I would like to introduce Rev Dr. Charles Murithi to you as our newly appointed District Superintendent beginning July 1st 2021

A native of Kenya, Murithi worked for the government for two years as a lab technician before coming to the United States, earning his master’s degree and doctorate in ministry, with an emphasis in evangelism, from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

His first appointment was in 2000 in the former Nebraska Conference, to Henry and Morrill UMCs, “the last churches before you get to Wyoming,” he said.

Murithi moved to Norfolk First, Norfolk Westridge and Battle Creek in 2005, to Alliance and Lakeside in 2010, and has served in Nebraska City since 2012.

“Charles has got a breadth of experience as a pastor,” Bishop Saenz said. “He always manages himself with a lot of professionalism, and he’s highly proven at what he does. He’s deeply devoted to Christ and he is a person of integrity. The joy of Christ radiates in him.”

The bishop said Murithi is an ideal person to be “pastor to the pastors.”

“Charles is a wise soul that will help churches find a way forward in the midst of potential conflict,” Bishop Saenz said. “When you speak to Charles, he speaks out of incredible depth of faith, life experience, and understanding.”

Murithi, 61, and his wife, Lydia, have two adult daughters — one who works in health care insurance and another who is a lawyer. His wife and daughters use his middle name, Kathurima, as their last names — a Kenyan tradition, he said.“I’m a team player who appreciates every individual’s efforts when they are for the good of the whole team,” he said. “I’m a good listener, too, because sometimes there’s too much noise around that you really need to listen and hear what’s going on.”

“I’m a team player who appreciates every individual’s efforts when they are for the good of the whole team,” he said. “I’m a good listener, too, because sometimes there’s too much noise around that you really need to listen and hear what’s going on.”
 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Rev. Dr. Charles Kathurima Murithi
Name: Charles K. Murithi
Married: to Lydia Kathurima for 33 years.
Together we have been blessed with two girls. Our oldest daughter, Glory, is an
Independent Health Insurance Agent, specializing in Medicare and Affordable
Care Act (ACA) Coverage. Joy, our youngest, is an attorney working for a law
firm in Omaha specializing in family law and estate planning. We have two
granddaughters, Malaika and Marissa, both sophomores at Westside High School
in Omaha.
EDUCATION :
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) with honors - May 2006
Southern Methodist University-Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, Texas
1 Year of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) 1999-2000
Methodist Hospital – Dallas, Texas
Master’s in Theological Studies (MTS) – May 1999
Southern Methodist University-Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, Texas
Bachelor of Divinity (BD) – July 1988
St. Paul United Theological College Limuru – Kenya, Africa
Ordination: Ordained Elder on April 28 th , 1991
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Professional and Pastoral:
● Senior Pastor - First United Methodist Church Nebraska City, Nebraska of
Missouri District (July 2012-Present)
● Previous appointments:
o Alliance and Lakeside United Methodist Church of Great West
District (July 2010-July 2012)
o Norfolk Parish of Elkhorn Valley District (July 2005-July 2010)
o Morrill Henry/Lyman Churches of Great West District
(July 2000-July 2005)
● Prior to moving to the United States in 1997 to study at Southern Methodist
University – Perkins School of Theology, I served with the Methodist
Church in Kenya (MCK) as Senior Pastor in several appointments in
Nairobi: Lavington United Circuit and Charles New Methodist Circuit.
Connectional Church involvements:
● Board of Ordained Ministry – Nebraska Annual Conference.
● Board of Ordained Ministry - Great Plains Annual Conference.
● Chair of District Board of Ordained Ministry - Northeast District (Current
Elkhorn Valley District).
● Nomination Committee of Nebraska Annual Conference.
● Interpreter (Kiswahili) at the 2008 and 2012 General Conference of the
United Methodist Church
● Part of two covenant groups.
● Served as a Volunteer in Mission (VIM) through UMCOR in Zaire (Congo)
during the Rwandan Civil War (1994)
● Organized and lead mission teams to Kenya several times
● Volunteer at the Midwest Distribution Center
● Serve on District Board of Ordained ministry – Missouri District
● New Church Development from July 2020 to present
● Board of Directors – Nebraska United Methodist foundation July 2020 to
present