Rev. Julie Gregg (photo by JLynn Studios)

On June 8, a mixture of tears, joy, and gratitude filled the air as family and friends from across the state and around the world gathered to embrace Rev. Julie Gregg in person and virtually, marking her ordination as an elder in the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

"It's such a special thing to be surrounded by a loving family and friends and a wonderful conference," said Pastor Julie.

The day was also a moment to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness amidst the challenges of the last several years, including a breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Having her family from Korea – as well as other family and colleagues – together on this occasion was an opportunity to mark God's presence and provision through it all.

"It was so special for my mom to be here for it," said Pastor Julie. "She was really moved by God's faithfulness in my life. I think it was an opportunity to kind of review what God's been up to in my life and especially in the last several years, and I'm sure she was remembering some of those conversations and how God is good."

"My dad wanted to be here too, but he's 89, and it's a little harder to travel [from Korea], so they were all watching and worshipping with us at like two in the morning," shared Pastor Julie.

God's faithfulness and guiding hand have been a common theme throughout Julie's life and calling to vocational ministry. Pastor Julie recalled a particular time in her 30s when she began to read about spiritual formation, discipleship, and spiritual disciplines and reflect more intentionally about what God was doing in her life.

Julie's husband, Brian, her daughter, Ellie, and son, Ian, celebrate her ordination on June 8, 2025.

"It all kind of came together for me that my call was to walk alongside others and help them discover who God is and who they are, their true design," said Pastor Julie. "When we understand who we are created to be, there is this incredible joy and freedom in loving and serving people. That's not to say that being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not difficult or challenging, but there is this true core of freedom and joy that we get to walk with when we really live out of our true design."

God has opened doors for Julie to live out her call to vocational ministry in various ways, one of which is as the pastor of a local church – the United Church of Garretson – where she serves part-time. Her husband, Brian, a United Methodist licensed local pastor, shares the preaching and teaching load with Julie in addition to his vocation as a religion professor at the University of Sioux Falls.

"If you told me that I was going to be a pastor of a church, I would have said you are out of your mind!" said Julie. "This is not something that I thought out. If anything, I resisted it. But God has a way, and God knows me so well that he doesn't really show me the bigger picture. He shows me one step at a time."

Julie has trusted that, as she says yes to each step, if it is something God is calling her to, she will feel a great deal of joy along the way because that is her design.

"I think with my pastoral call, it really started with, 'Garretson looks fun. Let's try it.' And then just being affirmed by the congregation and affirmed by my own delight and joy in serving people, and then I say, 'OK. Let's take the next step,'" explained Pastor Julie.

God's invitation to take "just the next step" has also helped Julie navigate questions, such as discerning which order of ministry to pursue within the United Methodist Church – deacon or elder track. With each step, Julie has found God to be faithful to bring joy as she lives out her calling. Whether serving as a local church pastor or in a multitude of other capacities – such as spiritual director, instructor and mentor for other spiritual directors, and reflective supervisor, to name a few – Pastor Julie sees the common thread of living out her calling and purpose.

Every year, Julie's family takes a "pilgrimage" to Tahoe - a scared place to rest and enjoy God’s creation.

"I think in all of those areas, what brings me joy is helping people understand who they are in Christ and helping them live out of that core. Different means, same end," she explained.

Pastor Julie's calling and commitment to helping people discover and live out their identity in Christ is needed more than ever in a time, as she described, when there seems to be a strong temptation for people to fashion Jesus in their own image and for purposes that don't align with the heart of Christ.

"I think it is our job as the church is to name that and to teach what it means to be true disciples – to be image bearers – of Christ," emphasized Pastor Julie. "We also need to teach Kingdom values and what the mission of the church is – that we are called to do justice and to be peacemakers and to show what it looks like to love God and love others."  

"I feel like some of these cultural messages have hijacked the true message of Jesus," added Pastor Julie.

Julie has seen how respectful and open conversations, as well as building relationships with people, can open the doors to this kind of discipleship and shared mission.  

"If people don't know that you care, then they're not going to care what you have to say," shared Pastor Julie.

It was this model of having conversations and naming uncomfortable realities as a part of discipleship that was particularly encouraging for Pastor Julie at the recent annual conference session.  

"I was so proud during our annual conference. It gave me a lot of hope to come to a conference where we talk about the poor and the marginalized and to have a Bishop that stands and names these things, and is against the powers of evil," said Julie. "Our clergy's commitment to live out the gospel message is what's really encouraging."

That hope is also fueled by what Julie sees happening on the local level.

Children in worship at the United Church of Garretson.

"I feel encouraged by our church – that people are engaged and they are faithfully serving God and loving his people and the community, and that gives me hope," said Pastor Julie. "I am also thrilled with our children's ministry and how our kids love coming to church. They are part of our service, and they want to participate; they look forward to spending time together. That association between church and God – that this is what God is about – that this is a place of belonging and love."

"I feel so much hope because if they could internalize this to be true about God's church, I feel like there is tremendous hope for the future," she added.

When asked how her Dakotas Conference family could pray for her, Julie requested prayers as the church works on a project to transform the lower level of their church into a space for both their children's ministry and the community. She also asked for prayers for hearts and eyes to be opened to how God is inviting them to extend God's goodness and love into the community.

"Our people are beginning to recognize that our church cares about the Garretson community," said Pastor Julie. "It's really cool how God is giving us the opportunity to be an agent of healing and voice at this time alongside others, and so I want our church to look out for ways that we can really make a difference in the name of Jesus."