Batz to be pastor at Braceville, Camden United Methodist Churches

BRACEVILLE — The United Methodist Churches in Braceville and Camden have announced that Bishop Frank J. Beard, episcopal leader of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, will be appointing the Rev. Dr. Donald L. Batz as pastor on July 1.

Dr. Batz is a familiar figure in the the conference, having served United Methodist churches in DeWitt, Peoria, Chatham, Jacksonville, Murphysboro, Ransom, Quincy, and Rock Island. After retiring from First Church, Rock Island, he continued to serve churches in Iowa, where he was appointed pastor of St. Mark's Church in Camanche for six years, and First Congregational Church in Clinton for three years, and as interim pastor of the DeWitt, Iowa church for 17 months.

During the past five years, Dr. Batz was appointed to the United Methodist Church in Colfax, Indiana. He has been recognized as Pastor Emeritus of both the churches in Murphysboro and in Camanche and was the recipient of the Peter Cartwright Award in 2012 for his outstanding ministerial service in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.

In addition to his ministry, Dr. Batz has taught 21 years as an adjunct professor in the community colleges in Quincy, Bettendorf, Iowa, and Lafayette, Indiana. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois Wesleyan and both his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

He and his wife, Aleta, are parents of four children, Dr. Lisa McClure of Peoria, Donnelle Pressburger of Normal, Matthew Batz of Campbell, California and Dr. Cassondra Barberish of Lake Forest.