Pictured is Tyler Nelson, the new pastor for the Ripley and Watts Flats United Methodist Churches. Submitted photo

Tyler Nelson has recently taken on the role of pastor for both the Ripley United Methodist Church and Watts Flats United Methodist Church, something that he said is relatively new for both him and the churches.

Nelson grew up around the Methodist system with his dad being a Methodist pastor, so he is familiar with how the Methodist Church works. Nelson studied theology and apologetics at Dallas Theological Seminary and recently finished a Doctor of Ministry degree. A few years ago he moved with his wife and kids to Willsboro, New York, where they lived for free in the Willsboro Methodist Church’s parsonage so he could help the church with doing their music. While he was not the pastor at that church, Nelson was a substitute pastor at a few other places during this time until the District Superintendent asked if he would consider being a pastor in some other churches that were looking for one. Nelson said those places did not end up working out, but about half a year or so later they heard that the Westfield Methodist Church had an opening.

“My wife grew up in Westfield,” Nelson said. “Her mother lives there, and that’s where we currently live. The District Superintendent said he had someone in mind for the Westfield church but he would see what else he had, and he found that both Ripley and Watts Flats had openings.”

Being the pastor for both churches is something that Nelson said is called a “combined charge”, and something that is new for both churches. He added that it was something he thought and prayed about a lot before saying he would do it.

While the two churches are about half an hour drive apart, traveling between the churches is something that Nelson said works out fine. He said for many Methodist pastors there are requirements for driving back and forth between places and that it is something that they just do. He gave an example of having a board meeting at one church on Tuesday, and added that the day before he drove to Jamestown to visit with someone in the hospital who had a stroke.

Other past work for Nelson was serving with the CAMP-of-the-WOODS in Speculator, New York, near the Adirondacks. He began there about ten years ago and worked for about eight years as an Associate Director of the Lift Program, teaching college theology courses, guiding outdoor adventures and other administrative duties.

For his current position, Nelson said his passion is to help people think critically about their faith and overall worldview.

“I believe our worldview is critical to how we understand ourselves and the world,” Nelson said. “Worldview matters a lot. For example, an atheist has their specific worldview but thinking critically about that can help them see why they believe what they believe and the same is true for Christianity and any other religion. If we believe this, this is probably also true, and for Christianity I think it is valuable for us to understand why we believe what we believe.”

Additionally, Nelson said he did not like the idea of blind faith or faith that is culturally inherited or something that is just done because that is how it has always been done. His passion is to help people understand their faith more critically.

For the future, Nelson said he is still in the discernment process as he is not officially licensed yet, though that is something he is working on. The discernment process is when Nelson decides that being a pastor is something he wants to continue to do full time, as at the moment he has only been in this position for a month. His hopes for the future include discerning if being a pastor is his calling, but also that the churches he serves would catch his fire and passion of thinking critically about what they believe. He said while he hopes the churches will grow, he will not make that his ultimate goal.

“I don’t want to make it my goal to make these churches bigger because that is too numbers focused for me,” Nelson said. “I’m not running a business. I want to help people learn together, grow together and serve together. I am focused on teaching and helping people grow.”

Nelson said both the Ripley and Watts Flats churches are friendly, non-judgemental places where anyone can come and ask questions. He welcomed everyone to come, but especially those who may have questions or doubts as he would be willing to connect and talk with them about any questions they have.

The Watts Flats United Methodist Church is located at 850 Blockville-Watts Flats Road in Ashville and has services beginning at 9 a.m. The Ripley United Methodist Church’s services begin at 11 a.m. at 84 West Main Street in Ripley.