On Sunday, April 14, 2024, Christ Church United Methodist announced its pastoral appointments for the coming year.

Pastors Monique McBride and Peytyn Tobin have been reappointed as associate pastors. Pastor Monique will continue as pastor to school and families. They and their families will remain part of the Christ Church family.

Bishop Tom Berlin has appointed Rev. Dr. Cathy Johns and Rev. Doug Johns as co-lead pastors for Christ Church United Methodist. This husband/wife team comes to us from the West Ohio Conference. They have served much of their pastoral careers as co-pastors and are excited about coming to Christ Church.

The Christ Church family will have an opportunity to meet Pastors Cathy and Doug on Sunday, June 9, at 10am. They will begin serving on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

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.”