I was born and raised in California, and in the United Church of Christ. When I was little, I wanted to grow up to be a giraffe. I thought it would be cool to be that tall. Later, I wanted to be a singer. But when I was about 8, I decided I wanted to be a writer.
I never did get very tall. After I fractured my larynx in a car accident, I started thinking twice about the singing career. And as far as writing, I never published much. But God refused to give up on me. For 25 years, as an ordained minister, I have been blessed with the opportunity to support myself by writing a sermon every week. God has always provided me with a kitchen or a car to sing in. And over time, God is teaching me to be tall on the inside.
I have been successfully transplanted on a Wisconsin farm from which I’ve shared ministry with rural, urban, UCC, Presbyterian, old, young, gay and straight Christians ever since. I’ve been lucky to serve some beautiful, small congregations that were never meant to be giraffes. With them, I have heard, told and lived the good story of God’s grace, love and power to make all things new.
My years in ministry have seen dramatic changes in the church, and it is this change that I have addressed in my recent publication “Toward the Better Country: Church Closure and Resurrection”. I believe God is leading the institutional church in exciting new directions, and I want to be around to see what God does next.
My greatest joy is living on a farm with my husband, Charles, my daughter, Evelyn, a few cats and dogs, a lot of bees and 800 dairy heifers. I write for the Oconto County Times Herald, and have published in The Christian Century, These Days Magazine, and various poetry journals. I sing every day.
Gail Irwin 