Appointment Letter to MotleyUMC
It is the intention of Bishop Lanette Plambeck to assign Jonathan Holland as pastor of Motley United Methodist Church and Associate Pastor of Park United Methodist Church in Brainerd. Acting on behalf of the congregation, the Staff/Pastor/Parish Relations Committee has affirmed the Bishop's intention. This assignment is pending completion of paperwork needed for Jonathan to serve on loan from another Annual Conference. The new assignment will begin August 1, 2026, with Jonathan’s first Sunday in worship at Motely UMC on August 2, 2026. Each church member’s supportive prayers and acts of kindness during the transition period will be greatly appreciated by all of the people involved.
As noted, Pastor Jonathan will join our congregation on August 1st and will preach on the 2nd. He comes to us from Montana/Idaho. His family lives in Great Falls, Montana and his mother is from MN. He has earned a BA degree in Physics/Astronomy, MS degree in Statistics, and a Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology in 2026.
Prior to the decision to follow his call to become a pastor, Jonathan was active providing projects and outreach in a variety of settings. COVID had just begun when he quit his job to follow his call to ministry. He served as a lay pastor in Montana while going to seminary. His aspirations for Ministry and serving the local church are to use his voice and self to help inspire the church to listen to the needs around us and find what God is calling us to do in this moment and place.
He has a passion for finding new ways to show and feel love in our communities. He believes “the church should be a place where we can feel love and therefore want to experience and share that love with others.” He prefers to and ways to do love of God and neighbor. He defines his leadership style as empowering his laity and encouraging them to find what God is calling them to do and be. “We can do more that will last longer if we work together.”