First United Methodist Church is losing its associate pastor.

The Rev. Patricia Nelson has been selected by Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the Western Pa. Conference of the United Methodist Church to serve as the next superintendent of the conference's Greensburg District, effective July 1.

“The bishop chose me on Dec. 17, but we waited to tell the congregation on the first weekend in January because we didn't want to disrupt all the Christmas planning and festivities,” said Nelson.

“It was a tough announcement to make,” said Nelson, who has been at First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., for the past four years serving as pastor of congregational care for the 3,000-member church, along with Senior Pastor Eric Park and the Rev. Tom Holman.

“We have mixed feelings. It's exciting, but it's going to be hard to say goodbye because we've gotten to be good friends with a lot of people here,” said Nelson.

“At this church there has been a lot of love and friendship. We received many good wishes. It was like being wrapped in 1,400 blankets of love,” said Nelson, who will move to Monroeville with her husband, Paul, by the end of June to assume her duties as district superintendent.

She said she and Paul, who quit his job to partner with her in ministry when she was ordained, “have always trusted God to lead us.”

“Paul has been the support and encouragement of my ministry,” she said.

“I've known Patricia for years,” said Bickerton. “I am really pleased to share the gifts and graces that Pat has with the wider church. I am really excited about her being part of my team.”

“It's been nice to watch her do her ministry and to have her as part of my Cabinet is a real personal joy,” said Bickerton.

“In Western Pennsylvania there are 10 districts,” said Nelson. “The Greensburg District contains 85 churches and runs from Lower Burrell out to Ligonier on the Routes 22 and 30 corridor and includes churches in Monroeville and McKeesport.”

In a term that will last for six to eight years, Nelson will be responsible for supervising the churches and pastors in her district.

Some churches in her charge have two or three pastors and other churches share a pastor, she said.

“It will involve travel and administration and not as much preaching or as hands-on work such as visiting hospitals,” said Nelson. “I will be building relationships and making myself available for what they might need.”

Nelson grew up in the Pittsburgh area, graduated from Turtle Creek High School in 1977 and from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1981 with a double major in Bible-Religion and Christian Education.

She calls Sarver home because that's where she met and married her husband.

Nelson graduated from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1990 and began serving as pastor at Harrisville United Methodist Church, Somerset First United Methodist Church and New Wilmington United Methodist Church before coming to First United Methodist Church in Butler.

At First United Methodist she was associate pastor in charge of congregational care, which meant she was in charge of 12 to 15 ministry teams of congregation members that handle a variety of caring ministries such as visiting shut-ins or running a grief ministry.

Her duties grew as First Methodist's longtime senior pastor, the Rev. David Panther, passed away in May after a battle with cancer. She assisted Park when he moved into the role of head pastor in the fall.

Park himself served as district superintendent for the Washington District.

“We've talked frequently, I wouldn't necessarily call it advice,” said Park. “What the work involves and what it demands. We will have many more conversations about that before June. “

“It's a job that demands, first, spiritual and emotional maturity,” said Park. “It takes administrative skill, especially since there are more than 80 churches in the district where she will superintendent.”

“It will require skill in managing conflict, since not all church people agree on how to best care for a situation,” said Park.

Nelson said she's bringing her own skills to her new position.

“I'm strong in administration, organization and communication. I enjoy working alongside people,” said Nelson. “I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves and help people.”

Asked what she hopes to accomplish in her term as district superintendent, she said, “I think a better awareness of how churches and pastors can work together to help people share their faith in Christ,” she said.

She said the Nelsons' final Sunday at First Methodist will be over the Father's Day weekend, but she doubts she will take the pulpit then. “My last Sunday will be an emotional one,” she said.

“Pat has provided excellent ministry at First United for the last four years, and she will be dearly missed not only by the congregation but by me personally,” Park said.

“Paul and I appreciate the love of this church and how warmly they have held us these four years. And we appreciate their friendship,” Nelson said.

Now, Nelson said, although she will miss the people and her ministry at Butler First, “I am excited about a ministry that involves a different kind of care.”