Lead Pastor
Lead Pastor
Pastor Mary Kathryn Butler-Loring
I am a born in the womb United Methodist and grew up in a parsonage. My father was a
United Methodist pastor in Indiana and my mother was his partner in ministry. I loved
church and loved my family. My growing up years were a great maturing time in my life
and my faith.
I graduated from Monroe Central Jr/Sr High School in Parker City, IN. After high school,
I attended the University of Evansville where I earned my bachelor’s degree in music
education. I taught off and on for four years, while also working at St Joseph United
Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, IN. In 1997, I made the move to Grand Rapids, MI and
became the Associate of Music and the Arts at Grand Rapids First United Methodist
Church. I served in that position for 13 years and it was during those years that I began
hearing God’s further call. Also, during that time, I became a mother. I have two adulting
children, Eric and Edmund. Eric lives in Lansing, MI and Edmund attends Grand Valley
State University working toward a degree in secondary education with an English major
and political science minor and they are a passionate and articulate mid-range GenZ. I have
been divorced since June 2021.
It was somewhere around the birth of Edmund, in 2001, that I began feeling a further
call to ministry. It took me a while to feel confident enough to voice my call to become
an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. It then took an even longer time to
fulfill that call. I became a candidate for ministry in December 2007, became a licensed
local pastor in 2010, graduated from Methodist Theological School in Ohio in May 2014,
was commissioned a provisional elder in June 2015, became an Elder in full membership
of the Michigan Annual Conference during the virtual Annual Conference in 2020 and
was finally Ordained in an outdoor service in May 2021.
In my almost 14 years of ministry as a pastor, I have served Twin Lake United
Methodist Church as lead pastor (2010-2013), Clark Retirement Community as Pastoral
Care Coordinator (2013-2017), Jackson Calvary United Methodist Church as lead
pastor and Jackson First United Methodist Church as associate (2017-2019), Ann Arbor
Calvary United Methodist Church as lead pastor (2019-2020), Belleville First United
Methodist Church (2020-2023), and most recently at Sunnyside UMC (July1-December
31, 2023). At Twin Lake United Methodist. I was honored to be the pastor who helped
the congregation reach out to those living in poverty surrounding the church by leading
the Christ followers to create a community garden. At Clark Retirement Community, I
supervised two chaplains, led and coordinated services for the two campuses, created a
care team to supplement visitation, and created a Spiritual Life Committee to help
negotiate the transition from the current on-sight chaplain’s model to First United
Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, off-sight model. In Jackson, I led Jackson Calvary to
recognize their present reality and advised, supported, and encouraged them. These
Christ followers opened their doors and partnered with the Student Advocacy Center, a
mentoring/tutoring program, to help the youth of the community. In my position as
associate at Jackson First United Methodist, I initiated a spiritual growth plan and had
growth in the area of small groups. I also participated in the Vital Church Initiative and
was inspired by the dreams that emerged from that process. In both positions, I worked
tirelessly to reach out to and partner with other United Methodist Churches and other
non-profit organizations in the area creating a combined VBS, combined small groups,
and combined base camp classes and housing the Student Advocacy Center within the
Jackson Calvary building. In Ann Arbor Calvary, I walked alongside a congregation
making the tough decision to close so that new life could arise. The church was adopted
by Dexter UMC. At Belleville UMC, I led the congregation through Covid 19 and online
worship, to safely return to in person worship while continuing the online presence. I
also opened the conversation on the love, embrace, and empowering of our LGBTQIA+
siblings within our denomination. This led the congregation to a vote for disaffiliation in
which they decided they would remain UMC. Finally, I pastored Sunnyside UMC for a
short time. Within those six months, I helped the congregation to discover and live into
their financial reality and to take steps towards asset-based ministry. I am currently on
renewal leave learning through cohorts on preaching, leaders who last, family systems,
and GenZ and participating in the basic coach training class. I am being refreshed
through personal counseling and spiritual direction as well as Soul Check-in through the
conference. Finally, I am expanding my view through attending virtually, Southern Lights
Conference and Fresh Expressions Convention, while also hoping to attend Festival of
Homiletics in person in Pittsburgh in May.
Perhaps what is most important for you to know about me is that I am a deeply devoted
and passionate follower of Christ. Therefore, I understand my mission as pastor is to
help others to deepen their own faith and to become leaders for Christ in the world by
living out their faith in their daily lives. I look forward to working with Dixboro UMC
participants and the Dixboro community as we live into this essential work of being
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Lead Pastor
Pastor Mary Kathryn Butler-Loring
I am a born in the womb United Methodist and grew up in a parsonage. My father was a
United Methodist pastor in Indiana and my mother was his partner in ministry. I loved
church and loved my family. My growing up years were a great maturing time in my life
and my faith.
