Rev. Charlene Wozny’s path to ordained ministry began long before she stepped into a seminary classroom. Raised in a small Kansas town near Hutchinson, she earned a BS in General Science and Nursing from Fort Hays State in 1968. After early work in medical-surgical nursing, Charlene relocated to Omaha and shifted her focus to psychiatric care—working with both children and adults at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute and Immanuel Hospital. She later completed a Master’s in Counseling from UNO and led the Adult Day Treatment Program at Immanuel Mental Health Center for over a decade.
Rev. Wozny will be in the office on Tuesdays, noon- 3 pm, and Thursdays, 10 am – 1 pm. She is also available by appointment. Call her at 402-884-8025 or email charlenew@countrysideucc.org.
Though she felt drawn to ministry for years, the field wasn’t yet open to women in roles that aligned with her calling. But by the 1990s, the tug became undeniable. Charlene entered seminary at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, balancing coursework with part-time work at Mutual of Omaha. She was ordained in 2000 and served as pastor of Zion UCC in Talmage for nearly a decade.
Charlene continues to offer pulpit supply and regularly preaches at First Congregational UCC in Council Bluffs. Her ministry has also included leading clergy boundary training and serving on numerous church committees.
Charlene met her husband Jim while working at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute. They were married in 1972 in the chapel at Countryside Community Church. Becoming stepmother to Jim’s three children, Charlene braced herself for the “blended family” struggles people warned about—but those never materialized. Instead, the couple was blessed with a growing, joyful family that now includes six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Charlene and Jim love to travel, especially to places rich with natural beauty or cultural history. Together they’ve visited U.S. National Parks, watched whales off Cape Cod, explored ancient Indigenous sites in the Southwest, and camped across the country. Charlene has also traveled internationally on spiritual journeys to Ghana, Thailand, and Northern Ireland, where she explored the peace process following The Troubles.
Grounded in compassion and shaped by decades of healing work and pastoral care, Rev. Charlene Wozny remains a vital part of the United Church of Christ community—preaching, listening, and walking alongside others in their journeys of faith.
Rev. Wozny officially joined the staff of Countryside as Interim Minister for Congregational Care on Tuesday, June 3. In this part-time, transitional role, Rev. Wozny provides spiritual and emotional care to our community, supports visitation and lay care ministries, and helps us respond to congregational needs with compassion and presence. She joins us in worship two Sundays a month and holds office hours on Tuesdays, noon- 3 pm, Thursdays, 10 am – 1 pm, or by appointment. Call her at 402-884-8025 or email charlenew@countrysideucc.org.