PARIS – After 39 years in the ministry the Rev. Walter Webb thought it was time to retire.

So, he did.

But that lasted all of 13 days.

On June 30 he retired from duties at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Farmington and the New Sharon United Methodist Church.

“Then they offered me this place,” Webb said of the Deering Memorial United Methodist Church in Paris. “Now, I have my first part-time church.”

Webb succeeds the Rev. Betsy Webber of Paris, who left in June.

Webb said Bishop Susan Hassinger, who oversees five states for the Methodist Church, asked him if he would like to come to Paris on a part-time basis, 25 hours per week.

The Poland resident said he couldn’t refuse even though he felt he was ready for a rest after 39 years, which he said was almost long enough to be considered a career.

“There’s an organizational challenge here that I’m excited about meeting,” Webb said. “Plus, I’m attracted to the part-time hours so I can still enjoy part of my retirement.”

He said he is not sure of the size of his congregation, but does know there were 35 people in church on July 13 when he attended. He did not preach that Sunday because the church had arranged for another pastor, he said.

Richard Box, 92, of Paris said the congregation numbers between 100 and 150.

Webb said he is doing his best to get out and meet folks and is going around just knocking on doors.

“Once I get to know folks I’ll sit down and find out what they want to do, then it’ll be my job to get them there,” Webb said. “What they want is paramount. If they don’t want what I have to offer, then it isn’t going to happen.”

Webb plans to set up committees to work on church business and the goals the congregation may set up.

He said he would not be surprised if people in the Paris congregation wanted the same things he has heard from other Methodists over the 39 years: more young folks, solve financial problems, more people in the pews, a youth group and a Sunday School.

“I can’t do it alone, though,” he said. “When people tell me what they want they have to be ready to work for it. If they are active and functioning, things will happen around here. If they are just committees on paper, well, you might as well burn it up.”

Webb and his wife, Kay, met in Pennsylvania in 1966, and they have one daughter and twin grandchildren.

He said the church will be open for visitors two days a week from 9 a.m. to noon. He said the days will vary for the rest of the summer and will be posted in the church bulletin handed out Sunday. He said he also plans to make home visits in the afternoon and evenings on those days.

Webb said he will also make visits after the Sunday service.

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