Who We Are
Serving the Church for Nearly 100 Years!
The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan has served congregations, pastors, church and ministry leaders and individuals across Michigan since 1926. Staffed by dedicated professionals and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, we are ready to serve you. We come alongside your ministry to help you live into your purpose and vision. We offer a broad continuum of financial stewardship services, including value-aligned investment funds, stewardship consultation, planned giving seminars, grants, awards, and scholarships.
Our Dedicated and Experienced Staff is Ready to Serve You
President & Executive Director
As President and Executive Director, David leads the ongoing strategic vision of the Foundation. He oversees the leadership development, planned giving, fund management, and financial stewardship services of the Foundation. He administers the Foundation in ways that promote clergy excellence, the spiritual discipline of generosity, and value-aligned, socially responsible investing. Serving the Foundation for over a decade, he has thirty year of ministry experience, including experience as a pastor, a development director, and a regional and national church leader. He is an ordained clergy member of The United Methodist Church.
He was elected by his peers to serve as the current President of the National Association of United Methodist Foundations. He is a board member of the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church, the Good Sense Movement, and United Methodist Insurance. He chairs the United Methodist National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, sponsored by Lilly Endowment, Inc. He is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Church Network, and the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.
David is a frequent keynote speaker at national and regional conferences. He received a post-graduate certificate in Executive Leadership from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western University. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Drew Theological School and completed his undergraduate degree from The College of Wooster.
Contact David for consultation regarding investments, planned giving, estate planning, clergy financial coaching, and trust administration. – Contact David
Sr. Director of Loan Services
Following her tenure as Vice President of the Foundation Board of Directors, Karen is now the most recent person to join our staff. Her responsibilities include both stewardship ministry and loan services. Karen elected early retirement from Ferris State University in 2018 where she served in a financial investment position. Her passion for the Church, her personal faith, her knowledge of financial services and her commitment to the Foundation’s ministry lead her to be a natural fit for this position.
Contact Karen for consultation regarding ministry loans and promissory notes. – Contact Karen
Sr. Director of Stewardship
With four decades of pastoral ministry and conference leadership experience, Jeff brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the Foundation. His primary focus is providing consultative services to local churches throughout Michigan. Jeff is available to assist church leaders with stewardship education, church financial strategies, vision and strategic planning, annual stewardship campaigns, and capital campaign readiness.
Throughout his ministry, Jeff has pastored varying sizes of congregations and has served as both a district superintendent and a director of connectional ministries. Immediately prior to joining the Foundation, Jeff was Senior Pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Rochester, Michigan.
Contact Jeff for consultation regarding local church stewardship. – Contact Jeff
Sr. Director of Operations
Marian has worked with the Foundation longer than any other current staff member. She has a lengthy history of serving the Church, including a former administrative position with the Board of Ordained Ministry. Prior to this service, she worked for over ten years as a human resource manager. In this management position, she worked extensively with benefit management, conflict resolution, recruitment of professional staff and customer service training. She holds both a Master’s of Science Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
Contact Marian for information about planned giving resources, communications, operations, scholarships, grants, and awards. – Contact Marian
Sr. Director of Account Services
Ann served for many years in the area of administrative services with the former West Michigan Treasurer’s Office of The United Methodist Church. As a result, she is well known throughout much of the Michigan Conference. Ann is responsible for many bookkeeping functions of the Michigan Area Loan Fund, local church investment statements, other trust and annuity account services, and direct customer service.
Ann brings a wealth of knowledge to our accounting services area. She is highly respected for her collegial style, her exceptional customer service skills, and, most importantly, her passion for the Church and its ministry.
Contact Ann for information about account statements, investment allocations, distributions, and deposits, and loan fund payments. – Contact Ann
Our Board
The Board of Directors of the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan governs the ministry of the Foundation by establishing policies that promote our purpose and ministry.
Brad Bartelmay
Allendale, MI
Rev. Bartelmay currently serves as Pastor of Holland First UMC, Holland, MI. He has served as a pastor in the West Michigan Conference since 1990. Rev. Bartelmay received his BA from Youngstown State University in 1995 and a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1988.
Nancy Craig
E. Lansing, MI
Ms. Craig, now retired, served as the Director of Investments and Trusts at Michigan State University from 1960 until 1999. Ms. Craig earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University in 1966. She has been active on the MSU Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, as well the Michigan Area Loan Fund Board of Directors.
Joel Fitzgerald
Sterling Heights, MI
Rev. Fitzgerald serves as the Pastor at Sterling Heights United Methodist Church. He graduated from Albion College with a B.A. in Religious Studies in 2008 and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master’s Degree in Divinity in 2012. Mr. Fitzgerald currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for both Wespath Benefits and Investments and the Young Leaders Initiative.
Lauren H. Frey
Saginaw, MI
Mr. Frey, now retired, served as Treasurer of Redford Interfaith Relief prior to his retirement. He was a certified financial planner and provided financial advisor services through Independent Financial Advisors, Inc. from 2003 to 2007 and Lauren H. Frey, CFP from 1995 to 2003. Mr. Frey holds degrees from Wayne State University and College of Financial Planning. He is currently a small business owner.
Gary Glanville
Almont, MI
Rev. Glanville is currently serving as Pastor to Swartz Creek UMC. Previously, he served Romeo UMC in Romeo, Michigan as the Pastor from 1996-2015. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University in 1977. He also holds Masters and Doctorate Degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary. Rev. Glanville has served as the Vice Chair of the District Board of Ordained Ministry and the Vice-President of Bay Shore Camp.
Mary Ann Gibson McInnes
South Lyon, MI
Rev. McInnes currently serves as the Pastor of South Lyon First United Methodist Church and has been an Elder since 1998. Rev. McInnes received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Michigan in 1992 and her Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in 1996.
Ransom Leppink
Stanton, MI
Mr. Leppink is the secretary and treasurer of L&F Foods in Middleville, a position he has held since 2000 and the store director and president of Leppinks Food Center Lakeview, a position he has held since 1985. Mr. Leppink holds an Associate Degree from Montcalm Community College and a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University. Mr. Leppink currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Foundation.
Ed Ross
Jackson, MI
Rev. Ross is currently serving 9th St. UMC in Three Rivers, MI. as Pastor. Rev. Ross obtained his Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Ohio in 1978 and his B.A. in Secondary Education from Western Michigan University. Rev. Ross has served multiple churches in Michigan since 1975. He currently serves on the boards of Henry Ford Allegiance Health Hospice and as President of the Board for Love in the Name of Christ in Jackson, MI.
Joyce G. Stair
Ann Arbor, MI
Ms. Stair is the former Principal of JGS Consulting Services LLC. Ms. Stair holds an AD in nursing from the College of DuPage, a BSN from Wayne State University and a MS in nursing from the University of Michigan. She is a member of First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti. Ms. Stair serves as the Chair of the Investment Committee for the Foundation.
Sue C. Woodward
Frederic, MI
Ms. Woodard is retired from a consulting business. She was formerly the Director of External Relations and Senior Director of Development at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. She also serves on the board of directors for Winter Ranch Christian Ministries (Secretary), Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, and Upper Manistee River Association.
Ex-Officio
David Bell, Brighton, MI
Bishop David Bard, DeWitt, MI
David Dobbs, DeWitt, MI
