This month the Department of Spiritual Care at Michigan Medicine welcomed four new Chaplains for the year-long residency “interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships (www.acpe.edu).”
Please join us in welcoming the following four women into our Chaplain Residency program:
Michelle Jendry
Michelle Jendry was born and raised in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan as a student prior to her seminary education. She completed her Master of Divinity at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas and is a candidate for ordination in the North Texas Association of the United Church of Christ. She completed her first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. Alongside ministry work, Michelle enjoys reading and journaling as well as exploring Ann Arbor’s many beautiful nature spots, meditation, Star Wars, and going to waterparks.
Kelsey Lewis
Kelsey Lewis is a CPE resident originally from the Metro- Detroit suburbs. After graduating with a B.A. from Albion College, Kelsey moved to Oklahoma City, OK to train with the United States Sprint Canoe/ Kayak team, as well as coach the Junior and Masters team at the Team U.S.A. Olympic Training Site on the Oklahoma River. While coaching, Kelsey also became very involved with programming at her local United Methodist Church and a community wide interdenominational Christian ministry program as a leader for youth and young adults. The experiences connecting with kids and their families as a coach and in ministry led Kelsey to Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University where she obtained a M.A. in Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Deborah Metcalf
Deborah Metcalf is happy to be living back in her home state of Michigan! She recently completed her Master’s of Divinity from Iliff School of Theology, in Denver, CO. She also holds a BA in Cross-Cultural Religious Studies from Valparaiso University in Indiana. Deb is passionate about social justice and ethics, has spent time working as a volunteer coordinator in hospice care, and has a big smile! Deb finds peace in nature and loves getting outdoors in any way possible whenever she can.
Alyssa Muehmel
Alyssa Muehmel is from Southeast Michigan, but she has spent the last 7 years in West Michigan earning my B.A. in Sociology from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, and then a MDiv. degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland. She is a licensed candidate for ordination in the Reformed Church in America. She is pursuing ordination as a specialized minister, likely in a hospital chaplaincy role. She did her first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids, working with patients experiencing acute mental illness. In her free time, she loves to be outside walking, hammocking, hiking, or just enjoying nature!