Bishop Tom Berlin has appointed Rev. Dr. Cathy Johns and Rev. Doug Johns as co-lead pastors for Christ Church United Methodist. Cathy and Doug are ordained elders in the West Ohio Annual Conference and have served as co-senior pastors for most of their pastoral ministry. Pastor Monique McBride, pastor Christ Church School and families, and Pastor Peytyn Tobin, associate pastor, have been reappoint to serve at Christ Church.

Pastor Cathy Johns is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a graduate of Manchester College (B.A., 1981), United Theological Seminary (M. Div., 1984), and Chicago Theological Seminary (D. Min., 2003).

Pastor Doug Johns is a native of Lansing, Michigan, and a graduate of Ohio Northern University (B.A., 1983), United Theological Seminary (M.Div.,1986), and recipient of the Executive Certificate of Religious Fundraising from Lake Institute/Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis, School of Philanthropy.

Pastors Cathy and Doug served churches separately for about 18 years before co-leading churches in 1995: First United Methodist Church, Warsaw, Indiana; and Church of the Saviour and Hyde Park Community, both United Methodist churches in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Each brings their own strengths to ministry. Pastor Cathy’s strengths are preaching, spiritual formation, and pastoral care. Pastor Doug’s gifts lie in administration and finance. After being in ministry in the West Ohio Conference, they moved to the Fort Lauderdale area in 2023.

The Johnses have a daughter and son-in-law who live in Cincinnati and a son and daughter-in-law who live in Lexington, South Carolina. They are blessed with three grandchildren.

The Johnses offer these words to us: “It is with great joy that we come to join you in ministry! God has blessed Christ Church United Methodist with a blessed past and a faithful present. We look forward to seeing the words from Jeremiah come alive: ‘For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.’ (Jeremiah 29:11)

“Please join us in prayer for God to guide our steps as we begin this journey together. We look forward to a vibrant ministry of loving, leading, and learning with you as we strive to be faithful to God’s call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”