Posted on Sun, Sep 8, 2013
Rev. Lawrence Keeler notified the church Sept. 1 that he will retire effective Dec. 31.
Rev. Marla Brown, superintendent of the Maumee Watershed District, will meet with the church's pastor-parish committee later this month to begin developing a profile to assist in selecting a replacement pastor who will take office in January.
Rev. Keeler notified members of his retirment in a letter mailed the week before Sept. 1 and then explained his decision prior to worship last week.
"When Sherry developed cancer last year, it made me rethink a lot of things," he said. "Luckily, we believe she is cured, but I realized in a new and more powerful way that we are not guaranteed any future at all. There are things that Sherry and I would like to do while we still have our health that would be impossible so long as I must work."
Rev. Keeler explained in his letter that he will be required under rules of the United Methodist Church to leave the congregation.
"This was a difficult decision because of that," he said. "Sherry and I have made many close friends here at Zion, and we love the spirit of this church, perhaps more than any other we have ever attended."
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