Our Pastor
Rev. Dr. Renee Ford is a mother (of Wesley who is a student at Penn College), spouse (of Bob who’s also a pastor in the Susquehanna Conference), minister, musician, beagler, instructional designer, and lover of God and people. Pastor Renee has lived in Happy Valley since 2003, serving the Houserville-Woodycrest charge in State College. Renee is from Mooers NY, a small town in Northeastern NY state on the Canadian Border. She has been in ministry since 1993, serving as a campus ministry intern at SUNY Plattsburgh from 1993-1995, as youth minister at a large church in Dublin OH from 1996-1998, as a circuit minister in the British Methodist Church from 1998-1999, and as a pastor in Northeastern and Central PA since 1999).
Renee received her B.A. in Music, Philosophy & Religious Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1994, Master of Divinity from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio in 1999 and also completed her Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development in 2015 at Penn State. Her dissertation explored factors that influence clergy leadership effectiveness. Renee’s “day-job” is working at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State as an instructional designer.
Pastor Renee did not grow up in a “churched” family, but she has a heart for building church community, forming relationships and reaching out to the vast majority of people around us who love God but aren’t necessarily “churchy.” Renee is passionate about ministering to people who are the “last, least, and lost” among us with a particular concern for individuals and families struggling with poverty. People sometimes don’t believe Renee is a pastor because she doesn’t “fit the mold”...or maybe it’s because her dad is a truck driver and she hasn’t forgotten all the words she learned growing up. Either way, she is excited to be trusted with the honor of serving the people of Grays UMC and seeing all the places God leads us on this new adventure together!
Renee has administrative oversight of the Nittany Charge, and is the primary worship planner for Grays UMC, Houserville UMC, and Woodycrest UMC. Renee brings zest, skill, passion and compassion for ministry, the charge is blessed to have her wisdom and joy.
[email protected]
814-404-6535
Renee received her B.A. in Music, Philosophy & Religious Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1994, Master of Divinity from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio in 1999 and also completed her Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development in 2015 at Penn State. Her dissertation explored factors that influence clergy leadership effectiveness. Renee’s “day-job” is working at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State as an instructional designer.
Pastor Renee did not grow up in a “churched” family, but she has a heart for building church community, forming relationships and reaching out to the vast majority of people around us who love God but aren’t necessarily “churchy.” Renee is passionate about ministering to people who are the “last, least, and lost” among us with a particular concern for individuals and families struggling with poverty. People sometimes don’t believe Renee is a pastor because she doesn’t “fit the mold”...or maybe it’s because her dad is a truck driver and she hasn’t forgotten all the words she learned growing up. Either way, she is excited to be trusted with the honor of serving the people of Grays UMC and seeing all the places God leads us on this new adventure together!
Renee has administrative oversight of the Nittany Charge, and is the primary worship planner for Grays UMC, Houserville UMC, and Woodycrest UMC. Renee brings zest, skill, passion and compassion for ministry, the charge is blessed to have her wisdom and joy.
[email protected]
814-404-6535
