in memoriam

When Tilda Norberg graduated from theological seminary and sought a pastoral

appointment in The Methodist Church, the presiding bishop declared, “I’m never going

to ordain another woman. I have more than I know what to do with.” Not taking “no,” she

approached the United Church of Christ, which ordained her in a service held in Bethel

Methodist Church in Tottenville, Staten Island, for which she was serving as youth

minister.

Rev. Norberg continued to confront sexism in the United Methodist Church,

joining several others in successfully challenging gender stereotypes in Methodist

church school curricula. Active in the National Organization of Women (NOW) and faith-

based feminist groups, she proudly wore the lapel button, “Jesus was a Feminist.”

Ten years after being rebuffed for Methodist ordination, the same church body that had

rejected Tilda, the New York United Methodist Conference, welcomed her with full clergy

credentials, warmly and apologetically.

Norberg died at home on Staten Island, NY, on June 13, from Alzheimer’s

disease, just shy of becoming 85. She was born in Fairfield, Alabama (adjacent to

Birmingham), to Lawrence Norberg, an engineer, and Louise Singleton Norberg, an

elementary teacher. After early childhood in Birmingham, Tilda grew up in Muskegon

and Saginaw, Michigan. She lost her parents at age 16 in an airplane crash.

As a high schooler, she performed as a violinist in adult orchestras. At Michigan

State, where she majored in music and social science, she was active in the Wesley

Foundation and the Tower Guard, a service organization for high-achieving women.

Upon graduation she completed a Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in

NYC. She did her seminary field work with the “Enchanters” street gang, a ministry of

the East Harlem Protestant Parish.

At the Taizé Community, an ecumenical monastery in France, she met Rev.

George McClain, whom she joined in ministry on Staten Island. They married two years

later, in 1968, at Bethel United Methodist Church, where McClain was pastor. They

established an ecumenical Christian commune on Staten Island that continued for

seven years and into which their two children were born. She organized, with her

husband, the Underground Coffee House for youth and young adults, sponsored by

Faith United Methodist Church. She served as the Protestant chaplain at South Beach

Psychiatric Center.

Tilda’s life work over the decades centered on an approach to ministry she

named Gestalt Pastoral Care (GPC). She created this synthesis of spiritual guidance,

healing prayer, and Gestalt psychotherapy, and counseled hundreds and trained many

others in this ministry, which thrives to this day.

Immediately following the crashes into the World Trade Towers, she gathered

stories of faith from a broad spectrum of survivors, published as Ashes Transformed:

Healing from Trauma (2002). Altogether, she authored eight books (two co-authored).

Consenting to Grace: An Introduction to Gestalt Pastoral Care (2006) is the basic text.

Stretch Out Your Hand: Exploring Healing Prayer (1998, with Robert D. Webber)) is a

guide for a congregation’s healing ministry. Her last book is a memoir, Dancing in the

Parking Lot (2023). She served as adjunct professor at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical

Seminary, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and Lancaster Theological Seminary.

Tilda Norberg is survived by her spouse of 58 years, Rev. George McClain, their

daughter Shana Norberg-McClain (Dan Bodah), their son Noah Norberg-McClain (Joy),

and grandchildren Ivy, Hazel, and Oliver. Her body is being donated for medical

science, continuing her healing ministry. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Those wishing to make a memorial gift are invited to contribute to the

Endowment Fund, Gestalt Pastoral Care Associates, P.O. Box, 171, Kannapolis NC

28082, or via gestaltpastoralcare.org.