We are thrilled to introduce Rev. Dr. Katy Stenta as our new Albany Presbytery Moderator! Rev. Stenta brings a wealth of experience, a passion for accessible ministry, and a deep commitment to the vibrancy of small and diverse churches. From growing up in a family of PC(USA) co-pastors to her journey through seminary and creative ministry roles, Rev. Stenta’s story is one of faithfulness, creativity, and resilience. Take a moment to learn more about her background, ministry vision, and the hobbies that bring her joy. We look forward to her leadership and insights as she serves our presbytery!
Tell about yourself growing up
I was born in Ridgecrest, California, but I only lived there for about a month before moving. I have lived all over the United States. I have lived in Western Pa twice, Eastern Pa three times, New Jersey Three times, Arkansas, George, Wisconsin, Ohio, and now New York. My parents were revitalization PCUSA co-pastors before every pastor had to be a revitalization pastor. Most of the churches I went to growing up were small, with almost no children, and I saw how faithful churches with little money could still be vibrant, loving, and meaningful. This was when Christianity was still in its heyday, yet I never went to Montreat, never saw a slide screen at church, or never got a big grant or a building project.
I went to college at Oberlin and loved pretty much every minute of it. I hung out with a Science Fiction and Fantasy crowd, before that became popular again, and studied pneuma, Civil Rights and the Church, Homosexuality, Medieval literature, Fairy Tales, Japanese History, and Women’s Rights. I also did a personal study project on Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first ordained woman pastor in the United States, from Oberlin, and a Black Church history project on a local Black Christian Missionary Alliance church that somehow had a woman pastor, even though it was technically illegal. It was then I realized that I wanted to actually be a pastor, I was trying to be careful not to ‘fall into it” since it was what my parents did.
I then called my boyfriend of four years and told him I was going to be a pastor, and he was nonplussed. He explained that before asking me out, he had thought carefully about the possibility of a long-term relationship, including marriage. Part of that consideration was accepting the idea that I might feel called to ministry someday. So, while my news was meaningful to me, he was already on board and happy to support me in pursuing my calling.
Tell us about Your Ministry
In high school and the like, I volunteered for church stuff for a long time. I did church choirs, Nursery Care, taught Sunday School, the whole ilk. In my senior year of high school, I volunteered to lead a VBS at my home church. It was only one day, but it turned out to be a lot of work to get volunteers, come up with ideas (pre-internet), and prepare for the event.
By the time seminary rolled around, I had been working with kids in daycares and preschools for years. Though Princeton had not yet come around to the idea of working pastors, though our Immigrant and Black students had been doing it all along, I got a job as the Christian Ed Coordinator while in seminary. I happened to end up at the most diverse Church on the books in the PCUSA. It was an education to “translate” between the Young, Working, mostly Korean 1.5 generational immigrant professionals and the older Caucasian congregants, not to mention the young hip tweens and teens of varied races, about what was traditional and what was cultural.
One of my main theologies is that we are supposed to make God as accessible as possible. Over and over we are shown how Jesus meets you where you are—by the well, up a tree, on the cross, acknowledges you, and walks with you. This is how Jesus models ministry to us, so this is the church’s job as well.
Then I moved to Albany for a temporary one-year “pulpit supply” but really designated a pastoral role at New Covenant. This pastoral role changed over the years, becoming a beautifully installed role after 3 years, changing again to a three-quarters time role 6 years in, and then changing again during COVID. The church worked first on becoming healthier and more transparent, then becoming a part of the neighborhood, and finally, it tried to figure out what was next after COVID. After thirteen years, the needs of the church changed again, so I discerned a call at Emmanuel Friedens Baptist UCC, a place with a strong mission in Schenectady.
I hope people can join me for my installation Feb 9th at 2pm: Service of Installation: Rev. Katy Stenta
Hobbies
I really enjoy writing. I completed a Doctorate in Ministry at Mr. Roger’s alma mater, Pittsburgh Seminary, in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian. It’s a degree that is supposed to get your theology out there to the general public more, so I write accessible Psalm-like prayers, quotes, etc. My thesis is called Let’s Yell at God. I also try to write and read science fiction and fantasy when I have the time. My husband Anthony is a librarian (we joke it is out of self-defense because I own so many books). He is the branch director of Bach Library in Albany. I have three teens: Franklin (NB), who is 16, Westley, who is 14, and Ashburn, who just turned 13. They are all trying to eat me out of house and home. I also have four devoted cats: Kazul, Tag, Stardust (the grumpiest and mine), and Pocket-Chocolate. I also enjoy sitting in the sunshine, theater, and I think snow is magical.
