JOLIET – Bishop Sally Dyck and the Northern Illinois Conference Cabinet announce the appointment of Rev. Fritz Bartels to serve as pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Joliet.
Bartels was born in Joliet and raised on the east side. He graduated from Joliet East High School, College of St. Francis and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.
He was ordained as an elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church and has served as a pastor at: Green Garden UMC, Polo Emmanuel UMC, East Jordan UMC and Crete UMC.
Bartels and his wife, Judy, will join the congregation on July 1 with his first worship service on July 2. There will be a special welcome celebration following worship on July 9.