Rev. Dillon Burns to leave Manchester United Methodist Church for Okemos

Rev. Dillon Burns and his family at his ordination.

submitted by Jody Sharrow, Manchester United Methodist Church

How do you say goodbye? Churches in the United Methodist denomination say goodbye to their pastor every few years. Clergy in The United Methodist Church commit to serve where their bishop appoints them. Appointments are typically for one year at a time, though the bishop may move any itinerant pastor at any time.

Rev. Dillon Burns, current pastor of Manchester United Methodist Church (next to Klager Elementary School), has been appointed by Bishop Bard to Okemos Community Church beginning July 1. Burns has served in Manchester for the past six years.

Manchester UMC was Burns’ first appointment after he was commissioned and later ordained as a United Methodist elder. Though a Michigan native, he came to Manchester after spending several years in Texas where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Christian University and a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology. He also met and married his wife, Jennifer, while in Texas. Jennifer is currently an MSU doctoral student in kinesiology. The family can often be seen walking around town with their son in his stroller and their Bernedoodle, Moose Tracks, leading the family.

While at Manchester UMC, Burns actively participated in the Manchester community in several ways. As a member of the Manchester community clergy, he worked with youth at the annual community Vacation Bible School and participated in community worship services, including Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Baccalaureate. He served as an adult steering committee member of Manchester SRSLY and a board member for 5 Healthy Towns and the Community Resource Center. He led a bible study for the Manchester Seniors and was a regular Klager Elementary recess volunteer. Because mission is an important part of Burns’ beliefs, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Cass Community Services in downtown Detroit, and twice travelled to the Upper Peninsula with MUMC’s youth group to work with God’s Country Cooperative Parish.

Burns could also be seen at the Crop Walk, Burger Time, and the Run Manchester 5K. Burns created MUMC’s Community Picnic at Chi-Bro Park as a way to reach out to the community and build relationships after the isolation of the pandemic. He also welcomed the community to Summer Movie Nights held outside in August.

Within the church, Burns spearheaded several capital achievements, including a new sound system, nursery renovation, and paying off the mortgage early. During the pandemic, Burns developed the church’s online worship presence and began livestreaming the worship services allowing for participants to worship from as far away as Florida and Arizona. Burns also led the charge to obtain funding for our new sign, which the community will notice has the name of our new pastor, Rev. Susan Hitts, whom we will welcome beginning in July.

The church and the whole Manchester village will surely miss the Burns family. The Manchester community is invited to a farewell celebration to honor and say goodbye to the Burns family on Sunday, June 11, with a special worship service at 10:30am and a potluck luncheon to follow. Please join us as we honor them and wish them well on their journey as they share their many talents with a new faith community.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.