Reverend Peggy A. Wilkins- Associate Pastor

Pastor Peggy came here in 2008 as the associate pastor

Peggy Wilkins grew up in Michigan but loves the south. Currently she serves Englewood UMC as the Associate Pastor appointed by the bishop of the Florida Conference. In this capacity, she oversees congregational care, visitation programs, Stephen Ministry, GriefShare along with the various duties of a pastor.

Born in the “Truman Era” Pastor Peggy grew up on a farm outside Lake Odessa, MI, a village that maintains its ‘small town USA’ feeling. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1971 with a degree in education. However, with no teaching jobs and feeling a patriotic pull she entered the US Air Force in 1973 enlisting as a Scientific and Engineering Research Assistant, a special duty assignment administering and analyzing psychological tests to officer pilot candidates. It was during this time that she met her husband. They made their home in San Antonio until their enlistments were completed. They had one son, born in 1977.

Upon their return to civilian life the Wilkins family moved to Florida. Unfortunately, the marriage did not survive. From 1982-1985 Peggy attended Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, GA, attaining her Masters of Divinity Degree and an AF Reserve commitment which she fulfilled at Homestead AFB and MacDill AFB. She served civilian pastorates in Pompano Beach UMC, First UMC in Gainesville, and St Paul’s UMC in Orlando. In 1991, while at St. Paul’s, Pastor Peggy felt an undeniable ‘call’ to reenter the Air Force on active duty; this time as a chaplain.

Chaplain Wilkins served at Moody AFB, GA for four years, spent a year of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington DC, then on to Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX for two years, followed by a two year tour at Misawa AFB, Japan, three years at Andrews AFB, MD, and four years at Patrick AFB, FL where she retired in September 2007 with the rank of Major and having served as the Senior Protestant Chaplain and Wing Chaplain. Her deployments include Operations Coral Relief, Southern Watch, and Desert Thunder.

After military retirement Pastor Peggy took a sabbatical until July 2008 when she accepted the appointment to Englewood UMC. She enjoys preaching, storytelling, visitation and counseling ministries; gardening is her primary hobby but she dabbles in several others. Pastor Peggy loves living so close to her son, Jason, and his family who are just 80 minutes south; and she has the honor of sharing her home with Simon … the cat.

A SERVANT CHURCH

Following the example of Jesus Christ, the Englewood United Methodist Church shall strive to make God and His Kingdom more real through our caring, worship, study, fellowship, and outreach. To this end, as a Servant Church, we offer ourselves and our facilities to the Christian growth of all persons.