I graduated from Monroe Central Jr/Sr High School in Parker City, IN. After high school,
I attended the University of Evansville where I earned my bachelor’s degree in music
education. I taught off and on for four years, while also working at St Joseph United
Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, IN. In 1997, I made the move to Grand Rapids, MI and
became the Associate of Music and the Arts at Grand Rapids First United Methodist
Church. I served in that position for 13 years and it was during those years that I began
hearing God’s further call. Also, during that time, I became a mother. I have two adulting
children, Eric and Edmund. Eric lives in Lansing, MI and Edmund attends Grand Valley
State University working toward a degree in secondary education with an English major
and political science minor and they are a passionate and articulate mid-range GenZ. I have
been divorced since June 2021.
It was somewhere around the birth of Edmund, in 2001, that I began feeling a further
call to ministry. It took me a while to feel confident enough to voice my call to become
an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. It then took an even longer time to
fulfill that call. I became a candidate for ministry in December 2007, became a licensed
local pastor in 2010, graduated from Methodist Theological School in Ohio in May 2014,
was commissioned a provisional elder in June 2015, became an Elder in full membership
of the Michigan Annual Conference during the virtual Annual Conference in 2020 and
was finally Ordained in an outdoor service in May 2021.
In my almost 14 years of ministry as a pastor, I have served Twin Lake United
Methodist Church as lead pastor (2010-2013), Clark Retirement Community as Pastoral
Care Coordinator (2013-2017), Jackson Calvary United Methodist Church as lead
pastor and Jackson First United Methodist Church as associate (2017-2019), Ann Arbor
Calvary United Methodist Church as lead pastor (2019-2020), Belleville First United
Methodist Church (2020-2023), and most recently at Sunnyside UMC (July1-December
31, 2023). At Twin Lake United Methodist. I was honored to be the pastor who helped
the congregation reach out to those living in poverty surrounding the church by leading
the Christ followers to create a community garden. At Clark Retirement Community, I
supervised two chaplains, led and coordinated services for the two campuses, created a
care team to supplement visitation, and created a Spiritual Life Committee to help
negotiate the transition from the current on-sight chaplain’s model to First United
Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, off-sight model. In Jackson, I led Jackson Calvary to
recognize their present reality and advised, supported, and encouraged them. These
Christ followers opened their doors and partnered with the Student Advocacy Center, a
mentoring/tutoring program, to help the youth of the community. In my position as
associate at Jackson First United Methodist, I initiated a spiritual growth plan and had
growth in the area of small groups. I also participated in the Vital Church Initiative and
was inspired by the dreams that emerged from that process. In both positions, I worked
tirelessly to reach out to and partner with other United Methodist Churches and other
non-profit organizations in the area creating a combined VBS, combined small groups,
and combined base camp classes and housing the Student Advocacy Center within the
Jackson Calvary building. In Ann Arbor Calvary, I walked alongside a congregation
making the tough decision to close so that new life could arise. The church was adopted
by Dexter UMC. At Belleville UMC, I led the congregation through Covid 19 and online
worship, to safely return to in person worship while continuing the online presence. I
also opened the conversation on the love, embrace, and empowering of our LGBTQIA+
siblings within our denomination. This led the congregation to a vote for disaffiliation in
which they decided they would remain UMC. Finally, I pastored Sunnyside UMC for a
short time. Within those six months, I helped the congregation to discover and live into
their financial reality and to take steps towards asset-based ministry. I am currently on
renewal leave learning through cohorts on preaching, leaders who last, family systems,
and GenZ and participating in the basic coach training class. I am being refreshed
through personal counseling and spiritual direction as well as Soul Check-in through the
conference. Finally, I am expanding my view through attending virtually, Southern Lights
Conference and Fresh Expressions Convention, while also hoping to attend Festival of
Homiletics in person in Pittsburgh in May.
Perhaps what is most important for you to know about me is that I am a deeply devoted
and passionate follower of Christ. Therefore, I understand my mission as pastor is to
help others to deepen their own faith and to become leaders for Christ in the world by
living out their faith in their daily lives. I look forward to working with Dixboro UMC
participants and the Dixboro community as we live into this essential work of being
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
