Announcing The New Park Avenue Senior Pastor

After a year under the guidance and leadership of Interim Senior Pastor Dan Johnson, Park Avenue UMC is joyful in sharing that Reverend Shandon Klein has been appointed as our new Senior Pastor. This Sunday, the Leadership Board shared the following message from our Bishop:

"It is the intention of Bishop Lanette Plambeck to appoint the Reverend Shandon Klein as pastor of the Park Avenue United Methodist Church, and acting on behalf of the congregation, the Staff/Pastor/Parish Relations Committee has affirmed the Bishop's intention. The new appointment will begin July 1, 2026, with Pastor Klein’s first Sunday in worship on July 5. Each church member's supportive prayers and acts of kindness during the transition period will be greatly appreciated by all."

Reverend Shandon Klein describes herself as a Spirit-led disciple who loves Jesus and is passionately dedicated to leading a multi-ethnic, radically inclusive ministry of Christ:

• Prioritizing both personal and social holiness in the Wesleyan tradition

• Passion for the unchurched, spiritual but not religious, and those who have suffered church harm

• Helping others discover their gifts and equipping them to do ministry

• Bridging multiple cultures and ideologies; helping facilitate understanding, welcoming, and belonging in creative ways

Married to Shane, the love of her life, with whom she has shared over 25 years, they live with their two wonderful fur babies, Harley the Great Dane, and Doug the cat.

You can learn more about Pastor Shandon in this letter from our Leadership Board.

Thank you for your continued prayers during this season of transition at Park Avenue!