VOORHEESVILLE — Pastor Gary Kubitz had no intention becoming of becoming a minister at a place like Voorheesville’s United Methodist Church. In fact, he wasn’t even a Methodist.

Today, Kubitz has been pastor at the church since July 1. Although he says he is still in the “honeymoon period” at Voorheesville, he has already initiated a vigil in Hotaling Park on August 11 at 7:30 p.m..

Growing up near Rochester, Kubitz was raised Catholic. It wasn’t until he met his future wife, Sarah, that he decided to convert to Methodism. The two were going to college at SUNY Fredonia for music teaching, and Sarah lived three hours away from Kubitz in Binghamton, so he often found himself staying overnight on her family’s couch.

“The expectation was that if I was going to be there I was going to there on Sundays with them,” he said.

Sarah was raised Methodist, and at her congregation, Kubitz said he felt a connection, that it just felt right to be there. He eventually converted to Methodism and married Sarah, but it wasn’t until 4 years into their marriage that he felt a calling to be a minister. He had gone on a religious retreat with a group of men and was speaking to them about discipleship.

“I felt like I was looking at the men with eyes that weren’t mine,” he said.

A few years later, Kubitz went to study at the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, and went into the ministry. He then spent 5 years as a pastor at churches in the Afton and Bainbridge communities in the southeast corner of Chenango county. His ministry at Voorheesville begins his 6th year as a pastor.

Kubitz was placed in Voorheesville under the decision of Bishop Mark J. Webb and his cabinet.

“The vision that they (the Voorheesville congregation) have and the vision that I have are very similar,” said Kubitz.

Kubitz says that while many mainline religious groups are worried about shrinking congregations, he feels that worry is moot as long as his congregation is spiritually strong. He says he is also glad to be in a community with opportunities to meet new people and enjoy new things, as he was in a much more isolated area at his old congregation.

“I’m looking forward to being part of this community,” he said.

Before his career as a pastor, Kubitz taught music for 10 years, and it often shows in his ministry. Though services include the traditional hymns, Kubitz will also present a contemporary song in a video and use that as a talking point.

“I express my faith in music,” said Kubitz, “Music itself is by a means which we connect with God.”

Kubitz also brought in a new idea to the church two weeks ago for the vigil at Hotaling Park. He said that the series of violent he has seen on the news, and even the conflict between groups viewed through social media, led him to the idea.

“Even though we are geographically removed by that stuff, it affects us as Christians here in Voorheesville,” he said.

Kubitz is hopeful that not only other Christian congregations will come to the vigil, but also other denominations in faith. He said it’s necessary to fight against injustice and work towards peace, which means acknowledging diversity between groups.

“If you think that if you support Black Lives Matter you don’t support police officers, that’s not true,” he said, “Because all lives do matter but that means that black lives matter, and blue lives matter, and asian lives matter...”

Kubitz explained how the teachings of Methodism related back to its origins in the 18th century with John Wesley. Wesley was a member of the Church of England, but separated after discovering and teaching new methods of being closer to God. He and his followers were derogatorily called “methodists” because of this, but it was taken on as their name. Kubitz says the three acts of prayer, study, and action are a short way to sum up their church. For him, he says, it also means having an active relationship with God and his congregation.

“A church congregation of any sort is there for one another,” he said, “It’s the body of Christ; if you stub your toe, you take care of your toe, if you hurt your finger, you take care of your finger.”