Your Central Bay District Lay Leader, Denny Wissinger, is pleased to have the opportunity to
share with you his thoughts and information pertinent to laity in our District.
Introduction:
Hello, I am Denny Wissinger, your Central Bay District Lay Leader. I have been
serving in this position for three and one-half years. My home church is Farwell UMC. As far as
background goes, I am retired from the U.S. Army where I served for 21 years, followed by
being retired from the Federal Aviation Administration where I served for 18 years. My wife,
Ruth Ann, and I have four children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. I have been
a United Methodist since it came into existence in 1968, and prior to that time I belonged to
the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Among many of my duties, I serve as the lay
representative of our District, serving on many of the District committees, and the Michigan
Conference Board of Laity. It is also my duty to be available to serve and assist laity throughout
our District. Anyone wishing to contact me may feel free to call me at 989.429.4772, or email
me at [email protected].
2023 Michigan Annual Conference:
I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have
volunteered to serve either as District Lay Equalization Members or as Lay members to
represent your local churches to the 2023 Michigan Annual Conference (MAC) scheduled for
the period June 2-4. Of 15 positions we were granted for Equalization Members, there were 23
applications. That was a great response compared to previous years. If this is your first time
participating in the MAC, or if you need a refresher on what to expect at the conference, there
will be two opportunities for you to get oriented by Zoom. The first session will be on
Thursday, May 4 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm EDT, and the second will be on Saturday, May 6 from
9:00 to 10:00 am EDT. To connect to Zoom:
Connect by phone: 1.651.372.8299
Meeting ID: 862 0716 6962
Passcode: 138381
Full Zoom link:
https://michiganumc.zoom.us/j/86207166962?pwd=T1NkMERyM0dhRTR5ajh.YWWE2Szlldz09
More information on the 2023 MAC can be found at:
2023.michiganumc.org.
Redistricting/Co-Lay Leader:
With the redistricting of the Michigan Conference from nine to
seven districts, our District will be expanded from 86 churches to about 95; and as a result, our
District Superintendent, Rev. John Kasper, has made a decision to include a Co-Lay Leader
effective July 1, 2023. Her name is Dawn Levey, and her home church is Elsie UMC. She is
currently serving as the Lay Leader of the Mid-Michigan District, which will no longer exist
effective with the July 1 st redistricting.