REVEREND JEFFRY DINNER

Rev. Dinner was born in Detroit and graduated from Cass Tech. High School.  He attended  Lawrence Tech and received his BÀ degree in Business Administration.  He then attended the Methodist Theological School in Ohio where he received his Master of Divinity Degree.  Rev. Dinner also has taken post graduate work at the Institute for Advanced Pastoral Studies.

He is married to Constance and they have three children: Martin, Margaret and Sean.

He was ordained in the United Methodist Church as a deacon in 1978 and as an Elder in 1981.

He has served in several Methodist churches in Michigan including the following:

Mt. Vernon and Paint Creek Churches.  A two point charge from 1979-82.

Nardin Park in Farmington Hills were he served as an associate pastor of a 1,800 member church from 1982-83.

From 1983-90 he was assigned to the Lambertville Church in Bedford Township.

His next position was with the Memorial Church in Gladstone from 1990-94.

Rev. Dinner was pastor of the Cheboygan Church from 1994-98.

While serving these churches he also served on the following Boards and Agencies:

Board of Ordained Ministry

Standing Rules Committee for the Detroit Annual Conference

Michigan Area Loan Committee

District Board of Ordained Ministry

District Missions-Loan Committee

STATEMENT OF FAITH

I believe that God is the Creator of the world;  is a loving Father who claims us as his own children;  is a caring Father who sent His Son Jesus to our erring world to show us and teach what He desires of us;  is a gracious Father who is constantly ready to hear our admissions of guilt and to forgive even that which we believe to be unforgivable.  I believe in Jesus, God dwelling among us.  In him we find not only our way back to the Creator God, but also as an example of how to teach and lead others back as well.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who abides among us to continue to teach us, remind us, and help us to maintain the covenant between the Trinity and Church.  Most of all I believe in Jesus as my personal Savior.  He is the one who redeemed me with the cost of His blood!  Not because I am worthy, but, in spite of my unworthiness!

PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

My vision of Ministry is perhaps best described as a Priesthood of All Believers, that is to say, that all who believe in Jesus Christ are ministers.  Each of us has a calling based on the gifts and graces we have received from the Holy Spirit.  We are all, in our own way, responsible for the continuing welfare of our personal places of worship and at the same time responsible to the greater Church as well.  In my view of ministry:  cooperation, ownership, and empowerment are the responsibility to the whole congregation.