Church Elders

About Bert

Bert was born and raised in Powell, Wyoming. He is a 1956 graduate of Powell High School. He has been married to Zona for 44 years and has a son, Bret, and a daughter, April. Bert worked for Scotty's Home Builder's Supply for 32 years and other lumber companies for 10 years and is now retired.

Bert was an elder at Lake City, Florida in 1973. The same year, his job transferred him to the Orlando area and he and his family began worshipping at Plymouth. He was appointed an elder at Plymouth February 15th, 1976.

Bert says, "I find the Church of Christ to be the true church that God has set forth in the Bible. We have no earthly headquarters, but our headquarters are in heaven. I have found no other religious organization that follows the Bible closer in God's teaching than the Churches of Christ."

Born in Ocoee, FL and reared in Mt. Dora, FL, he is a 1956 graduate of Mt. Dora Bible School and was the first student to complete grades 1-12 there. He received an AA degree in 1958 from Alabama Christian College (now Faulkner University) and a BA from Harding College (now Harding University) in 1960 (Magna cum Laude, with majors in Secondary Education and History). In 1976 he received an MA degree in Biblical Studies (Major, New Testament) from Cincinnati Christian University. He also attended the Sunset International Bible Institute, receiving a diploma in 1967.

He worked as a computer programmer (1960-62) before entering full-time ministry. He was in New Zealand working in church planting (1963-1971, except for 2 years while he was at the Sunset International Bible Institute). Since returning to the United States, he served churches in Florida (Holly Hill, 1992-1993 ), Ohio (Withamsville 1974-1979 and Lancaster 1979-1983), and Michigan (Utica 1984-1987 and Centerline 1993-1995) in suburban Detroit. From 1995 until his retirement at the end of 2005, he served as Chaplain and Public Relations Director at the Church of Christ Care Center a nursing home, assisted living and senior housing complex in suburban Detroit. He had a six-year interval during his time in Detroit working as a route salesman.

On his retirement, he moved to Plymouth at the end of 2005, a congregation he had attended from 1952 – 1960, working as a fill-in preacher during the summer of 1957. He was appointed an elder at Plymouth on June 4, 2006. He previously served as an elder at the Metro (Sterling Heights, MI) Church of Christ (1990 – 1993) and the Northeast (Eastpointe, MI) Church of Christ (1998 – 2005). His father, Philip Starling, also was an elder at the Plymouth Church of Christ for many years – as were his uncles, L.B. Chastain & Lester Starling, and grandfather, O.T. Starling.

While in New Zealand, he married Marion Cole, an immigrant to New Zealand from England, in 1964. They have three children: Mark (b. 1966), Gwenda (b. 1967, adopted 1968; d. 2000), and Lynda (b. 1970). They also have 2 granddaughters: Melissa Clayton (b. 1991) and Megan Starling (b. 1997).

In addition to his work as a preaching minister, Jerry has written for several Christian magazines. He published a small book he authored The Simplified Story of the Bible. From 1994 – 1998 he was host of Search the Scriptures, a Christian talk TV show featuring interviews discussing various passages in the Bible. This was broadcast in the Detroit market, and was cablecast on the Inspiration Network for three years.

About Cletus

Cletus was born in Kent, Ohio to P.L. and Erma Stutzman on December 3, 1934. He married Carolyn Chastain on January 1, 1954. Cletus and Carolyn have four natural children: Gerald (died shortly after birth), Chris, Cleta, Laura, and James (foster son). They also have six grandchildren.

Cletus is a 1952 graduate of Christian Home & Bible School in Mt. Dora, Florida. He received his A.A. degree in Bible at Alabama Christian College in 1954. He then went on to receive a B.A. degree in Education at David Lipscomb College in 1957, a M.A. degree in Counseling at Stetson College in 1966, and an Ed.S. degree in Education at Rollins College in 1982.

Cletus worked at Christian Home & Bible School for 47 years. During those years he worked as a guidance counselor, athletic coach, athletic director, Bible and Social Studies classroom teacher, School Administrator, Executive Vice-President, and President.

Cletus has worked with the following churches:

1952-1953

Preached at Rockford, Alabama

1953-1954

Preached at Tuskegee, Alabama

1954-1955

Oxford, Geneva, Florida

1956-1957

Horse Cave, Kentucky

1957-1968

Mount Dora, Florida

1969-1972

South Seminole, Florida

1973-1997

Eustis, Florida

1997-2001

Preached at Apopka, Florida

2001-

Current Preacher and Elder at Plymouth, Florida

Other work involving the church include:
	Missionary campaigns in Canada and Jamaica
	Radio broadcasts, WVGT and WDBO, Mt. Dora and Eustis Florida.
	Gospel meetings and homecoming services -- Mt. Dora, FL; Auburndale, FL; Wildwood, FL; Horse Cave, KY; Eustis, FL; South Seminole, FL; Mt. Olive (Live Oak), FL; Mayo, FL
	Vacation Bible School -- Working with teenagers and young children at Mt. Dora, FL; Eustis, FL; Apopka, FL
	Counselor and co-director at Central Florida Bible Camp -- 1958-1976

Some of the Awards and Recognitions that Cletus has received are:
	Outstanding Service Award, Central Florida Bible Camp, 1993
	Exceptional Leadership Award, National Christian School Association, 1998
	Outstanding Administrator Award, Florida Group Childcare Association, 1990
	Service Award, National Christian Childcare Association, 1992
	Forty-year Service Award, Christian Home & Bible School