It is my joy to share with you today that Bishop John R. Schol has appointed Rev. Denise Tiedemann as the new pastor of our congregation. Rev. Tiedemann will begin her new responsibilities on July 1 st of this year. As a United Methodist Church we are a part of an appointment system. Our congregation’s staff parish relations committee has met with the district superintendent to identify our congregation’s needs and the needed skills in a pastor. We have also met with Pastor Denise to better get to know her in this new role and to ask questions.
Rev. Denise Tiedemann has been serving United Methodist Church for over 20 years. Most recently she has served as the lead pastor at DeBows UMC, Pleasant Grove UMC in Jackson and FUMC in Farmingdale. Prior to this appointment to she was the lead pastor at Centenary UMC in Lambertville and Linvale UMC in Ringoes. Denise, along with her husband Joe, created Jackson Arts Ministry which serves the Jackson area. This ministry offers excellent, low-cost performing arts and enrichment classes to children of all ages, while building self-esteem and pointing all we do to Jesus Christ. Denise was instrumental as part of a churchplant and a church revitalization effort. Denise loves working with children and has served as the Annual Conference’s Childcare Coordinator. She and her husband Joe have four wonderful children, and she loves being a wife and mom most of all. Her background prior to being a pastor was in theater and music, and she loves giving her best to God and the wonderful churches she’s had the privilege to serve. Her heart for mission has led her to serve with A Future with Hope and the Skainos Project in Belfast. Denise is energized remembering that all of us are created in God’s image and looks to share the life-giving hope of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible.
Our new pastor will work with us and the conference so that we continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Bishop Schol and the leaders of the Greater New Jersey Conference will work with us to continue to grow as a vital congregation. I know you will join the bishop, our new pastor and me in helping to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.