Photo by Amy Cherry Pastor Dwayne Burfield has been instrumental in leading the United Methodist Church congregation in numerous projects during his four years of service to the St. Marys community.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Throughout the past four years Pastor Dwayne Burfield has dedicated his service to the United Methodist Church in St. Marys and has recently been re-assigned to a new parish in the Pittsburgh district.

“This has been my best church. I want to thank the parishioners for all their support over the past several years,” Burfield said. “The people are looking to the future and I believe in what God can do not only for this church but also for the community.”

Burfield will begin his service tomorrow at the DuTilh United Methodist Church in Cranberry Township in Mars, an suburb of Pittsburgh.

During his service in St. Marys, Burfield recollected several projects including starting a community pig roast in the church parking lot each August. He said the event features a band and children’s activities, all free of charge to the public.

Among the challenges of his calling are helping congregations to accept change.

Born and raised in Johnstown, Burfield became a pastor in 1992 at the age of 40.

“I felt the calling, that inner voice,” he said. “I enjoy helping people that are hurting and giving them hope and finding a purpose for life.”

After receiving a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Burfield continued his training spending four years in a theological school seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

Next was a three-year probationary period to determine if a seminarian has the capability of becoming a pastor. During this time each seminarian undergoes a psychological evaluation and are evaluated on how they handle specific situations and problems.

Following the lengthy 10-year process, Burfield became a full elder in the United Methodist Church receiving all rites and privileges of a pastor.

“My wife Terri has been very supportive of the ministry I have,” Burfield said. “I really want to say thank you to her for all that she’s done.”

The couple are the parents of two adult boys, Chris, 33, who lives in Dallas, Texas, and Jason, 31, of St. Marys.

Throughout his career Burfield has served in Big Run, near Punxsutawney, Brush Valley Circuit in Indiana County, in Oakland church in Johnstown and in St. Marys.

St. Marys’ church is a part of the Kane district which includes nearly 45 churches with locations ranging from Bradford to Weedville to Emporium to Warren.

United Methodist Church pastors spend an average of four years at a parish, with some assignments as short as one year or as long as 10 years. Burfield’s longest assignment was six years at Brush Valley.

According to Burfield, Chris Kindle, 37, is the new United Methodist Church Pastor in St. Marys. Kindle is moving to the area with his wife Jan and their 3-year-old daughter, Sophie.

“He’s going to be good for this community,” Burfield said of Kindle. “I think he’s going to do some great work for the Lord.”