Rev. Scott A. Dornbush, Senior Pastor

Rev. Scott A. Dornbush, Senior Pastor

From the Pastor

I want to thank the congregation for their generous response to the Haitian earthquake offering we received, a check for $8,536.00 has been sent to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) from our congregation. The United Methodist Church has received over $13,000,000 in monies designated for Haitian relief, and many congregations have yet to send in their gifts. We will have another special offering that we will receive on Mother’s Day when we will be receiving items and monies for "birthing kits". These kits will help address the basic needs of babies born in refugee camps in Haiti.

During the Lenten season our congregation has committed to raise funds to help fund pensions for retired Methodist clergy and their spouses in Central Conferences of the United Methodist Church. Central Conferences are the United Methodist Church conferences outside of the United States. Seven central conferences in three regions (Asia, Africa and Europe) have nearly tripled in membership over the last decade. Currently, 9,300 clergy serve more than 3.5 million church members in these areas.

In many of these areas, clergy serve despite dire local conditions—such as rampant poverty, political instability and threats of violence. Many of these pastors have served faithfully in ministry for 20, 30, 40 or more years. Since they often will not have government-funded pensions, they may have no financial support in retirement without church involvement.

Our communion rail offering during the month of March as well as our Easter Sunday special offering will be designated to this worthy project.

The active and retired United Methodist clergy of our congregation have challenged the congregation with a lead commitment of $11,100. We hope that the congregation would at least double this amount. It costs approximately $10,000 to fund the pension for one clergy family. Let’s make it our goal to provide for the retirement of 3 families of God’s servants abroad. Thank you for doing your part!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

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A Bio for Rev. Scott A. Dornbush

Rev. Scott Dornbush was born and raised in Aberdeen, South Dakota. As a child, he attended school there and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1981. He attended college at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, and graduated with honors in 1985. After graduation, Rev. Dornbush moved to Bedford, Texas, where he served as an Administrative Associate for Celebration Shop, Inc.

In September 1986, Rev. Dornbush joined the staff of First United Methodist Church of Sherman, Texas, as the Director of Youth and College Ministries. While there, he was instrumental at creating a Wesley Foundation at Austin College. In 1989, Rev. Dornbush was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church and became the pastor of the Church Hill Circuit in Henderson, Texas. In 1991, Rev. Dornbush graduated from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He was appointed Associate Pastor at A & M United Methodist Church in College Station, Texas. He was ordained an elder in 1993 and appointed as pastor of Franklin United Methodist Church in September of 1993. In June of 1997, Rev. Dornbush was appointed to Van and Ben Wheeler United Methodist Church, and served there until receiving his appointment as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Palestine in 2002. In June of 2008, he received his appointment as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, Texas.

Rev. Dornbush served in numerous leadership positions and received numerous awards during his academic career. Notable awards received were the Keystone National Leadership Award and being selected as the Outstanding Male Graduate of his University. Rev. Dornbush has been the recipient of both the Bishop’s Award in Evangelism and the Copeland Award in Evangelism.

Rev. Dornbush has always taken seriously the social implications of the Gospel, and, as a result, has enthusiastically served in numerous community organizations. He has volunteered at Crisis Centers for abused women and children, started a counseling group for male batterers, and authored and presented a paper entitled, “Blessed are the Peacemakers: Ministering to the Abusive Family” to the Texas Council on Family Relations. Rev. Dornbush has a deep commitment to missions, both in his local community and around the world. He has been instrumental in addressing health care needs in his local communities, with results being the establishment of a health care clinic as well as services from a mobile medical unit. Rev. Dornbush was instrumental in getting the New Steps program of Mercy Ships approved as a General Advance Special of the United Methodist Church. This is a ministry that provides prosthetic limbs to amputees around the world. Rev. Dornbush’s commitment to social justice issues was recognized in his being given an invitation to deliver the opening prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rev. Dornbush has also served on the Board of Directors of numerous organizations and has been a member of a number of service groups. Rev. Dornbush serves as a board member of S.A.A.F.E. House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence; Partnership for Walker County Children in Need; and the Huntsville Main Street Advisory Board. Rev. Dornbush is a member of the Huntsville Rotary Club.

In the Texas Annual Conference, Rev. Dornbush has provided leadership in the areas of Evangelism, Mission, and Worship and serves on the Board of Directors of Methodist Retirement Communities Towncreek Center.

Scott’s wife Penny is a Registered Nurse and serves as an Administrator for Crown Health Services. They have two sons – Nathan who is fourteen and Nicolas who is twelve. Scott is an avid hunter and fisherman, and loves sharing these joys with family and friends.