Rev. Victoria “Vicky” Ney will be installed as pastor of the Margate Community Church Sunday, Nov. 4.
MARGATE – It’s a small world after all. While searching for a new minister to replace longtime retiring Pastor David A. Flemming, the Pulpit Committee at Margate Community Church had to look no further than the choir box. There, for many years, was organist Victoria “Vicky” M. Ney, who led the church in song during the 1980s.
Now an ordained Presbyterian minister, Ney was selected to serve as the church’s new pastor and will be installed at a special service 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 4.
“I was asked to be interim, but they are calling me pastor,” she said.
During the service, the congregation will be asked one question – will accept and honor her as their new minister – and Ney will answer three: will you accept and embrace this congregation; will you be their teacher, provoke thinking, deepen their spiritual understanding and open their hearts to God’s love; and will you share your talents, wisdom, knowledge and provide guidance?
The answer to all three will be ‘I will with God’s help,” Ney said in an interview on her first day on the job, Thursday, Nov. 1.
Ney, who grew up in Ventnor and lived for a time in Margate, spent much of her career in musical ministry at synagogues and churches of all denominations in various New Jersey communities, including in Margate, Northfield, Somers Point, Roslyn and Delanco.
“I loved it and the peace I found in church. One day, I told Rev. Randy Riggs that I wanted to spend even more time in church,” she said. “But I didn’t want to be a minister.”
“We should do lunch,” Riggs replied.
The luncheon was held at Princeton Theological Seminary with the admissions director in attendance.
“The next thing I know, I was enrolled in the seminary,” she said.
After her ordination in 1999, she was one of four ministers at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, and eight years later, the main minister at Springfield Presbyterian Church.
The Margate Community Church is an interfaith congregation with associations in the American Baptist and United Church of Christ movements. However, Ney said the Presbyterian Church had been “in conversation” with several other denominations, which allows her to work outside the bands of the Presbyterian faith.
“There are more similarities than there are differences,” she said.
Ney, 66, is married to Richard, a former superintendent of schools who retired in June, and they now live year-round in their summer home in Venice Park Atlantic City. They have two adult sons and two grandchildren who live in Hamilton Township.
“None of this would have happened until he retired,” she said.
She has maintained a relationship with the Downbeach community by attending services at Margate Community Church during the summer months and preached there when Pastor Flemming was on vacation.
Ney said she feels “energized” by the challenges of taking over for a minister with 32 years of longevity who saw the children he baptized grow up to be married and have children of their own.
“I don’t see challenges as obstacles, only as opportunities,” she said.
She is looking forward to working to enlarge the church community.
“Like every church leader, I would like to get more people out on Sunday mornings and get people involved in our ministry,” she said.
The stately brick church has a half-day nursery school for about 25 children, a women’s group, men’s breakfast group and does mission outreach. Since Hurricane Katrina, the church has ministered to eight communities around the county that struggled after natural disasters.
Ney said it is likely she will organize a mission outreach this year as well.
In the aftermath of the murder of 11 Jewish worshipers in Pittsburgh last week, Ney said she would likely ask the congregation to consider upgrading security at the church, she said.
“The last church I worked at had an off-duty plain clothes police officer offer security in the sanctuary during services,” she said. “We explained to the congregation that there were no threats, we did it just to be prepared.”
Ney said she is looking forward to providing stability during the transition to new leadership.
“I’m a bridge builder between the Gospel and life today,” she said. “I’m also excited to be the first woman pastor in the church’s 89-year history.”
When she was growing up, there were not that many female role models in the church.
“It’s a good thing for girls to understand leadership,” she said.
Although she wants to “ease into” her new role, she has plans for some new programs at the church, such as Lenten Bible study and Bible study classes in general, she said.
“Also, we have enough children in middle school to have a confirmation class, probably after Easter,” she said.
She said she would plan activities to attract new congregants.
“I want to get some concerts going and just let people know we are here. We are not a museum, we are here to help and in helping we are God’s hands in the world,” she said.
Although it was only her first day in the church, Ney said she already feels the “great attitude” of the congregation.
“I’m looking forward to moving the church forward with trust in God, which will be the subject of my first sermon,” she said.
Margate Community Church
