The Next Chapter
As you may know, Pastor Gary Simmons announced 6 months ago that he would be retiring in June of 2024. The leadership board began the process of seeking a new pastor with the Great Lakes Conference of the Global Methodist Church shortly after his announcement. This involved creating a new profile of our church including demographics, needs, and information about our current ministries. The process led to a meeting with the prospective pastor, allowing both parties to ask questions, and time to pray about this being a possible fit.
We are happy to share that after following through the process, Pastor Keith Lenard has been appointed to the Ithaca Living Hope Church beginning this July. As we embrace this moment of transition, the board is filled with optimism for the future and the opportunities that lie ahead under Pastor Keith's leadership. His dedication to the Word of God and passion for serving in the body of Christ is a great match for our congregation. We trust that everyone will be blessed as we move into this new chapter together!
Pastor Keith is married to Wendi Lenard, who is currently seeking eldership in the Global Methodist Church, and shared her excitement to partner with Keith and our church in ministry. They have three children: Rory, Wesley, and Joel. We are very excited to welcome Pastor Keith and his family to our church and will hear from him on his first Sunday with us, July 7th.
We ask that you please keep Pastor Gary and BethAnn in prayer as they begin their next chapter. Pastor Gary’s last day will be Sunday, June 23rd and a retirement celebration will follow immediately after the service that day. Please also be in prayer for Pastor Keith, Wendi, Rory, Wesley, and Joel as they navigate this transition in their lives as well as our local body, Ithaca Living Hope Church, to seek God’s will and share ministry together as the body of Christ.
On behalf of the leadership board and Ithaca Living Hope Church, please join us in welcoming Pastor Keith Lenard and his family as they begin ministry here in July.
As you may know, Pastor Gary Simmons announced 6 months ago that he would be retiring in June of 2024. The leadership board began the process of seeking a new pastor with the Great Lakes Conference of the Global Methodist Church shortly after his announcement. This involved creating a new profile of our church including demographics, needs, and information about our current ministries. The process led to a meeting with the prospective pastor, allowing both parties to ask questions, and time to pray about this being a possible fit.
We are happy to share that after following through the process, Pastor Keith Lenard has been appointed to the Ithaca Living Hope Church beginning this July. As we embrace this moment of transition, the board is filled with optimism for the future and the opportunities that lie ahead under Pastor Keith's leadership. His dedication to the Word of God and passion for serving in the body of Christ is a great match for our congregation. We trust that everyone will be blessed as we move into this new chapter together!
Pastor Keith is married to Wendi Lenard, who is currently seeking eldership in the Global Methodist Church, and shared her excitement to partner with Keith and our church in ministry. They have three children: Rory, Wesley, and Joel. We are very excited to welcome Pastor Keith and his family to our church and will hear from him on his first Sunday with us, July 7th.
We ask that you please keep Pastor Gary and BethAnn in prayer as they begin their next chapter. Pastor Gary’s last day will be Sunday, June 23rd and a retirement celebration will follow immediately after the service that day. Please also be in prayer for Pastor Keith, Wendi, Rory, Wesley, and Joel as they navigate this transition in their lives as well as our local body, Ithaca Living Hope Church, to seek God’s will and share ministry together as the body of Christ.
On behalf of the leadership board and Ithaca Living Hope Church, please join us in welcoming Pastor Keith Lenard and his family as they begin ministry here in July.
A Fresh Start
On January 1, 2024, we became the Ithaca Living Hope Church – a Global Methodist Congregation. While we have joined a new denomination and taken on a new name, we are still serving the same God.
Despite the various cultural issues that clouded the perception of the reasons for our departure from our previous denomination, our primary goal in joining the Global Methodist Church has been a desire to be able to offer God’s truth with grace and love to our community without it being confused and misunderstood by the messaging of other churches with whom we had been previously affiliated. Through this transition, we, as a church, have reaffirmed our trust in the teaching of God’s Holy Word and our commitment to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord.
As a Global Methodist Church, we are now aligned with like-minded churches who share a vision to be “bringing new life, reconciliation, and the presence of Christ to all people, and in helping each person reflect the character of Christ.” We join in supporting the mission statement of the Global Methodist Church, which is – “to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.”
