“It feels right. I feel ready in this vocation."
Ann Shade, the former Montgomery Township Administration and Human Resources Director of nearly 20 years, is set to be installed as a pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Sellersville.
“It feels right. I feel ready in this vocation,” said Shade. “I don’t like to use the word ‘confident.’ It’s a readiness. I’m ready to go.”
A Fleetwood native and 30-year Lansdale resident, Shade was inspired to join the clergy in December 2016 following the death of her mother.
“It was the pastoral care that was provided to my mother at the time, allowing her to die well,” said Shade. “That’s what then encouraged me, that I felt called to go to seminary.”
While working full-time in human resources, Shade enrolled in the United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia in August 2017. During her time in seminary, she completed an internship at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glenside and served as a chaplain at Grand View Hospital in Sellersville. She graduated from the seminary in May 2023 and in May 2024 was ordained as Rev. Ann Shade at Trinity Lansdale, her home church for over 30 years.
“Being ordained in May, surrounded by family and friends and so many people that have been part of this journey for me, supported me, encouraged me, it felt so awesome. All praise to God,” said Shade.
St. Michael’s will hold an installation service for Shade on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 3 p.m. Shade describes the service as an “intimate time of mutual commitment” between the clergy and congregation.
“I will be making a formal commitment to the people here, to baptize them, teach them, preach to them, love them,” said Shade. “They will give the same back to me in providing their commitment to me as their pastor.”
Through her journey from HR director to pastor, Shade says that she has gained a more profound relationship with God and the community.
“I’ve gained a direct line to the people, to be with them, walk with them, laugh with them, to be with them in their life happenings, which then is a complete circle back to God,” said Shade.
Shade expressed immense gratitude to her family, including her father Charles as well as husband Bill and children Hannah and Matthew, for their unconditional support. She describes the future as “hopeful in Christ.”
“It’s certainly not known. It’s where the Holy Spirit will lead us as a congregation and as a community,” said Shade. “I’m placing my hope in Christ, in the community and beyond that people will come, will want to listen to the word of God, to have fellowship together, to be in community together.”
