New United Methodist pastor took long road to Down East

CALAIS – The new pastor serving three United Methodist churches in Washington County took the long road to her new ministry.

Lehlohonolo “Henrietta” Montjane was appointed this summer to serve the Calais United Methodist Church, Blakey Memorial United Methodist Church in Eastport, and North Perry United Methodist Church.

She delivered her first sermons last month, thousands of miles from her native South Africa.

The daughter of an Anglican priest, Montjane, 39, grew up in Johannesburg and earned a master’s degree in social work from Boston University. She worked as a human resource manager in South Africa in the 1990s, ultimately finding that work unfulfilling.

“I was working in the corporate world, doing well. But often, the values of the corporate world were in conflict with my values as a Christian. I always wanted to come back [to the United States] and get my Ph.D. So, in ’99 I came back.

“It was an act of faith,” she said. “I was really asking God, ‘What do you want me to do with the rest of life?'”

The answer to that question led her to the seminary at Boston University. She graduated in May and was recruited by the United Methodist Church.

Montjane lives in Calais with her two sons and her parents.

As many United Methodist clergy began their ministries last month, two in Maine retired – the Rev. Robert R. Murchie of Methodist congregations in Searsport and North Searsport, and the Rev. Gary Vencille of the Brooksville and Stonington UMCs.

Other United Methodist ministers appointed or transferred last month:

Pastor Daniel Blevins, from the Hodgdon, Monticello and Smyrna Mills churches to Bridgton and Bradley Memorial in Fryeburg.

Pastor Daniel Bollen, first appointment, to Guilford.

The Rev. Valerie Duecker, a United Church of Christ minister, to Stonington United Methodist.

Pastor Roxanne Farrar-Chandler, first appointment, to Monticello.

The Rev. Sunday O. Faluyi, from the United Methodist Church of Nigeria to Grace Linn Memorial, Hartland.

The Rev. Nancy D. Huntington, from Blakey Memorial, Eastport, and Calais United Methodist Church to Calvary, Lewiston.

The Rev. Pat MacHugh, from Houlton to First United Methodist, Williamstown, Mass.

The Rev. Cynthia Nickerson, from Bethany United Methodist, Rochester, N.H., to Corinth.

The Rev. Mike Pike, from Corinth to Exeter United Methodist, Exeter, N.H.

Pastor Marilyn Rohdin, to Hodgdon and Smyrna Mills.

The Rev. Katherine Russo, to Brown Memorial, Clinton.

The Rev. Naomi Sam-Kpakra, from Danielson United Methodist, Danielson, Conn., to Houlton.

The Rev. Margaret “Dodie” Stowe, from Guilford to Conway United Methodist, Conway, N.H., and Moultonville United Methodist, Moultonville, N.H.