Gary Geiman and Jan Witman
in Glacier Park and at their wedding, April 19, 2007
Hi, I am Gary Geiman and I have been appointed the new pastor of Hope UMC beginning on July 1, 2007. I am very excited to be coming to Billings to work with you. I will be moving to a new church in a new state and annual conference. That's a lot all at one time, but I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life. (Jan will be pastor at Shiloh UMC).
I was born and raised in South Dakota, and spent most of my 54 years there until this time. My dad was a retired Methodist Minister of this conference, but died this past December. I graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota with a BA in Social Work, and Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Co with my MDiv. I have been serving churches in Dakotas Conference since 1986. I currently serve the Winner UMC in Winner, South Dakota. It is a 460 member church in a county seat, regional trading center community of 3,300 people in south central South Dakota. I have served on various conference boards and am currently the Vice-President of the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation. Hobbies include hiking and backpacking, especially in the mountains, fishing, and traveling. I have two grown children and three grandchildren, with a fourth grandchild expected in October. I am a veteran of the U.S. Army.
I have spent a little time in Billings recently and it seems very comparable to the larger communities in the Dakotas, reminding me of Rapid City in many ways, only bigger. I look forward to moving to your community and settling in and beginning work as your new pastor. I will pray for your church family during this transition time and ask your prayers for me as well. May God bless you and your ministry to your community.
Peace.
Pastor Gary Geiman