Austin church names emeritus pastor

Ricker

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
A former senior pastor of University UMC, Austin, has rejoined the staff of the 1,547-member congregation.
The Rev. George M. Ricker, who served the congregation from 1974 to 1985, was named pastor emeritus by a May 17 charge conference. The unpaid position started June 1.
The charge conference resolution honored Ricker for 41 years of active United Methodist ministry, 11 of them at University UMC, and gave him official authority to perform pastoral duties.
Ricker, 83, has been active in the congregation since his official retirement in 1991.
“Whatever I have been doing, I will continue to do,” Ricker said. “The difference is that if anybody calls me for a funeral or a wedding, I don’t have to call Carl (Rohlfs) to see if it’s all right.”
Rohlfs, University’s senior pastor since 2004, said that as an unpaid staff member, Ricker would continue to minister to the congregation as he has been since his retirement.
Ricker’s most important job, Rohlfs said, is to back up Rohlfs pastorally.
Ricker is one of a cadre of retired pastors who have affiliated with University UMC.
“One job George will have is checking with them to see where they want to practice ministry,” Rohlfs said. “With these pastors, we can expand our pastoral touch and at the same time plug into a vast repository of wisdom and authority.
“There are many things we can do that are good for the community that fit in with the work of a retired pastor. It’s almost like having additional chaplaincy.”
Conferring pastor emeritus status on a retired pastor is not unprecedented at University UMC. The church named the Rev. Edmund Heinsohn pastor emeritus in 1960. The honor recognized his 25 years in ministry to that congregation.
After leaving University in 1985, Ricker served as San Angelo District superintendent for one year. He served as Texas State University campus minister in San Marcos from 1986 until his official retirement.
Earlier in his ministry Ricker served congregations in Bertram, Columbus, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, Fredericksburg and San Angelo.
He is the author of three books, including What You Don’t Have to Believe to be a Christian and The Faith Once Given: The Apostles’ Creed Interpreted for Today.