FIRST UNITED METHODIST ERIE, PA

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                                       SENIOR PASTOR 

                                               Reverend Terry Shaughnessy

Pastor Terry is a native of Franklin, PA and has served United Methodist churches in Eastbrook, Union City, Grove City, Washington, and now Erie, PA.  He is a graduate of Duke University Divinity School where he continues to attend annual Continuing Education events.  Pastor Terry has served on the Wesley Woods Board of Directors, Olmsted Manor Board of Directors, the Erie-Meadville District Board of Ordained Ministry and the Board of Trustees, and is currently serving on the Conference Nominations Committee.  He is also a Clergy Mentor.  He enjoys being involved in the communities where he has served churches and has been a member of a variety of community boards and agencies.

Pastor Terry has been married to his wife Jan for 34 years.  They have a daughter Lisa who is a Research Assistant for the Head of Orthopedic Trauma Surgery at Boston  Medical Center and a son Patrick who is a High School Math Teacher in Charlotte, NC and is married to Courtney.

Pastor Terry enjoys long-distance bicycle riding, is an avid Duke Basketball fan, enjoys solving crossword puzzles and reading, and loves traveling and dancing with his wife Jan. And, he likes Oreos!
 

PASTOR OF VISITATION  

Reverend James (JR) Wagner
Rev. James R. (JR) Wagner is our part time Minister of Visitation with the responsibility of calling on shut-ins and providing worship/communion services at several Erie Nursing Homes. Rev. Wagner graduated in 1968 from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a BA degree and in 1972 from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio with a double Masters degree; a Masters of Divinity, M Div and Master in Religious Education, MRE.  He is also a certified Crisis Counselor.

Reverend Wagner retired from the ministry in 2010 after serving for forty one years, serving four churches in the Western Pa. Conference. He is married to Karen and they have three grown children and four grandchildren. Rev. Wagner has served in many capacities on District and Conference levels including the Board of Ordained Ministry and as a trained Natural Church Development Consultant for local churches. 

He has composed several musical pieces for organ, piano soloist and choir. He directed and wrote shows for the “Three Plus One Quartet”, a barbershop group for fourteen years and sang with the Sue Myford Singers for thirteen years in Natrona Heights PA.  Rev. Wagner and his wife located to Erie in 2010 and live in the Glenwood section of Erie.

MINISTER OF WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRIES/ORGANIST

Bruce R. Gingrich

Bruce R. Gingrich is currently the full-time Minister of Worship and Music Ministries/Organist at First UM Church, where he directs all adult and children vocal, Handbell and Choirchime choirs, brass and instrumental ensembles. He serves as organist for Friday night services and the High Holy Days at Temple Anshe Hesed in Erie.
Bruce is a well-known organ recitalist in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, having dedicated numerous new organs since 1990. He produces a monthly organ concert entitled “TNT” Thursday Noon Together at First Church on the first Thursday of every month from September to May on the church’s 59 rank Phelps Mechanical Action Pipe Organ.  This noontime program,started in 2001,is followed by a lunch,and has attracted an average of 150 people per concert. He is a private instructor of voice and organ. Bruce has served as the president of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.

Mr. Gingrich traveled to Brazil in 2004 and presented a workshop to over 100 people at the Central UMC on “Ministering to Children Through Music”and an organ recital at the Patio de Collegio,downtown Sao Paulo,the oldest church in South America for the Brazilian Guild of Organists.
On March 24th & 25th, 2006, Bruce was the guest soloist with the Gannon University Chamber Orchestra in two performances of “Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Tympani, and Strings” by Francis Poulenc. He was again the guest soloist with the Gannon University Chamber Orchestra in the presentation of “Organ Concerto No 7 in Bb” by G. F. Handel and the Albinoni “Adagio” for String orchestra and organ on Friday, March 20, 2009. Bruce was received as a member of the downtown Erie Rotary Club in August, 2006, and is the Official Club Music Director.
Bruce served as the Conference Choir Director and Organist for the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church from 1995-2008.  Mr. Gingrich is a member and past dean of the Erie Chapter American Guild of Organists.  He is married to Cecily Gingrich.
 

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR: Melodye McFadden

CHURCH SECRETARY: Shirley Yeaney

METHODIST TOWERS ADMINISTRATOR: Darlene Winicki