Ask a Pastor: Several local pastors plan interfaith panel for curious community members

Several area clergy members will gather Wednesday evening in a community event designed to answer questions about faith in a relaxed, no-pressure environment—ideal for anyone who is curious about Christianity but hesitant to visit a church.
The “Ask a Pastor” interfaith panel will take place June 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the AGRA Pavilion. Pastors from the local United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, and Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) churches will participate, alongside Sister Celine from the Roman Catholic Holy Cross Sisters.
“This is an idea that the members of Ascension Episcopal Church came up with in an effort to unite followers of Jesus, no matter what church they attend, as well as to spread the love of Jesus to those who may not have a church they call home,” said Amy Heimerl, priest at Merrill’s Ascension Episcopal Church.
Many people are curious about “church” and they have questions, but they aren’t yet sure about “going to” church or which church they’d even like to try out, organizers said.
This event will feature an “Ask It” basket where attendees can anonymously submit questions for the pastors to answer, to learn more in a relaxed, comfortable environment. Organizers do emphasize that each pastor or panel member will speak from their own individual perspective “on their own” and their answers are not representative of their entire denomination, but simply one view within their respective denomination. “The goal is to give people an opportunity to talk to followers of Jesus Christ without the pressure of having to walk into a church building,” the event flyer says. For new Christians, prospective Christians, or just the genuinely curious, this event is also an opportunity to learn about several different area churches in one place.

“The goal is to be able to offer perspectives of [some] local pastors to interested people without the pressure of having to attend a church service,” Heimerl said. “We believe that many people are curious about what following Jesus really means, and we want to offer what it means to us.”
The initiative grew from the Merrill Ministerium Group, a group which meets regularly and includes pastors from a number of local churches and denominations. Ascension Episcopal received a grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin to support this event, Heimerl said.
Each participating church plans to host an open house and/or newcomer service at a later date to help interested community members understand what elements of their respective worship services involve and mean. Such events are so “those interested in exploring a church can get a feel for what a worship service is like,” Heimerl said.
The Ask a Pastor event builds on other ongoing interfaith community efforts, including “The Vibe,” a monthly open mic event held the first Friday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at rotating locations during spring, winter, and fall.
“People come and share their talents, whether singing, playing an instrument, reciting poetry that they (or others) wrote, telling jokes, even dog tricks are welcome,” Heimerl said. “It’s simply an alternative, multi generational gathering on a Friday night that doesn’t cost anyone anything to attend, and people can be assured that they will be welcomed and heard.”
The open mic has been running for almost two years, drawing 20-40 people each month. Like the upcoming panel, its aim is to build community without requiring church attendance.
Similarly, the June 18 event is free and family-friendly. Snacks and beverages will be provided, and all community members are welcome to attend.