Carolin first felt called to ministry in her early adulthood. That call, however, did not follow a straight path. Life unfolded through seasons of loss, responsibility, work, and family, and her call was lived faithfully through many years of active lay involvement in the church before she returned to formal theological education.
In 2018, encouraged by members of her congregation, Carolin returned to pursue her long-held call. She enrolled in the Summer Distance Program at the Atlantic School of Theology, a model that allowed her to study online during the fall and winter and attend intensive sessions in Halifax each summer. This made it possible for her to remain engaged in full-time ministry while completing full-time theological studies.
Through this program, Carolin served in solo ministry settings, rather than in a traditional internship under another minister. She carried full responsibility for worship, preaching, pastoral care, leadership, and administration, while being supported by an off-site Educational Supervisor. This experience shaped her deeply as a minister and strengthened her confidence in listening for God’s guidance in the midst of daily ministry.
Before and alongside her ministry journey, Carolin worked in a variety of professional roles, including with Peel Region as a Cadet, with Daylann Software as a computer software trainer, and with MacMillan Transport in bookkeeping and human resource management. These experiences continue to inform her ministry, grounding it in a practical understanding of work, leadership, systems, and the realities people navigate in everyday life.
Carolin believes that God is present not only in sacred spaces, but in the ordinary rhythms of daily living. She is passionate about helping people notice where God is already at work—in relationships, questions, challenges, and acts of care—and about walking with individuals and families through times of joy, transition, and struggle.
At Appleby United Church, Carolin sees ministry as something we share together. She believes God is already at work among us, and that the Spirit nudges us toward compassion, courage, and care for one another. Ministry, for Carolin, is about paying attention—listening for where the Spirit is calling us to show up, to help, and to take part in God’s work of healing and mending the world, one ordinary act of love at a time.