First United Methodist Church and Logan County Parish will be receiving a new pastor effective July 1.

[May 27, 2009]   -- Rev. Mark Kaley, who is currently serving Mt. Zion United Methodist in Mt. Zion will become the new directing pastor. He has also served as associate pastor in Clinton and Springfield United Methodist Churches and as pastor of Lewistown UMC for 8 years and Casey UMC for 9 years before being appointed to Mt. Zion.

 He is completing his fifth year at Mt. Zion. Mark is from Decatur. He is a graduate of MacArthur High School and Millikin University. He received his seminary training at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. His wife, Nicholeen Kaley or Nikki, is also a graduate of MacArthur High School and Millikin University. She is a 7th grade Language Arts teacher at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Decatur, Illinois. Mark and Nikki have two children. Nathan is a graduate of Casey-Westfield High School and the University of Illinois. He is an officer in the Air National Guard and is currently in pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Braghan is a graduate of Casey-Westfield High School and Eastern Illinois University. She is employed by Carle Hospital in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Mark begins his duties in Lincoln on July 1.

In the United Methodist Church, pastors are appointed by the bishop to serve where they are needed. Rev. Hahs, the current the directing pastor of Logan County Parish, likens the appointment system to soldiers being deployed. “We are sent where the bishop feels we can be of best service to the church and the Kingdom of God.” The second goal of the appointment system is to ensure that every church has a pastor at all times. Rev. Hahs will serve through June 30 and Rev. Kaley will begin ministry in Lincoln/Logan County the next day.

Rev. Hahs is completing his seventh year as directing pastor of Lincoln First United Methodist Church. He was one of the founding pastors of the Logan County Parish which includes the United Methodist Churches of Beason, Elkhart, Hartsburg and New Holland. Rev. Hahs is pleased with the work of the Logan County Parish over the past few years. “I believe that the Logan County Parish was a creative way to support the ministries of the United Methodists in these communities.” Rev. Hahs adds, “Donna and I have enjoyed living in Lincoln. We like to walk and I think we have walked on nearly every block of Lincoln. We have enjoyed the friendliness of the businesses in Lincoln. It has been a delight living in an Amtrak community. We have ridden Amtrak to Chicago many, many times. However, Springfield has been one of our favorite trips. I would leave a car in Springfield and ride the train back to Lincoln. Then Donna and I would take one of our grandchildren on a ride with us to Springfield and drive back. This was lots of fun for a few dollars.” Rev. Hahs is being appointed by the bishop to serve Alton, Illinois.

[Text from file received by First United Methodist Church]