Welcome to the Delaware Headwaters Charge. Although we are separate parish families, we share and join in our faith with the guidance of our Pastors: Rev. Dawn Richards and Rev. Peggy Laemmel. Each church is individual and autonomous, but we work together now.
The Delaware Headwaters Parish began in 2013 under the direction of District Superintendent James Moore, and Pastors David Collins and Romana Abelova as a cooperative parish involving the United Methodist churches in Bloomville, Hobart, Stamford and Township. Each church in our new parish has a long and rich history. Over the years, the demographics have shifted and that has necessitated parish communities to strategically plan how to best use limited resources while striving to maintain vitality so as to serve the faithful and proclaim the Gospel. Rev. Moore identified the current challenges facing the churches in our region. This new plan met those needs. District Superintendent, Rev. Timothy Riss, carried on the faithful tradition with us with Rev. Dee Stevens and Pastor Paul Moller beginning in 2016.
In 2019, Rev. Kwang-il Kim joined Pastor Paul. In 2021 our District Superintendent, Rev. Monk, rebranded us to the Delaware Headwaters Charge, under the auspices of newly created Delaware Cooperative Parish. Rev. Kim retired in June 2022.
In 2022 DS Rev. Karen Monk appointed Pastor (Tee) Teerayut Teersupaluck to this Charge. On July 10, 2022 Stamford UMC celebrated the transition of the church and concluded its worship services to combine with the First Presbyterian Church of Stamford. Pastor Tee and Pastor Paul decided to moved on to new endeavors in 2023.
In May 2023 DS Karen Monk appointed Rev. Dawn Richards and Rev. Peggy Laemmel to our Charge. Harpersfield UMC, Gilboa UMC and Conesville UMC Chapel were also added to our Charge. In 2023 Delaware Headwaters Charge is now part of the new configured Mountain Beacon Parish ( this includes Jefferson, West Fulton and North Blenheim.) Rev. Dawn Richards is the new Parish Coordinator of these 10 churches.
Together we worship God and discover opportunities for service, spiritual growth and fellowship. As we celebrate and grow together in faith through worship, prayer, music, and service, we invite you to join us in shining God's light into the world!