A Kenya-born pastor serving in a cross-racial, cross-cultural appointment will be the new Intercultural Development Coordinator for the Great Plains Conference.
Rev. Dr. Jane Langat
She succeeds the Rev. Kathy Williams, who became director of Clergy Excellence on May 1. Williams began work in the newly created position of Clergy Leadership Coordinator in January 2021, specifically working with pastors and congregations in cross-racial, cross-cultural appointments.
Williams said Langat will continue that work with a new job title.
“Jane comes with a wide experience with intercultural competency because of where she grew up, her experiences here in the United States and her studies,” Williams said, “There’s a humility about her that people will get to experience and see when they get to know her. She is extremely gracious in a really quiet way, but has a deep, deep spirituality and understanding of what it means to be in relationship with each other and really care for each other. You immediately sense that when you interact with her.”
Langat said she was surprised and humbled by the offer of the position.
“God has a plan, because it wasn’t in my mind,” she said. “The conference is already doing something, and it’s progressing very well. But there is still more work to do.”
Langat has served at Longford-Mizpah in the Salina District since 2021, after two years at Minneola in the Dodge City District.
She and her husband, Rev. Dr. Reuben Langat, moved to the United States in 2004. She earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Wesley College in Mississippi in 2005, a master’s of arts in Christian education from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Mississippi in 2008, a master’s of theology in world missions and evangelism in 2012, and a doctorate of philosophy in intercultural studies (community development) in 2018 from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.
Langat has completed course of study and is scheduled to be voted upon as a Provisional Elder at the clergy session of annual conference, to be conducted online June 5.
She will continue to be based in Clay Center, where her husband has served as pastor since 2021. She is a mother of two adult children and a grandson.
Langat said she has had a variety of experiences in a cross-cultural settings prior to joining the Great Plains Conference.
“With cross-cultural ministries sometimes, people don’t know what to expect,” she said. “Congregations have their culture and their perceived ideas of what it means to have a clergy who is coming in. The same applies to the incoming pastor to the new congregation. At first, they are shocked, but with time they learn how to cope and grow together.” This happens by building mutual healthy relationships.
Rev. Kathy Williams
“That’s really a piece we have to build,” she said. “Some of them are pretty hesitant and anxious and nervous about it, and they wonder what it will mean for their congregation and community.”
Williams said Langat also will take her place on the Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural task force and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion committee.
Bishop David Wilson met Langat earlier this year and was impressed with her, and said she brings first-hand knowledge of immigration issues and paperwork that a foreign-born pastor must face.
“She’s been in churches where she’s been accepted and churches where she’s been challenged,” the bishop said. “She understands that because she’s lived it out.”
Contact David Burke, content specialist, at dburke@greatplainsumc.org.
Contact David Burke, content specialist, at dburke@greatplainsumc.org.
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