Personal Mission Statement
I seek to lead people to a deeper faith in God, love of Christ, and obedience to the Holy Spirit through ministries of nurture and service.
Message from Pastor Bruce
It is such a joy to be pastor of Nixon United Methodist Church - a warm, caring and friendly congregation! I believe every person is important to God and important to the Church. We all have opportunities to hare the love, grace and good news of Jesus Christ with the world around us. I hope that you will join us as we minister together at Nixon United Methodist Church.
About Pastor Bruce
I have been a pastor for 23 years having served churches in Scottdale, Tionesta, Claysville, and Oil City. I graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in psychology and Bible and Religion in 1978. While there, I met Glenda Looman, who became my wife on May 27, 1978. We moved to Ohio where I completed my M.Div. at United Theological Seminary while working as an Associate Pastor at Amelia United Methodist Church, a suburb of Cincinnati. We then returned to Western Pennsylvania.
I serve on District Board of Ordained Ministry. I have been active in District Lay Leadership Ministries and education ministries. I currently serve as Chairperson of our District Mission & Ministry Committee. I have been the Bible teacher for 10 years at a Sr. Citizen Retreat at Olmsted Manor. Locally, I have been active in Ministeriums and involved in various social outreach projects. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening and yard work, reading and traveling. I am excited about being in Ministry here at Nixon.
Glenda graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan with a degree in psychology and sociology. She has been active in Church singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, UMW, and other activities. She does much work behind the scenes supporting helping the pastor and the Church as she shares her gifts and graces in ministry. Glenda's work experience includes directing two homeless shelters, drug and alcohol counseling, nursing home activities coordinator, and director of an after school program. Her hobbies include gardening, traveling, quilting and needlework, crafts and reading.
Samuel, our youngest, is a graduate of Knoch High School. he currently is a Senior at Slippery Rock, majoring in Early Childhood Education. Same is active with United Methodist Men.
Our oldest son, Daniel, is married to Julie. He works for St. Anthony's Point and Julie works for US Investigative Services in Grove City. They have a daughter, Marissa, who is 4 years old. They live in Sharon, PA.
Our middle son, Andrew, is married to Cindy and lives in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Drew and Cindy teach with the elementary school in Charles City. They have a daughter, Emily, who is 3 and a son, Matthew, who is 2.
My family home is in Mercer where my sister and mother continue to live.
Pastoral Leadership
1979-1981: Associate Pastor, Amelia United Methodist Church, Amelia, Ohio
1981-1985: Jacob's Creek Circuit: Hickory Square, Jacob's Creek, Wesley Chapel
1985-1991: Tionesta/West Hickory
1991-2002: Claysville
2002-2005: Trinity (Oil City)
2005-Present: Nixon
Education
1974: Mercer High School
1978: West Virginia Wesleyan College: B.A. Psychology / Bible and Religion
1981: United Theological Seminary: M. Div
Conference Relations
1979: Ordained Deacon: Bishop Roy Nichols, Probationary Member of Annual Conference
1981: Ordained Elder: Bishop James Ault, Full Member of Annual Conference
Conference, District, and Community Activities
Conference/District Board of Ordained Ministry; Clergy Mentor, Family Life Commission; Education Committee; Lay Leadership Committee; Lay Leadership School Teacher; Oil City Ministerium (Secretary and President); Teacher-Sr. Citizen's Retreat, Olmsted Manor (1993-2004); World Methodist Conference (2001); Mission trip to Venezuela (1997)
Strength in Ministry
Communication Skills, Mission and Outreach Ministries, General and Hospital Visitation, Teaching
Hobbies
Gardening, Reading, Traveling
