Mitchell First United Methodist Church

The Rev. James Persons - Senior Pastor

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The Rev. James Persons was raised in Minneapolis, MN.  He moved to Mitchell, SD to attend Dakota Wesleyan University and graduated in 1970.  While attending the University James transferred his church membership to First United Methodist Church in Mitchell.  After attending the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, James returned to South Dakota to begin his ministry.  James has served a number of parishes, small and large, in his career.  The last appointment before Mitchell was an eight year appointment as District Superintendent in the Dakotas Conference.
 
James met his wife, Eileen, while at Dakota Wesleyan and they were married in First United Methodist Church of Mitchell in 1972.  In 1971 James was ordained Deacon in Mitchell First UMC during Annual Conference that year.  “It is a great honor for me now to return to First United Methodist Church in Mitchell.  It is like returning to my South Dakota spiritual home.”
 
James was trained in spiritual direction at the Shalem Institute, Bethesda, MD, and has been the spiritual director for several Academies of Spiritual Formation in the Dakotas.  James has also pursued training as a personal coach through the Center for Emotional Intelligence and Human Relations.
 
James and Eileen are both avid bird watchers, and James enjoys woodworking and dreaming about restoring his old Ford Mustang.

The Rev. James Persons is an ordained elder in the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Pastor Lou Whitmer - Associate Pastor

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Rev Lou Whitmer is a North Dakota native who for many years was an active layperson, including being on the staff of Minot’s Vincent United Methodist Church as Coordinator of Music and Organist for over 25 years.  During that time she also owned and operated a gift shop, and served as Executive Director of the Minot Symphony Orchestra. 

Lou began her path to parish ministry in 2005, and received her License to Preach in 2007.  She continues her seminary studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary through the UMC Course of Study program (COS).   In 2007 Lou accepted her first appointment at the Kimball Protestant Parish, where she served until this present appointment.    

She is currently chair of the Connectional Ministries Link for the Dakotas Conference.   

Lou enjoys music, baking, walking, scrapbooking and has a passion for worship and missions.

The Rev. Donna McLaird - Visitation Pastor

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The Rev. McLaird graduated from high school in Faulkton, SD in 1959. She met and married her husband, Jim, at DWU in 1961.  They spent the academic year of 1962-63 at Boston University School of Theology , and then she finished a Masters in Religious Education at Garrett Evangelical in Evanston, Ill., in 1964.   Donna was the Christian Education Director at the Methodist Church of Laramie, Wyoming from 1964 until 1967, while Jim was in graduate school.   They moved to Mitchell in 1967,  and had 2 sons, John and Steven.  Donna worked at DWU, from 1981 to 1984, as Director for non-traditional students. She finished her Master of Divinity at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California in 1987, and pastored churches from 1977-81 and 1984-2004, including Ethan-Tyndall, Broadland-Hitchcock, Plankinton-Mt. Vernon, Colton,-Chester all in South Dakota. Following retirement the Rev. McLaird has enjoyed her part time employment at  FUMC since 2004.

The Rev. Donna McLaird is an ordained elder in the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Short Larson - Office Manager

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I am in my 20th year as Office Manager at First United Methodist Church.  My job includes everything from record/calendar keeping, publishing the Sunday bulletin, and scheduling events to searching for food that has been donated to the church and cannot be located.  I love people and feel that my ministry is to make everyone who calls or walks throught these doors feel welcome and loved by God and this church.

I am married to Larry, a middle school teacher who works 3 jobs so that I only have to work 4 days a week.  I have two married children, Brooke (Ryan) Anderson and sons Wil and Jack, and Tate (Jan) Larson.  My family is my life along with reading, eating, walking, eating, friends, and eating.  My happiest times are vacationing anywhere with my family!