New Pastor for Methodist Parish

The Northern Door United Methodist Parish – Calvary UMC in Egg Harbor and Zion UMC on Highway F between Baileys Harbor and Fish Creek – announces the retirement of their pastor and the arrival of a new parish minister.

The Rev. Jane Sommers, who has served the parish since 2011, is retiring on June 30. Pastor Jane served Wesley United Methodist Church in Sheboygan for 10 years before appointment to Door County. Inspired by the missional generosity, gifts and graces of both congregations, she bids farewell with profound love, gratitude and joy, and looks forward to sharing with others the gifts of creative community in beautiful Door County. Jane is married to Paul Sommers and has three adult children and five grandchildren.

The new pastor of the Northern Door Parish, beginning July 1, is the Rev. Michael Morris, a Chicago native and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds master’s degrees in divinity and Christian education from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and, over the past 41 years, has served United Methodist churches in Freeport, Rockford, Shannon, McHenry and Palatine, Ill., as well as Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is retiring from his pastorate in Palatine in June. He will serve Calvary and Zion on a half-time basis.

Rev. Morris says the favorite aspects of his work include teaching, preaching and seeing people grow in their faith. He worked with many conference committees in Illinois, and says that training pastors to begin new faith communities was the most rewarding part of his conference work. He and his wife, Jolene, have taken several trips to the Holy Land with groups from the churches they have served.

The Morisses vacationed in Door County for 10 years before buying their retirement home here 19 years ago. They have three children and four granddaughters.