From intern to church planter, Erin Barnes carries hands-on formation into ministry

In August, Perkins School of Theology’s internship program partners with congregations, agencies and dedicated ministry leaders to build a support team around each intern. This provides students internships that fulfill course requirements while empowering them to move beyond studying ministry and begin practicing it with the guidance of experienced leaders.

For Perkins alum Erin Barnes ’25, that hands-on experience became more expansive than she could have anticipated. What began as an internship at an established church developed into an opportunity to help launch a new worshiping community – one she now leads as senior pastor.

“I was just looking for the experience,” Barnes said. “I hadn’t had staff experience, let alone pastoral experience in smaller churches.”

Room to explore a new calling

Barnes completed her internship through Perkins at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas. While Trinity was rebuilding its structure following a season of denominational disaffiliations, Barnes served different areas of the church.

At the same time, she began speaking with a group of laypeople in Mansfield who felt called to create a new United Methodist presence in their community. After local congregations disaffiliated from the denomination, Mansfield and nearby Midlothian no longer had a United Methodist church.

“The point of this internship is to see what God is telling you to do and give you the experience and support that you need to go do it,” Barnes recalled.

The group began meeting to consider what a new faith community could look like. Barnes incorporated those conversations into her internship goals, initially viewing them as a possible learning opportunity.

Learning by building

Barnes’ work with the Mansfield group quickly gained momentum. Around 30 people attended its first gathering in a member’s home, eventually leading the group to ask Barnes to serve Communion.

By November, district leadership encouraged the group to hold its first worship service on Christmas Eve. Barnes suddenly found herself helping develop a worship experience while balancing her responsibilities at Trinity – all tasks expected from a seasoned ministry leader were being facilitated by her.

Approximately 60 people, including children, attended the Mansfield group’s first Christmas Eve service in the front yard of a local home.

When the wind prevented the candles from staying lit, the host family invited the congregation inside. The furniture was pushed aside, and attendees filled the living room with candlelight while singing “Silent Night.”

“I still just get goosebumps thinking about that moment,” Barnes said.

The community began meeting monthly and later expanded to regular worship. By the second half of her internship, Barnes divided her time between Trinity and the developing church plant.

“It really was this beautiful, complementary package deal that no one but God could have thought up,” she said.

Support from all sides

Throughout the process, Barnes met with Perkins internship leaders to manage her changing responsibilities and prioritize her work. She credits their flexibility and support with allowing the church plant to grow while she completed her degree.

“If I hadn’t been able to do that as part of my internship, it definitely wouldn’t have taken off as well as it did,” Barnes said.

Barnes also credits her stewardship course at Perkins with preparing her to manage fundraising and financial responsibilities. Her classmates became another source of guidance, sharing resources and helping her work through unfamiliar challenges.

Barnes continues to meet online each month with members of her Perkins cohort, who offer one another thoughtful insights and support. 

“They are still helping me and throwing things out there for me,” she said.

That support has remained valuable as Barnes has encountered responsibilities that are difficult to fully anticipate in a classroom, including establishing a bank account, developing bylaws, forming financial committees and creating administrative systems.

Continuing the work

After Barnes completed her internship, she graduated from Perkins and was appointed to lead the new church, now known as Open Table UMC.

The congregation continues to grow. Attendance at its Christmas Eve service nearly doubled from Barnes’ internship year to the following year. Open Table has also continued its partnership with Trinity, including collaborating on Vacation Bible School and other ministries for children and families.

The relationship that began during Barnes’ internship has become an ongoing ministry partnership across communities and county lines. Barnes has even returned to preach at Trinity, borrows from the experience of its leaders and works alongside its staff to serve both congregations.

Now guiding a church that did not exist when her internship began, Barnes encourages current students to enter their internships with goals while remaining open to opportunities they cannot yet anticipate.

“Set expectations and set goals, but don’t box yourself into those,” she said. “Leave plenty of room for the Holy Spirit to work.”