Pastor Trish McRae ~ Chollas View UMC

On Wednesday, I met with my Pastor, Trish McRae at my church, Chollas View UMC. She was able to help me understand the applications of my faith to leadership, as well as some really great pointers. Here's the interview! Enjoy:)

Q: Please provide a quick bio of your life.
A: I was born in Sacramento in 1958. I attended Sacramento City College. From there I went to Seattle Pacific. Afterwards, I attended Yale Divinity School. I then proceeded to work at La Jolla UMC as a children's director. Then I worked at Rolando Community Church. I then went to Chollas View UMC in 1991 and have been here ever since. I'm also the pastor at Lemon Grove UMC.

Q: Please describe your current job.
A: I am the pastor in charge of two United Methodist Churches (UMC). My job entails preaching, giving sacraments (communion, baptism), preforming marriages, overseeing funerals, leading (teaching the scriptures in five different bible studies, discipling (training people in the christian faith in an age range from youth to young adults to adults), pastoral care in the form of counseling, seeing to other people's physical needs, giving guidance, going to court on behalf of others, intervening in family needs, schools situations, and community problems.
***Wow! Did you get all that? She basically does everything!***

Q: What is your leadership style?
A: Humor! Yay! In other words, it is very informal and people orientated. It's not especially... how can I put it... "academic." I also believe that we should do things as a community. Instead of telling people to do things I really have to help people to identify their gifts using guidance as opposed to orders. However, I do have to set boundaries.

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a leader?

Best. Selfie. Ever.

A: The advantages of being a leader are seeing people grow and become the people that God wants them to become. On the other hand, the disadvantages are when people don't like what you have to say and the lack of growth that sometimes occurs.

Q: Whom do you lead?
A: I lead all ages. As of right now I am also trying to teach other leaders.

Q: Who are your role models and/or a historical figure that you look up to? Who taught you how to be a leader?
A: Jesus is my #1 role model. My other role models include my spiritual mentor (Joyce), my husband as a spiritual mentor (Dr. Pastor Riley McCrae), a retired businesswoman that lived down the street that was also a Christian and had quite a testimony (Lillian), and a single parent with a real trust in God that really supported me (my Mom).

Q: What are your keys to successful leadership?
A: I'm very different. A lot of leadership deals with the intangibles. I would say that you have to turn to the Lord, trust in the Lord, keep your eyes on God, know that he is there, know that he'll fight the battle, be humble, and have humility.
1) Take up your position and do your homework (learn the facts, make a list of pros and cons, prayer, study, chew on the word, do whatever you have to do to be prepared).
2) Stand firm in your faith. You will want to run away at times out of frustration and discouragement.
3) See the deliverance of the Lord and understand what God wants you to do
DO NOT GET DISTRACTED by yourself or anything else, always be thinking of OTHER people.

Q: What advice do you have for me as an aspiring leader?
A: READ 2nd Chronicles verse 20. It states that you have to trust god and do what he says, worship God, praise him, look for him, and have faith.

Q: What skills should I be developing?

Having a discussion

A: You should be disciplined in reading the bible, after all the word discipline is derived from the word DISCIPLE. Get into the habit of reading the Psalms' and learning about God's love.

Q: How did you get to your position?
A: I had a troubled childhood, but God was there. I started off with the intent of being a missionary (didn't work out). I wanted to be and elementary school teacher (didn't work out). I wanted to be a biologist (didn't work out). I wanted to be a christian missionary (didn't work out). I wanted to be a foreign missionary overseas (didn't work out). I went to seminary and knew I wasn't going to get a Master of the Arts and Religion, so I took Divinity. I ended up helping out at a protestant service with a pastor and somehow ended up in ministry (FINALLY). After many trial-and-error opportunities, I finally ended up in the right place, the place where God wanted me to be as he fulfills the desires of our hearts (sometimes even the ones that we don't know are there).