107th Annual Meeting & Reception

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

September 15, 2026

The Board of Trustees of the United Methodist Union of the Greater Detroit District is delighted to announce that Rev. Tim Ward will be the guest speaker for our 107th Annual Meeting and Reception.

The event will take place on Thursday, October 22nd, at 6:45 p.m. at Northville United Methodist Church (777 W. Eight Mile Road, Northville, MI 48167).

This year’s gathering features an exciting new format. We will begin with a Festival of Desserts from 6:45–7:15 p.m., followed by the main program from 7:30–8:30 p.m. Please note that dinner will not be served this year, and there is no cost to attend. We will start tasting a variety of desserts at 6:45 p.m. before moving to the sanctuary for the business portion of the evening.

We are honored to welcome Rev. Tim Ward of the Virginia Conference. Rev. Ward brings extensive experience in church planting, congregational growth, and revitalization. He specializes in helping churches discover innovative ways to serve the unique needs of their local communities. Tim will be sharing thoughts on Future Focused Church Vitality during his time with us.

In 2021, Tim was appointed to Crossroads UMC, succeeding a founding pastor of more than 30 years. Under his leadership, Crossroads has grown to 500–600 weekly worshipers and has become a cornerstone of community service. Notably, the church founded a non-profit called Wellness Loudoun to focus on local mental health and wellness, which served more than 2,500 people in its first 18 months. Crossroads is a fully welcoming community that works hand-in-hand with neighbors to drive meaningful transformation.

In addition to his pastoral leadership, Tim serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, offering a fresh perspective for church planters. He is also a valued member of the Virginia Church Development Team and the District Strategy Team. For the past six years, Tim has coached church planters and pastors who desire to deepen their community connections, specifically guiding them through strategic planning to meet unnoticed local needs.

I believe Rev. Ward will bring a powerful, inspiring message. I highly encourage you to invite several church leaders from your congregation to share this evening with you and our United Methodist Union Trustees.

Please plan to join us for this special evening. You can register yourself and your guests using our Online Registration Form by clicking on the button below. Please forward this email to the chairs of your trustees, finance and church council.

We hope to see you there!

Grace & Joy,

Rev. Carol J Johns, Executive Director, United Methodist Union