LEAD PASTOR

BIOGRAPHY
Rev. Dan Jackson

Rev. Dan Jackson was born and raised in Ohio in a Quaker family whose values shaped his lifelong commitment to faith and community. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Dan spent the first 18 years of his career in the financial services and franchising industries before responding to God’s call to ministry. He went on to earn his Master of Divinity from The Methodist Theological School in Ohio (Methesco), graduating in 1994, and was ordained an Elder in the West Ohio Conference in 1996.

During his ministry in West Ohio, Dan served congregations ranging in size from 30 to 600 in weekly worship, leading multiple building projects and capital campaigns that expanded the churches’ reach and impact.

In 2006, Dan and his family moved to Florida, where he became the Executive Pastor at New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages—one of the fastest-growing United Methodist congregations in the nation. Under his leadership, worship attendance grew from 900 to over 2,000, with expansion plans for a second campus. Dan also worked with the congregation to develop innovative mission and discipleship programs, including a jail ministry, a housing ministry, and a Lay Leadership Academy.

In 2013, Bishop Ken Carter appointed Dan as Florida’s Director of New Church Development, where he led strategic efforts to establish disciple-making congregations in the 20 areas least impacted by United Methodism. He restructured New Church Development funding, reducing apportionment-based giving by $800,000 and launching the Generative Church Leadership Academy, which trained more than 100 pastors across two Annual Conferences. Working with the Strategic Leadership Team, Dan was instrumental in creating The Cabinet Development Fund—an initiative that generated over $2.8 million annually for local church ministries without reliance on apportionment dollars.

In 2017, Dan was named Director of the Vital Church Initiative, helping to align Congregational Vitality, Fresh Expressions, New Church Development, and Church Transitions into a unified strategy aimed at doubling the number of vital congregations and creating 500 Fresh Expressions of Church. Under his leadership, the Florida Conference launched 11 new churches and chartered 4, while Fresh Expressions Florida expanded to over 400 ministries, including the creation of 50 Dinner Churches in a single year.

Appointed in 2019 as Superintendent of the Southwest District, Dan continued to serve as Director of Fresh Expressions. Bishop Carter noted, “Dan Jackson has a history of leadership in one of our denomination’s most fruitful churches... and has been instrumental in implementing our vision through the Fresh Expressions movement.”

Dan is the author of Generative Leadership for the New Expedition, which explores the principles of Christ-centered leadership development. He has served as a visiting professor at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis and continues to serve as a consultant with the Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort, a partnership between Rev. Dr. Tod Bolsinger and Fresh Expressions U.S. as a mentor in the Hub 4 Innovation at Methesco and as a coach to multiple pastors.

In 2022, Bishop Gregory Palmer appointed Dan as interim Senior Pastor of Grove City United Methodist Church, a role he held until mid-2023. He continues to preach regularly at New Albany United Methodist Church.

Now retired, Dan and his wife Patti reside in Columbus, Ohio, where they enjoy life surrounded by their five children and “the 12 most adorable grandchildren anywhere.”

DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Laura teaches first grade at Salem-Liberty Elementary in the Fort Frye Local School District. She and her husband, Brent, have two sons and two grandsons and another on the way! Laura loves to do embroidery, quilting, and read. And she loves being a grandma!

Email Laura at lawarren@suddenlink.net

MUSIC DIRECTOR & TREASURER

Beth Payton has been directing the Sanctuary Choir and Cathedral Handbell Choir at Christ United Methodist Church since 2004, shortly after she and her daughter, Faith settled in Marietta. Beth got her start in all things musical while growing up in a very large church in Wayne, PA. She went on to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, earning a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Music. She sang with several of WCC's choirs, performing with The Philadelphia Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic, and the New Jersey Symphony in their respective cities. Beth serves as the Treasurer for Christ UMC in addition to the music leadership roles. In her spare time, she enjoys ringing handbells with the Mid-Ohio Valley Ringers, reading with a purring cat on her lap, doing puzzles of all kinds, and sitting at the water's edge or next to a campfire contemplating life and its Creator.

ORGANIST

Steve Brown serves as church organist and pianist at Christ Church. With over 20 years of professional experience, he is a highly sought after performer and soloist within the Mid-Ohio Valley and surrounding areas. Steve works for Marietta City Schools, teaching general music, band, and choir to elementary age students, and has been the organist and pianist at Christ Church since 2016. He resides in Marietta with his wife, Libby and son, Aaron.

SUNDAY CUSTODIAN

NURSERY WORKER

Kelly graduated from Marietta College in 1979. She has been employed as a teacher with Fort Frye Local Schools for 42 years. She and her husband, Jerry, have been married for 38 years. They have two adult daughters, Kristine & Katy.