The ordination service, conducted under the authority of the RMP commission, was held in the chapel of African Bible University (ABU), and broadcast to the fellowship hall of Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs so family and friends could be present. The service was at 6:00 PM in Uganda which was 9:00 AM in Colorado Springs.

In what was probably a first for the Presbyterian Church in America, a candidate for the Gospel Ministry was ordained at a distance.  On September 22, 2012, Kurt Schimke was ordained by a commission of the Rocky Mountain Presbytery in Uganda while five of the six members of the ordination commission were in Colorado Springs participating in the service through Skype.

Schimke, a graduate of New Geneva Seminary in Colorado Springs, has been serving as a teacher at the African Bible University (ABU) in Kampala for about six years. During one of his furloughs he sustained his exams for licensure before Rocky Mountain Presbytery (RMP). Since he only had to complete the last two parts of the ordination exam, and since he was at a great distance in Uganda, RMP approved conducting these last two parts in real time using Skype.

RMP appointed six elders to a commission to ordain Schimke and approved using Skype for the ordination service. One of the commission members, TE Dominic Aquila, was in Uganda to represent the commission. At the same time, the commission invited a number of PCA elders in Uganda to serve as guests of the commission.

The ordination service, conducted under the authority of the RMP commission, was held in the chapel of African Bible University , and broadcast to the fellowship hall of Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs so family and friends could be present. The service was at 6:00 PM in Uganda which was 9:00 AM in Colorado Springs.

The ABU chapel was full with many of the students as well as with other guests. TE Palmer Robertson, president of ABU, preached the sermon. TE Aquila rehearsed the proceedings of RMP and asked candidate Schimke the BCO ordination questions. Those participating on the laying on of hands included TE David Eby, TE Tim Hoke, TE Jerry Knight, TE Robertson and TE Aquila. Also participating was the Rev. Emmanuel Kiwanuka, a member of the Presbyterian Church of Uganda; he is the pastor of the church the Schimkes attend.

After the prayer of ordination, those present gave the newly ordained minister the right hand of fellowship welcoming him to take part of the ministry with them. Then the other five members of the commission gave Schimke the “right word” of fellowship as each member spoke a word of encouragement to him. Those in attendance were impressed that these words of encouragement could be immediately given over 8,000 miles.

The Lord had placed a love for Africa on Kurt Schimke’s heart. In the late 1990s he served a pilot mechanic with Africa Inland Missions (AIM) in Nairobi. During that time he became involved in Reformed church in the Southwest Kenya.  He went to the United States to attend seminary, fully intending to return to Kenya and working with AIM as a pilot and mechanic.  However, his studies at New Geneva Seminary changed his plans.  As Kurt says, “I never thought that I would like learning Greek and Church History as much as I did! God’s direction and Providence are amazing.” So instead of returning to Kenya as a pilot, he was called back to Africa, but this time to Uganda, to teach at African Bible University. He now impacts the lives of many students who are serving in churches and ministries throughout Africa. And he is still flying airplanes for ministry and fun.

Kurt is married to Marlene, and they have four children.