Meet Our Pastor

Pastor Carol Williams-Young heard her call to ministry in 2009 while she was an active member of Epworth UMC in Toledo.  She graduated with a Master’s of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Ohio in May, 2013, and was ordained as a Full Elder in June, 2015. She served on the pastoral staff of Epworth during her three years of seminary and for four years as the pastor of Woodville UMC in Woodville, Ohio, before coming to Zion.

She and her husband Marc were married in 1979 after her graduation from BGSU, where she earned a B.A. in Communications. Before hearing her call to ministry, she worked in the telecommunications industry, was a “stay-at-home mom” while her daughter Peyton was growing up (a “job” she truly loved), and later worked as a tutor at a school for pregnant and parenting teenagers, first as a volunteer and later as part of the staff. Marc is an attorney with his own practice, which is located in downtown Toledo in the historic building he and Pastor Carol renovated. They enjoy travelling, cooking, concerts, cheering on the UT Women’s Basketball team, and visiting Peyton, her husband Chris, and daughter Zoe near Washington, D.C.

Community service, both through the church and through other community organizations, has always been part of Pastor Carol’s life. Mission work that serves the community is something she highly values, as well as passionate worship and opportunities for deepening faith and discipleship.

Pastor Carol says, “One of my favorite Scripture passages is Isaiah 43:19: ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’ We have many ‘new things’ ahead of us here at Zion UMC as we worship, learn, serve, and grow in our faith together. All are welcome to join us for the adventures that lie ahead!”

You can email Pastor Carol at pastorcarol@bex.net.