Elma UMC Staff
Pastoral care by:
Pastoral care by:
Greetings Friends. I’m Reverend Lisa Taylor, an Elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church, Upper NY Annual Conference. I’ve been a pastor in the UMC since 2011. You can call me Pastor Lisa. I hold my Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary, and have completed certificate programs in Family Systems Theory in Local Church Settings, Transitional Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist, and Ministry of Spiritual Direction.
My husband, Romney, and I have been married for 41 years. We have four adult children, Bonnie (Everett), Molly (Michael – deceased), Carly (Richard), and Aaron (Anna), and three grandchildren Theo, Rose, and Flynn. Romney and I have always lived in Western NY. He is about to retire from Buffalo State University, where he is Data Base Administrator, and we have owned and operated Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet and Dance Arts/Romney Taylor’s World Fighting Arts Karate since 1993. (I’ve specialized in Liturgical Dance for worship services!)
As a pastor in the theological tradition of John Wesley, I find it a blessing and a challenge to work with a congregation of diverse points of view. But that is the nature of the UMC. Our bishop describes the UMC as a large table of grace that welcomes everyone: traditional, progressive, and everyone in between. The expectation is that by God’s grace we may all journey together on the Christian path with respect for one another. We are each free to follow our own conscience, to seek the Holy Spirit for wisdom and direction, and allow God to transform each of us into Christ’s image, each in our respective roles in the church. John Wesley is quoted as saying (after St. Augustine), “in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” And I hold firmly to the full document of Wesley’s general rules, which are summarized as: Do no harm. Do good. Attend upon all the ordinances of God.
My teaching and preaching proclaims the Gospel, the Good News, of salvation from sin in Jesus Christ for all who are willing to turn from sin in response to God’s grace. As the Bible teaches, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). So, I believe God is at work in each person to overcome sin in our lives, whatever that may mean in each individual life. Through this transformative grace of God, we grow in holy love and service for God and others. And we may fulfill God’s desires for us to share that love with others throughout our Christian lives.
Below you will find a brief description of my faith.
Statement of Faith
The Trinity. I believe in one eternal God, the source and goal of life, who exists as three persons in the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In love and joy, God creates and sustains the universe, including humanity, male and female, who are made in God's image.
God the Father. I believe in God the Father Almighty, whose love is the foundation of salvation and righteous judgment, and who calls humanity into covenant relationship with God and with one another.
God the Son. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Word, who is fully God and fully human. He came to show us God and perfect humanity, and, through his life, death, and resurrection, to reconcile humanity to God. He is now actively present with us as Savior, Teacher, Lord, Healer, and Friend.
God the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Holy Spirit, who breathed God's message into the prophets and apostles, opens our eyes to God's Truth in Jesus Christ, empowers us for holy living, and carries on in us the work of salvation.
Salvation. I believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone, to whom humanity must respond with repentance, faith, and obedience. Through Christ we come into a right relationship with God, our sins are forgiven, and we receive eternal life.
The Bible. I believe that God inspired the Bible and has given it to humanity as the uniquely authoritative, written guide for Christian living and thinking. As illumined by the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures are true and reliable. They point humanity to God, guide our lives, and nurture us toward spiritual maturity.
The Christian Life. I believe that God has called Christians to be and to make disciples of Jesus Christ and to be God's agents of love and reconciliation in the world. In keeping with the teaching of Jesus, Christians work to oppose violence and war, and seek peace and justice in human relationships and social structures.
The Church. I believe in the Church as the people of God, composed of all who believe in Jesus Christ, who support and equip each other through worship, teaching, and accountability, who model God's loving community, and who proclaim the gospel to the world.
Christian Worship. I believe Christ is present as we gather in his name, seeking to worship in spirit and in truth. All believers are joined in the one body of Christ, are baptized by the Spirit, and live in Christ's abiding presence. Christian baptism and communion are spiritual realities, and Christians from many faith traditions celebrate these in different ways.
The Future. I believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, in the resurrection of the dead, in God's judgment of all persons with perfect justice and mercy, and in eternal reward and punishment. Ultimately, Christ's kingdom will be victorious over all evil, and the faithful will reign with him in eternal life.
