Everyone is Welcome at Smithville UMC ...
Everyone is welcome and we are excited to invite you to worship with us. If you do not already have a church home in the Smithville area, we invite you to consider allowing Smithville UMC to fill that void. We would love to include you as a part of our Church Family.
We have wonderful music, Spirit-filled worship, Biblical, relevant preaching, a fantastic Adult Sunday School selections and friendly folks that would love to welcome you into our community of faith personally.
We are located in the beautiful heart of Wayne County, right in the midst of Amish Country. It is a wonderful drive, through the glory of God's creation and the fantastic countryside to Smithville; and we are right in the heart of the village.
How We Began ...
Smithville United Methodist Church began on October 8, 1812, as the first religious gathering in Green Township, when sixteen people met in the cabin of Michael Thomas. A Reverend Gray, a circuit rider passing through the area saw the group and exclaimed, "I believe have found my flock in the desert!" He shared a message and the group shared a dinner of venison and "johnnycakes."
Two years later, this first religious group was organized as a congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, under the pastoral leadership of Reverand Thomas Summerville.
Meet the Team
Pastor James Lance was appointed to Smithville UMC in July of 2021. He graduated from the College of Wooster with a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy and Theatre. Pastor James has also graduated from Boston University School of Theology with a Masters of Theological Studies and Methodist Theological School of Ohio with a Masters of Divinity.
James enjoys attending the theatre, he like plays, musicals, and the Ohio Light Opera. James also enjoys archery, reading, and playing board games with friends. James also enjoys traveling and hopes to do so more in the coming years.
Three of James' favorite things are his cat Macleod, his morning coffee, and subs. James is currently exploring the wonderful menus of the Carpenters Cup and Sam's Pizza and Heroes.
Charline recently joined our staff as Administrative Assistant. Currently serving in the same position at another UMC, she loves to organize and create.
She and her husband of 33 years have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren.
Charline loves to read, garden, bike and teach piano lessons, but her favorite thing is being a Nana!