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By Mary Alice Garrett
This story originally appeared March 31, 1994 in the News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware.
The Rev. Robert L. Warner lost his eyesight at age 12 and was legally blind for seven years. A cornea transplant operation restored his eyesight but it was followed by six more eye surgeries. Warner completed his education late and decided on the ministry after 20 years with the Veterans and Social Security administrations. In 1989, he became pastor of both the Marshallton and Cedars United Methodist Churches.
Q. The ministry is a second career for you. Did you always want to be a minister?
A. No I didn't. I spent seven years with the Veterans Administration and 13 years with the Social Security Administration in Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky. My background is such: I went blind as a child. I left school at 12 and stayed at home. I went back at 14, but I quit school at 16.
Q. So at what age did you decide on the ministry?
A. About 36.
Q. What caused you to lose your eyesight?
A. It was my corneas - a progressive thing. In fact I had one of the earliest cornea transplants. It was at Cornell University Hospital. I had rejection, but then it reversed itself. After a few years it sort of healed. I've had two more transplants and a total of seven operations. I have indoor plumbing - a neoprine rubber ring - in my right eye. It lowes the pressure due to glaucoma...
It's absolutely amazing:
The first operation at Cornell in 1947 - I lay for 19 days with a sandbag on either side of my head. The last operation was at Wills Hospital in November 1992. I went in and came home the same day.
Q. Did your sudden blindness and recovery have any bearing on your decision to become a minister?
A. No, I don't think so. Very succinctly, I've always, since childhood, been interested in the Scriptures. My faith for me is just a serendipitous thing - even in sad times. It is something I do, because I want to do it. ... Our faith is not to be a trial. Our faith is a joy. I just like to share that. I think I probably see today because of other people [and my family] caring for me. I think God's love comes though other people to us. It was a miracle. God works in mysterious ways.
Q. Did you return to school after regaining your eyesight?
A. Yes, my family sold their dairy farm and moved [from Maryland] to California. Then by the time I was 19, we moved back. I went into the 10th grade at 19. I did a high school equivalency course. ... At about age 22 I'd say I was a lay pastor.
Q. So it was after you were married, had completed two years of college and were working a number of years that you decided to become a minister?
A. I just really felt a great desire to do it. My wife also. She went to work so I could do it. That was back in the '60s.
Q. What was your first church?
A. I was appointed to Kirkwood United Methodist Church in Delaware. I was a part-time minister there while working for Social Security. I enjoyed that very much.
Q. And what were your other churches?
A. I was associate pastor in Elkton for four years. I was associate pastor seven years at St. Mark's. I was with two churches in Chesapeake City for four years. Then for a short period, I was with a small church near Middletown. I came here July 1, 1989. I am also the pastor at Cedars United Methodist Church. We have 570 members, and Cedars has 135 members.
Q. Do you speak at both churches every Sunday?
A. Oh yes, I do everything. I speak at 9:30 a.m. at Cedars and at 11 here. [The two churches] work very well together. They're very compatible.
Q. You have a reputation as a joke-telling minister.
A. I intentionally use humor in almost every sermon. If you have been able to make someone smile or laugh, that's good. The worse the jokes are the better they like it. Sometimes, there is a collective groan from all over the church. I just enjoy it, so I do it.
Q. I understand you're loved by the children in your congregation.
A. I'm glad to hear that. I think you have to work carefully on building a relationship with children today. I do silly things. I have a cousin who made me a white shirt with green and yellow frogs, and the kids really love it. Oh, I wore it the other day when the men had a spaghetti dinner. It helps me build a relationship with [the youngsters].
Q. Your church offers a number of activities as well as community service projects.
A. I'd stack this church for community service to any church in New Castle County. We have a Mothers Day Out, a Meals on Wheels and Angel Tree. We have a very active cupboard. We have a money loan program - a Family Residence Program. We have people we dont even know who send money in here every month for this program. And then we also run a Pastor's Purse Program. We give out $25, to $50 for help with utility bills. It's maybe $20,000 or less a year. We don't have any boundaries on the help.
Q. What part of the ministry do you like the most?
A. Oh, that would be hard to say. The services, the preaching, being with people. I literally love the dinners. You never know what's going to be on that table. ... If I hadn't done this, I probably would have gone into counseling. The only thing I would have done sooner - I would have married that woman [my wife] sooner.
PROFILE
March 31, 1994
NAME: The Rev. Robert L. Warner
AGE: 62
RESIDENCE: Church parsonage in Highlands of Heritage Park.
FAMILY: Wife Audrey and son Robert L. Warner Jr.
EDUCATION: B.A. in history and geography, University of Delaware; master of divinity degree, Eastern seminary, Philadelphia.
HOBBIES: "I really don't have much time for hobbies."
SNAPSHOT: Member of Peninsula United Methodist Conference boards, Equitable Compensation Committee; a director and executive committee member of Haven House Ministry (half way house for alcoholics) in Elkton, Md., and former president and director of Family Services of Cecil County, Md.
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