2 leaders of Toledo Campus Ministry to retire after Advent service Sunday

The Rev. Dee Baker, standing, is retiring after 20 years as director of Toledo Campus Ministry.

Want to fast-track Christmas? Try the Advent to Christmas worship offered by Toledo Campus Ministry at 4 p.m. Sunday at Fairgreen Presbyterian Church, 3220 W. Laskey Rd.

“On a college campus, Christmas vacation comes pretty early,” said the Rev. Dee Baker, executive director of the campus ministry. “Sunday is the last worship for the semester; at the end of the semester, TCM always hosts for the community a ‘y’all come, see who we are, thank you for the support you’ve given us through the years’ event. [In worship,] we roll through all four Advent thoughts and celebrate Christmas” in the same service, the United Methodist minister said.

Besides ending the semester, that will be “my last worship service as director of Toledo Campus Ministry after 20 years,” said Pastor Baker, known to the students as “Mama Dee.” Both the reverend and Kristina Davis, the TCM music director, are retiring. A reception for both will take place after the worship service.

Speaking for Mrs. Davis, Pastor Baker said, “We both love worship and music, the arts, spiritual arts in particular, and helping people grow and deepen in their spiritual understanding.” For her next endeavor, Pastor Baker said, “one of my goals professionally is to start writing up some resources for the ecumenical community” on campus ministry. She also plans to teach at a theological school.

Toledo Campus Ministry has served the University of Toledo since 1967. One of its activities has been to be “really involved with multifaith dialogue and establish interreligious understanding,” the pastor said.

On Jan. 1, the Rev. David Montgomery, Presbyterian campus minister at Murray State University in Kentucky, will be the new executive director of TCM. Student leaders will be responsible for the music as he gets established.