Kay & Pastor Lane Bailey
Friends,
​I have announced that I will be retiring at the end of this conference year. I have a little over 100 days left in a ministry that began as a Kentucky student pastor in 1979. The call itself is irrevocable, but not the office. I expect to always be involved in ministry, just a lot fewer meetings and people won’t be putting money into my retirement fund. Little did folks know I would have done this job for free.
When I think back on the thousands of people I have met, ministered to, and received ministry from, I am truly grateful and humbled. God is so good! I had always thought I would go until I was 70 or dropped but the loss of my brother and my sister, just 18 months apart, and the overwhelming realization that physically and emotionally I just would not be able to give you the leadership you need and deserve convinced me the time had arrived. It has been a privilege and joy to serve this congregation. Please understand that, when your new pastor arrives in July, I will no longer be available to perform weddings, funerals, or pastoral counseling. Since Kay and I expect to remain in the community for some time yet, I want you to know that we look forward to seeing you from time-to-time, but conversations about the church or the new pastor (unless you want to tell us how well the pastor is doing) are off limits.
What’s next? Well, we will stay put in our home for a while. With children in KC, Seattle, McAllen TX, Chicago, and DC, we may just travel from place to place, staying until we wear out our welcome. Kay and I have a desire to do some different kinds of ministry and there are opportunities here in the Plattsmouth/Omaha area. Regardless of where we are, we will be seeking to further the Kingdom until God calls us home or Jesus returns in glory. Thank you for your love, support, and especially your prayers. Grace and Peace - Pastor Lane


Lane and Kay Bailey are “reborn” Nebraskans, having both been born and raised in Kansas.  They both graduated from that school in Lawrence with that funny looking mythical bird mascot, and remain avid KU Basketball fans.  They have been married 12 years and between them have 5 grown children and 4 grandchildren, spread out from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, Warrensburg, MO, Lawrence, KS and Seattle.

Kay taught sixth grade for 30 years, retiring last year. Lane was ordained elder in 1981. He has a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Masters in Counseling from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS.  He served a year as a hospital chaplain while attending seminary, and later a year as a hospice chaplain in the Kansas City area.   Lane has pastored in a variety of situations from open country and small, rural community churches to county seat towns and large suburban congregations.

In Kansas, Lane served in various conference positions over the years.  These included serving as the chairperson of the conference Evangelism and Nominations committees, on the Board of Ordained Ministry, as district registrar and on other task forces and committees.  Lane is the new district registrar (a voluntary position) for our district. As registrar, he tracks some 25 people who are seeking ordination or are pastoring in some capacity other than as ordained United Methodist clergy. The District Committee on Ordained Ministry is the initial credentialing organization for those seeking to pastor in the United Methodist Church, and the district registrar is the committee’s chief officer.  Lane is passionate about assisting those who are called to ministry.

 Kay has served in various capacities in the churches where Lane has ministered but sees her principle calling as one of support to Lane in his ministry. Together they have felt a special leading of the Holy Spirit to Plattsmouth and are excited about what God is doing and will do through this congregation to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.