The 42nd Session of the Nebraska Annual Conference will be convening this month and highlight a time of worship, celebration, and decision making for our United Methodist Church. It is also a time of transition for many clergy families as they move from one location of service to another. It means moving from one community to another, which will be a time of saying good-bye to close friends and receiving a welcome from new friends-to-be.
There will be some changes this year on our District. We will be saying farewell this month to some of our pastors.
Nancy Lambert moved in March from Grand Island Trinity to serve the Minden/Upland parish. As of July 1, there will be other moves:
Rosalie Anderson will be leaving the Trumball/Inland charge to return to full retirement.
Tom Hyde will be leaving St. Paul to serve Sidney.
Lorri Kentner and husband Robert will be leaving the Bruning/Davenport/Ohiowa churches to serve Alma and Republican City.
Dale Lambert is leaving the Cairo/Boelus charge to serve Holdrege.
Rich Savage will be leaving Central City Fairview and Archer Zion to serve Grant.
Joy Savage will come out of retirement to serve the Big Springs UMC.
Jeff Wulff and family (Rhonda, Jenna and Jacob) will be leaving York/Waco to serve Ord.
We will also have the opportunity to welcome new pastors and families this summer. The new pastors are:
Melanie Adams and husband Harry will be moving to Grand Island where Melanie will serve as the Associate Minister for Grand Island Trinity.
Janet Burgel will be serving the Central City Fairview and Archer Zion churches.
Janice Farrell and husband Jerry will be moving to Davenport, where Janice will serve the Davenport and Bruning congregations. Janice will be a student pastor attending Saint Paul School of Theology.
Jeff Hale will be serving the Cairo and Boelus congregations..
Pat Norris and husband Pat will be moving to York, where Mrs. Pat will serve York First and Waco as Associate Minister..
Peter Phillips and family (Shelly and Macy) who will be serving Hastings First, Trumball and Inland while finishing his seminary education at Saint Paul School of Theology.
Joel Rathbun and family (Paula, Patrick and Lael) will be moving to St. Paul, where Joel will pastor the St. Paul UMC.
I would ask us to be in prayer for the families of our pastors who will be going through this period of moving. This is not an easy time. I hope and pray for their future places of living and service will be a meaningful and good experience.
Pastors have been called and sent by God throughout the Church’s long history. May we trust that to be so in the changes before us in this present day.
Blessings,
Harold Backus
Your District Superintendent
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