These are exciting times around Burns United Methodist Church.

We are constantly building and reconstructing how God's Spirit is moving among us and through us. Howard Snyder, a beloved author and spiritual mentor of mine, has reminded us that New Testament biblical writers focus much more on community building in the process of building the body of Christ than any other in topic. Our congregation is a unique hybrid of traditions and cultural backgrounds. We emphasize Christian biblically based community building and de-emphasize doctrinal differences. Someone asked me to describe our congregation. My description is a gathering of God's seekers and Jesus' disciples reaching out to the world with love and compassion. We recognize that we have differences among us but choose to lift up love first, understanding next, and hope in the daily life experiences of the people we encounter.

Rev. Dr. James Pernell, Sr.

Dr. Pernell is the Associate Director of New Communities of Faith in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, focusing on innovative ministry and revitalizing congregations. With roots in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, he is pursuing full connectional status in the UMC. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Organizational Leadership and an M.Div.

An advocate for both digital and in-person ministry, Dr. Pernell authored "Contrasting Beliefs with Reality" and promotes a “Both/And” leadership model. As the senior pastor of Burns UMC, he emphasizes pastoral care and community transformation. He is married to Roxanna and enjoys cycling, traveling, and expanding his faith and imagination.