It’s been awhile since we’ve noted pastoral changes in the Charis Fellowship. Here are a few upcoming transitions, along with leadership changes that have occurred in the last few months. These were also announced in the “Inspiring One Another” newsletter from Inspire Charis Pastors Network.
Joshua Placeway begins June 27 as the lead pastor at Grace Brethren Church, Manheim, Pa. (His grandfather, the late Richard Placeway, pastored the church in the late 1970s.) Most recently, he has served as associate pastor at La Grange Bible Church in La Grange, Ill.
Jim Cabush has accepted the call to become senior pastor at Lehigh Valley Grace Church in Bethlehem, Pa. He will begin sometime this summer. For nearly four years, Jim has been on staff at Valley Grace Brethren Church, Hagerstown, Md. Larry Humberd, longtime pastor at Lehigh Valley, will stay on staff in a part-time role as pastor of leadership training.
Clark Genet assumes the role of senior pastor of the Grace Brethren Church, Rittman, Ohio, on August 1. Clark has been on staff at the Rittman church since December 2019. Previously, he served as an intern and resident leading young adults at the Medina East Campus. Bud Olszewski, longtime pastor at Rittman, is retiring.
Other leadership changes we’ve noted over the last six to eight months include:
Justin Whiteknight is the pastor at Singer Hill Grace Brethren Church, Johnstown, Pa.
Gary Masorjak is the pastor at the Grace Brethren Church, Conemaugh, Pa.
Luke Shinskie has served as pastor at Kish Valley Grace Brethren Church, Reedsville, Pa., since August 2020. Former pastor, Doug Sabin, retired after 36 years in ministry.
Carl Snyder, pastor at Grace Chapel, Mechanicsville, Md., has announced his retirement after 48 years in ministry.
Cory Murphy has been leading the congregation at Grace Family Church, New Holland, Pa., since the former pastor, Tim Hodge, began his new role as Charis Fellowship coordinator on November 1.
At Winona Lake, Ind., Grace Brethren Church, Kip Cone has been serving as lead pastor since January 2021, while former lead pastor, Bruce Barlow, has become seniors and care pastor. Tim Wright has been named executive pastor.