Becky Shellabarger is an ordained Ruling Elder in the PC(USA) church. She has also had multiple careers, working as a Registered Professional Civil Engineer for 12 years and then as a mom, preschool teacher, church musician, church choir and music director, and piano teacher. She is currently acting as the Interim Director of the Christian Leadership Program at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

After graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Becky designed, managed and supervised the construction of multiple highway design and reconstruction projects primarily in the state of Texas. As a Professional Engineer, she worked both for the Texas Department of Transportation and as a consultant to them. In 2000, Becky chose to retire from engineering to become a full-time mom to our twin boys.

As the boys grew up, Becky’s “second” career included over 10 years as a preschool teacher and the beginning of her “third” career as a musician. These transitional careers allowed her to grow her skills that would lead to numerous church ministry opportunities. After moving our family to the Midwest for Loren to attend seminary, we resettled in rural north central Iowa. During their time there, Becky established new music groups, from praise bands to handbell choirs, in church settings and enjoyed the camaraderie and blessings of working together to create beautiful music. She also taught private piano lessons, as well as providing piano accompaniment to numerous school and church groups. Becky also created new youth groups with children from multiple churches and shepherded them as they grew beyond what was thought possible. Additionally, she was able to use her previous engineering experience to co-chair a church expansion/construction project.

After returning to Dubuque in 2019 and then retiring from church ministry in 2020, Becky and Loren have looked for ways to continue to serve small, rural churches, guiding them to see their strengths in the midst of a challenging world. This has led to the creation of Forest Walk Consulting, our ministry directed specifically at creating new vitality at these churches as they turn their focus to what they can do with the leadership and blessing of the Holy Spirit. Becky’s work with the Christian Leadership Program for UDTS partners well with Forest Walk as it seeks to grow and educate Christian Lay Leadership.

Becky has been married to Loren for 35 years. Their family includes twin sons, one daughter-in-law and a beautiful granddaughter, not to mention Buddy their cat. Not every church is the same, and not every church has the same plan from God. Becky looks forward to partnering with Loren and working with congregations to discover together what God has planned for them. Never forget that God has a plan and you are part of it!