Doug Stockton, Senior Pastor

I love God and I love people. This is at the heart of my pastoral calling, which flows out of my personal relationship with Christ. Starting in 1985 as a student pastor and having been ordained an elder in 1989, I am currently serving in my 24th year in pastoral ministry within the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Prior to my appointment as Senior Pastor here at Christ Church in Marietta, I have served churches in Port William, Batavia, Van Wert, and Gallipolis, Ohio. Being a second career minister, I also have vocational experience in machine shop work, retail management, and foundry administration. I have a B.S. Degree in Business from Miami of Ohio and a Masters Degree in Divinity from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. The areas of ministry that I feel most passionate about are preaching, leadership development, vision-casting, evangelism, discipleship, and family ministries. In fact, my wife Linda and I co-facilitate marriage and parenting seminars aimed at strengthening families. Linda is a counselor for the Counseling and Wellness Center in Parkersburg, West Virginia. We have five grown children and two grandchildren. My hobbies include basketball, fantasy football, writing, and the study of physics.