Three New Pastors Called to Serve at University UMC

This spring, we've been preparing for a huge pastoral transition as we bid farewell to three pastors and welcome three new ones. Pastors Susan, Bill and Bernie will all be retiring at this Annual Conference. We will be sending them off (temporarily) on Sun. June 18. Later in the fall, all three plan to return to UUMC and join our ever-growing congregation of retired pastors.

On Sun. July 6, we will welcome Associate Pastor Lisa Blaylock, Campus Pastor Megan Otto and Pastor for Senior Ministries Richard Strait to UUMC. Lisa and Megan will both be full-time, while Richard will be quarter-time. Below you'll find pictures and brief biographies of all three clergy.


Rev. Lisa Blaylock | Associate Pastor

Lisa Blaylock currently serves as senior pastor of Haynie Chapel United Methodist Church in Garfield, Tex. She began her ministry there in June 2012. During her tenure, the church restructured its leadership board, replaced the roofs of its buildings, and celebrated its 175th anniversary as a congregation. Lisa has taught Bible studies on Genesis and the Women of the Bible. Prior to serving at Haynie Chapel, Lisa served at First United Methodist Church of Denton, Tex. for seven years as the associate pastor of congregational care. At First Denton, Lisa led the Adult Education and Spiritual Life committees and the Hospitality Team. She also served on the Worship Planning Team, led Stephen Ministry, coordinated pastoral care, and was the lead pastor for funerals. Lisa arranged for pastoral presence with members in the hospital and before their surgeries. She also was the staff liaison for United Methodist Women. Older Adult Ministry has a special place in Lisa's heart and she enjoys being a pastoral presence in times of need. She also enjoys planning and leading worship, teaching adult Sunday School and organizing Bible studies. Lisa's call to ministry comes from a deep understanding that every person is a beloved child of God and there are many ways to share God's love. She believes that God's grace is given to each person and, as Christians, God calls us to honor, serve and respect all of creation. Lisa graduated with a degree in psychology from New Mexico State University in 1989 and from SMU Perkins School of Theology in 2005 with a Master of Divinity degree. Lisa currently is a member of the North Texas Annual Conference and is in the process of moving her membership to the Southwest Texas Annual Conference. She and her husband, Jeff, live in Austin. They enjoy hiking, traveling and caring for their two dogs. Lisa has two adult children: David, who lives in California, and Drew, who is in Haiti serving at Heartline Ministries.


Rev. Megan Otto | Pastor for Young Adult Ministries


Megan Otto joins us from Topeka, Kan., where she serves as the Campus Minister for Ichtus Campus Ministry at Washburn University, and the Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church, Topeka. Megan oversees weekly Bible studies, small groups and worship at Campus Ministry. At FUMC, Megan is responsible for confirmation and works with young adults and pastoral care. Megan graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in May 2013. While in seminary, she spent her internship year at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. In her role as a chaplain, Megan worked mainly in the Cancer and Blood Disorder and Psychiatric units, as well as throughout the hospital. During her chaplaincy, she spent lots of time facilitating Godly Play sessions with patients and their families. Megan earned her bachelor's degree in history from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.  After graduation, she worked with college students in many different private and university settings. Megan grew up in places across the Midwest. Her parents live in Lincoln, Neb., where her father is a small animal veterinarian. She has two brothers who live in Kansas City.  Megan is an avid sports fan and will have considerable trouble moving her wardrobe from Kansas State purple to anything burnt orange. She loves to cook for students, read good books, hear new music, and talk to people about the crazy places that God shows up in our lives.


Rev. Richard Strait | Pastor for Senior Adult Ministries


Richard Strait was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio in a Methodist home. After high school, he graduated from Hanover College, in southern Indiana, with a BA in Psychology. He then received an MS in Education from Indiana University. For the next ten years, he worked for The University of Wisconsin (Madison), The University of Nebraska (Lincoln), and The University of Texas (Austin) in the area of Residence Hall Administration. In 1973, he came to UT as the Assistant Director of Housing, and Director of Jester Center and Mens Residence Halls. It was during this time he decided, "what he wanted to do when he grew up." Under the mentoring of Rev. Chuck Merrill and Rev. Karl Gronberg, Richard made the decision to change careers and move toward United Methodist ministry. He graduated from what was then the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin with a Master of Divinity degree in 1986. He served 17 years in the Southwest Texas Conference at Manor, Buda, Menard and Eden, and was the new church start pastor of John Wesley UMC in Victoria. In 1997, he transferred to the Wisconsin Conference and served for 15 years in churches at Prairie du Chien, Eau Claire and Brookfield. From 2008 until his "official" retirement in 2012, Richard served as Chair of the Wisconsin Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. In May, Richard and his wife, Renee, will be married for 25 years. Their marriage blended two families into a new one that is blessed with four children, three daughters-in-law and a son-in-law, and five beautiful granddaughters. Richard and Renee moved back to Texas in 2012 to be closer to family and explore new avenues of ongoing ministry. They are very pleased to be involved and active with UUMC.