Sheilah J. Kyburz

Sheilah Kyburz (Kee-burs) has served in the administrative ministry of The United Methodist Church for over 30 years, not counting the years of volunteer work she did while growing up in her small rural United Methodist congregation in Malta, Illinois. After graduating with a major in Business Education and a minor in Spanish at Illinois State University and teaching three years of high school business subjects in northern Illinois, Sheilah married her husband, Paul, and moved to Minnesota.

With the school year already underway when she arrived in Minnesota, Sheilah chose to volunteer in her new community and church instead of teaching that year. Her perceptive pastor quickly recognized her gifts of administration, organization, hospitality and leadership, asked her to help in the church office, and “the rest is history.”

Sheilah served as secretary for the growing 500+ member congregation of Bloomington: Normandale Hylands UMC for 8 years, then served as the Metro East District secretary, and began working in the Minnesota Area episcopal office in 1990. She feels each position has served as a foundation for the succeeding stages in her ministry and has no doubt that God directed her path each step of the way.

Sheilah is a strong supporter of opportunities that encourage the educational, spiritual and personal growth of persons involved in the ministry of church administration and became an active leader in the Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries (PAUMCS) after attending her first national conference in 1991. She co-founded the Minnesota Chapter of PAUMCS that year, served as its first president, and continues to be an active member and supporter of the chapter.

Sheilah led national PAUMCS as president (2000 – 2003) and vice president (1997 – 2000), as well as served as both a member and chair of the national PAUMCS Nominating Committee (1993 – 1996). She continues to maintain her GCFA/PAUMCS Certification (1991), as well as Advanced Certification, (2003), both received through the GCFA/PAUMCS program on the Emory University campus in Atlanta, Georgia.

Working on support staff teams at General and Jurisdictional Conferences over the past 20 years, as well serving most recently with the Dakotas-Minnesota Transition Team, has provided Sheilah a wealth of opportunities to enrich her knowledge of The United Methodist Church and establish relationships with new friends in Christ from across the country and around the world.

Outside of her work in the episcopal Area office, Sheilah has been active in her local congregation of Normandale Hylands UMC with handbells, Sunday school, Stephen Ministry, Disciple Bible Study and leading mission fundraising. Other favorite activities include playing the harp, refinishing antiques, stitching Hardanger, entering recipe contests, sewing and baking. Being awarded the title of Betty Crocker and representing General Mills since Betty’s 75th anniversary continues to be a highlight in her life. Together with her husband, Paul, she enjoys traveling the world, antiquing, biking, and extending hospitality to guests in their home. 

August 2012