Four Legs Blessed

The Rev. Phyllis Haynes has been the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church since late 1995, after graduating from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. She is the first female pastor called by this congregation in its 154 year history, as well as its longest serving pastor. St. Paul’s has been an important part of this community with members serving as town clerk, establishing the library by the Town Hall, and Katie’s Café, a monthly meal, which the church hopes to start up again soon. Before going off to seminary at about age 40, Pastor Phyllis taught both in a private school, and for the NYC Board of Education. She’s also worked for a package designer and an optician. Probably the most meaningful work for her was helping to start a meal program for people with AIDS/HIV back in 1985 and then working full time for that organization for three years from 1988 to 1991. The years she volunteered with GMHC and her years with the Momentum AIDS Outreach Program in NYC helped make her the person and pastor that she is. She’s also enjoyed singing in the past and misses it greatly since she’d had many years of vocal coaching before going off to seminary, learning both sacred music and songs from musical theater. She is passionate about social justice issues.