Category: Retirements
Rev. Cynthia S.L. Greene
Cynthia (Cindi) served 41 years in 5 Annual Conferences (Western North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon/Idaho, Michigan and Mindanao) and 2 nations (USA and the Philippines) as a pastor and a missionary from June 1,1985 to July 1, 2026. She served in small rural churches, town churches and larger city churches and in rural mountains on the… Continue Reading Rev. Cynthia S.L. Greene
Rev. Thomas L. Taylor
Appointment History [(RE) P 1996; F 1998; RE 2026] Oak Park: Faith 1995; Saginaw: Calvary 1998; Pontiac: First (½), Pontiac: Baldwin Avenue (assoc) (½) 2000; Pontiac: First 2001; Madison Heights 2008; incapacity leave 2/15/2011; Harper Woods: Redeemer, Detroit: Henderson Memorial 2011; medical leave 1/31/2013; Retired 2026.
Rev. Barbara S. Benjamin
Appointment History [(FE) PL 2012; FL 2016; PE 2018; FE 2022] Richfield 8/1/2012; Richfield, Elba 2014; Byron: First, Lennon 2016; Byron: First, Gaines (PE) 2018; Byron: First, Gaines (FE) 2022; Gaines, Halsey 2023; Gaines (1/2) 1/15/2024.
Rev. Teresa J. Zimmerman
Serving in ministry has been a great gig! I feel deep gratitude that God has provided opportunities for me to walk alongside my neighbors as we all grow together in love for our Creator and for one another. Thank you especially to those colleagues, loved ones, and teachers who shared the journey with me. Please… Continue Reading Rev. Teresa J. Zimmerman
Rev. Timothy S. Woycik
After over 44 years of ministry, beginning with my ordination as a deacon in the New York Annual Conference in 1981, it has been my privilege to serve as a United Methodist pastor in Whitmore Lake (1983-1993), Ortonville (1993-1998), Saginaw State Street UMC (1998-2003), Au Gres and Twining (2003-2012), Chesaning (2012-2021), and Leland Community UMC… Continue Reading Rev. Timothy S. Woycik
Rev. Janet S. Wilson
My eight years of ministry follow ten years as a church staff member – and three other significant careers! I’ve been so blessed to spend my years in pastoral ministry serving the Battle Creek community, the place where I’ve lived for most of my life. To serve four congregations, connect with so many community members… Continue Reading Rev. Janet S. Wilson
Rev. Jeffrey C. Williams
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Thank you, West Michigan & Michigan Conferences, for a broad range of ministry experiences from my first appointment at Center Park UMC in August 1989 to retiring from Greenville First UMC on July 1, 2026. A rural church, small town and city churches, campus ministry, and a new… Continue Reading Rev. Jeffrey C. Williams
Rev. Gary G. Step
As I look back on the years since 2000, I am filled with gratitude for the privilege of serving Jesus Christ and his Church. I began pastoral ministry at Indian River in northern Michigan, where I served for twelve years. What started as a small rural congregation grew to 250 to 300 in worship. Together,… Continue Reading Rev. Gary G. Step
Rev. Karen J. Sorden
It has been both a joy and a challenge to serve the local church for 20 years. I was blessed to minister alongside so many amazing people whose hearts were full of love for God and the Church. Working together, we were able to plant many seeds. Some of those seeds have been harvested, and… Continue Reading Rev. Karen J. Sorden
Rev. Janine L. Plum
St. Paul tells us, “Jesus existed before anything else and holds all creation together” (Col. 1:17). While I don’t claim to have held all creation together, I have held enough together, and when I say I, I mean Jesus and me. I, along with Jesus, held a congregation together during disaffiliation. After a 57-43 vote,… Continue Reading Rev. Janine L. Plum