Office Staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thelma Castor

email

 

 

 

 

 

Dean Ziegler… District Superintendent

Greetings from the Butler District Office!

 

If you don’t reach Thelma first, I will be the voice on the other end of the phone if a real live person answers. But see Thelma’s notes below for the way it really is.

 

My work and role is well specified in the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. The official title is District Superintendent.

 

Though I am a Superintendent, my heart is still a pastor’s heart and I appreciate the initiative of each lay Christian and each Pastor on the Butler District to live out the Jesus way of life and bear witness to what Jesus called the Kingdom of God present and active, here and now in this world.

 

Butler District encompasses United Methodist Churches in Butler, Beaver and Lawrence Counties, plus a few on the borders of those counties – 87 local churches in all, served by nearly 70 clergy.

 

We are as diverse as Districts come, with rural, small town, larger town and bustling suburban regions within our borders, and churches that range from a handful to nearly a thousand attending weekend services.

 

My prayer for each one in partnership with us is that we continue to grow and learn and deepen in faith and faithfulness, and never stop till we reach heaven’s full light.

 

Our family these days is scattered. From time to time, as the schedule allows, you will hear of us flying off to Chicago for a weekend to visit our Daughter Amy, her husband Rob and our grandson Joey, and, less frequently, to Seattle where our son Daniel and his wife Eva live with “Myrtle and Olive,” their two Mini-Daschunds.

 

Linda’s sister and her daughter Brianna are also family members close to us and we visit them in Edinboro in occasion, and sometimes have Brianna (towards whom we have more of a grand-parenting role) stay with us during summer days.

 

Linda is a superintendent in her own way – but with teachers rather than preachers. Linda supervises student teachers in the field for Slippery Rock University, and along with Thelma, also provides huge assists in the District work.

 

Do let us know how we can serve you better!

 

With Every Good Wish and Prayer,

 

Dean D. Ziegler

District Pastor/Superintendent

 

 

Thelma Castor... Administrative Assistant

I  am the voice on the other end of the phone when calling the Butler District Office.

 

I have been a life long member of Unionville United Methodist Church, in the Butler District.  My love for the church has directed me to ministry in many areas. Some of those areas are:

 

  • Teaching
    Sunday School teacher for 18 years
    VBS coordinator/teacher
    Confirmation Class teacher for 6 years 

  • Areas of leadership
    Lay Leader
    Sunday School Superintendent
    Liturgist
    Outreach Committee
    Nurture Committee
    Pastor Parish Committee
    Visitation
    Youth Leader
    Worship Team Coordinator

  • I have also served areas on the district and conference levels.
    Vital Congregations-Faithful Disciples
    District Lay Ministry Team
    Certified Lay Speaker
    District Board on Ordained Ministry
    Conference Center Staff

 

I am a wife and mother.  I married my soul mate, Bill, on July 15, 1978.  We have two grown children.

Our son, Christopher, now follows in a fourth generation love for the Castor family......railroad life.  He works for Norfolk Southern Railroad, as does his father.

 

Our daughter, JossLynn, is the Director of Marketing and Human Resources at HAP (Help A Person) Enterprises, Hopewell, PA.  She is now enrolled in the Master's of Science in Organized Leadership at Geneva College.

 

I have served as the Butler District secretary/administrative assistant since 1994.  I have now had the pleasure of assisting three District Superintendents.  In 2005, my work took on a new role, as I became the Executive Secretary to the Cabinet, to help coordinate our District Offices.

 

We have seen the benefits of that shared ministry many times over.

 

My personal mission statement:

  • To be a disciple for Jesus Christ.  
  • To be a leader  -- and to know when to follow.  
  • To be a “servant” for Christ to those who call upon me to do His work. 

I have always considered my work in the district a ministry, not just a job.

I love this work – and the people of the United Methodist Church.

It gives me great joy to be a part of this wonderful Butler District Team.

 

I remain, the voice on the other end on the phone….. Thelma