02-26-2023 Harford Magazine - Flipbook - Page 54
Best of Harford
Pastor Norman
Obenshain leads a
prayer during the
Homeless Persons’
Memorial Service at
Armory Park in Bel Air.
PHOTO BY MATT
BUTTON
PERSONALITIES
Rev. Norman Obenshain,
Havre de Grace United Methodist Church
Best Clergyperson
101 S. Union Ave., Havre De Grace, 410-939-2464
The Rev. Norman Obenshain, a 65-year-old Cecil
County native living in Havre de Grace, graduated
from the University of Maryland School of Business
and Wesley Theological Seminary. He has served
for a combined 30 years in ministry throughout the
Maryland area.
Obenshain has worked for the church to open its
doors to the modern generation. He leads a Reconciling
Congregation (affirming of LGBTQ+ persons) and
maintains online worship that that began at the start of
the COVID pandemic.
He also engages his church in the community,
serving the Susquehanna Ministerium, Grace Place
Food Ministry, the Harford Branch of the NAACP,
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| Spring 2023 | harfordmagazine.com
the Abrahamic Alliance of Harford County, Harford
Hope for the Homeless Alliance, Welcome One Shelter,
Harford Family House, Anna’s House, Habitat for
Humanity, Homecoming Project, Extreme Family
Outreach and other local civic and government
agencies.
“I strive to serve God in Christ by serving the people
of my congregation and the community,” Obenshain
said. “The bottom line is showing people, whether in
grief, seeking to get married, celebrating the joys of
birth, in need or in whatever life circumstance they
are, the love of God made known in Jesus Christ. This
means listening to their story and reflecting for them
where God has been at work in their life.”