Celebrating Ordination Candidates

On Friday, October 14, the Committee on Ministry gathered as a whole ahead of our KO Conference Annual Meeting to hold interviews for two Members in Discernment (MIDs). Both MIDs were recommended by the local church and pastor for ordination, having completed their discernment process with the Committee on Ministry, subsection D; and both were unanimously approved for ordination pending a call! As both candidates are members of the same church, we also name and celebrate the gift of this congregation for our Conference and the wider UCC, in calling new ministers to serve among us. Thank you, Rev. Kayla Bonewell and Church of the Open Arms; and welcome, Pam Schonauer and Quine Gorges, to ordained ministry of the word and sacrament! We look forward to celebrating your ordinations soon!

Pam Schonauer

Pam Schonauer began her journey of discernment eight years ago. It was during a transformative walk on a Labyrinth that she realized her call to ministry.

She attended training in San Francisco in 2016 to become a Veriditas trained facilitator of the Labyrinth. In 2017, she entered Phillips Theological Seminary, graduating in May of 2021 with a Master of Arts in Ministry and Culture. She completed a year long residency with four units of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) at Mercy hospital Oklahoma City.

Pam currently works as a Chaplain for CompleteOK Hospice. A journey such as this does not occur in a vacuum. Pam wishes to express her love and deep appreciation for her wife, Paula, Pastor Kayla Bonewell, Pastor Kathy McCallie, all of the members of Church of the Open Arms and the K/O Conference as well as a host of other people who supported her during this time.

Quinn Gorges

Quinn Gorges was born in Wichita, Kansas and was raised in the Lutheran (ELCA) tradition. His dedication to service began during his attendance at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA with his internship at a local penitentiary. Quinn served as a missionary to Cameroon, Central Africa and Mexico City, Mexico before returning to the Midwest. He found himself directed to the path of a teacher, and he spent several years instructing Biology, Chemistry, and English Language Arts.

After a life-saving journey of self-discovery and gender transition, Quinn found himself drawn back to a more intimate relationship with the Gospel, and he found a new spiritual home with the UCC. The UCC’s progressive views and dedication to social justice made returning to the path of ministry a joy as Quinn embarks on his next chapter of service. He currently lives in Oklahoma City, OK with his wife Pearl.