Cherie Parker

Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries

Cherie Parker joined the staff as the Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries in March 2006.

The daughter of a United Methodist minister, she grew up throughout South Georgia; however, living primarily in Macon, Georgia. After graduating from Mercer University in 1975, she moved to Nashville, TN, where she received her Masters of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1979. In 1977, she was ordained a Deacon and became a Probationary member of the South Georgia Conference. Choosing to stay in Nashville upon graduation, she joined the Tennessee Conference in 1981and was ordained an Elder in Full Connection in 1982.

She met Jack Keller while at Divinity School where he was working on a PhD in Religious Ethics. They married in 1980 and have two children, Juliana and Josh.

Prior to moving to Louisville, Cherie’s pastoral appointments were in and around Nashville. They included being the Associate Pastor of Calvary UMC, the pastor of two two-point charges, the Associate Pastor and then the Senior Pastor of Bellevue UMC.

In 2001, Cherie and her family moved to Louisville, when Jack became Vice President of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and Westminster/John Knox Press. At that time Cherie began serving Watkins UMC. After serving there for three years, she took a year and a half off to spend time with her family. She is now returning to ministry as a part-time member of Christ Church’s pastoral staff.

Her responsibilities include pastoral care, following up on persons absent from worship and the life of the church, and addressing the concern of members who join then slip away without being assimilated into the congregation. She will also help in the planning and leadership of worship and will occasionally teach short-term classes.

Cherie’s other activities include reading, bird watching, walking, and watching movies. As time permits she enjoys volunteering at The Falls of the Ohio State Park where she is a “Naturalist at Heart.”

Cherie is generally available Monday through Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. You may reach her at cherie@ccum.net. or at 893-2201 ext. 265.