Not your typical pastor: Rock 'n' roll afficionado takes over at Methodist church

There’s a new twist on the Rock of Ages.

The Rev. Mark Thurman is the new pastor at Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork. And he loves rock ‘n’ roll.

Thurman, 54, moved to Bigfork with his family from Riverton, Wyo. on July 3, replacing Brett Stanislao.

“It kind of chose me more than I chose it,” Thurman said of his ministry. He was playing rock ‘n’ roll at the time and, though he had grown up in the church, had drifted away.

“After 10 years I felt a need to return,” he said. After being back in the church for a year, Thurman felt a need in his life for ministry.

“I thought people lke me probably aren’t good pastors. I like rock ‘n’ roll, and I’m just a normal person,” he said. “I talked to my pastor — he said, ‘There are all kinds of different pastors.’” That sealed the deal.

Although he’s not the typical pastor, “I don’t know if there’s a typical ministry these days,” Thurman said. “There’s so many kinds of ministries starting up... non-denominational and inter-denominational ministries.”

Thurman said he relates to the church’s congregants by presenting himself as “someone who’s working through my own issues related to faith, and I invite people to kind of listen in.”

Thurman said he changes a lot of the language in his sermons related to sin and salvation. “Pastors used to tell their parishioners how bad they are and were going to hell,” he said. This was problematic for people in that it triggered negative associations, he said. “I use a different vernacular.”

In regard to salvation, Thurman doesn’t typically ask someone, “Are you saved? It’s just not a very helpful phrase,” he said. Originally, salvation referred to being healed or made whole, he said.

Some questions Thurman might ask include: “Is there something broken? Would you like to be made whole again?

“Salvation is an ongoing event,” Thurman said. “I’m approaching salvation from a different understanding.

Thurman reflected on his relationship with God over the years.

“Ever since I was a kid I felt the presence of God in the church. Several times I’ve been overcome with the goodness and love of God, the presence of Jesus assuring me I was known and loved.”

Thurman has felt God’s presence, mostly through “very, very powerful feelings of that presence, typically in worship settings or in nature.“It’s a wonderful life,” Thurman said. “Mostly I enjoy what I do. Once in a while there have been arguments where I feel tired and want to be left alone,” he said. At these times, Thurman hears God tell him, “It’s OK. I’ve gifted you and I’d appreciate it if you’d motor along and not let a few speed bumps deter you.”

Thurman has a love of music, reflected in the Beatles calendar on the wall in his study at the church. His wife, Judy, bought it for him. Each months features a different Beatles’ song. September’s is “Lady Madonna.”

Thurman sings and plays acoustic guitar and piano. He does this occasionally in the church. “The congregations want me to do it every Sunday,” but he demurs.

He has a vision for Bigfork. “The approach I have is partnering with the members” to discover what needs are already being addressed in the community and those that aren’t. This process should take two or three months, he said. After that, the church will proceed with a project or plan for ministry, he said.

Thurman pastors two congregations — Bigfork and Polson. Currently, the Sunday service in Polson is at 9 a.m., followed by a 11 a.m. service in Bigfork. “This is a new arrangement for these two congregations, particularly because Polson isn’t able to support a full-time minister,” he said. The Bigfork congregation averages 110 to 120 on Sunday while Polson has 30 or 40.

Although there’s some driving to do, it’s nothing new to Thurman. His first ministry involved pastoring five congregations near Sulphur Springs, Texas. “I was 30 years old,” he said. “It turned out to be a great experience.”

Thurman has had other interesting experiences too. A number of folks over the years have told him he looks like Jesus. But when he traveled to Israel, a man in customs at the Tel Aviv airport told him he looked like Yanni. That was a new one, Thurman said.