News

Rev. Marc McDonald Appointed to Dove

Dove of the Desert United Methodist Church in Glendale has announced the appointment of Rev. Marc McDonald as Senior Pastor effective July 1, 2008. Pastor Marc follows in the footsteps of Rev. Rebecca Oakes-Long, Dove’s Senior Pastor since July 2004. Rev. Oakes-Long has been appointed to Green Valley Community Church in Green Valley, Arizona.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Pastor Marc McDonald has lived all over the country. The son of a Nazarene minister, Pastor McDonald grew up in the Church of the Nazarene, but has since found his spiritual home in the United Methodist Church. He met his wife Linda at MidAmerica Nazarene College in Olathe, Kansas. A life-long Kansan, Linda was born and raised in Meade, Kansas. Married in 1993, 10 years later Pastor Marc and Linda were blessed when their daughter Sarah came into their lives.

Pastor McDonald graduated with a BA in Religion from MidAmerica Nazarene and received his Master of Divinity degree from Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2001. Originally ordained in the Church of the Nazarene, Pastor McDonald has served in full-time ministry since 1994. Before coming to Dove, he served the following United Methodist Churches: Hope UMC in Bullhead City, Arizona; Mineral Ridge UMC in Mineral Ridge, Ohio; Little River UMC in Little River, Kansas; Benton UMC in Benton, Kansas and Medicine Lodge UMC in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.

Pastor McDonald has served in various capacities on both the District and Conference levels. He is the current Chair of the Conference Commission on Religion and Race. Pastor McDonald has a passion for issues of justice and has also represented the Desert Southwest Chapter of Methodist Federation for Social Action at the National Board of MFSA. He is a trained advocate for victims of clergy misconduct.
In his spare time he enjoys reading, collecting religious artifacts, traveling, walking, swimming, theatre, listening to music and acting in community theatre. He has had roles in The Music Man, Oklahoma, and Oliver.

Pastor McDonald believes God gave him confirmation of his transition to the Desert Southwest Annual Conference from the prophet Isaiah (58:11 in the NIV): "The Lord will guide you always; God will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." He counts it is a privilege to serve a God who loves immeasurably and who still speaks to us even today.

Welcome, New Members!

Please extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our Dove family:

Bruce and Catherine Dinsmore
Steve and Rose LaPlant
Steve and Tricia Schuster

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