Dexter methodists to welcome pastor

The Rev. Lee Penzien will begin his ministry at Dexter United Methodist Church on June 24.

Dexter methodists

to welcome pastor

By JANET MILLER

NEWS SPECIAL WRITER

Dexter will be the sixth stop in Rev. Lee Penzien's career serving God. And while it can be difficult packing up and moving one more time, Rev. Penzien looks at it philosophically and religiously.

“When the Lord calls, you answer,” he said while taking a break from working with the movers. “We will make the adjustment. Life is full of adjustments.”

Rev. Penzien hasn’t met the full congregation of the Dexter United Methodist Church, where he will give his first sermon, “Opening New Doors” June 24. “In the Methodist Church, you meet everyone when you walk in that first Sunday. Then, it’s too late to turn around,” he quipped.

Rev. Penzien will replace Rev. John E. Harnish at the 575-member Dexter United Methodist Church. Rev. Harnish is taking a new church assignment in Flint.

Rev. Penzien has been senior pastor of Walled Lake United Methodist Church for the past six years. The Walled Lake Church has 375 members. “They love us here,” said Rev. Penzien. “There’s no real reason to leave, except that God called us.”

'In the Methodist Church, you meet everyone when you walk in that first Sunday. Then, it's too late to turn around.'

The Rev. Lee Penzien

In his past assignments, he has led church building projects: He’ll be doing that again.

Rev. Penzien will be leading a church on the grow in the Dexter United Methodist Church. The church is in the middle of a three-phase building project as the congregation grows. Guiding this construction will be one of the main challenges, said Rev. Penzien. A fellowship hall was constructed -- using volunteer labor -- at the new church site along the Huron River. The second phase, building the education portion of the church, should begin next spring. The final phase, building the sanctuary, should be completed in about four years, said Rev. Penzien. The congregation continues to worship at the old site at 3411 Central until the second phase is complete. Then, if the current building can be sold, the congregation will worship in the education section while the sanctuary is under construction.

Rev. Penzien was ordained a minister in 1963. He grew up in Bay City, the son of a mortician. A licensed mortician himself, Rev. Penzien said the two professions overlap. “You’re dealing with people going through all sorts of changes,” said Rev. Penzien.

The ministry, however, offers more of a balance. “There a lot more of a positive balance” in the ministry, he said. “That helps.”

Rev. Penzien is married to Jo Penzien, a school teacher, and has four adult children and eight grandchildren.