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Page 1 of 3 Meet the Pastors of Emilie
Emilie UMC is blessed to have 3 Pastors on board at Emilie. Please see below to get to know each Pastor.
 - Pastor Dan Siddle
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 
I am the Rev. Daniel Siddle, Administrative Pastor of the Emilie United Methodist Church; although I prefer to be called Dan or Pastor Dan (The youth often call me PD for short). I have been blessed to serve at Emilie UMC since July of 2007. In that short time I have been impressed by the dedication and friendliness of Emilie. I’m glad you are looking at our web site, because I believe that Emilie is a family in which almost everyone can find a place.
I was born near Shamokin Pennsylvania (the Coal Region) to Don and Grace Siddle. I was raised in a Christian home and Zion UMC, a small formerly EUB church near our home. Although I had some rather severe medical problems as a young child, God saw fit to heal me and use me in God’s service.
I don’t remember when I first accepted Jesus as my savior; God has been a part of my life from the moment of my birth. I do remember special experiences of God’s presence and grace at Youth Camp, during special Worship Events at church, and through the difficulties of my life. I first recognized God’s call to ministry as a teenager, although I spend some time fighting God’s purpose.
While in Shamokin Area High School I met my future wife Mary. We dated my Jr. and Sr. year. After High School I attended Teen Challenge Institute: a Bible College that specialized in preparing people to serve in Teen Challenge Ministries. After two years I realized that this was not what God was calling me to do. I learned a great many important lessons at TCI, and I believe that God wanted me there for those two years; but I also believe that God led me in a different direction at the end of that time.
In 1979 Mary and I began college. We both graduated from Lycoming College in Williamsport Pennsylvania. Mary has a B.A. in Psychology, with a focus on business application of psychological principles. I have a B.A. with a double major in Psychology and Religious Studies, my focus was on the interactions of psychology, spirituality, religion and philosophy.
After graduation Mary and I married, our Lord led me to attend seminary at Drew Theological School in Madison New Jersey. At the same time Mary and I moved to Westwood NJ and I served as a Student-Assistant Pastor at the Westwood United Methodist Church. The following year we moved to Washington NJ and God blessed me with my own churches: Changewater and Port Colden United Methodist Charge. Mary and I spent four years in Washington. The churches taught me a great deal about being a pastor. I also continued attending Drew Theological Seminary in a very part-time manner.
After Changewater and Port Colden UMC, God brought me back to Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the UMC. I transferred my seminary credits to Moravian Theological Seminary, and began serving at the Tri-Anthracite United Methodist Parish: Middleport, Tamaqua-Salem, and Coaldale United Methodist Churches. Mary and I lived in the parsonage in Tamaqua for eight years. During that time I earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree and a Master of Divinity degree at Moravian Theological Seminary.
In 1997 God led us back to our hometown of Shamokin. I was appointed to the Clarks’ Grove United Methodist Church in Paxinos PA; less than five miles from where I grew up. Mary and I spent ten years in service to God at Clarks’ Grove. While there, I began work on a Doctor of Ministry degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. God blessed us in wonderful ways, and continued to teach me what it means to be a pastor, and a Christian.
Since 2007 Mary and I have been at Emilie United Methodist Church. God continues to bless us in many ways. I have always been honored by the Christian families to which God has led me. At Emilie I sense a church that has served God faithfully in exciting and powerful ways. I also sense a church that is on the edge of a spiritual adventure unlike anything any of us have ever experience in the past. God is doing amazing things at Emilie, and I rejoice that God has called Mary and me here to be part of this adventure.
At Emilie I have the opportunity to share in pastoral ministry with an outstanding team. Pastor Alicia is our Community and Outreach Pastor. She is an excellent preacher, a powerful servant of God, and a true example of living the Christian witness in the real world. Pastor Ron is our Visitation Pastor. He brings wonderful experience, compassion, empathy and presence of the Holy Spirit into our midst. Ryan Fleming is our Music Director; an outstanding musician, singer, and leader. April and Carole round out our staff, they keep everything organized and moving in the Emilie church office. Our congregational leaders are equally impressive both in Spirituality and in practical competence. We are truly blessed.
My role as Administrative Pastor is to equip and build up everyone else in our service to God Almighty. I love teaching and preaching, discussions and training, study and spiritual discipline. I have shared in ministry and worship with: Charismatics, traditionalists, pietists, iconoclasts, liberals, conservatives, progressives, evangelicals, and many for whom there are no appropriate labels. I have experienced God moving in all these different attitudes and approaches to Christianity. I have great respect for each and every one of the traditions and approaches in which I have encountered God. While I have very firm opinions, and I love to debate and discuss the theological nuances of Christianity, I believe that we are one body, united in Christ, serving the same Lord, and placing our hope in the same glorious revelation that God has in store for us.
If you are looking for a place to experience God; if you are looking to be challenged spiritually, intellectually, and in ministry; if you seek to serve God by bringing people TO Christ, growing people IN Christ, and serving people FOR Christ; if you are looking for a community of faith that enjoys and respects our differences; then come to Emilie United Methodist Church. I look forward to meeting you.
Grace & Peace
Pastor Dan
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