“I use little kids’ books in sermons. Kids’ books aren’t always just for little kids,” says Carla Gilbert, and that sums up this unique 76-year-old woman who serves the sick and injured as chaplain at Saint Joseph Berea hospital.
Long ago, while attending the University of Colorado Boulder as a medical researcher, Carla became involved in the church. She spent more than 10 years as a pastor and teacher at United Church of Christ in Idaho where she professed her progressive beliefs by performing multiple gay-marriage ceremonies. Later, while living in Utah, Carla fell in love with Berea when she and her husband, Kevin Burke, came to visit her son, Kent Gilbert, pastor of Union Church.
“We fell in love and bought a home on the vacation,” Carla says.
Carla believes everyone is equal, and the word of the Lord is all about being caring and respectful of each other, no matter what someone believes.
“Everybody is worth everything,” she says. “They are all God’s children.”
Carla is a bellringer and an active member at Union Church. A sign outside the church reads, “Welcomes all. No Kidding. No exceptions.” That is how Carla lives her life – open and accepting of all with a welcoming smile. She has her own presence and humor that is relaxed, fun and confident. She supported Berea’s proposed ordinance that “prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender Identification.”
The bill lost, but she regularly goes to city hall meetings to make her presence known and keep the topic on the minds of city officials.
“I make a difference that’s important, but I’m not the only one who can,” Carla says. “That keeps me humble.”
