckenridge said.
Besides serving in the parishes, she was able to participate in a few mission trips.
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One of her most vivid memories was the time she spent in Tanzania in 1990, when she spent three months as a teacher.
Even in the 1990s, the Tanzanian people werent used to women pastors.
It was novelty to have an ordained woman come and teach them, Breckenridge said.
In certain instances, the Tanzanian people didnt know how to categorize her.
The Tanzanian women ate at one table and the men ate at another, but they didnt know where to put Breckenridge, being an ordained minister. Finally they decided that she could eat with the men, if another woman ate at the mens table with her.
The Tanzanian food was another story.
Before that experience, she had thought she wanted to be a missionary, but she discovered that she is too fussy of an eater.
They ate rice and beans. For her, they made meat she couldnt chew, and she said she was a vegetarian so they wouldnt have to make meat for her.
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She now plans to travel during her retirement.
She plans to attend a family gathering in Mexico, visit friends in California and go to Switzerland, where her son lives.
In the spring, she plans to put her house in Wadena up for sale, with plans to move to the Twin Cities.
She wants to be close to the airport because of her son in Switzerland and to live near her two daughters, who both live in the Twin Cities.
After catching up with old friends, she plans to think about what she really wants to do.
She thinks she might participate in interim ministry or missionary work.
In her retirement, she will miss the people and proclaiming the Word, she said.
She enjoys hearing peoples joys and sorrows and bringing the word of hope.