My husband, Romney, and I have been married for 41 years. We have four adult children, Bonnie (Everett), Molly (Michael – deceased), Carly (Richard), and Aaron (Anna), and three grandchildren Theo, Rose, and Flynn. Romney and I have always lived in Western NY. He is about to retire from Buffalo State University, where he is Data Base Administrator, and we have owned and operated Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet and Dance Arts/Romney Taylor’s World Fighting Arts Karate since 1993. (I’ve specialized in Liturgical Dance for worship services!)
As a pastor in the theological tradition of John Wesley, I find it a blessing and a challenge to work with a congregation of diverse points of view. But that is the nature of the UMC. Our bishop describes the UMC as a large table of grace that welcomes everyone: traditional, progressive, and everyone in between. The expectation is that by God’s grace we may all journey together on the Christian path with respect for one another. We are each free to follow our own conscience, to seek the Holy Spirit for wisdom and direction, and allow God to transform each of us into Christ’s image, each in our respective roles in the church. John Wesley is quoted as saying (after St. Augustine), “in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” And I hold firmly to the full document of Wesley’s general rules, which are summarized as: Do no harm. Do good. Attend upon all the ordinances of God.
My teaching and preaching proclaims the Gospel, the Good News, of salvation from sin in Jesus Christ for all who are willing to turn from sin in response to God’s grace. As the Bible teaches, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). So, I believe God is at work in each person to overcome sin in our lives, whatever that may mean in each individual life. Through this transformative grace of God, we grow in holy love and service for God and others. And we may fulfill God’s desires for us to share that love with others throughout our Christian lives.
Below you will find a brief description of my faith.
Statement of Faith
The Trinity. I believe in one eternal God, the source and goal of life, who exists as three persons in the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In love and joy, God creates and sustains the universe, including humanity, male and female, who are made in God's image.
God the Father. I believe in God the Father Almighty, whose love is the foundation of salvation and righteous judgment, and who calls humanity into covenant relationship with God and with one another.
God the Son. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Word, who is fully God and fully human. He came to show us God and perfect humanity, and, through his life, death, and resurrection, to reconcile humanity to God. He is now actively present with us as Savior, Teacher, Lord, Healer, and Friend.
God the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Holy Spirit, who breathed God's message into the prophets and apostles, opens our eyes to God's Truth in Jesus Christ, empowers us for holy living, and carries on in us the work of salvation.
Salvation. I believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone, to whom humanity must respond with repentance, faith, and obedience. Through Christ we come into a right relationship with God, our sins are forgiven, and we receive eternal life.
The Bible. I believe that God inspired the Bible and has given it to humanity as the uniquely authoritative, written guide for Christian living and thinking. As illumined by the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures are true and reliable. They point humanity to God, guide our lives, and nurture us toward spiritual maturity.
The Christian Life. I believe that God has called Christians to be and to make disciples of Jesus Christ and to be God's agents of love and reconciliation in the world. In keeping with the teaching of Jesus, Christians work to oppose violence and war, and seek peace and justice in human relationships and social structures.
The Church. I believe in the Church as the people of God, composed of all who believe in Jesus Christ, who support and equip each other through worship, teaching, and accountability, who model God's loving community, and who proclaim the gospel to the world.
Christian Worship. I believe Christ is present as we gather in his name, seeking to worship in spirit and in truth. All believers are joined in the one body of Christ, are baptized by the Spirit, and live in Christ's abiding presence. Christian baptism and communion are spiritual realities, and Christians from many faith traditions celebrate these in different ways.
The Future. I believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, in the resurrection of the dead, in God's judgment of all persons with perfect justice and mercy, and in eternal reward and punishment. Ultimately, Christ's kingdom will be victorious over all evil, and the faithful will reign with him in eternal life.
Reverend Deb M. Coatsworth, Deacon
Director of Christian Education & Youth Ministries
Deacon Deb Coatsworth
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 716-652-5427
Deacon Deb Coatsworth
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 716-652-5427
Worship Music Minister
Nan Keller
Administrative Assistant
Jilliane Kochmanski
Phone: 716-652-5427
Email: [email protected]
Nan Keller
Administrative Assistant
Jilliane Kochmanski
Phone: 716-652-5427
Email: [email protected]