The Rev. Bartel was born and raised in Billerica, Massachusetts. He moved to New York City at the age of 17 to attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy where he graduated from the Musical Theatre Performance program. After working in various summer stock, regional, and touring companies, he made the move to Anchorage, Alaska where he attended the University of Alaska Anchorage and earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences while working graveyard shifts at the local supermarket. After graduation, he managed and led the Laboratory Support team, providing services for all of the teaching and research laboratories on campus.
It was in Alaska that Andy and Kate met. They were instantly close friends, and only later did a romantic relationship develop. Andy and Kate were married at Birchwood Camp, a United Methodist church camp just north of Anchorage, where they both lived on site as manager's assistants. Kate also served as the food service manager and the administrative assistant at the camp. During their time in Alaska, Andy and Kate moved around a fair bit (a precursor to the itinerant life) and consequently they had three different church homes: The United Methodist Church of Chugiak, St. John United Methodist Church, and Christ First United Methodist Church.
In 2005, Kate, Andy, and their newborn son James Kline moved to Brookings, South Dakota where Andy was employed as the director of the United Methodist campus ministry at South Dakota State University. After serving as the campus minister for one year, Andy was appointed to serve the three point charge of Wakonda, Irene, and Viborg United Methodist Churches in South Dakota, while simultaneously working towards a Masters of Divinity at Sioux Falls Seminary.
In 2007, Angus Lowe was born and a few months later was baptized by Bishop Deb Kiesey at a joint worship service of the Wakonda-Irene-Viborg parish.
In July of 2009, Andy was reappointed to serve as the Associate Pastor of Mitchell First UMC with primary responsibilities aimed at ministry with youth and young adults. Andy & Kate feel blessed to be in ministry with and to the people of Mitchell, South Dakota.
The Rev. Andy Bartel is a provisional elder in the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
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