Reverend Doctor Michael Kurtz has been the Senior Pastor at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church since 2006. He holds an Associate of Arts from Lees-McRae College (1975); a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Mennonite University (1977); a Master of Divinity from Duke University Divinity School (1984); and a Doctor of Ministry from Palmer University (1994). Prior to his appointment as Senior Pastor at Oak Ridge, Michael held a number of previous appointments in the Methodist Conference, including: Fairview UMC, Thomasville, NC, 1984-1990; Mitchell’s Grove UMC, High Point, NC, 1990-1994; Milford Hills UMC, Salisbury, NC, 1994-1999;  and Forest Hill UMC, Concord, NC, 1999-2006.

 

In addition to his duties as Senior Pastor at Oak Ridge UMC, Michael serves as a member of the Greensboro UMC District Committee on Ministry and as a Natural Church Development Coach through the Western North Carolina Conference.  He is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a trained PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator – a ministry that trains ministers and counselors to help couples.

 

Prior to entering ordained ministry Michael was a high school teacher and coach in Ashe County, NC, where he was raised.  While teaching Michael also raised Christmas trees and has written a devotional book about these tree experiences entitled Lessons From A Christmas Tree Farm.  Michael’s hobbies and interests include:  spending time with Karen, Josh, Anna and Tramp (the family dog), jogging, swimming, guitar playing, reading and writing and currently attempting to learn to play the mandolin.

 

Michael and Karen Christy Kurtz were married in 1981. They have two children: son, Joshua, and daughter, Anna.

 

 

 

Karen says she feels very privileged to be able to serve ORUMC as the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care.  Her areas include: Stephen Ministry, Caregivers, hospital and homebound visitation, leading small groups, helping with worship, preaching once a month, and participating in mission outreach ministries of the church.  She graduated from Brevard College and Emory and Henry College with an interdisciplinary degree in Religion, Sociology, and Psychology.  Karen is currently working towards ordination as an elder in our Western North Carolina Conference, and has spent the last seven Julys at Duke Divinity in the Course of Study for local pastors.  She hopes to be ordained in 2011. 

Previously Karen served Mt. Carmel UMC in Concord, NC as pastor, and Forest Hill UMC in Concord, NC as associate pastor.  Having grown up in the United Methodist Church as a preacher’s daughter, Karen feels she has been blessed by the surrounding community of faith all her life. 

 

Karen and Michael have been married for almost 28 years, and are the proud parents of Josh, 21, a junior at Lees McRae College, and Anna, 18, a junior at Northwest High School.

 

For the past four years, Jonathan has served at Oak Ridge UMC where he oversees The Ridge student ministry and The Refinery young adult ministry.  Jonathan is a youth ministry veteran of 9 years and is fully committed to sharing Christ’s love with teenagers and college-agers around the world.  Jonathan and his wife Kori have two beautiful children; Graycie (4 years old) and Levi (3 years old).  Together they enjoy traveling, playing and watching sports, going to the park, and other random activities that involve spending quality time with each other.

 

During his first few years in youth ministry, Jonathan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education with an emphasis in youth ministry from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Arts in Church Ministries from Liberty Theological Seminary.  Jonathan also currently serves as the chair of the design team for Young Adult Ministries in the Western North Carolina Conference. 

 

In addition to ministering at Oak Ridge UMC, Jonathan enjoys leading workshops and speaking at youth and young adult conferences, retreats, camps, and individual meetings while sharing his passion for guiding others to discover the transforming power of an intimate relationship with their Savior.  He also serves as a ministry consultant to individual churches focusing on youth and young adult ministries demonstrating the dynamics of strengthening both ministries within their individual church structures.

 

 

 

Dana has served as the Director for Christian Education at Oak Ridge UMC since 1989. She holds an Associate in Arts in Japanese Language/Culture from Nagasaki-Wesleyan College, Nagasaki Japan; a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy from Greensboro College; and a Masters in Christian Education from Pfeiffer University. Dana is also one of only two people in the United Methodist Church to hold triple certification- holding certifications as Director in Christian Education, Director for Youth and Director for Older Adults for the United Methodist Church.

 

Dana is currently the Western North Carolina Conference (WNCC) Christian Education Fellowship (CEF) President for the term 2009 -2010. She was a presenter at National CEF Conference in Albuquerque, NM on the effects of and ministry to families in crisis. She served as District Youth Coordinator in the 90’s and is currently a WNCC conference advisor to other churches on areas of curriculum (all ages), children/youth programming, and older adult resources.

 

Dana and her husband Bobby have been married for over 18 years. They have four children, Danny, 15, Samantha, 12, Alyson, 8, and Robbie, 5. So, in her available time, Dana’s activities revolve around the family. She was PTA President for three terms at Summerfield Laughlin Elementary, and was on the Building Team for the new Northern Elementary School. Dana’s activity list also includes sports and scouting. She is a softball coach for young girls (7-8 yrs.) and Assistant coach for 12U Recreation. and 12U travel softball teams. Dana has also been Girl Scout Leader for over 8 years (currently Cadets troop), and has been an Advisor/Mentor for a Brownie troop (2 yrs).