Lakesider News

Rev. Kimberly Orr is Lakeside’s new Director of Religious Life

By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager

Rev. Kimberly Orr is ready for a new challenge — and to cool off a little bit.

Orr has spent her entire life in the South, where the summer months are hot and humid. She became aware of an opportunity in Lakeside through an acquaintance who knows the community well and urged Orr to apply.

When Orr was Publisher of The Upper Room, a devotional magazine for The United Methodist Church, she met Lakesider and MennoMedia publisher Amy Gingerich through the Protestant Church-owned Publishers Association (PCPA). Orr had never been to Lakeside but was intrigued by what she heard from Gingerich and took her advice.

“When Amy saw this position open, she reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, I think this position might be a good fit for you. You might want to pray about applying,’ Orr said. “So, I prayed, and I felt like, ‘Hey, go ahead.’”

Lakeside was thorough and spent time discerning that the right candidate was chosen among many qualified applicants. Orr’s prayers were answered and she received the call to become the new Director of Religious Life. Orr takes over for Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, who will remain on the staff until his retirement at the end of the 2025 Chautauqua season.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” Orr said. “I’m looking forward to working with the Religious Life team, participating in the outdoor activities and also just getting to know the people at Lakeside.”

Orr is also not dreading the cold winters in Lakeside. She’s embracing it.

“I won’t miss being in the heat of the South,” Orr said. “Honestly, that’s one of the major things I’m looking forward to. I love cold weather.”

Impressive background

Orr grew up in Livingston, Texas, a small town about 74 miles north of Houston. She is a well-educated musician, earning a bachelor’s in music education from Sam Houston State University and a master’s in choral conducting from Rice University.

She also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and is nearing completion of a PhD in New Testament theology from the University of South Africa, Pretoria.

“I’m toward the end of the dissertation,” Orr said. “Prayerfully, I’ll be done by May, if not, it will be in December.”

Orr taught middle school music for a couple of years and later taught choral conducting at Rice University while there as a graduate student assistant. She plays guitar, bass guitar, a little trumpet and piano and also “fiddles around” with the cello.

She took her time completing seminary, as she wanted to balance parenting two young children at the time. She finished seminary in 2005 and moved back to Texas, where she began to serve as a pastor in the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. One of the highlights of her ministry was to serve as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation for Windsor Village United Methodist, a large, predominantly African American church in south Houston.

Orr also has a minor in English and considers writing an “important part of my life.” After 10 years at Windsor Village, where she did extensive writing and editing, Orr moved to Nashville to become the publisher at The Upper Room. In addition to publishing a 90+ year-old devotional magazine, it also produces spiritual formation books.

Orr took over during a time in transition and worked to update processes and systems within the organization.

“We worked really hard to modernize and update our operations and to streamline our production and editing processes,” Orr said. “I feel good about many of the things that we were able to accomplish over the three years I was there.”

Plans for Lakeside

Orr and her mother, Frances (age 89), visited Lakeside in early January looking for their new home and plan to be moved in by March 1. She liked what she saw during her first visit and compared it to the town in the in the iconic TV series, “The Andy Griffith Show.”

“Lakeside is like Mayberry by the lake,” Orr said. “I grew up in a very small town, so this has very much that same close-knit feel. It’s exciting to me that there’s a basis of faith in the community, and people look out for each other. I think that’s just a beautiful thing, and it’s something you don’t see every day.”

When Orr takes the Hoover Auditorium stage for her first Community Worship Service on May 25, she said to expect a service that is “upbeat, enthusiastic and filled with a lot of intentionality.” She also added that she is always open to hearing suggestions and as her grandmother taught her, “be willing to listen twice, and speak once.”   

“I try to bring a joyful and open spirit to the worship services,” Orr said. “I’m always open to hear from Lakesiders on hymns they may enjoy, or songs or artists they may enjoy.”

Music will be an integral part of Rev. Orr’s services. She says it’s an “aspect of spiritual formation and equal to the spoken word.” She looks forward to building a collaborative relationship with Lakeside’s Worship Music Director Michael Shirtz.

“I absolutely want to partner with Michael,” Orr said. “I believe in collaborative work. I want to work with him and build something for the Lord together.”

Orr also understands the importance of youth ministries. She has already heard the great things Chip Richter and John and Bonnie Wilkie do with the children of Lakeside and is eager to meet them.

Orr shouldn’t have any trouble fitting in because she enjoys two of Lakeside’s most popular activities — swimming and biking. She is also a big fan of hobby board games and is hoping to work with the Education pillar to fold more of those activities into what’s already available. She also likes to stream British mysteries and to cheer on her favorite rikishi in Japanese Sumo wrestling.

Yes, really.

“I have been a serious fan for over 25 years of Sumo wrestling,” Orr said. “I just love the culture, the artistry and there’s no equipment. It’s two guys, just duking it out.”

Orr hasn’t set any lofty goals for her first season in Lakeside. Once she experiences a summer season and meets more Lakesiders, she’ll have a better idea of her plans for the future.

“My goals this first year are to listen and learn,” Orr said. “I’d also like to expand the buffet table of speakers and partnerships a little more. I look forward to folding into that Chautauqua tradition, and I’m excited to just be a part of what’s next for Lakeside.”

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