Hello everyone!

I’m very excited to be your new Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Douglas, WY. My background is I have been practicing as an obstetrician/gynecologist for about 25years. Also, I was raised Roman Catholic. So you may be wondering why I am a Pastor now. I’m so happy you asked! When I was six years old, my mother died of breast cancer. It was during that time that I decided I wanted to be a doctor because little girls shouldn’t lose their mothers at such a young age. I went straight from high school to college to medical school to residency to practicing obstetrics and gynecology.

It was also when I was six years old that I started my relationship with God. I vividly remember having a discussion (in my mind) with God. I reasoned that He took my mother, therefore, He had to now take care of me. I have been a solid Christian all my life. Growing up Roman Catholic I considered becoming both a priest or a nun. However, as we all know, a woman cannot become a priest in the Roman Catholic Church and I wanted a family-which I could not do as a priest or a nun. I have always been very involved in any church I have ever attended. I had a falling out with the Roman Catholic church and was unchurched for about two years. I started attending a United Methodist church, became a member and now am in Seminary. My call was solidified in 2015 when I was undergoing chemotherapy for my own breast cancer.

FUMC Douglas is my first church that I have been appointed to. I’m very, very happy to be here and am looking forward to walking with all of you as we continue our journey of faith.

~Pastor Patricia Bell