Assistant Dean Has New Title

Story by Holly Holmes, A&S Journalism Intern

To many people, Billie Burton is known only as an assistant dean in the college. But she now has earned a new title, that of church pastor.

Burton became an ordained minister on February 27, 2005, after three long years of training and study under the leadership of her husband, Randal Burton, who is the pastor of the Word of Life Ministry Christian Center. She now assumes the position of co-pastor at the non-denominational full gospel church in Lincoln Heights.

Burton said her decision to enter the ministry was made after she felt “a strong call of purpose in her life” that compels her “to minister and reach out to hurt and struggling women.” She is especially interested in working with young, unemployed mothers and would like to set up training to help them enter the workforce or pursue higher education. “It’s very fulfilling to impact people’s lives in such a positive way,” she added.

Burton’s husband was “very supportive” of her goals and has kept her in the forefront of the ministry. Her two youngest children, Joshua and Caleb, are also involved with the church. They participate in its television ministry, which is broadcast on a public access channel. Tapes of its services earned the ministry a nomination for the Blue Chip award, a public access program honor in the Tri-state area. She laughed, “People often come up to me and say, ‘Didn’t I see you on television?’”

When asked if she might assume a church of her own, Burton replied that she probably would never want her ministry to be separated from that of her husband. But she has been called to work with women outside the Cincinnati area and to speak at an Indiana women’s conference in June. This will be her first major speaking engagement as a pastor.

Of the long road to ordination, Burton recalled, “I’m just glad it’s over.” Now a full minister, she feels satisfaction at having achieved her goal: “I’m looking forward to whatever the future holds.”