Rev. Karen Skalla was ordained as a Deacon in the Methodist Church in 2020 after completing seminary at Boston University School of Theology.  Her first appointment as a Deacon is currently at Silver Bay YMCA Retreat and Conference Center on Lake George in Silver Bay, New York in the Adirondacks.

She serves as Chaplain of their Spiritual Life Center.  Chaplaincy training was done through Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center while she was a Nurse Practitioner for nearly 30 years.  Karen has a very broad fulltime ministry now at Silver Bay which includes: worship planning; program planning; meeting with staff and guests for formal Spiritual Direction; pastoral care; support of the Respite Ministry through the Spiritual Life Center; and helping with the Teen Center.

Her secondary appointment is with Harvard Epworth Community Church where she periodically uses her background to offer adult forums and supply preaching as needed.  In addition, she has been part of a weekly online worship community called “Faithwaze” at www.faithwaze.com for many years and leads as co-pastor.  Karen lives in Vermont with her husband and has two young adult daughters of whom she is very proud.  She is passionate about her horses and dogs, and enjoys being outside hiking and snowshoeing as well as reading, art of all kinds, and photography.  She is delighted bring all these skills to be a part of Harvard Epworth.