Jenny Bates

Jenny Bates (no pronouns) was born and raised out in the country in Denton, Texas with two siblings and family never far away. Jenny attended Denton Ryan High School and was part of the marching band and academic UIL. Jenny then attended Baylor University and was part of the Golden Wave Band, the Courtside Players, and Tau Beta Sigma, a national service sorority. After Baylor, Bates moved to Washington DC to earn a Master’s degree in museum studies from George Washington University. While in DC, Jenny worked for an international diplomacy center and as an intern at the George W Bush Presidential Library at SMU. After DC, Jenny lived in rural Virginia for 3 years, working for a university arts center before returning to Texas to be closer to family.

Jenny is a graduate of Brite Divinity School with a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry and is commissioned as a provisional deacon with the United Methodist Church. Jenny has over six years of ministry experience, both as a lay volunteer leader and as a pastoral intern. Jenny comes to Arapaho from First United Methodist Church of Denton, where Jenny has served as a Pastoral Intern leading the Glow LGBTQ+ ministry, creating opportunities for the broader community and the church to come together in pursuit of social holiness, contributing to teaching and preaching across three worshipping communities and multiple adult and youth gatherings, and hosting Pub Theology—an approachable group that discusses the intersections of faith and real life for the last five years. Jenny also serves as Associate Campus Minister for the Denton Wesley Foundation, where Jenny leads college ministry, creates curriculum, teaches bible studies, and organizes the Shiloh Food Pantry that serves local students and families in Denton.

Outside of school and work, Jenny loves spending time with friends in Denton, volunteering with LGBTQ+ youth, visiting politicians, watching sports, and playing with Wava, Jenny's 12-year-old corgi. Jenny is on the steering committee for OUTreach Denton and the North Texas Annual Conference's Board of Church and Society. Bates is a former board member for Union Dallas and considers their yard Jenny and Wava's favorite Dallas hangout.