When the Rev. Leland A. Bissinger came to First United Methodist Church in Austin, the 652-member congregation got more than it bargained for.

The church that boasts of "open hearts, minds and doors" got a "spiritual therapist" to help open more of the same.

From Bissinger, the associate pastor, to senior pastor Rev. Patricia Toschak, they bring skills in marriage counseling and family therapy that other pastors don't have.

"Pastoral duties are only part of what I do," he said.

As an ordained minister, who is also counselor to couples preparing for marriage, Bissinger has the education and the experience to "speak in spiritual terms" and to give them a "clear vision about what marriage is all about."

It's only been six months, but already Bissinger said about his Austin appointment, "All the different pieces have flowed together."

A new worship service is coming next month at First UMC and other new ideas, including weekly communion services separate from scheduled worship and designated times of mediation are being considered.

In addition, activating "prayer teams" to meet with the faithful immediately after scheduled services is another goal.

All the new innovations are, Bissinger said, designed to "meet our people's needs."

Bissinger is a native of Brainerd. An only child, he is the son of a general surgeon -- his father -- and a professional volunteer -- his mother.

His grandfather was a Methodist minister, but Bissinger did not feel the calling to pursue a clergy career until midway through college.

That's because music was a passion in his family. His father was a vocalist and flutist and Bissinger himself earned a bachelor's of music degree before going to seminary to study for the ministry.

He was ordained in 1983, fulfilled his student pastor duties at Luebeck, Germany and then was appointed to churches in Red Wing,

Worthington and Owatonna.

Then, he took nine years off from the ministry and therein lies some of the other skills be brings to his clergy work.

Not only does Bissinger have a master's of divinity degree, he also holds a master's degree in counseling and family therapy. Plus, Bissinger also worked in those fields and chemical dependency counseling, too.

Bissinger returned to full-time ministry work in March. Three months later, he was appointed to the position at First UMC in Austin. His title: faith formation pastor.

Bissinger and his wife, Anita, a teacher by trade who is a native of Lake Crystal, have three children: Tristan, 11, Ian, 10, and Alana, 7.

New service debuts

First UMC has already offered its facilities to bridge cultural gaps by hosting a weekly Hispanic-language service.

Now, it is going further to attract members with a contemporary serving scheduled to debut Jan. 19, 2003.

Bissinger said he was mandated to create an alternative service. He worked with a praise team of members and the result was the JUST Worship service.

JUST is an acronym for Jesus Uplifted in Spirit and Truth.

The church's other more traditional services will continue.

According to Bissinger, one of the goals of the new service was to "create a service that was more effective for the individual."

"We wanted to create a service that works for the individual and connects back to God," he said.

First UMC is located at 204 First Ave. NW. For information, call 433-8839.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com