Rev. Brumbach to begin as new Shepherd this week
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"The Board of Directors of the United Churches of Lycoming County has selected the Rev. Mark Donald Brumbach to replace the retiring J. Morris Smith, Th. D., as Shepherd of the Streets. His ministry as the Shepherd will begin Tuesday," the Rev. Gwen N. Bernstine, executive director of United Churches of Lycoming County, announced on behalf of the Board of Directors.
A United Methodist pastor, Brumbach currently serves the South Williamsport United Methodist Congregation. Prior to that assignment, he served United Methodist congregations in Hallam and Trout Run, Pennsylvania. During eight years of this time, he also served in the military as a Chaplain for the PA Army National Guard, through which he was deployed to Louisiana in support of Hurricane Katrina relief, and the PA Air National Guard, through which he was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mark and his wife, Emily, live on a small farm in Cogan House Township and are the parents of two adult children. Emily is a music teacher in South Williamsport Area School District. They look forward to continuing to travel to and from work together most days, and Mark will continue as pastor at South Williamsport United Methodist Church in addition to taking on the title of Shepherd of the Streets.
He is looking forward to performing hands-on Christian ministry at people's point of need.
Yvonne Shenuski, chairperson of the Shepherd of the Streets Advisory Board, noted that his ministry has provided him with many opportunities to reach out to counsel and assist individuals. His military ministry especially afforded him opportunities to serve within a pluralistic, multicultural, multi-racial, multi-ethnic environment.
Thirty years of pastoral ministry has helped him to hone his administrative skills and his abilities as a public speaker, Rev. Bob Wallace, of the Shepherd Advisory Board, reflected. The military chaplaincy gave him a huge opportunity to work with chaplains of many denominations and faiths.
Phyllis Girven, president of United Churches, noted Brumbach's participation in United Churches of Lycoming County since 1992, for which he has served on the board of directors and been helpful with fundraising efforts.
Brumbach will be installed as the new Shepherd of the Streets at the United Churches virtual annual assembly being planned for Nov. 19.
A five-member Search Committee was formed from the boards of United Churches and the Shepherd of the Streets program, and included: Shenuski, Rev. Robert Wallace, Tiffany Haller, Julie Bittner and Bernstine.
Shenuski reported that they began work after Smith gave notice that he would retire at the end of summer. Smith and his wife, Barby, will soon move to Kansas City, Missouri, to spend retirement near their daughter, Marci, and her family.
"We will miss their involvement in our community, not only in United Churches and Church Women United, but also at St. Joseph the Worker Parish and Williamsport Music Club, to name a few," Bernstine said.