Dr. Donald L. Batz (pronounced Botts) has been apponted as the pastor beginning July 11, 2014. Dr. Batz moved from DeWitt, Iowa in order to be closer to their youngest daughter, Cassondra, who was awarded a five year research assistantship to Purdue University as she pursues her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Industrial Psychology.
Dr. Batz r began his ministry in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference as a college freshman at Illinois Wesleyan University. During his seminary training, he served as an Associate Pastor in his home church, First United Methodist of Peoria. Graduating from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis with a Master’s of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degrees, Dr. Batz served Illinois churches in DeWitt, Jacksonville, Murphysboro, the campus church at Bradley University in Peoria, Quincy and in Rock Island. He officially retired 2004 but has spent the past ten years serving in the Iowa Conference in Camanche, Clinton, and now DeWitt. He is pastor emeritus at two of his former churches: Quincy, Illinois , where he served for ten years, and Camanche, Iowa, where he served for seven years. He is the 2011 recipient of the Peter Cartwright Award in his home conference for distinguished service to the church. Dr. Batz has also taught courses in religion, ethics, and philosophy in community colleges in Quincy, Illinois and in Davenport, Iowa.
In addition to Cassie, Dr. Batz has three older children: Dr. Lisa Rogers, a psychologist in private practice in Peoria, Donnelle, a former Social Worker at the Baby Fold in Normal and the mother of Dr. Batz’s two granddaughters, and Matthew, a high school chemistry teacher in a San Jose, California.
His wife, Aleta, is a native of Indiana having been raised on a farm in Mt. Etna, north of Marion, where her parents are still living, and having graduated from IUPU in Indianapolis.
Our church Leadership
Joseph Wagner, Minister Emeritus
| Lay Leader | Rita | Neidlinger |
| Chpr. Ad council, charge conf.sec | Rita | Neidlinger |
| Treasurer | Craig | Bowen |
| Lay Member to Annual Conference | Harley | Seymour |
| Finance Chairperson | Ben | Robertson |
| Financial Secretary | Elaine | Bowen |
| Trustee Chairperson | Julia | Hoffma |
| Church School Superintendent | ||
| Director of Youth Ministries/Camping | ||
| Director of Children’s Ministries | ||
| Coordinator of Worship | Barb | Tate |
| Director of Music | Lauran | Swain |
| Director of Church Growth | ||
| Director of MissionOutreach | Lauran | Swain |
| Director of Christian Unity | Verna Lou | Ferguson |
| UMW Representative | Marilyn | Bowen |
| UMM Representative | Dan | Tate |
| Member and Memorial Gifts Secy. | Amy | Heidt |
| Minister Emeritus | Joe | Wagner |
| Prayer Coordinator | Anne | Nash |
| Prayer Coordinator | Joe | Wagner |
| Pastor Parish Chairperson | Shannon | Cadwell |
| Discipleship/ outreach | Reba | Ream |
| Futuring Committee | Elaine | Bowen |