And as the Ithaca Living Hope Church, we have our own clear and specific frame of reference for who we are meant to be. We have agreed that our mission is to be “Connecting with our community by offering hope and purpose in Christ.” While the details of what that looks like are still developing, little by little it is coming into focus.
But we are driven to pursue that vision because we value:
We have agreed that our strategy for accomplishing our mission begins with a commitment for each one of us to be:
And we know that when we are succeeding in doing our mission we will see one another:
We understand that being a part of God’s kingdom work involves continuously growing in faith as we work together. It also means obeying, and worshipping, and sacrificing for Christ together.
To borrow the Apostle Paul’s words found in Philippians 3:12-14 – We know that we have not already arrived at our goal of being who we ought to be as a church. But forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Will you partner with us in helping to fulfill the vision God has given us? Together we can have a fresh start as we become the Ithaca Living Hope Church – connecting with our community by offering hope and purpose in Christ.
On January 1, 2024, we became the Ithaca Living Hope Church – a Global Methodist Congregation. While we have joined a new denomination and taken on a new name, we are still serving the same God.
Despite the various cultural issues that clouded the perception of the reasons for our departure from our previous denomination, our primary goal in joining the Global Methodist Church has been a desire to be able to offer God’s truth with grace and love to our community without it being confused and misunderstood by the messaging of other churches with whom we had been previously affiliated. Through this transition, we, as a church, have reaffirmed our trust in the teaching of God’s Holy Word and our commitment to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord.
As a Global Methodist Church, we are now aligned with like-minded churches who share a vision to be “bringing new life, reconciliation, and the presence of Christ to all people, and in helping each person reflect the character of Christ.” We join in supporting the mission statement of the Global Methodist Church, which is – “to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.”
And as the Ithaca Living Hope Church, we have our own clear and specific frame of reference for who we are meant to be. We have agreed that our mission is to be “Connecting with our community by offering hope and purpose in Christ.” While the details of what that looks like are still developing, little by little it is coming into focus.
But we are driven to pursue that vision because we value:
- The authority and integrity of the Scriptures.
- The call God has put upon our lives to offer intentional hospitality to all.
- The importance for each person to experience continuous spiritual growth as a follower of Jesus Christ.
- The weekly gathering of our congregation to engage in the worship of God.
- The warm fellowship we can have with one another through authentic Christian relationships.
- And the command that our Lord has given to us to be involved in compassionate outreach in our community.
We have agreed that our strategy for accomplishing our mission begins with a commitment for each one of us to be:
- Gathering together weekly in worship.
- Growing closer in our relationship with God through small groups.
- And then Going out to serve our community in the name of Jesus.
And we know that when we are succeeding in doing our mission we will see one another:
- Believing in Christ with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
- Obeying and living humbly according to what God’s Word teaches.
- Worshiping God together with an authentic passion.
- And making sacrifices of our time, energy, and resources to bring others into God’s Kingdom and give him glory.
We understand that being a part of God’s kingdom work involves continuously growing in faith as we work together. It also means obeying, and worshipping, and sacrificing for Christ together.
To borrow the Apostle Paul’s words found in Philippians 3:12-14 – We know that we have not already arrived at our goal of being who we ought to be as a church. But forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Will you partner with us in helping to fulfill the vision God has given us? Together we can have a fresh start as we become the Ithaca Living Hope Church – connecting with our community by offering hope and purpose in Christ.
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Shaping the Future Together
On August 21, 2023 at 6:00 PM, members of the Ithaca United Methodist Church voted to approve these four items:
1) For Ithaca UMC to disaffiliate from the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church effective January 1st, 2024.
2) To liquidate and dissolve the Sackett Endowment Fund for the purpose of payment to the United Methodist Church is part of the
disaffiliation agreement.
3) To affiliate with the Global Methodist Church effective January 1st, 2024.
4) To legally change the church name from Ithaca United Methodist Church to Ithaca Living Hope Church effective January 1st, 2024.
Only members of Ithaca UMC who were present for this meeting voted in the decision that will dramatically affect the future of this local church. The outcome is being shared in person and online while preparations are made to follow through with all actions required as a result of the vote.