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From the office of Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut:

In sadness, we share that the Rev. Deborah Lerner, a retired elder in the Desert Southwest Conference, passed away on September 24, 2026.

Rev. Deborah Lerner passed away peacefully, at home, surrounded by family, following a sudden and short battle with glioblastoma. Drawn to the church all her life, she answered her call to God at the age of 44 with 3 school aged children at home, and became the first commuter student at the School of Theology at Claremont.

Rev. Lerner was admitted on probation in 1995. After being appointed to attend school, she was appointed as the associate pastor at Paradise Valley UMC (Paradise Valley, AZ). She was ordained as an elder in full connection in 1998. She then served at Trinity UMC (Phoenix, AZ) in 2000; Spirit of Hope UMC (Peoria, AZ) in 2010 and First UMC (Gilbert, AZ) in 2012. She began her last appointment as the Senior Pastor at Shepherd of the Hills UMC (Sun City West, AZ) in 2018 and continued in that appointment after retiring in 2022.

Rev. Lerner viewed her ministry as a privilege rather than a profession, one for which she was truly grateful. Her deep belief in God's presence, the healing power of prayer, and the transformative power of faith was central to everything she did.

Along with her faith, family was the other cornerstone in Deborah's life. For her 3 sons (Joshua, Benjamin, and Samuel), she was a devoted mother, a fierce advocate, an exceptional caregiver, and an endless source of unconditional love and support, never hesitating to put their needs before her own. She was a doting grandmother to Sarah, Hailey, and Robbie.

She leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, and devotion for her God, for her family, and for those she served, and will be dearly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 11:00 am at Shepherd of the Hills UMC, 13658 West Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, AZ 85375. Additional details about the service will be sent at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to:

Shepherd of the Hills UMC, Attention Josh Lerner, 13658 West Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, AZ 85375.

In lieu of gifts, the family will be creating a fund to be utilized for the housing and future needs of Deborah's son. Information on how to donate will come soon.

We join our hearts together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain, we may find comfort; in sorrow, hope; and in death, resurrection. With gratitude for the life and witness of Rev. Deborah Lerner, please hold her family and friends in prayer at this time.