Oxford United Methodist Church (UMC)

Located at 21 East Burdick Street in downtown Oxford, Oxford United Methodist Church continues to grow as a place of faith and community engagement.

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Since 2020, the church has been led by Reverend Julius Ernest Del Pino, PhD, whose ministry blends pastoral leadership, teaching, and a deep commitment to addressing the social issues of our time.

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“I give God praise and thanks for the opportunity to serve this church,” Del Pino said. “The teaching of the pastor and the work of the pastor go hand in hand in helping articulate the gospel of Jesus Christ in this time and in this place.”

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Del Pino originally came to Michigan from California in 1998. When he first arrived, he served as Senior Minister of the Metropolitan United Methodist Church in the New Center of downtown Detroit before going on to pastor several congregations across Michigan and California. Alongside his pastoral work, he has taught at institutions including St. Paul School of Theology, Yale University Divinity School, and McCormick Theological Seminary. That background, he said, helps prepare congregations to thoughtfully engage both faith and the realities of the modern world. “We’re happy to have people who are theologically and spiritually informed to address the social and political issues of our time,” Del Pino said.

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Oxford United Methodist Church currently offers one Sunday worship service at 10am. The prayer and praise team gathers at 9:30am, and Bible study classes are held throughout the week. Attendance has been steadily increasing, a sign Del Pino sees as encouragement for the church’s future. “What we try to do is be a church of authentic hospitality,” he explained. “Opening the doors in the spirit of Christ.”

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The church is intentionally focusing energy and resources on youth and children’s ministries while continuing to respond to issues facing both the congregation and the Oxford community. Del Pino also hopes to strengthen relationships with other churches, denominations, and faith communities in the area.

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This coming Sunday’s (February 8, 2026) sermon will center on hope, a theme he believes is especially important right now. “We need to remind people that hope is grounded in the lordship of Jesus Christ and granted through our faith,” he said.

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Oxford United Methodist Church describes itself as open, inclusive, and diverse. “The gospel of Jesus Christ is meant for everyone,” Del Pino said. “Not just a select few.”

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On February 22nd at approximately 11am, the church will host a special presentation following Del Pino’s recent visit to Maui, Hawaii. He and his spouse, the Reverend Laurie, an interfaith Minister, traveled there to learn how faith communities are helping rebuild after a devastating fire destroyed a church and claimed more than 100 lives. “It’s about helping people find their way back after devastation, loss, and tragedy,” Del Pino said.

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As Oxford United Methodist Church continues to move forward, Del Pino says the congregation is turning a corner – growing, reconnecting, and deepening its role within the community it serves.

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For more information, visit: Oxford Umc or https://www.oxfordunitedmc.org/.