Class of 1996 Profile: Lisa Taylor

As part of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the YTI Class of 1996, YTI alumni are interviewing each other, discovering and recording what is happening in the lives of our YTI family today. If you are a member of the class of 1996, and would like to participate in this project, contact Sara Toering at sjtoering@gmail.com

Lisa is interviewed here by Sara Toering:

Inspired by her experience at YTI, Lisa Taylor took on increased leadership in her home church as a high school senior--including instituting a children's sabboth based on a similar service that occurred at YTI. After graduating from high school, Lisa attended Boston College where she majored in elementary education and theology. She went on to attend Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Chicago where she obtained her masters in divinity, and upon graduation she accepted a call in Illinois. Lisa's initial "yoked-call" required her to serve as both associate pastor at Mattoon Presbyterian Church, and also lead pastor at Neoga Presbyterian. After serving these churches for several years, Lisa accepted a call to serve as senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Baraboo, Wisconsin in the fall of 2010. She is currently working with other clergy leaders to address bullying in the community, and is working with her congregation to build a program that provides opportunities for mission where participants are both able to serve in various communities in the world, and to be transformed by those communities. Lisa and her baby boy Paul live in Baraboo where they enjoy animals at the zoo, snacks, and all the art and culture that Baraboo has to offer.

When asked how YTI affected her life, Lisa described how YTI opened her eyes to "the next level of church." Lisa had long loved being an active part of the church, but at YTI she learned to read and study theology, and learned about the direct connection between the church and mission. Lisa shared that she often finds herself drawing on her YTI experience, including the exposure to so many issues in the world via the YTI presenters and speakers. For example, when attending a recent Habitat for Humanity meeting, Lisa recalled a YTI speaker who worked for an organization that provided voice mail services for homeless folks to give to potential employers. Lisa was able to suggest a similar voicemail program to the Habitat for Humanity group in Baraboo fifteen years later. She loved hearing and learning at YTI about how people organized and committed to mission in different ways in their lives, and appreciated learning about the debates going on in the world about various spiritual issues. Lisa reflected that she finds it encouraging to think back on our YTI summer in 1996 and remember that "there is a whole group of us out there doing great work in the world."

Lisa continues to explore her calling in the world, in both her professional and personal life. She is also committed to exploring what it means to be a good mother and how to raise a son that is happy and moral and aware--a son who cares for himself and for others. In that vein, Lisa and Paul are currently reading "Curious George Goes Green" together.

Lisa can be reached at lmtayl@gmail.com