Office Staff
George Porter... District Superintendent
Welcome to the Franklin District website. We hope the information here is useful for you and your ministry. Please e-mail the Franklin District office with any updates or news you want to share.
The Franklin District is north and south of I80 from the Ohio border to the Allegheny National Forest. The people, called United Methodist, of the district are welcoming and enthusiastic about the opportunities for ministry in our area and beyond. If you are seeking the fellowship of a church, please consider a United Methodist church in your community. You will most probably find a new home that will welcome you with “Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors.”
I began this ministry in the Franklin District on July 1, 2009. So – the tasks ahead of me are the very basic ones of initial organization and getting to know as many people of the Franklin District as possible.
A little about my family: My wife is Kathleen. We have been married for almost thirty-five years; have three children and four grandchildren. Our children are all married and live in Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Las Vegas.
The churches and ministries to which I have been appointed to serve include rural, town, urban city, small church, large church, and campus and community ministry. Now, my appointment is as the superintendent of the Franklin District of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
While ministry in and through the community of the local church continues to be my focus and passion, mission beyond the local church continues to be part of my life and ministry. Places of mission, for me, have included the communities in which I live and various places around the state of Pennsylvania. I have traveled to participate in United Methodist mission and ministry in distant places that include New Orleans, Russia, Africa and more.
A hope I have, as I begin this ministry, is that we can all be open to “rethink church” as we move forward together in the name of Jesus Christ. There are a lot of people who need to know and live the love of Jesus. Let’s all be open to the many ways (old, new and innovative) we can spread the Gospel. Let’s be radically hospitable to those we encounter. Let’s be the visible presence of Jesus.
May God bless you.
In Christ,
George
Julie Lake...Administrative Assistant
Julie became the Franklin District Secretary on November 1, 2004. She has been married to Jeff since 1982. They are the parents of Henry and Sarah. Henry works for Penelec and Sarah teaches 7th & 8th grade science in Virginia.
In addition to the Franklin District, Julie is the Financial Secretary of Franklin Christ UM Church and Treasurer of her Sunday School class.
The Lake family raises honeybees as a hobby.