Dale R. Turner has been a United Methodist pastor since 1963. He has a BA degree from Malone College, and a M.Div. degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. He has completed some D.Min course work at Methodist Theological School in Ohio and some MBA courses at Ashland University. He has served as a Pastor for 35 years and a District Superintendent for seven years. He retired in 2005 and has since served as a visitation pastor. He has a passion for small groups and has done extensive study in that area. He participated in graduate studies in “group process and analysis” at Kent State University. He has also participated in pastoral clinical group studies at Midwestern Institute for Human Understanding under Dr. William H. Holloway M.D. He lives in Wadsworth Ohio with his wife Lois. They have been together in marriage and ministry since 1963. They have three grown children Ruth Ann, Ronetta and Paul and four grandchildren, Leora, Thomas, Aurie, and Caleb. Dale and Lois love to travel and have been tour hosts with Educational Opportunities taking tour groups to Israel, Egypt, Oberammergau and the Baltics.
Extended Biography.
Midwest Institute for Human Understanding.
From 1974 to 1978 Dale trained as a therapist for individual and group therapy under Dr. William H. Holloway and staff. He was trained in the use of Transactional Analysis and other contemporary counselling models. He co-led a supervised TA group for several years and passed the written exam for clinical membership in the International TA Association.
Congregational Development.
For eight years Dale served on the Congregational Development Committee of East Ohio Annual Conference under the leadership of Directors Dr. Craig Hunter and Dr. Woody Davis. During those years he participated in planning events for the North Central Jurisdictional Congregational Development Network and for the National Congregational Development network of the United Methodist Church.
Church Growth with Integrity.
During the years from 1992 to 1996 Dale helped design, organize, host and lead the training of thirty East Ohio Pastors as Church Growth with Integrity Consultants based on The Church Growth Handbook authored by Pastor Bill Easum. The training was led by Pastor Bill Easum and Dr. Stanley Menking. Dale hosted the initial group at Poland United Methodist Church. Two subsequent training groups were hosted by The East Ohio Annual Conference in coordination with Dr. Craig Hunter and Dr. Woody Davis both Directors of Congregational Development. As a result, 120 East Ohio Churches participated in Church Growth with Integrity Consultations.
Leadership Academy.
East Ohio Conference, 1997 through 1999. Dale helped design, create, organize and lead this two-year Academy featuring nine presenters covering a wide spectrum of leadership topics and skills. Sixty-four pastors from East Ohio Annual Conference participated in these extensive sessions. Many have shared that this was one of the most outstanding experiences that helped shape their entire ministerial lives. Featured leaders included Pastor Don Cummings, Pastor Howard Humphress, Executive Michael Roggow, Pastor Tim Walker, Pastor Bill Easum, Lay Ministry Director Tammy Kelly, Dr. George Hunter, Pastor Tyrone Gordon, and Pastor Dale Turner.
Poland United Methodist Church.
Dale pastored this local church from 1991 to 1998. During those years 300 people completed Disciple Bible Study. Forty-two people became Stephen Ministers serving 110 care receivers. Logos Kids Club was formed on Wednesdays after school serving over 100 children and youth. A new small group ministry was formed called TLC Groups that included 100 participants. Two new worship services were added resulting in three Sunday morning services. One of those services called JAM (Jesus and Me) was a youth service featuring a youth praise team and a full-time youth pastor. One of Dale’s biggest regrets is that he did not remain in this church to see its growth to fruition but instead became a District Superintendent.
Menking and Associates.
For almost a decade from 2005 to 2015 Dale worked with Dr. Stanley Menking by leading an annual three-day seminar on small groups and local church leadership skills. The seminars were presented to 150 pastors from annual conferences including Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Continuing Education.
Dale has completed some graduate work at Kent State University in group process and analysis. He also has done some D.Min. studies at Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Consulting Activities.
Altogether Dale has consulted with or trained consultants to work with over 400 local churches.
