Church Women United to honor Patty Burns Jan. 22
Lead Summary
By
Jennifer West-
Local pastor Patty Burns will be honored at Church Women United’s Human Rights Celebration Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. Burns has been led into many unique and unexpected situations while serving her God and the Highland County community.
Born and raised in Hillsboro, Burns graduated from Hillsboro High School. She grew up with her family and friends in the Hillsboro Wesleyan Methodist Church on North East Street. The church was pastored by a series of ministers from the Dayton area. Burns served as a Sunday school teacher and as a fill-in pastor when needed. She had no thoughts of going into the ministry but in 2000 was asked to consider becoming the Wesleyan Church’s permanent minister. After being interviewed, Burns was accepted and ordained by the Wesleyan District superintendent.
Over time, the congregation changed and became known as Resurrected Truth Ministries. The church building on North West needed repairs that the owner could not provide, so the congregation moved first to the Samaritan Outreach Services building and then up to Route 73 where it stayed for many years.
During this time Burns also worked at MAC Printing, as Samaritan Outreach’s bookkeeper and also on the Samaritan Outreach board.
In 2016, Burns was approached by Pastor Mark Smith of the Cornerstone Assembly of God, which is located a half mile south of where Resurrected Truth Ministries was meeting. Pastor Smith suggested to Burns that their congregations join together, with Smith as the senior pastor and Burns as the associate pastor. Despite the difference in the two congregations’ makeups, the two churches were in agreement and joined together in January of 2016. Two other congregations have since joined Cornerstone as well, Living Waters Worship in 2016 and A House of Prayer in 2017.
Interestingly enough, some years before the merger, an elder of Cornerstone had met Patty and was so impressed with her, he told Pastor Smith he felt the two churches could unite and work together. Burns is now planning to oversee the Women’s Ministry at Cornerstone Assembly.
In November 2017, Burns was elected to the office of Hillsboro City Treasurer, the first African-American woman to be elected to city-wide office in Hillsboro. She later resigned to take a position in the City of Hillsboro’s water department.
Burns’ husband, Lonnie, died in 2009. She is the mother of three sons and has 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Church Women United Human Rights Celebration was started in 2006 in the hopes of bringing to light those who have and are working toward equality for all. Awards have honored amazing women and men whose work has made an impact on their community or on the world at large.
The celebration will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22 at the Cornerstone Assembly of God. The celebration will begin with a carry-in dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a program honoring Burns. Everyone is invited to participate. Please bring a cup or mug to drink from. For more information, contact Valeta Doorneweerd at (937) 661-6087.
Born and raised in Hillsboro, Burns graduated from Hillsboro High School. She grew up with her family and friends in the Hillsboro Wesleyan Methodist Church on North East Street. The church was pastored by a series of ministers from the Dayton area. Burns served as a Sunday school teacher and as a fill-in pastor when needed. She had no thoughts of going into the ministry but in 2000 was asked to consider becoming the Wesleyan Church’s permanent minister. After being interviewed, Burns was accepted and ordained by the Wesleyan District superintendent.
Over time, the congregation changed and became known as Resurrected Truth Ministries. The church building on North West needed repairs that the owner could not provide, so the congregation moved first to the Samaritan Outreach Services building and then up to Route 73 where it stayed for many years.
During this time Burns also worked at MAC Printing, as Samaritan Outreach’s bookkeeper and also on the Samaritan Outreach board.
In 2016, Burns was approached by Pastor Mark Smith of the Cornerstone Assembly of God, which is located a half mile south of where Resurrected Truth Ministries was meeting. Pastor Smith suggested to Burns that their congregations join together, with Smith as the senior pastor and Burns as the associate pastor. Despite the difference in the two congregations’ makeups, the two churches were in agreement and joined together in January of 2016. Two other congregations have since joined Cornerstone as well, Living Waters Worship in 2016 and A House of Prayer in 2017.
Interestingly enough, some years before the merger, an elder of Cornerstone had met Patty and was so impressed with her, he told Pastor Smith he felt the two churches could unite and work together. Burns is now planning to oversee the Women’s Ministry at Cornerstone Assembly.
In November 2017, Burns was elected to the office of Hillsboro City Treasurer, the first African-American woman to be elected to city-wide office in Hillsboro. She later resigned to take a position in the City of Hillsboro’s water department.
Burns’ husband, Lonnie, died in 2009. She is the mother of three sons and has 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Church Women United Human Rights Celebration was started in 2006 in the hopes of bringing to light those who have and are working toward equality for all. Awards have honored amazing women and men whose work has made an impact on their community or on the world at large.
The celebration will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22 at the Cornerstone Assembly of God. The celebration will begin with a carry-in dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a program honoring Burns. Everyone is invited to participate. Please bring a cup or mug to drink from. For more information, contact Valeta Doorneweerd at (937) 661-6087.