When pastor Dana Coker received a call from the Bishop that she had been appointed to serve as Lead Pastor at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Whitesboro, she was neither anticipating the news nor surprised.
Having served as Lead Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Bonham for the past eight years, it was understandable that it would be time for her to move on to a new church family.
Coker grew up in Plano, where she worked at her home church of Custer Road United Methodist. Since then, she has followed the call to a variety of towns ranging from Wichita Falls and Commerce to Bridgeport and Bonham.
“We try to bloom where we’re planted,” Coker said, both of her family and of pastors who often get appointed to new places. “Everywhere I go, I meet incredible people who become family. It’s actually pretty wonderful.”
Coker first learned of her appointment to Whitesboro after Easter, shortly after the church’s previous Lead Pastor Chad McSwain announced he had been appointed to serve as Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church of McKinney and Lead Pastor of Melissa United Methodist Church.
Coker, with her husband Harold and sons Noah (going into 8th grade) and Adan (going into 7th grade), moved to Whitesboro in June. She began serving at the church on July 1.
“We’re excited to be an active part of this community,” Coker said. “I believe that communities are better together. I’m looking forward to plugging into the leadership of town and to do my part to make Whitesboro a better place.”
Coker is the first female Lead Pastor in the church’s history, but this is not uncharted territory for her.
“This is my third time to be the first female pastor in a community,” Coker said. “Change can be difficult for some, but I find that if people give me half a chance, they come around.”
Whitesboro has been incredibly welcoming. Coker had arm surgery the week her family moved to town. Church members brought food and showered her family with hospitality.
For now, Coker’s goals are to focus on getting to know her congregation and learning the church’s strengths, gifts and gaps.
“There’s no cookie-cutter way to make a difference,” she said. “I’m still doing a lot of listening and learning before I start determining a course of action.”
As Lead Pastor, Coker is responsible for a variety of duties, ranging from overseeing the business of the church and sacramental authority to connecting the church to the world and overseeing the growth of discipleship in her people.
Coker leads church services every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. She welcomes visitors, both at church and in her office.
“I’m excited to talk with everyone,” she said. “I definitely feel that I’m supposed to be here in Whitesboro. This is where God wants me. I’m looking forward to helping to build and strengthen our community.”