Cheryl Jane (CJ) Walter grew up in Lakeland, Florida. Her husband of twenty-nine years, David Range, is also a clergy person (serving Miramar United Methodist Church).

Together with their children, Micah (25) and Benjamin (21), the family recently celebrated their fifth anniversary of living in the USA after twenty years of overseas pastoral work in Jamaica and Ireland. Micah is the Research Analyst for the Space Foundation.  Benjamin is a junior at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD (formerly known as Western Maryland College--CJ and David's alma mater). As a family, they share passions for mission, travel, reading and good conversation around the dinner table.

Born into an Air Force family, CJ's interest in diversity was first aroused by living as a child in Japan. She graduated from Lakeland Senior High in 1975, and spent the following year touring with Up With People. Her Bachelor's degree in Economics was earned at Western Maryland College in 1979; her Master of Divinity degree at Drew Theological School in 1983.

While in seminary, David and CJ had the opportunity to serve for one year as student pastors of the Irish Methodist Churches of Dunkineely and Ardara, in Co. Donegal, Ireland. Their first appointment after graduation from Drew was for three years to a Circuit of four Caribbean Methodist churches in the Trelawny District of Jamaica. They spearheaded the formation of a local soup kitchen, received five work teams from the USA, and started an annual Church Music Camp which recently celebrated its 24th year.

From Jamaica they joined a colleague as pastors of a nine-church Circuit in West Cork, Ireland. Focus on ecumenical ministries, children's clubs and the introduction of the DISCIPLE Bible Study were highlights of their eight years in West Cork. This was followed by eight and a half years in a two-point interchurch charge in Limerick, Ireland.

During their time in Limerick the country of Ireland began receiving many refugees from war-torn countries of Eastern Europe and Africa. David and CJ had the opportunity to help establish an organization to help the integration of immigrants into church and society.  The two churches they served have been greatly enriched by the immigrant "new Irish."

Pastor Walter came to Cokesbury in July 2005 after spending two years as an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Lakeland where she was delighted to work with a variety of groups. 

At Cokesbury it has been her joy to see the faith community welcome people from many backgrounds and cultures and integrate them into the everyday life and leadership of the church.  An evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition, CJ is passionate about everyone knowing the love of Christ in a personal way and living in that reality to make the world a better place.

Pastor CJ was accepted in June of 2008 into Duke Theological Seminary's program for the training and excellence of pastors. Over the next year she will be traveling to various events and participating in the program's evaluations with a select team of members from the congregation. We are excited for CJ for this honor and opportunity to expand on her already capable knowledge and abilities as the pastor of our church.